Cruising Antarctica on a cruise ship

 We are spending two days and nights cruising part of the Antarctic peninsular. The ship will not be stopping but just cruising at a slow speed at times. The first stop was Elephant Island and then Admiralty Bay where many of the research establishments are located. Initially the temperature was 3C but now down to 1.5C. A couple of times a day there is great commentary by Dr Peter Carey.

The weather has been overcast and foggy at times. However we have had great views of humpback whales, penguins, and many birds. The humpback whales are feeding on krill. They are the same species as those in the northern hemisphere although their feeding and breeding areas are only in the southern hemisphere. We are also weaving our way through small icebergs and a lot of brash ice. 

There is a difference is seeing everything from the deck of a cruise ship rather than a small boat. On Polyandra in Glacier Bay in Alaska we were able to go quite close to glaciers, to the extent of causing a certain amount of anxiety in our wives because of the fear of calving producing a large wave. We had fun and enjoyed the much greater proximity to the shore.  I can see the attraction of cruising the Antarctic peninsular in a small boat. 

One is struck by the vastness of the sea, the mountains, the glaciers. Inspite of the weather I have managed to get some good photographs.

 One is struck by the vastness of even the Antarctic Peninsular. As we were leaving the distance to Admiralty bay was the same as that to Ushuaia across the Drake passage. Our voyage in the cruise ship was greatly enhanced by excellent talks on the wild life, the environment and the history of discovery and exploration. While we could not get close to wild life (as one might experience on a small boat) with binoculars one could spot. Here is an excerpt “Half Moon Island is a breeding ground for south polar skuas, terns, kelp gulls, petrels, shags and sheathbills. There were also whales (mostly southern humpback whales), fur seals and elephant seals.” There are at least three species of penguins in Antarctica.