Report #46 Saturday, February 14, 2026---Sea Day #4 Of 4---Enroute To Easter Island, Chile---Partly Cloudy---75 Degrees---75% Humidity---12.7mph Wind--Calm Seas---6' Swells--Speed 19.2 Knotts-----Formal Dress

Happy Valentine's Day to you all!

 

We heard there was a nice rainbow on the starboard side early this morning.  That did not surprise us since we noticed the veranda and the railing were soaked.   So far, every day has started out very overcast, then partly cloudy, and eventually mostly sunny.    No doubt, it was quite warm this morning as well.  The rocking and rolling had decreased, which is a good thing. 

 

We all got a very detailed letter regarding tender operations in Easter Island.  Due to prevailing water and wind conditions, the transfer may be significantly impacted.  Reading between the lines, we think that means boarding the tenders and off-loading on the island will be time-consuming.   As these conditions are out of their control, we can expect delays.   Naturally, the tour groups will be taken off first, which might take some extra time. 

 

In addition to that,  we are being forewarned about possible muddy conditions once ashore as well as sudden rain showers.  Safety comes first, so there were directions on how to accept help from the trained crew.  Don't need to tell us twice.   The last message concerned wheelchairs and scooters which cannot be accommodated.  With all that said, we do think many more folks will be scared to attempt the tenders tomorrow. 

 

We have been to Easter Island numerous times and have seen many unusual situations from ceased tendering due to high winds, cancelled tours, damaged tender boats, and many grumpy people that never made it to the island.  We have friends that got stranded there years ago and had to spend the night.   And at other times, all went well.   So it's the luck of the draw.

 

Later in the evening, we had another flyer, the same as the one we got when we left Florida.  It was regarding safety and security while in the ports.  The Captain cannot stress enough the importance of being careful, dressing wisely, leaving the big bags and backpacks on the ship.  And most of all, leave the expensive jewelry in the safe.  Negotiating taxis and flashing money can become a problem.   We expect this same letter will be delivered with every major segment.

 

During his noon talk, the Captain said we were still over 300 nautical miles from Easter Island and are still maintaining a speed a bit over 19 knots.  The weather was as good as could be expected with temps in the high 70's and the humidity about equal.  The sea water is even warmer than the air temperature at 77 degrees.   The swells are about 6 feet high, still creating some rocking and rolling.   

 

We sat at the back pool and noticed that it had been filled.  We think the color of the paint was the same…..very dark.  It has finally warmed up enough to make certain we use that sunscreen before going outside.  Captain Rens happened to stop by our table and he remarked that the color of the pool had to be changed.  Funny that the paint crew did not get that message. 

 

The Valentine theme followed through with today's activities.  Since there seems to be a shortage of fresh flowers, the Pinnacle Grill decorated with folded red napkins that resembled flowers.  They had another specialty dinner with a curated 4 course meal.  These pop-ups seem to be happening almost 50% of the time. 

 

The dress suggestion was formal this evening and we did see a whole lot of red, especially with the ladies.   Dinner had some of the usual formal entrees, but last night, there seemed to be more.   We had the everyday shrimp cocktail followed by salads.  One was a wedge salad, and large enough to be an entree.  One of us had the vegetarian raviolis, and the other had the rack lamb, which could have been hotter.  We keep forgetting to ask our waiters for hot food.  Most nights, the entrees have been warm at best.  Desserts were a chocolate heart and one scoop of vanilla ice cream with a touch of hot fudge sauce.    Long stemmed roses in red and pink were handed to each lady in both dining rooms.  Many guests used their empty wine bottles to put the roses in.  We will improvise with something in our room

 

Ready or not….Easter Island, here we come (maybe).

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures

Report #45 Friday, February 13, 2026---Sea Day #3 Of 4---Enroute To Easter Island, Chile---Partly Cloudy--Clearing To Sunshine---72 Degrees---73% Humidity---8.6mph Winds---Rough---6' Swells-----Casual Dress

Well, we are still rocking and rolling with the motion of the ocean, but not quite as much as in the beginning of the 4-day run.  On the plus side, the weather is warming up a little bit each and every day.  Another thing of interest is that today happens to be Friday the 13^th.    Not that we are particularly superstitious, but maybe we can say we are cautious on days like this. 

 

That kind of proved to be true when one of us went walking on the promenade deck this morning.  As with any ship, there is always the need for maintenance inside and outside.  So there happened to be a crew working on the promenade deck this morning repairing some piping overhead.  Out of the blue, one of the 6-foot-long heavy pipes came crashing down, barely missing some of the surprised guests.   All the more reason to cordon off the workspace or close the deck temporarily.  It is not the first time something like that has happened and probably not the last.  

 

In the meantime, our twice a month delivery of 40 sodas arrived with the gift cards saying "With compliments of the Mariner Society".   So far we have not run completely out of our beverages.  But now that the warmer weather is ahead of us, we may run out. 

 

In case we forgot to mention this, the laundry service has been outstanding.  If we turn in a bag in the morning, it has been returned by late afternoon.  Sometimes we put a bag out before dinner, and that comes back early the next day.  Most times there are cute messages in the baskets from the laundry crew saying that they hope we like their service.  You bet we do.  What is there not to like, with the exception of getting a stranger's underwear over a month ago. 

 

We spent about an hour at the Seaview Pool getting to know the deck crew better.  Today we tried the ice-cold lemonade, as suggested by Ramon.  And it was just right.  So far there has been no progress on the repairs to the aft pool.    And it is still painted almost black & blue on the sides and bottom.  The executive housekeeper, Metka, stopped by for a chat.  It seems that noon is their time for lunch, and most of the officers and staff prefer the Lido, then dine out back getting some much-appreciated sunshine.   

