Antarctica - Small Ship Expedition
Apr 9th, 2007, 12:22 PM
#41
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eenusa - This is a phenomenal report. Thank you so much. I am still going through it but it is so in depth and provides such helpful tips. We are considering an Antarctica cruise in 2 years (I know it's quite far out to be planning but we are thinking about doing a round-the-world trip and are starting to think ahead), and this is great!
Apr 11th, 2007, 10:03 AM
#44
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eenusa: thank you for all the time and effort - and talent! - that you've put into this fascinating report! After experiencing 12-15 foot seas last month, which were none too pleasant, I'm in awe of making it through 30-foot waves! My tummy pitched just reading your account of the ship hanging in mid-air...! On our transAtlantic voyage last month, we spoke with some folks who talked of a dodgey sail through the Drake Passage. Good I got to read of it, 'cause I doubt I'll ever experience it. Thank you!
Apr 11th, 2007, 01:02 PM
#46
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bookmarking - This is one of the most refreshing and unique trip reports I've read on this forum. I'd never considered a cruise to Antarctica before, but this makes me want to research it some more. Thanks, eenusa!
Apr 11th, 2007, 05:10 PM
#47
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Hi, eenusa!
Great report!
I read every word and really enjoyed a full session of "armchair cruising"!
Despite the beauty and the wild life, I'm glad you made the trip and not I, so it's with double thanks for your generosity in sharing your great adventure and allowing those of us who will probably never go to the Antarctica to enjoy a brief "visit" there!
Many Many Thanks!
Great report!
I read every word and really enjoyed a full session of "armchair cruising"!
Despite the beauty and the wild life, I'm glad you made the trip and not I, so it's with double thanks for your generosity in sharing your great adventure and allowing those of us who will probably never go to the Antarctica to enjoy a brief "visit" there!
Many Many Thanks!
Jul 5th, 2007, 08:47 AM
#49
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By now, you’ve probably given up hope that I would ever post my photos from the Antarctica voyage. Fear not! It took me a while, but I am finally done.
http://eenusa.smugmug.com/
The albums are available under the “2007 Travels” category.
Oh no! Did she say “albums?”
Well, yes. I did. I organized the pictures that I decided to keep as daily photo journals. So, if you want to relive the trip, you’ll want to browse albums 01-15. There are a lot of pictures in these albums, including the good and the not-so-good ones since I was trying to tell the story of the trip.
If you just want to get a sense of the voyage, you’ll want to browse Favorites – Quest for Antarctica. This album has a small selection of “my” favorite photos from throughout the trip.
The "Endurance & Shackleton" album consists of a PowerPoint presentation converted to jpegs to provide a synopsis of the saga.
How to View the Photos if you are not familiar with SmugMug: once you open the album, you can click a thumbnail to see a larger picture. If you put the cursor on the larger picture, you can change the size of the picture and view the pictures in the “lightbox” mode.
I don’t recommend using the “slideshow” button at the top of the page since it automatically loads the pictures sized to your monitor (probably OK if you have a really fast internet connection, but keep in mind that the photos have been resized for the web).
If you do want to look at the photos as a slideshow, you can change the default view from the “style” pulldown list at the top of the screen (default will read SmugMug – and you change back to this or another view when you’re finished with the slideshow). You can experiment with the other styles as well to find the one that really suits your personal viewing style.
Feel free to leave comments on the website if you’d like – you do not need to be a member to do so.
Happy travels!
http://eenusa.smugmug.com/
The albums are available under the “2007 Travels” category.
Oh no! Did she say “albums?”
Well, yes. I did. I organized the pictures that I decided to keep as daily photo journals. So, if you want to relive the trip, you’ll want to browse albums 01-15. There are a lot of pictures in these albums, including the good and the not-so-good ones since I was trying to tell the story of the trip.
If you just want to get a sense of the voyage, you’ll want to browse Favorites – Quest for Antarctica. This album has a small selection of “my” favorite photos from throughout the trip.
The "Endurance & Shackleton" album consists of a PowerPoint presentation converted to jpegs to provide a synopsis of the saga.
How to View the Photos if you are not familiar with SmugMug: once you open the album, you can click a thumbnail to see a larger picture. If you put the cursor on the larger picture, you can change the size of the picture and view the pictures in the “lightbox” mode.
I don’t recommend using the “slideshow” button at the top of the page since it automatically loads the pictures sized to your monitor (probably OK if you have a really fast internet connection, but keep in mind that the photos have been resized for the web).
If you do want to look at the photos as a slideshow, you can change the default view from the “style” pulldown list at the top of the screen (default will read SmugMug – and you change back to this or another view when you’re finished with the slideshow). You can experiment with the other styles as well to find the one that really suits your personal viewing style.
Feel free to leave comments on the website if you’d like – you do not need to be a member to do so.
Happy travels!
Jul 5th, 2007, 11:56 AM
#50
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eenusa, great report! I have been on the Professor Molchanov in the Arctic and we were on the sister ship for our trip to Antarctica (the Professor Multanovsky). I totally agree with you about taking a small ship on this voyage. We saw the large ships while there. We got to spend so much time at each site -- it was wonderful. I went with Joseph van Os Photo Safaris (photosafaris.com) and they are a great group to travel with if you are at all serious about photography. We have been on many of their trips and they always do their best to provide good sightings and lots of time. Highly recommended!
