Petermann Island and Port Lockroy

Petermann Island was named after a german geographer and is situated south of the Lemaire Channel. Two great walks bring you either to iceberg alley or closer to the cormorants, gentoos and adelie penguins. The weather was beautiful once again- it is actually quite amazing how lucky we are on this trip! And now we are still at Port Lockroy where we have a former british base that is today a museum- and the southernmost post office! A double landing was possible and we could also see the whale bones at Jougla Point. In addition there was a chinese fashion shooting ashore- quite a sight to have Miss China 2006 wearing a red evening gown accompanied with rubber boots...
The picture of today was taken by: Rebecca and Albert Achterberg

Fish Islands

We must have gotten all wind-still days on this trip! Makes you wonder how the Drake will be on the way back... But lets not think about it but marvel the fantastic day- in the morning we were cruising the Crystal Sound and then found a really tiny and great landing spot on Fish Islands! That was true exploration! And we used the amazing weather to cruise again with our PolarCirkle Boats !
Now we are heading further north again- the sun sets slowly, there are Adelie penguins on the ice flows, the glaciars are put into a nice yellowish light and it is hard to imagine any place on eath more beautiful.
Todays picture is sponsored by Martinus Schuurmans!

Stonington and Horseshoe

Stonington and Horseshoe island are both situated in Marguerite Bay. We woke up to beautiful weather at Stonington: sunshine, no wind- amazing landscape as the stations are situated on an island and behind that there are just glaciars! It was a fantastic morning and we even had some brave (others would call them crazy) swimmers.
The late afternoon landing was perfect as well. To be at the former British Base Y was a step back in time. Everything is still there- the kitchen utensils, the stocks of food and fuel, the workshop tools, radio equipment, a disel generator. It looks as if they left just 1 hour ago and are gone for a walk but will be back within 30 minutes! Now it is 11pm and we have stopped to spent time with the 4 humpback whales that are just feeding besides the vessel! A great finish for a perfect day...

Today`s picture was taken by Petra Paessler and shows our hotel manager Else Kristine and our chief purser Jesper!

Dion Islands

We tried until 1.30am to go through the Gullet, a narrow Channel that leads to Marguerite Bay. But as you can see on the picture, there was lots of ice. And it became more and more and in the end it was so dense that our Captain Steinar Hansen had to turn the vessel around. So we spent most of the day going around Adeleide island to reach Dion Islands. Emperor penguins are supposed to be here... To make it short: no, we did not see one! But it did not really matter as we had fantastic cruising again and encountered lots of wild life! Cruising when the sun goes down, the light is changing in the mountains, everything calms down and goes into slower mode- there can not be too much that is better.

Today`s picture was taken by: Franz Zeitlberger.

Antarctic Circle and Detaille Island

It is 10pm and we have snow on our outside decks. We crossed the Antarctic Circle at noon and received a visit from Neptun himself! Even though Detaille Island was blocked by ice in the afternoon, it offered excellent Polar Circle Cruising possibilities! It is always amazing to see places full of ice, push your way through it and find weddell, crabeater and leopard seals on the iceflows!

Todays picture was taken by: Elisabeth Messmer.

Almirante Brown and Cuverville Island

There are those rare days when all comes together- a day when you see icebergs turning, are surrounded by penguins, see a leapard seal catching a penguin- and have humpbacks diving right under your Polar Cirkle boat! You guessed it- it was such a day today!
We spent the morning at Almirante Brown in Paradise Bay. It was great to see the station manned by the Argentines, repair works were done and we had a great time sliding down the hill behind the station- after marvelling the view into the bay. We did a cruise later and the two humpbacks were not bothered at all by our present. How great to come so close, hear them breathing!
And in the afternoon a second landing at Cuverville Island situated in the beautiful Errera Channel. And here it happened- a leopard seal got lucky with a penguin!

Todays pictures were taken by Dennis Prado!

Half Moon and Chinese New Year...

What do Half Moon Island and Chinese New Year have in common? Both happened today!

After calm days in the Drake we reach Half Moon island in the afternoon. This crescent-shaped island is home to quite a large chinstrap penguin rookery. Close by is the usually unmanned Argentine Station of Camara but today we saw a few people over there as well. We had fantastic weather for a first landing and the views to Livingston island were amazing! And not only chinstraps were there but also some fur seals, an elephant seal and Weddell seal could be seen!

And then there is something else happening on board- our lecture hall Polhøgda has been decorated by our Chinese guests as it is Chinese New Year! It looks absolute fantastic and is an unusal sight: chinese music, food and pictures.

Picture of the day by: Mr Martinus Schuurmans

Drake Passage

It is amazing- we were here a little bit more than a day ago- and now it is absolutely calm! Waves are not even two meters high... which makes our lecturers happy as both lecture halls are full. So if you want to know anything about e.g. penguins, Amundsen, glaciars and ice, the subantarctic islands- there is no excuse to miss the lectures!

Ushuaia

Ushuaia- el fin del mundo! Our disembarking passengers leave the vessel for different excursions- some go to the Escondido Lake, others enjoy the National Park. It was such a great trip- wonderful weather most of the way, king penguins and thousands of fur seals at the shore of South Georgia, the Orcadas Station at the South Orkneys, the beautiful places in the Falklands and the amazing weather at the Peninsula. It is hard to pick what the highlight was on this trip!
We wish all of our passengers a safe journey back home and we hope to welcome you again another time!

And in the afternoon we are going out with 244 new passengers- this time a totally international group! We recognize many repeaters and there is a big hello at the check-in! We are going for a real expedition cruise and hope to go all the way to Marguerite Bay!

Drake Passage

The Drake Passage- either a Drake Lake or a Drake Shake! Today we got some movements and the waves could be seen very nicely also from the reception area on deck 4 as they were between 8 and 12 meters high. Bless our stabilizers- this is such a great feature! While the albatrosses finally enjoy their flights, it is time for more lectures. In the evening we have our Captains Dinner in a new fashion: Our Captain Steinar Hansen delivers his speech not only in English and German- but also in Chinese!

Deception Island

Early in the morning we hear Karins voice - soon we are at Neptun`s Bellows! This entrance to the spectacular Deception Island is only 200m wide and therefore something you do not want to miss! We cruise into the caldera of this active volcano, see the remainings of the former Norwegian Whaling station as well as of the former British base and then head into the Drake Passage. Therefore- fasten your seatbelt and be prepared for an interesting ride!

Jougla Point / Port Lockroy

Seas flat as a mirror, we approach Wiencke Island. We can't wait to put the Polar Cirkel Boat in the water, everybody is looking forward to a boatride in this incredibly scenic bay. Splitting the groups in half, we are able to do Jougla Point with the giant whale skeletons and the neat Museum of Port Lockroy at the same time. Smiling faces all over the place, bags full of souvenirs and maps, cameras loaded with pictures of ice and blue skies. What a day!

Petermann Island

In the morning another splendid landing on Petermann Island after an impressive crossing of Lemaire Channel. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Astrolabe Island

Are we the Lucky Ones? The skies are crystal clear, the waves are sparkling in the early morning light. Antarcticas real majesty rises high at the horizon, glaciers unlimited. However, there is a considerable swell, so Karin and Bosun take a scout ride before breakfast. As a result we reposition the FRAM and enter the labyrinth of volcanic cones from the North. A breathtaking slalom among ragged rocks, full of shags. And suddenly the bay of Astrolabe Island opens up before us. This is where you want to be, here and now!
Fur seals and Weddell seals galore on the beach. And a special guest: A big leopard seal sunbathing on an ice floe, right next to the landing site, perfectly at ease.