My Cruise ship hit an iceberg!
Jan 26, 2016, 9:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: milwaukee
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 241
My Cruise ship hit an iceberg!
In November, I completed one of my bucket list trips by visiting Antarctica.
The trip was everything I hoped for, including beautiful scenery and wildlife including thousands of penguins. The trip is well described in other trip reports.
However, on our return to Argentina, we had the additional excitement of the cruise ship striking an iceberg. The iceberg tore a 9 meter opening in the ship's hull. Fortunately, the opening was above the water line, so we weren't in any immediate danger. (Managed to avoid the Titanic experience!). The crew worked all day to repair the damage and that night we were able to resume our return trip to Argentina. Thankfully the crew had the knowledge and all of the needed materials to repair the ship. We were able to return safely to port.
However the ship was taken to Uruguay for repairs.
The trip was everything I hoped for, including beautiful scenery and wildlife including thousands of penguins. The trip is well described in other trip reports.
However, on our return to Argentina, we had the additional excitement of the cruise ship striking an iceberg. The iceberg tore a 9 meter opening in the ship's hull. Fortunately, the opening was above the water line, so we weren't in any immediate danger. (Managed to avoid the Titanic experience!). The crew worked all day to repair the damage and that night we were able to resume our return trip to Argentina. Thankfully the crew had the knowledge and all of the needed materials to repair the ship. We were able to return safely to port.
However the ship was taken to Uruguay for repairs.
Jan 26, 2016, 10:00 am
#3
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 360
^^ Were you on the Quark ship? I know within a week there were problems with 2 ships--the Quark ship that hit the iceberg and the Ponant ship (Le Boreal) that had a fire when they were only on their way there.
I was nervous that bad things come in threes as we were scheduled on the Ponant sister ship L'Austral Dec 29. Luckily, we've gone and come back with no problem.
Hope your trip was fantastic--ours was. What an unbelievable place!!
I was nervous that bad things come in threes as we were scheduled on the Ponant sister ship L'Austral Dec 29. Luckily, we've gone and come back with no problem.
Hope your trip was fantastic--ours was. What an unbelievable place!!
Jan 26, 2016, 10:45 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: milwaukee
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 241
Yes, I was on the Quark Ocean Endeavour.
The trip was a wonderful adventure! Here is a blog about the whole trip (by one of my fellow travelers). The iceberg only gets a mention at the end.
http://doublejdownunder.blogspot.com...-kayaking.html
The trip was a wonderful adventure! Here is a blog about the whole trip (by one of my fellow travelers). The iceberg only gets a mention at the end.
http://doublejdownunder.blogspot.com...-kayaking.html
Jan 26, 2016, 10:58 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
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Posts: 4,106
Jan 26, 2016, 11:15 am
#6
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 360
Loved your trip report!!
We are much older than you
so we were not quite as active--no kayaking nor polar plunging on the Ponant ships lol. We were able to do a lot of hiking and stopped at a lot of the same stops as you. I agree that penguin watching is awesome--they are the most fun, delightful creatures to watch!! They really are hilarious at times.
It's an amazing place. So hard to describe and the pictures do not do it justice. We often felt like we were on another planet.
And justforfun-- yes we were!
We are much older than you
so we were not quite as active--no kayaking nor polar plunging on the Ponant ships lol. We were able to do a lot of hiking and stopped at a lot of the same stops as you. I agree that penguin watching is awesome--they are the most fun, delightful creatures to watch!! They really are hilarious at times. It's an amazing place. So hard to describe and the pictures do not do it justice. We often felt like we were on another planet.
And justforfun-- yes we were!
Jan 27, 2016, 7:02 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD
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Quark's Sea Advenrurer completed its Christmas / New Year cruise on one and a half engines. It had a broken diesel injector which made for most (un)impressive smoke trails in the pristine environment in Antarctica 
Fortunately we made it back without mishap, but if our good engine died, it might have been a very stressful time for all ( and late arrival ).
Fortunately we made it back without mishap, but if our good engine died, it might have been a very stressful time for all ( and late arrival ).
Feb 3, 2016, 1:12 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Wow! I was on this boat two weeks ago!!
The captain was really into breaking through ice. I have an amazing video of us going through a massive ice sheet with penguins and seals running for their lives.
I'm not surprised he hit an iceberg. Glad everyone was safe. I know most of the staff there, will have to contact them via email!
The captain was really into breaking through ice. I have an amazing video of us going through a massive ice sheet with penguins and seals running for their lives.
I'm not surprised he hit an iceberg. Glad everyone was safe. I know most of the staff there, will have to contact them via email!
Mar 3, 2016, 1:35 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Mar 3, 2016, 8:39 am
#14
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,745
It's a small world indeed. My count is up to 5 FTers on that ship. When you think there were only 240 or so on the ship, that's a significant representation.