Where We Be
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| Farewell to Ushuaia...and hello to the Beagle Channel as we set sail for open seas! |
| The Observation Lounge -- the main hangout for most passengers, especially during days at sea |
| The bar in the Observation Lounge. To either side are free hot tea and coffee stations, available 24/7. |
| The Christmas tree, penned in to keep it from toppling in rough seas |
| Our cabin, #307, circled in red, along with the main deck's layout |
| The upgrade to an upper-level stateroom was such a blessing -- It made the whole cruise more enjoyable |
| Antarctica -- All Aboard & Drake Passage |
And we're off to the seventh continent! We
boarded the Ushuaia at 4 pm and got the
surprise of our lives when we discovered we
had been upgraded from a lower-level cabin to
an upper-level stateroom with two windows.
Sweet! After settling in, we began exploring the
ship, which is quite small. There is one dining
room capable of seating ninety people, a bar
and lounge area which serves as the gathering
place for meetings, and plenty of deck space.
As we set sail from Ushuaia, we remained in the
Beagle Channel for the rest of that evening, so
all remained calm until midnight when we
reached the Drake Passage. That was when
things really started rocking and rolling -- and
they kept rocking and rolling for the next two
days. Luckily neither of us is prone to seasick-
ness, but this was a true test. The Drake is said
to have the world's roughest seas, and after
this cruise we're believers. The view looking
out the window was almost comical at times, as
one second you'd see only sky, then only sea,
then only sky, and so on ad nauseam (literally).
But we survived -- it's all part of the adventure.
boarded the Ushuaia at 4 pm and got the
surprise of our lives when we discovered we
had been upgraded from a lower-level cabin to
an upper-level stateroom with two windows.
Sweet! After settling in, we began exploring the
ship, which is quite small. There is one dining
room capable of seating ninety people, a bar
and lounge area which serves as the gathering
place for meetings, and plenty of deck space.
As we set sail from Ushuaia, we remained in the
Beagle Channel for the rest of that evening, so
all remained calm until midnight when we
reached the Drake Passage. That was when
things really started rocking and rolling -- and
they kept rocking and rolling for the next two
days. Luckily neither of us is prone to seasick-
ness, but this was a true test. The Drake is said
to have the world's roughest seas, and after
this cruise we're believers. The view looking
out the window was almost comical at times, as
one second you'd see only sky, then only sea,
then only sky, and so on ad nauseam (literally).
But we survived -- it's all part of the adventure.
| We boarded the Ushuaia on a windy afternoon. The Ushuaia was originally a NOAA research vessel before being refurbished for expeditions to Antarctica. |
| Toasting the beginning of our cruise to Antarctica |
| Our rough itinerary (subject to change based on conditions) |