 

Captain Rens came on with the daily weather and position report.  We are doing a speed of 19 knots with about a 6-foot sea swell.  He remarked that the conditions are very good for this part of the Pacific Ocean.  Overcast skies earlier, turned into mostly sunny skies in the afternoon.   The temperature had climbed to 77 degrees with the sea temps near the same.  There was also a mention that we are in the middle of nowhere with the nearest land being Easter Island…… another 825 nautical miles away. 

 

For those who seek arts and crafts and related activities, there were plenty of them today.  Water coloring had three sessions, sit and knit continued for a three-hour option, and craft projects had one class at 2:30pm in the Lido Marketplace.    Creative writing was another option which was held in the Wajang Theater.    Lectures continued with the subject of map makers and Easter Island and the mystery surrounding it.   Trivia continues to keep the folks on their toes.  Promotions for Valentine's Day were off the charts.

 

We had an invitation to another combined cocktail reception with President's Club, Pinnacle Suite, and Neptune guests held in the Explorer's Lounge.  The room had been converted from chairs to individual tables and chairs for four beginning at 6:30pm to 7:30pm.    We were greeted by a line-up of officers beginning with Jonah and several of the staff.  Florin was there, but we did not see the Captain.  We took a table where we could see most of the whole room and were joined by Amy.  Officers mingled with the guests and we were graced with the company of Florin's assistant, a very lovely young lady from the Philippines.  Then we were able to chat with Josh, we believe is the Travel Director, who graced us with his singing talents a few days ago at the awards ceremony.   Turns out we were from the same area of the San Francisco Bay Area.  Small world.  Josh had some wild and crazy stories of his early life in the city, keeping the three of us well entertained.  The party lasted well after 7:30pm, then we had to head to dinner.  

 

Tortilla soup had been suggested in the Daily newsletter, but we sure did not see it on the menu tonight.  So we both ordered different salads and mains of prime rib.  That entree always comes with very generous slices of meat, veggies and a whopping Yorkshire pudding.  No dessert tonight. 

 

The entertainment was a performance called Supernova Duo vocalists with Fleetwood Mac type of music.  And the movie tonight was appropriate with Freaky Friday. 

 

We were happy to call it a night.  Passing through the Mix and the Ocean Bar after dinner, we are always bombarded with plenty of super loud music….enough to last the rest of the evening.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures

Report #44 Thursday, February 12, 2026---Sea Day #2 Of 4---Enroute To Easter Island, Chile---Partly Cloudy---70 Degrees---64% Humidity---7.7mph Winds---Rough---9' Swells-----Casual Dress

It sure was nice to be greeted with a brilliant sunrise early this morning, which prompted a few pictures.  A time change can make a difference in the timing of these sights. 

 

Today was one of lectures and promotions.  We have new speakers onboard, Ruth Sinai, who spoke about who really discovered America.  Then there is Howard Krug, who lectured on sailing around the world 500 years ago and now.   The other talk was all about Rapa  Nui or Easter Island….better timing since we should be there in a couple of days. 

 

We should be there in Easter Island as long as the conditions permit it.  So far we are still experiencing pitching and rolling, but not as severe as when we left the mainland of Chile.   According to the Captain's report, we still have 1313 nautical miles to go to Easter Island at an average speed of 19 knots.  The temperature today was 70 degrees and the winds were 7.7 mph.  And hopefully dying down.  It was overcast with brief periods of sun and the sea swells were 9 feet. 

 

Sitting at the Sea View pool, we enjoyed some of that brief sunshine sitting at a table near the bar.  All of the side tables and chairs were lashed down and there were very few unoccupied lounges on both sides of the now empty pool.  There were workmen doing repairs inside the pool, which has been painted a dark navy blue.  It sure looks like the same paint they use on the hull of the ship.  The Staff Captain happened to come back there to inspect the work.  He said they cannot leave the dark color on the bottom of the pool since you would never see if someone had gone under by accident.  Oddly enough, the Lido pool was also empty for repairs as well.   They sure got that timing wrong. 

 

We asked one of the nice bar attendants why there were no small tables set up.  He said everything had to be tied down due to the high winds.  He hopes it gets better the closer we get to the island.

 

Lunch was mini burger sliders from room service.  It is a good way to limit what we eat at lunch.  If we went to the Lido, there are always too many tempting things to try.  And then you end up eating too much. 

 

Today we received an invitation to a Chocolate Afternoon Tea which will be held in Sydney on March 7^th.  But it will be on the Zaandam, which will be docked at Circular Quay, lucky dogs.   The special Culinary Ambassador Jacques Torres will host the 1pm to 2pm tea in the Zaandam's dining room.  A complimentary shuttle will take the guests from here between 11:45am and 12:15pm.   Return shuttles will take the folks back after the event.  We have to inform guest services by 8pm Friday February 20^th if we are going. 

 

We suspect that many people on our ship will be on tours at that time, or like us, galivanting about town on our own.  And the same goes for the Zaandam's guests.  So we have not decided whether or not to attend.  

 

Dinner was interesting with more choices we have not seen on the menu.    One of us ordered the crab cakes and the other turkey soup.  Both were very good.  We each had a different salad, followed by mains of sweet and sour chicken with carrots and rice topped with rice noodles.  We did have dessert with one chocolate-filled eclair and one sliced banana with hot fudge sauce.  And the better news of the night is that the clocks will go back one more hour.  That is fine with us.  Now we will be on eastern time, the same as NYC. 

