Antarctic Cruise Diary : 21 December 2006

If you want to know more about our Antarctic Expeditions and Cruises, you may enjoy reading this Antarctic Cruise Dairy, a real account written by one of our staff researchers, of the cruise that they enjoyed in December 2006.

• Antarctic Expedition Cruise Starts From Ushuaia
• Cruising To Antarctica
• Cruising Through Drake Passage
• The Cruise Arrives At Pleaneau Island
• Peterman Island And Yalour Islands
• Cuverville Island And Neko Harbour
• Danco Island And Wilhelmina Bay
• Deception Island And Half Moon Island
• The Cruise Leaves Antarctica
• Return To Ushuaia

RETURN TO USHUAIA AND our ANTARCTIC CRUISE COMES TO AN END

21.Dec.2006
Position: Lat: 55°.59’ S  Lon: 67°.10’ W
Air Temperature: + 5.9°C

The amazingly calm weather continued and we rolled around the notorious Cape Horn in light winds and no swell to speak of. With no seasickness, the ship is busy with presentations. The “best of” photo slideshow ran this morning, and this afternoon Scott showed us a movie and spoke about rounding Cape Horn. The movie was incredible, and we’re all very thankful that the notorious ‘horn is being kind to us. The educational highlight of the afternoon was undoubtedly the Panel discussion on the effects of tourism on the Antarctic Environment. Everyone was invited to ask questions and we all learned a lot.

The seas stayed mild all day, and in this mellow condition we were able to ready ourselves for the Captain’s Dinner.  Elegantly dressed, everyone filled the dining room for our final dinner together.  The Captain at the head of the room added a pleasant atmosphere and gave a small speech we all enjoyed.  Entering the Beagle Channel our nostrils filled with wet earth and aroma of lush vegetation.  The green surrounding us seemed particularly brilliant after our last few days of rock and ice. The ship is slowly steaming to our home port in Ushuaia. What an experience this has been!