Exciting Update! The Captain has announced that we will sail for Antarctica, with, hopefully, better weather! We will lose our slot at Palmer Station, but will sail by it and head to Bismark Straight. This second attempt was much better. Still rough seas, but much, much better than our first attempt.People's spirits are up and everyone is happy!
New Year's Eve 2008!
Crystal really knows how to throw a party! New Year's Eve began with a pre-dinner show with Yakov Shmirnoff, the Russian-American comedian. He was entertaining. Dinner was incredible: choices of Oyster's Rockerfeller, Kobe Beef Tartar, Lobster Medallion on Artichoke salad for appetisers. A salad course of Millionaire's Salad with seared Fois Gras, Veal Medallion, and King Crab legs: green pea soup with duck comfit, plus other choices. Entrees: Filet Mignon with Seared Fois Gras (you could hear blood vessels snapping shut all over the dining room), filet of Sole with a choice of sauces, Veal chop with truffle sauce,etc. Excellent! We finished dinner around 11 pm and then went to the party in the Crystal Cover with our table mates. We have such an excellent table: Barry and Penny Banducci from Dana Point, Ca., Henry and Marilyn Brooks from Los Altos, Ca., Mary McKee from Dallas, Drew Meredith from Scottsdale, the ship's doctor Cornelius Englebreit from South Africa and us. Crystal provided champagne, hats and streamers. The count down performers included Michel Bell, who was fantastic. The count down began with Cruise Director, Scott Peterson and Captain Egil Giske (who was in a relaxed mood and gave me two kisses). At midnight, hundreds of balloons were dropped, sparkly confetti fell and people threw streamers. We hung out and danced and then went to the Casino to lose some money. By the time we were heading back to the cabin at 2 am, the clean up crew had the Cove almost spotless. The workers on this ship are amazing!
New Year's Day 2009!
We woke up this morning to Antarctica! However, the first few hours were gray and gloomy. As we got closer to Anvers Island, the skies began to clear as if on cue and we have been treated to a gorgeous, cold and sunny day. We have been cruising the Bismark Channel and the Newmark Channels with mountains and glaciers on both sides. We are in the area of the Shetland Islands and passed by Palmer Station where we would have had researchers come aboard--if we had made it yesterday. There was a panel discussion yesterday about Antarctica. There are many countries with vested interest in it because it is rich in minerals, but no one country owns it. Fortunately, we have an Ice Captain on board, because there have been lots and lots of ice bergs. He said that the Captain uses radar and slow speed to avoid hitting them. The smaller ones are called growlers, the larger (the size of a house) are berger bits, and then the mammoth ones are ice bergs. We've been creeping along through these channels, to give the ship greater opportunity to avoid these magnificent hazards. We've been camped out in the Palm Court since 8 am, with periodic runs outside to take better photos.We've seen two Minke whales, a Killer Whale and a large Humpback whale as well as Petrels, an Albatross and 6 swimming Penguins. Commentary was given all day by a naturalist and geologist. We spent the day with Natalie and Rod Roesch and other friends periodically dropped by our seats---either to see us or because we had front row seats at the windows. We made a quick dash for the Jazz Brunch and brought our plates back up to Palm Court. It was just too spectacular all day to miss a moment. We are stopped right now for an hour so that they can take photos of the ship in this spectacular scenery. I think the plan tomorrow is to go to Deception Island where we should be able to see many more penguins. I can't believe I'm in Antarctica!!!!! (By the way sunset is at 10:41 pm and sunrise is 3:42 am)