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Our cruise through the Gerlache Strait ended, when we pulled over and entered the Errera Channel. Here we had the opportunity for a shore landing at Curverville Island to visit the gentoo penguin colony.
This gallery contains 12 photos.
We reached the South Shetland Islands in the early morning of the 4th … unfortunately the weather (once more) was against us – in heavy winds and snowfall there was no possibility for landing on any of the islands. We … Continue reading
Once more the weather got in our way – or better the ice conditions. Based on the itinerary the next planned stop was at the South Orkney Islands and Elephant Island – however with the whole region full of drifting ice, we had no other choice than to divert once more. Instead of one day to relax at sea – we now had two …
Program-wise we were kept busy … had a gala dinner on January 1st (which included an ice cream bombe … and gave a bit of a Traumschiff feeling), further lectures and a special performance of our tenor.
We only got back from the shore landing in Fortuna Bay after 22:00 – well after sunset. This left little to change from expedition clothing into the (proposed) casual clothing to head over to the Explorer Lounge for the “Dinner for One” screening.
After that live music kicked in, at midnight the new year was welcomed, wishes exchanged and the Champagne was flowing – with the party continuing until the early morning – must be quiet a party ship, this Hanseatic 😉
As soon as everyone (and every zodiac) was back on board from Grytviken, we continued North – now heading for the penguin colony at Fortuna Bay.
As it was about time to get ready for an early dinner – and the most informal one on the whole trip. So while passing through the iceberg cemetery again, we were enjoying beef tartar, salmon-scallop rolls, venison and the likes – – true decadence at its best 😉
Straight after dinner we made it back to the zodiacs for an evening landing at Fortuna Bay. After getting ashore and a short walk later, we found ourselves in a colony of king penguins.
This gallery contains 16 photos.
During lunch (the usual cup of soup) the ship continued through the iceberg cemetery into Cumberland Bay with Grytviken – whaling station in the past, today museum and British Antarctic Survey research station – being our next destination At Grytviken … Continue reading
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It took us six days from Tristan da Cunha until we finally made it to South Georgia in the morning of New Year’s Eve. We first headed to the Southern portion of the island, where the plan was to get … Continue reading
From Tristan da Cunha we continued to South Georgia; based on the itinerary another four days of cruising lay ahead of us. However two cyclones between us and South Georgia meant that we had to adjust our course to not end up in the storm. Instead of South-West, we continued West and made it to South Georgia delayed by good two days.
On board the daily routine continued with lectures, loads of reading and eating. Also the crew got inventive to come up with new items on the program – from a passenger chanty choir, an introduction to cocktail mixing lessons to Spanish lessons.
Of course with two cyclones in the vicinity (a couple of 100 km away), we also felt their offshots … or in other words, the “road” was quiet bumpy at stages.
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Despite the fact that we could not land at Tristan da Cunha, Santa Claus was able to land on the Hanseatic and bring gifts for some of its passengers. After dinner the Christmas celebrations continued with singing (the Hanseatic choir … Continue reading
Land ahoy!
After four days on the open Atlantic Ocean we had reached the shores of Tristan da Cunha in the afternoon of the 24th.
The sea was still choppy, nevertheless we were all more than hoping to get our feet back on solid ground … However after the captain made radio-contact with the islanders and we heard that it was not possible for them to get out of their port, that hope died quickly … if they could not come out, how would we get in?
So – instead of a shore landing, we now ended up circumnavigating the island – getting the full 360° view of the island. We made the best out of the situation and ended up having Küpplis in the Observation Lounge.