Jul 6th, 2007, 04:23 AM
#51
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Patricia - how much time did the photographer spend with the group and with individuals. What did he do to help individuals with their photo taking? I've read a couple of reviews of other "specialist photo tours" where it sounded like the leader did very little in the field, going off on his own to take pictures. Those reviews have made me leery about going with such groups.
Oct 6th, 2007, 05:54 PM
#55
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Wow..I have not read all your report (shame on me!!) but your packing list..wow! I have been referring to it for several days as I purchase (on the 'sale' sites) for our Jan. trip.
I see no mention of hiking poles, and our literature mentions that we whould have these. I am trying to keep the cost down (ha ha) so all our purchases are discounted enormously but your comments have been so helpful.
Please let me know about the poles!
We are on a 10 day trip and I see you have said that one pair of waterproof pants would be okay. I purchased some insulated waterproof ski pants which have arrived and seem great. However, since I do not ski or snowboard, I would like to stick with one pair.
Any comments?
Got liners and gloves, toe warmers and today Walgreens had hand warmers on sale for 50 cents a pack of two so got some. Smartwool yet to come. I googled for coupons and got discounts for backcountry outlet and sierra trading post!!
Thanks so much for a fabulous report..and I will read it aaaall!!!!!!
I see no mention of hiking poles, and our literature mentions that we whould have these. I am trying to keep the cost down (ha ha) so all our purchases are discounted enormously but your comments have been so helpful.
Please let me know about the poles!
We are on a 10 day trip and I see you have said that one pair of waterproof pants would be okay. I purchased some insulated waterproof ski pants which have arrived and seem great. However, since I do not ski or snowboard, I would like to stick with one pair.
Any comments?
Got liners and gloves, toe warmers and today Walgreens had hand warmers on sale for 50 cents a pack of two so got some. Smartwool yet to come. I googled for coupons and got discounts for backcountry outlet and sierra trading post!!
Thanks so much for a fabulous report..and I will read it aaaall!!!!!!
Oct 8th, 2007, 08:46 AM
#56
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Am not eenusa but did similar trip in 2004. One pair waterproof ski-pants should be fine... it's not like you'll wear them inside really.
We didn't have poles and nor did anyone on our ship that we witnessed. Even for the one or two (optional) steeper climbs up either snow-covered slopes or tussock-grass covered sand/mud no-one used poles.
I am so jealous. If I won the lottery tomorrow the first trip I'd book is a repeat of our Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula trip!
We didn't have poles and nor did anyone on our ship that we witnessed. Even for the one or two (optional) steeper climbs up either snow-covered slopes or tussock-grass covered sand/mud no-one used poles.
I am so jealous. If I won the lottery tomorrow the first trip I'd book is a repeat of our Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula trip!
Oct 8th, 2007, 01:21 PM
#57
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Whoa Kavey....Antactica rather than a safari?!!??
Thanks for the pole info..I would rather not bother if it is not necessary. I am jealous of you as we are just doing the Antarctic Peninsula part as there seemed to be a lot of sea days on the longer one. We will go to Carnival in Rio afterwards as the dates just happen to coincide (unplanned). We are wondering about whether to also go to Iguazu Falls (we just went to Vic Falls this summer) or to Salta??
Thanks for the pole info..I would rather not bother if it is not necessary. I am jealous of you as we are just doing the Antarctic Peninsula part as there seemed to be a lot of sea days on the longer one. We will go to Carnival in Rio afterwards as the dates just happen to coincide (unplanned). We are wondering about whether to also go to Iguazu Falls (we just went to Vic Falls this summer) or to Salta??
Oct 18th, 2007, 05:27 AM
#58
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PhilBill - sorry I wasn't around to respond sooner (was on a trip to Turkey). Kavey's response re: poles and waterproof pants is on track with what I would have said. Like her, Antarctica would be the first place I would go back to should I get a windfall. It is a fantastic place to visit and enjoy.
Feel free to post back with any further questions. Now that I'm back home, I'll be back to reading the Fodor's board daily.
Re: Iguazu Falls - from the pictures I saw of Iguazu and our experience of Victoria Falls, I'd say they are two very different experiences; I doubt you would be disappointed if you chose to go to the falls. We had to remove Iguazu from our itinerary due to time limitations, but hope to go back for a longer trip through Argentina at some point in the near future to see more of the country than we were able to this time around.
Have a fantastic voyage and do post your impressions and your experience.
Feel free to post back with any further questions. Now that I'm back home, I'll be back to reading the Fodor's board daily.
Re: Iguazu Falls - from the pictures I saw of Iguazu and our experience of Victoria Falls, I'd say they are two very different experiences; I doubt you would be disappointed if you chose to go to the falls. We had to remove Iguazu from our itinerary due to time limitations, but hope to go back for a longer trip through Argentina at some point in the near future to see more of the country than we were able to this time around.
Have a fantastic voyage and do post your impressions and your experience.
Oct 23rd, 2007, 04:13 PM
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Just back from England today carting a pair of wellies with me!!!!
We got some of our clothes we had ordered while I was gone, so will be looking at those later!
Can't help but think we will have a heatwave seeing that we are getting all of these warm clothes lined up!!!
We got some of our clothes we had ordered while I was gone, so will be looking at those later!
Can't help but think we will have a heatwave seeing that we are getting all of these warm clothes lined up!!!
