Day 6 - Antarctica Cruise - Swan Hellenic
Weather the weather
Expedition cruising is very active, and the crew are up early to scope out the landings and ensure guests have the best possible day. Some hairy weather was coming in, and Captain Cashman was doing his absolute best to find a safe and comfortable landing. What I was learning at the nightly briefings was that wind speed is the biggest obstacle, and with wind speeds whipping up to 30+ knots, the navigation crew had a challenge.
What I found most reassuring was that guests were kept informed at all times and at the Captain and his crew were constantly making adjustments and adapting the itinerary.
Watch my video interview with Captain Cashman here
Every morning, expedition crew go out in zodiacs to find the most appropriate landing spots before any plans are made for guests to head out. Then announcements are made, informing guests when to head down to Basecamp.
The itinerary will change depending on the weather and ice conditions, so it is important to keep an open mind and be flexible. The beauty of this is that you might discover new landings, which were not part of the original plan. This made me feel like were were real explorers.
Ross Island
When you think about Antarctica, snow, ice and lots of ‘white’ scenery is what you’d expect. But what has surprised me most about this expedition is the variety of landscapes and the range environments I’ve encountered.
As the zodiac approached Ross Island, I was surprised with the colour of the beach.
The sand was dark and grey and scattered with seaweed. Large rocks were all over the island and the place had a feeling of desolation.While the other landings this week were bustling with noisy penguins, Ross Island was quiet. There were interesting rocks to examine, and many fossils scattered all over the island
Walking around the island in the snow – love having the snowflakes falling in my hair – it was a wonderful opportunity to take a breath and embark on a slower-paced adventure. It was beautiful in its own right and the feeling of being so distant from ‘real life’ was profound.
While I felt alone, I didn’t feel lonely, and it was a significant point on this adventure to take stock of where I was standing.
Kayaking – Take 2
As mentioned above, the weather had been quite unpredictable, however kayaking would be going ahead this afternoon. Two days ago, I got all kitted out in the dry suit and was ready to head out, when at the last moment, it was cancelled. The wind was just too strong.
Take 2, down at Basecamp. Dry suit, booties, skirt, life jacket – my peri-menopausal body was having a major hot flush! So.Many.Layers!
There were six other guests, plus our wonderful instructors Aylene and Javier and we went out in the zodiac with kayaks in tow, looking for a spot to transfer to the little vessels.
Alas, it just wasn’t mean to be. The wind started to pick up again. We were so tantalisingly close, but our wonderful guide Aylene made the right call and cancelled – it would not be an enjoyable nor safe exercise. We would be heading back ‘home’ to the Vega.
But.. then.. What was that? A zodiac came zooming up delivering ice cold champagne!
Hotel Director Fernando along with members of the food and beverage team and Staff Captain Lujbimir wanted to make-up for the disappointment, joyfully pouring glasses of the crisp bubbly and passing them into our gloved hands.
With a massive glacier as my backdrop, I downed the cool drink. I don’t think I will ever drink a more exciting glass of champagne! It’s these amazing touches by Swan Hellenic that just elevate the experience to the next level.
Iceberg Dinner
Later that evening, as I devoured yet another delicious dinner (accompanied by a wonderful Australian wine from Margaret River), the giant icebergs floating past the large dining room windows reminded me of my smallness in this world and how priceless this moment truly was.
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