 

A unique musical visionary with David and Dawn (a married couple) was the entertainment this evening.  Promised to be unlike anything you've seen before, we watched as the dining room emptied out by 8:45pm, just in time for them to get good seats in the World Stage.  

 

So much for day two at sea.  Two more to go……

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

18 Pictures

Report #43 Wednesday, February 11, 2026---Sea Day #1 Of 4---Enroute To Easter Island, Chile---Partly Cloudy---66 Degrees---65% Humidity---18mph Winds---Rough---12' Swells----Casual Dress

The first thing we noticed when turning on the TV early this morning was that the safety video was up and running.   Even though we did not have to do the muster drill yesterday, we did receive a letter from the Captain with all of the instructions for a real incident.   Must be maritime law that we are up to date on the general emergency procedure.  And it sure doesn't hurt that we know the details very well.  Once the video was complete, the regular programming came back on.  

 

At breakfast today, we found out there had been some unfortunate incidents yesterday with some of the guests.  While on an independent tour with a small group of friends, two people were robbed while in a restaurant.  It was described as a small venue with a limited number of tables and chairs on a patio.  One lady's purse and a backpack had been lifted with the robber taking off on a run.  We think he escaped with cell phones and debit cards among other valuables.  Then we heard about more folks having falls while in town, and one was injured while at a horse show tour.   All the more reason to watch every step we take, and most of all, not to carry large bags or purses. 

 

We have to make a slight correction on the actual time the Volendam departed the port of San Antonio yesterday.   Technically, it was 11:30pm and not the stated 10:30pm.  One of us had already turned the clocks back one hour well before we sailed out of the harbor.   So today when the Captain came on with the noon update stating we left before midnight, we had to think about that.  Currently he was doing a speed of 17.8 knots to make up some of the lost time.    We still have 1740 nautical miles to go to reach Easter Island.   The temperature was 66 degrees and the winds were 13 knots.  However, the sea swells were well over 12 feet causing a lot of pitching as well as rolling.  Fort most of the day, we all had a fine time walking around the ship.  He predicted the swell should decrease by tomorrow, so in the meantime he cautioned us to be most careful.  He added that the days will be getting warmer. 

 

As always, we kept busy all day, not wanting to risk doing a lot of walking.   There was another crew drill in the morning with the promenade deck closed to walking.   One of us that has kept up the daily hike went outside after the drill.  Few others were out there. 

 

There was a block party today with the chance to meet the new neighbors that boarded yesterday.  Complimentary wine was served on all passenger decks, but we are not sure if there was any food served.  Hard to eat snacks and hold a glass at the same time, while holding on with the motion of the ocean. 

 

Sometime in the late afternoon, we passed Robinson Crusoe Island on the port side.   Captain Rens mentioned this in his noon talk.  We have only been there once, and thought it was pretty neat.  Shortly after we left the island back in 2010, there was a tsunami that wiped out much of where we had been standing.  So sad.   Today the population is under 1000 people.  We learned that we came within 18 miles of the island and were able to take several photos of the famous place.  The photos were a little grainy, but acceptable. 

 

With the time change, we actually had the opportunity to see a sunset and take a few pictures.   It was a nice one at that.  Now we will have to watch for the sunrise tomorrow morning as well.

 

Tonight we had reservations for dinner in the Pinnacle.   It was just a regular evening, not a pop-up.   The manager admitted that the pop-up dinners have gotten popular and they seem to fill this restaurant better than the regular dinners.  We had our favorite wedge salads with clothesline bacon on the side.  Mains were Chilean sea bass and one small filet mignon.    We shared one order of French fries….the skinny ones.   There were no more than 19 people dining in there tonight, so our dinner was seamless.  No room for dessert, we were done by 9pm. 

 

Showtime featured a singer by the name of Michael  "Big Mike" Lynche.  And the appropriate movie in the Wajang was Mutiny on the Bounty with Marlon Brando.  Sitting at our window table in the Pinnacle, we did see a few folks sneak into the room to grab a few bags of popcorn.   And for that reason, they always make enough to cover it.  

 

So much for sea day #1 on the way to Easter Island.

 

Bill And Mary Ann

 

34 Pictures

Report #42 Tuesday, February 10, 2026---San Antonio, Chile--7am-4:30pm----Docked Starboard Side To Pier---Mostly Sunny----68 Degrees---79% Humidity---3mph Winds-----Casual Dress

Today's port of call was San Antonio, Chile and a port that we have only been to once back in 2020.  The stop here was always Valparaiso, a very nice resort-type of a city and very walkable.  For some reason and from what we have heard, the larger cruise ships were not welcomed to dock there anymore.  The new facilities in Valparaiso appear to appeal to the upper end of the cruise ships such as Seabourn, Regent, or Silverseas.   If we wanted to visit there today, we would have had to book a tour as it was over 50 miles away from San Antonio. 

 

The Volendam arrived nice and early to find the P & O Aurora already docked.  That ship is a little bigger than us with 76,000 gross tons and 1874 passengers.  The crew numbers 850 and  seems to have more of the British or Australian guests depending on where the cruise initiates. 

 

So what is there to do here?  The ship offered easy San Antonio and villages for 4  hours and $100 with a snack.  Isla Negra and museum was $110 for 3  hours.  Panoramic landscapes and a winery was 4 hours for $110.  Valparaiso and Vina Del Mar was 6  hours for $140.  Highlights of Santiago was 8  hours for $180 with lunch, while the best of Valparaiso with lunch was $180 for 7 hours.  Wine and horses was 6  hours for $230.  Two tours for guests leaving the ship today were transfers to Santiago for 9  hours and $200 with a lunch.  The second transfer was also to Santiago and a winery for 9 hours with lunch and $230.  The drive to Santiago one way was 1 ?  hours.  We remember it because we flew home from there many years ago.  

