From Sussex to Antarctica-a bucket list item ticked!
Jan 21, 2015, 7:17 pm
#76
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Location: CHA, MAN;
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Wonderful saga and report. I am totally envious. This is on my bucket list too. Could not get the wife to go. She is just a good old northern gal from Preston, Lancashire.
Jan 21, 2015, 11:34 pm
#77
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bargara Australia
Programs: VA, SQ, IHG, HH,ALL, Europcar
Posts: 1,530
Wow - what an amazing trip.
After those early challenges I would have been tempted to give up, but you stuck with it and created amazing memories.
Loved your description of your limited speech patterns after your polar plunge.
Thank you
After those early challenges I would have been tempted to give up, but you stuck with it and created amazing memories.
Loved your description of your limited speech patterns after your polar plunge.
Thank you
Jan 25, 2015, 11:04 am
#78
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: LGW.
Programs: Cunard WorldClub-Gold,Silverseas Venetian society,Alitalia Mille miglia,SPG,Fairmont,IHG.
Posts: 733
Jan 25, 2015, 2:07 pm
#79
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
fantastic, especially real time report at beginning
silver explorer ice class 1A, ponant ice class 1C
re getting to port, i know someone who has traveled extremely long distances by taxi (if not car service) although in this case would have also involved ferry/boat as well
silver explorer ice class 1A, ponant ice class 1C
re getting to port, i know someone who has traveled extremely long distances by taxi (if not car service) although in this case would have also involved ferry/boat as well
Jan 25, 2015, 10:55 pm
#80
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,145
fantastic, especially real time report at beginning
silver explorer ice class 1A, ponant ice class 1C
re getting to port, i know someone who has traveled extremely long distances by taxi (if not car service) although in this case would have also involved ferry/boat as well
silver explorer ice class 1A, ponant ice class 1C
re getting to port, i know someone who has traveled extremely long distances by taxi (if not car service) although in this case would have also involved ferry/boat as well
Jan 25, 2015, 10:58 pm
#81
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,145
Thanks for the Report
...and alerting those of us on the Cruise Forum.
Could you explain
1) how you came to decide on your orginally scheduled journey/cruise line?
2) did your final ship have a fitness facility, and what equipment did it have?
3) for those passengers affected by the seas, how bad did it get for them?
Thanks!
Could you explain
1) how you came to decide on your orginally scheduled journey/cruise line?
2) did your final ship have a fitness facility, and what equipment did it have?
3) for those passengers affected by the seas, how bad did it get for them?
Thanks!
Jan 27, 2015, 1:36 pm
#82
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Join Date: Jun 2006
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Posts: 31,797
Jan 27, 2015, 5:12 pm
#83
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sunshine Coast Australia
Programs: Plat QFF, Gold AA, Silverseas Venetian.
Posts: 53
That was a great trip report No Longer !
We are regular Silverseas cruisers and have sailed on the Explorer 5 times, we just love that ship and its crew. The boat may look a little worn around the edges but considering it spends most of it is time in either the Arctic or Antarctica she is doing OK !
So glad you had a great time after that crazy start.
We are regular Silverseas cruisers and have sailed on the Explorer 5 times, we just love that ship and its crew. The boat may look a little worn around the edges but considering it spends most of it is time in either the Arctic or Antarctica she is doing OK !
So glad you had a great time after that crazy start.
Jan 27, 2015, 5:44 pm
#84
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,145
http://www.dnvusa.com/industry/marit...onal/ICE1A.asp
http://www.dnvusa.com/industry/marit...onal/ICE1C.asp
It is evident that neither 1A nor 1C are designed to operate in arctic or antarctic conditions without the aide of ice breakers. Given the itinerary of cruises like that in this thread, that is scary. I think I'll try to find:
http://www.dnvusa.com/industry/marit...onal/ICE15.asp
Jan 27, 2015, 9:02 pm
#85
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYC
Programs: BAEC, AP, et al
Posts: 34
What a wonder-filled trip report. Antarctica has been on my bucket list for some time, ideally to do some scuba diving. Hopefully I'll get down there before the other bucket-list item of literally being on top of the world (the North Pole cruise) for my 50th.
Jan 28, 2015, 1:53 am
#86
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: LGW.
Programs: Cunard WorldClub-Gold,Silverseas Venetian society,Alitalia Mille miglia,SPG,Fairmont,IHG.
Posts: 733
...and alerting those of us on the Cruise Forum.
Could you explain
1) how you came to decide on your orginally scheduled journey/cruise line?
2) did your final ship have a fitness facility, and what equipment did it have?
3) for those passengers affected by the seas, how bad did it get for them?
Thanks!
Could you explain
1) how you came to decide on your orginally scheduled journey/cruise line?
2) did your final ship have a fitness facility, and what equipment did it have?
3) for those passengers affected by the seas, how bad did it get for them?
Thanks!
2/ Silver Explorer had a tiny gym,I think just 1 cross trainer,treadmill and that was about it. Never saw anyone using it. By contrast,Le Soleal had a beautiful hi tech gym! IPads built into the treadmills etc..
3/A lot of folk suffered mal de met,but we thought it was fine...the Drake was nowhere near as bad as expected. HTH x
Feb 1, 2015, 4:26 am
#87
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Staffs
Programs: BAEC, Etihad Guest, Platinum Tesco Tart
Posts: 589
Thank you for an amazing trip report. Antarctica has always been on my husband's bucket list. We just need to find the funds, which is difficult when we keep spending them on hot and sunny destinations!
Your report has inspired us to put a concerted effort into saving and getting something booked
Your report has inspired us to put a concerted effort into saving and getting something booked
Feb 3, 2015, 4:26 am
#88
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: LGW.
Programs: Cunard WorldClub-Gold,Silverseas Venetian society,Alitalia Mille miglia,SPG,Fairmont,IHG.
Posts: 733
Thank you for an amazing trip report. Antarctica has always been on my husband's bucket list. We just need to find the funds, which is difficult when we keep spending them on hot and sunny destinations!
Your report has inspired us to put a concerted effort into saving and getting something booked
Your report has inspired us to put a concerted effort into saving and getting something booked
Feb 3, 2015, 10:04 am
#89
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,145
1/ We saw a documentary, "Mighty Ships" that was all about Le Boreal, the sister ship of Le Soleal and decided we wanted to travel with Ponant based on the TV prog. It looked beautiful, and it was!
2/ Silver Explorer had a tiny gym,I think just 1 cross trainer,treadmill and that was about it. Never saw anyone using it. By contrast,Le Soleal had a beautiful hi tech gym! IPads built into the treadmills etc..
3/A lot of folk suffered mal de met,but we thought it was fine...the Drake was nowhere near as bad as expected. HTH x
2/ Silver Explorer had a tiny gym,I think just 1 cross trainer,treadmill and that was about it. Never saw anyone using it. By contrast,Le Soleal had a beautiful hi tech gym! IPads built into the treadmills etc..
3/A lot of folk suffered mal de met,but we thought it was fine...the Drake was nowhere near as bad as expected. HTH x