Antarctica Day #3 (East Side Dallman Bay, Charlotte Bay, Schollaert Channel)

Tuesday, February 12

Weather-wise, our third day in Antarctica wasn't as stellar...but wildlife-wise it was like winning the lottery!!

When I first looked out our window at 6:30 am everything was totally gray. The clouds were so low that everything above water level was hidden. I turned on the TV at 7:00 when we were scheduled to get to the east side of Dallmann Bay but the commentary didn't begin until around 7:30. By 8:00 we were finally up and getting dressed.

When we got to the buffet for breakfast Kent and Laurel were already there. We joined them and ate slowly watching as whales and penguins passed by the window. Bob and Laurel both were complaining of oncoming colds.

After breakfast, Kent went to work out and Laurel went back to their cabin. Bob and I went up to the Crow's Nest. It was crowded but we were able to find two chairs in the "second row". The clouds were lifting and a few small patches of blue were showing. Looking out the windows wasn't great for photography, but the expansive view for such a high level was impressive. The group spoke in hushed tones until a whale would show off and then the group would all cheer!

The Crow's Nest is a great place to enjoy Antarctica...if ONLY the windows were clean. 

Lots of coughing could be heard throughout the room. For about a week crew members had been stationed at the entrances to the buffet welcoming everyone and reminding each person to wash their hands. There are no hand sanitizer dispensers anymore. Instead there are machines that you thrust your hands through two holes and swirling sprayers automatically wash your hands.

Just like a car wash...only for your hands. Just remember to remove your watch!

From the Crow's Nest, we transferred to the small deck at the back of deck 6. Once again...we were about the only ones there. (You will thank me for this information if you are ever on the Zaandam!) Shortly after we got there, we saw two whales breach...at the SAME TIME! Bob commented that it would probably be the highlight for the day when another whale started jumping out of the water over and over. I was able to catch five of the breaches on video! During the morning the low clouds had lifted and the sun shone intermittently lighting up the icebergs and snow covered mountains.

Two for the price of one!

This whale put on a show for us...

...again and again and again!

Close up of the previous iceberg.

A couple of seals floating by.

We went to lunch around 11:45 to beat the crowds. Kent and Laurel never did show up, but about the time we left Kent texted they were on their way. Bad timing. As we were eating, a large iceberg with an open arch floated by. I ran out to the aft pool (along with many others) to get a better photo.

The Zaandam is a perfect ship for Antarctica with all of its open decks.

Isn't this a work of art?

After our afternoon break we could see we were coming into a scenic passage. When we opened our door to leave our cabin, Kent and Laurel were also just walking out of their room. (Our staterooms were 6 doors apart.) The four of us went to the bow and just enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

On the bow.

It is hard to comprehend just how deep the snow is without some perspective. I would estimate it to be "almost" as deep as the snow on our driveway when we returned home! 😏😆

The clouds look like waves in the sky!

It looks like this chunk of snow could topple off at any minute!

As I tried to adjust the settings on my camera to get a photo of Bob that wasn't dark in front of the bright snow, I realized that the camera was set for the lowest resolution photos possible. UGHHH. I must have accidentally changed the settings when I was fiddling with the camera on the night it wouldn't turn on. All of the photos I had taken in Antarctica up to that point were a size that was "suitable for emailing". After being so upset that I was going to have to take photos with my iPhone it turns out that those were really the only ones that were going to be worth looking at. Luckily the video resolution on the camera was fine so I have had to resort to saving photos from some of the video frames. To say I was mad at myself...and the stupid camera...is an understatement.

I never did get a decent photo of Bob with the bright snow in the background.
This photo was edited (poorly) after we got home.

I didn't want to rush getting ready for the formal night dinner so I left Bob on the bow while I went back to the cabin to shower. He came in later and was so excited because a whale had breached right next to the ship and he caught the whole thing on his iPhone! (Thank goodness for cell phones!!) There were only about a half dozen other folks around and by then the EXC staff had quit doing any narration so only a few were lucky enough to see.

Bob was in the right place at the right time to capture this video!

At dinner Bob ordered steak and "sweetbreads" as his main course for dinner. None of us were totally sure what sweetbreads were, but Bambang pointed at his neck and said "glands". 😝 Bob took a tiny taste, but that was it. He did enjoy the steak.

The evening production show was "Dance" showcasing different dance styles and music. We all agreed that the group of singers and dancers on the Zaandam were the best that we had ever seen on a cruise.

The days were long in Antarctica this time of  year so following the show we went to the Crow's Nest for happy hour and take in the views. Bob and I aren't drinkers so our happy hour purchase was just a couple of Sprites!

Tomorrow would be our last day in Antarctica and it was going to be shortened. The captain had announced that a weather front was coming through and we would be heading north earlier than planned to get ahead of the storm.