 

It was going to be a very nice day with blue skies and temps in the high 60's.  The humidity was 79% with 3.2 mph winds.    The wind speed would increase later in the day and become a problem.

 

There was a crew drill held at 9:30am with "man overboard".  That always gets our attention.  And it was a good time to leave the ship for us around 10am.  We did the same thing we did 6 years ago, and that was take a hike to a harbor promenade and shopping mall.     But first, we did recall that the port did not allow pedestrian traffic, so we had to take a shuttle from the ship to the port entrance and terminal.  It was a five minute or so ride in very nice coaches.  Once inside the terminal, we all had to go through xray.  That's when we spotted something really funny.  There is always a sign with warnings about what not to bring ashore.  No food, sandwiches, fruit, animals or beverages other than water and today coffee was allowed.  So before we went through the checkpoint, we noticed someone had left a bag of popcorn in the bin that we get in the Wajang Theater.   Guess they figured it was not worth the fine for such a small forbidden snack.  

 

Paseo Bellamar was the name of the harbor promenade where there were views of the bay, local shops, benches and street vendors.  Many fast-food mini cafes lined the waterfront.  Ice cream and popsicles were sold from stands or ladies pulling  Styrofoam boxes.    Even though today was Tuesday, this area was plenty busy with locals….many dragging their little kids along.  There were plenty of stands with balloons, sweets, and toys to keep the little ones happy. 

 

There were so many small fishing boats in this little harbor that we lost count.  The colors were brilliant and bright, making for really great photos.   This has to be one of the largest fishing hubs in the country. 

 

At the end of this promenade was a fish market, similar to the one we saw in Puerto Montt.   It was smelly, but no worse than any other fish markets in other locations around the world.  Everything seafood was offered for sale including take-away cerviches in plastic containers. All of the produce was really nice, but we did see boxes labeled "shipped from Ecuador".

 

The big draw to this market has to be the giant sea lions that will come here to beg for fish scraps.  One such male was laying on the rocks, and had been fighting at some point.  He was left with some ugly bruises.  These are the Patagonian sea lions we saw in Puerto Montt two days ago.   The males we saw here could weigh up to 770 pounds and are about 7 feet in length.    They have very large heads with a pug-like nose and a prominent light color mane.  They commonly dine on fish, squid, and octopus or anything else that gets handed to them.  They like to bask in the sun on beaches or large smooth rocks, like we saw in the fjords a few days ago.   The females which we did not see today can weigh 330 pounds and wean their pups at 12 months.  It is estimated there are 265,000 of them left in the wild.  

 

One huge sea lion, a male, had beached itself right below the fish market.  Laying over, it appeared lifeless.  However, it was watching through squinted eyes, because one of us went right down within several feet of it, and took some pictures.  Hello……that's what the zoom on the camera is for.  One of us did not go down to the sandy beach because I knew I could not run fast enough to escape this monster if it decided it did not like us that close.   Suddenly, the sea lion stood up on its front fins and must have been well over 6 feet in height.  By now, Bill had company as other guests had to get close-up pictures as well.  Eventually, sea lion decided he was tired of the attention and slithered out into the surf and dove into the bay. 

 

Very close to this beach was a pier where local people were taking small boats to somewhere.  Not sure if this was a water taxi pier or a tour of the bay dock.  Watching the stream of folks boarding the boats, they looked like they were touring the harbor where the two cruise ships were docked.  We could hear narration in Spanish as they left the market dock.  This was also a spot where the sea lions congregated for the free handouts of fish scraps. 

 

At the end of this market was a mall, which was accessed by stairs or ramps to a lower level group of stores.   These were more like convenient shops for snack-like food, a pharmacy, and a few trinket stores.  By going up an escalator, we entered the mall that was split it two sections.  The name of this mall was IPolar with the usual department stores, electronics, cosmetics, jewelry, and pharmacies.  The key occupant looked like a Levi shop.   There were restrooms, which we took advantage of.  Not needing anything at this mall, we exited and headed back to the promenade avenue.  Had we walked through the second floor of this mall, we would have entered the Plaza de Armas with colonial history, walkways, sea lion and boat scenery, and a handful of restaurants and some banks.  There did not seem to be a suitable restaurant for us, let alone a pizzeria, in this entire area.   There was an upper level in the mall that offered typical fast-food restaurants such as Subway.

 

Today almost 200 people left the ship and about the same number boarded.  We returned to the terminal by 1pm and ran into Florin who asked how we liked the Mariner Event yesterday.  We let him know his idea of adding the entertainment was brilliant, especially having Josh, the travel guide , sing for us.  Remarking how talented we thought he was, Florin informed us that Josh had a 20 year career as an opera singer.  We knew he was far more advanced in his training and was not a karaoke star.  We suggested a repeat performance would be welcomed in the future.  And on a side note, we informed Florin that his name had been omitted on our complimentary photo from the Mariner event.  He had a very surprised look and said he would investigate that. 

 

It was a room service lunch with Cobb salads a one mini slider each.  Their salads are far better through room service than in the dining room at night….more like entr?e size.  Then at 3:30pm, the Captain announced that it was mandatory for the newly embarked guests to attend the muster drill by scanning their room keys.  The rest of us were fine.  More information would come at a later announcement by the Captain, which we figured would be around 4:30pm the all aboard time.

 

But the announcement never came until 5:30pm , when Captain Rens told us the port was closed to traffic by the local authorities, and we would not be leaving due to winds over 15 knots.   We happened to notice that we were still bunkering fuel, but that was not mentioned.  And the P&O ship was also docked, not leaving either.  We still have 2000 nautical miles to reach Easter Island but have four sea days to do it.  Captain Rens promised fairly good weather, but we may expect some motion of the ocean (understatement).    There would be no problem making up the lost time. 

 

We were still docked at our dinner time of 7:45pm.  The winds did not appear to be all that bad and had definitely dropped well below the 15 knots level.  But here we were still docked.  Dinner was a bowl of different chicken soup and a salad.  Mains were huli-huli chicken with macaroni salad and one sliced beef brisket with mashed potatoes and veggies which resembled the short rib dish.  Both were delicious although could have been hotter.   We did not notice too many new guests in the upper dining room, so we expected they went to the welcome onboard steak dinner in the Lido instead.  No dessert tonight for us.

 

The ship finally left the port at 10:30pm where we felt the motion of the ocean instantly.  We suspect the four days at sea heading due west to Easter Island may be a rough ride. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

314 Pictures

Report #41 Monday, February 9, 2026----Day At Sea Enroute To San Antonio, Chile---Sunny----63 Degrees---91% Humidity---20mph Winds---3' Swell----Speed-16 Knots-----Casual Dress

A few days ago we received an invitation to attend the Mariner Recognition Event in appreciation of our President's Club member standing. It was held in the World Stage deck 4 forward.  This event would be followed by an exclusive Mariner's Lunch in the main dining room at 11:30am.   

 

We went to breakfast as usual in the Pinnacle Grill, mainly because we enjoy breakfast and lots of hot coffee.  One nice couple we met a few years ago had left us six special pink tulips they had won playing trivia on this first segment of the world cruise.  We have always suspected they were brainiacs, and winning these prized wooden tulips are a big deal.  Trouble is they have a houseful of them already, and decided not to pack these home.  And since we do not play Trivia, we have never even seen these cute little tokens.  Thanks to our breakfast buddies, we have six of them now.  And they do not need watering.   This couple will be going home tomorrow but will return when the ship gets to San Diego for the final segment of the World Cruise.  . 

 

So at 10am, we went to the show lounge and entered through the portside entrance with some of the other President's Club members.  They always greet us with a few officers, then escort us to a center and forward section with reserved seating.  Kumar had made sure the seating was not too low like it was on the Zaandam.  Drinks were passed around and we took mimosas.   

 

Hotel manager, Florin, stopped by and whispered that they were trying something new today with this event, and it would be a surprise.   We could not imagine what that could be.  Anyway, the room filled up with about 200 guests, followed by cruise director Erin who came to the microphone.  After the usual welcome speech, she introduced three crew members who took the stage to sing….one at a time.   All of them drew applause from the audience.  This was a different start to the event, and it was nice.  Then Josh, the travel director, sang a song from the Phantom of the Opera and "wowed" the audience.  A very talented fellow, he did a good job.

 

The medallion awardees were called up to the table to receive their medals from Captain Rens and Florin.  Instead of getting the medals on their beds to wear to the gathering, they did it the old way with the Captain doing the honors.  Everyone got a photo with the Captain and Florin.   You will never be bored with Captain Rens at the helm.  His comedic personality took over and added another dimension to the event.   Good thing that Florin goes along with the fun, because he knows that Captain Rens is one of a kind.

 

The last group to be introduced was our gang of President's Club members.  There was a total of 33 we think.  Names were announced, where we went up for photos, with the number of sea days everyone had.  This is the very first world cruise that we had the highest number of pure sea days.  The show was not over yet because the singers and dancers came on the stage with a rousing performance.    This was also the first time we saw one of their shows, and it was very entertaining. 

 

Last but not least, some of the crew members from each department took the stage with a farewell message for those who will be leaving tomorrow.   We bet there will not be a parade of cooks and waiters at dinner in the dining room tonight.  This worked for everything.  Although we did not attend the lunch, we did hear that Captain Rens visited each and every dining room table bidding farewell to the segment folks.   Then towards the end of the meal, they had the "napkin-waving"  song and parade. 

 

The Captain came on shortly after noon time with his updates.   He stated we have 255 nautical miles to go to San Antonio, Chile at a speed of 16 knots.  It was 66 degrees F outside and the skies were partly cloudy.  The swells were about 3 feet and will remain much the same for tomorrow.  Warmer temperatures will be ahead of us as well.

 

While working online, one of us spotted whales blowing their spouts far on the horizon.  Then we saw more whales even closer to the ship although it was never announced.   Good time for a light lunch of mini sliders and a Cobb salad. 

 

Dinnertime rolled around quickly as it seems to do every night.   We asked our head waiter how many folks were leaving and he said around 180.  The same number or a little less will be joining tomorrow.  The salad was nicoise and we both had it, except one had no tuna by special request.   Mains were one Wiener Schnitzel and one Nasi goreng, the favorite Indonesian treat.  Both were good.  We sort of shared a small dessert of apple strudel with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

 

And as we had guessed, there was no crew parade in the dining room at least not at the second seating.   The Grand World Voyage Band played Sacred Fire by Santana for the entertainment tonight.   One elderly lady had drifted out of the lounge as we were entering the elevator after dinner.  She complained that her head was spinning with the extreme noise of the music.  We understand how she felt…..way too loud for some.

 

Back at our room, we had a complimentary 8 x 10 photo in our mail slot that had been taken at the ceremony.  And there were several pieces of luggage out in the hallway for the folks that would be leaving tomorrow.    Segment one was over.

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

28 Pictures

Report #40 Sunday, February 8, 2026---Puerto Montt, Chile---Anchored--Using Ships Tenders---8am-4:30pm---Sunny--48 Degrees--0 Winds---80% Humidity-----Casual Dress

Puerto Montt, Chile, is our port of call for the day.  The city is located up one of the many channels where there are lakes, volcanoes, and glacial peaks.  The ship offered some excursions, which were mostly out of town.   The most affordable one was a tour of the town and a drive to Puerto Varas and Frutillar for 4  hours for  $85.  Petrohue Cascades and city of roses was 5 hours for $95.  How about horseback riding for 4  hours and $150.  Lakes and volcanoes was 8 hours and $170.  Petrohue River rafting was 6 hours and $190, while the falls and lake cruise  was 7 hours for $195.  A taste of Chile with lunch was 6 hours for $210 and fly fishing on the Maulin River for 6 hours was $420 with lunch.  On past trips here, we went to the lake and falls and found it very scenic.

 

It appeared that the weather was going to be foggy and overcast all day.  The Volendam dropped anchor in the Reloncavi Sound with a short tender ride to the newly remodeled cruise terminal.  By 10am, the fog had lifted and the sun was peeking out.  So we left the ship after the thundering herd went off on their tours.  The waters of the bay were about smooth as silk, which was nice, especially after that thrilling tender ride we had while in the Falklands.   

 

We did have the ship's map, but the ones they handed out in the terminal were far superior.   We remembered that if we wanted to see the fish market and all of the souvenir stands on the way there, we needed to turn left on the main waterfront road.   Not much has changed here in the last six years.  The sidewalks were still broken up and there were water leaks, which will have to wait for Monday we guess.   The area we were going to is called Angelmo, a very historic and bohemian neighborhood.   Along the road, there was a string of stalls where locals sell the most useful souvenirs such as wool sweaters, ponchos, hats, scarves and slippers.  It sort of reminded us of the Peruvian clothing we found in Lima last year.   There were thousands of trinkets as well and locally-made jewelry.  One keepsake was a miniature pizza oven or stove with a chimney.  It appeared they were used to burn incense inside of them with the metal chimney putting out the smoke.

 

Because today was a Sunday, the vendors were setting up their stands later.   We would check out their things on the way back.  At the market, we walked through the fresh fish stands with everything seafood imaginable.  Some types of shellfish were a mystery to us, but there were plenty we recognized.  Salmon is the number one fish sold, along with a wide range of shellfish.  All of which one of us is extremely allergic.  At one end of the market, there were jars of accoutrements to go with the fish products.   Fresh produce and rounds of cheese were also  for sale.

 

But the best part of this area has to be the patio outside the market, where some of the local seals line up to get the scraps.  These seals are described as Patagonian sea lions.  We sat on a bench far above the receded water line and watched as three seals sparred with each other.  Surrounding this area are a number of restaurants.  Some are fast-food type cafes while others have sit-down service.  Their menu choices included chilote stews, cazuelas, fried empanadas, and seafood stews.  Take-away items looked like bay shrimp salads and shellfish bowls.  Locals would purchase these bowls at side tables outside the market, and sit on the benches along the waterfront here.  

 

This was the best place to see a variety of birds and some wildlife.  We saw a pair of most unusual ibis, terns, Dominican gulls, and many smaller cormorants called neotropic cormorants.  There are Magellanic penguins nearby as well as humpback whales, Peale's dolphins, and by the lakes, there are greater egrets, lapwings, black-necked swans, and crested caracaras.  We did see flocks of a type of vulture along with some smaller hawks.  

 

It was getting more crowded by the minute with local families coming to eat lunch here.  So we slowly headed back checking out the souvenir tables along the way.   Copper jewelry was being sold at a few tables, but their prices were too high we thought.  And the vendors were constantly polishing them, which is something I do not need to do.    One item I was searching for was a larger coin or pill pouch, which we found at the stalls closer to the pier.  It was a whopping $2 USD.  Useful and easy to pack.  We will see a lot more of these items when we reach San Antonio.  

 

If we had the time and energy,  we could have walked to downtown.   However, we have been there and knew we could not find a place to eat lunch, except for maybe in the mall called Ripleys.  And that was more like fast food.  We had noticed while watching the downtown area from our veranda, there was a lot of activity near the mall and church.  Thinking it was a riot or protest, we felt better not to go there.  When we got the nice map in the terminal, we asked the tourist info gal what was happening at the mall.   She laughed and said that was a typical Sunday morning thing with the locals, and never a protest.  Good to remember.    Later in the day, we saw a bike race happening in the same area.  Sundays are big for recreation here.

 

Going back through the terminal, we did the xray check where both of us set off the alarm.  My knee always does it, but why for Bill, who knows. Could have been his camera in his pocket. They just told us to continue through anyway.

 

The gangway was as steep as it could get due to the low tide.  But boarding the tenderboat was easy peasy.   We were back in our room before 2pm where we ordered room service for lunch.   Of course, it was the best time to download photos until the all onboard time of 4:30pm. 

 

The Captain always comes on at that time, but today he was a half hour late.   He said they were lifting the anchor by 5pm while waiting for the final tender to arrive with a late tour group.  Lucky the Captain waits for these excursions to return, which does not always happen.   We have 609 nautical miles with a speed of 17.2 knots to reach the next port of San Antonio, Chile.   We used to dock at the nicer Valpariso, but it appears that the smaller ships go there these days.   The Captain expects a nice day at sea with the temperatures in the 60's. 

 

Tonight the Super Bowl would be televised and shown in the World Stage and also in our suites.  Unlike all of the games we have been to on every world cruise, the timing on this one was far later.  Pregame activities begn at 7:30pm which is dinner time for many of us.   So  the dining room had few people there from what we could see.  Our guess is that the Lido was busy right after we left the port.  Not all that hungry, we had one salad, and a bowl of chicken ginger soup.  Mains were one rack of lamb, and one lasagna.  Both ample servings, we still had room for sliced watermelon and a small berry panna cotta.  

 

Super Bowl LX was televised in our room like promised.   Congratulations Seahawks!   Tomorrow will be the final sea day of this first segment.

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

327 Pictures

Report #39 Saturday, February 7, 2026---Sea Day #2 Of 2--Cruising The Chilean Fjords Enroute To Puerto Montt, Chile--Overcast--57 Degrees Warming Up--19mph Winds--96% Humidity---Dressy Dress

Well today was a whole different story when it comes to scenic cruising.    However, it did not start out that way.  During the night, the Volendam had to go out into the Pacific Ocean, where we encountered rough waters once again.   When we woke up, all we saw was fog, rain, with 15.6mph winds.   The humidity was 98% but that was due to the rain showers.  It was a bit warmer though, and we know for a fact that we have left the bitter cold of the Southern Oceans. 

 

Our destination today was cruising Chilean fjords as we headed towards Puerto Montt.  Once we began entering the waters of the fjords, the fog gradually lifted, the rain stopped, and we actually saw blue skies and sun.  Never mind if there were some scattered clouds, the sunshine was most welcomed.  Now that's what we are talking about…..real scenery.

 

Captain Rens came on with his noon talk and said the ship was doing a speed of 15 knots and the temperature was 59 degrees.  It was sunny and he could hear birds singing.   Well, maybe that's stretching it a little, but we agree.  It was much different than yesterday's gloomy skies and the lack of scenic cruising.  We still had 280 nautical miles to go to reach the next stop at Puerto Montt, but we were going to do it slowly to give us all a chance to take in the views and keep a lookout for some birds and seals. 

 

The fjord pilot took us into narrow channels and very close to the shorelines of numerous islands.    We saw the same fish farms we spotted 6 years ago while on the Amsterdam.  You had to really search for them since all that is visible are the confines that hold the nets.  The markers are the floating white buoys that hold up the net structure.    Sometimes a fishing boat or small boat will be seen with the locals checking the nets or feeding the fish. 

 

We did see the seals stretched out on a couple of spits off the shoreline.  There was a small rock cropping where the large beasts were basking in the warmth of the morning sun.  Further up was a short red and white lighthouse with dozens of seals sprawled over the smooth rocks.  It's just a guess, but they might be the fur seals .  They barely moved as we passed close by them.  Ships must sail through here all of the time and they are not disturbed by them. 

 

It was so enthralling, we almost forgot lunch.  Room service mini burger sliders fit the bill with a small chunk of watermelon.  Honestly, they are the best tasting little burgers you can get here. 

 

Also seen were some shags or cormorants, terns, sooty shearwaters, gulls, and one big, crested caracara.  He was the frosting on the cake today.   All-in-all it was a beautiful day to be sailing in these still and almost silent waters most of the afternoon into evening.  Except for checking out the starboard side, we really did not need to leave our veranda.  We were surrounded with scenery right up to dinnertime.

 

This evening was "dressy" and since the sailing remained smooth with no rocking and rolling, it was easier for the folks to comply with the dress code.  It's funny, but we think the menu on dressy night is more like a formal evening.  There were items like escargot, mixed seafood cocktails, surf and turf, and savory duck instead of the promised lamb chops.   We ordered the spring salad with bits of apple, cucumber, green olives and crispy fresh lettuce.  Nice for a change.  No escargots for us tonight , thank you.  One of us had the surf and turf with a decent sized lobster, while the non-fish eater among us had just the filet mignon.  It was not huge but sliced thin and tender as ever.   Instead of potatoes, rice pilaf was served with it.

 

Usually we do not do dessert, but tonight they had rice pudding with cinnamon sprinkled on it.  Both of us indulged and it was worth it.  Very good. The scenery continued all through dinner although the sunny side was draped to keep from blinding the folks on the port side of the dining room. 

 

A  singer by the name of Mariana Mazu & pianist Sebastian Fucci combined forces to entertain the folks tonight in the World Stage.  On the way back to our room, a waiter was headed down to the Wajang Theater with a full tray of bagged popcorn.  When he passed us, he handed us a bag.  Now that was nice.  We have yet to go to a movie in the Wajang, so this will be a treat. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

114 Pictures

Report #38 Friday, February 6, 2026---Sea Day #1 Of 2---Scenic Cruising In Amalia Or Brujo Glacier And Sarmiento Channel----Cloudy And Rain Showers---52 Degrees---15mph Winds

We woke up to miserable weather with fog, rain, and overcast skies.  Our itinerary showed that we were supposed to be scenic cruising of Amalia or Brujo Glaciers, then later, cruising the Sarmiento Channel.   However, we watched all day either from the promenade deck or our veranda.  No glaciers that we could see on either side of the channel we were in.  We were surrounded by a series of islands with tons of wind which was not as bone-chilling as Antarctica, but somewhere in the 50-degree range.  Humidity was up due to the rain, and the winds were listed as 14.3 mph.  Somehow we think that windspeed was not correct. 

 

During his noon talk, the Captain said something about the very shallow waters we were in and he needed to maintain a speed of 19 knots to keep in deeper waters.  At least that was the way we interpreted his message.  We did see several islands with some little waterfalls.  Surprisingly, there were few birds here.  And scanning the islands, some of which were large, there was no sign of life at all. 

 

At one point as we got into more open waters, we did spot a black-browed albatross or two and some gulls.  

 

There were the usual suspects for activities including continuing talks by the guest lecturers.  Iain Miller is still onboard with more Antarctic trivia, and Vonda Cummings spoke about science diving and research in the icy depths.  Brrrr….   Dr. Miller spoke all about the glaciers of the Patagonian fjords which we still hope to see tomorrow. 

 

At one point in the late afternoon, the ship went out of the protection of the islands and out into open waters.  Instantly, we felt the motion of the ocean, which we suspect will last all evening. 

 

Tonight's dress suggestion was "50's style".    Do they suggest poodle skirts and white t-shirts with the sleeves rolled up?  We did see the white t-shirt in the dining room tonight.   We may have missed the poodle skirts, but polka-dotted ribbons in the hair seemed to be popular with the  ladies.  

 

The menu was cute with lunch-type appetizers and mains.  We ordered the typical salad with tomatoes and cucumbers, and one little pulled pork appetizer with BBQ sauce.  One of us had the HAL burger topped with cheese, tomatoes, and a thin slice of ham.   The best way to eat it was by using the knife and fork or else it would have been messy.  Skinny fries came with it.  The other entrne was a Philly steak sandwich on a soft roll.  Instead of Swiss cheese, they smothered it with melted cheddar cheese without warning.  Sometimes the kitchen runs out of something, like the Swiss cheese and they substitute a different type.   We suspect that no one ordered it at the first seating in our area of the dining room, and our waiters did not know about the switch.  Next time, we will ask first.  If the change had been bleu or gorgonzola cheese, we would have sent it back. 

 

There was no show in the World Stage tonight, but a Sock Hop inviting the guests to roll back the clock to rock and roll music, poodle skirts, and leather jackets.   Sounds like the set of Happy Days.

 

We are hoping that we do some scenic cruising tomorrow with the Chilean Fjords.  Back in 2020, the scenery was fantastic.  Guess we were lucky and did not know it.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

24 Pictures

Report #37 Thursday, February 5, 2026--Punta Arenas, Chile--9am-7:30pm--Docked Starboard Side To Pier--Mostly Sunny--52 Degrees--33mph Winds--50% Humidity----Casual Dress

The country of Chile was our destination today starting with the city of Punta Arenas.  The capital of this South American country is Santiago and the population is around 17 million people that speak Spanish.   The Chilean pesos are 857.50 to $1 USD.  Many vendors and shops will take credit cards and US dollars.  This country is long and thin and has it all such as the driest desert on earth, glacial fields, sand dunes, fertile valleys, volcanoes, and ancient forests. 

 

The weather this morning was still cold but not as bone-chilling at 52 degrees F.  The humidity was 50 % and the winds were listed at 24 mph.  Truthfully, the wind was blowing a gale so much that after we docked, the waves bombarded the port hull and made the ship bounce.   It was apparent they were having problems getting the ropes secured, because we went beyond the 9am docking time.  We also witnessed two local tugboats pushing against the ship's hull forward and  aft to keep it in place.  

 

There was conflicting info regarding whether or not we were docking or dropping anchor and tendering.  The Daily newsletter said docking, while the map said tendering to shore.   Nothing was said to clarify the confusion, since we were already docked.  The ship was cleared by 9:20am, and everyone was required to walk the long and very windy pier to the terminal building.  No food or drinks were allowed off except water.   And we all had to carry the affidavit we filled out for the Chilean authorities.  In case someone asked to see it, we had it available. 

 

Even the tour buses were not allowed to come to the ship to pick up their guests.    There were 12 excursions today starting with the sights of Punta Arenas for 3 hours and $96.  A voyage into the past with the Magellan discovery was 3 hours and $100.  Two excursions for $130 were Punta Arenas on foot for 3 hours and the other was Fort Bulnes and colonization of Patagonia for 4  hours.   The tycoons of Patagonia was 4 hours and $140, while hiking the Straits of Magellan was 4 hours for the same price.  Kayaking the Straits was 4 hours and $200 (doubt this was possible today), and hiking the Straits was 4 hours for $140.  Flight of the condor – a close-up encounter was 4 hours for $270.  Punta Arenas sights & Patagonia with a BBQ lunch was 8 hours for $280.  Magdelana Penguin reserve was 5 hours for $310 and a taste of Patagonia was 3 hours and $370.  Last was Magdelena Island & penguin preserve in a speedboat was $$390 for 4 hours.  

 

Another crew drill began after 9:30am, so we headed off by 9:45am.   Like we stated, the walk on the very busy and windy pier took us to a terminal where we had to go through xray to enter the town.    Tour buses and private guides were there picking up their customers.  We wondered how many people lost their scarves, glasses, and baseball caps  in the extreme wind?  Oh well, we had been warned. 

 

We did pick up a city map with more detail than the ship's map.  Have you ever noticed that when you are standing in a line to get local info, some rude people step right in front of you as if you are invisible?  That happened today, but we were able to close up the ranks and keep our place in line.  All aboard today was 7:30pm, so what's the rush to get into town?   This terminal also had a desk where folks were boarding the Ventus Australes, a small luxury expedition vessel with 4-to-7-night round-trip itineraries with zodiac landings.  It is all-inclusive.    They travel around Cape Horn, the Beagle Channel, and all of the nearby glaciers.  They do not head to Antarctica that we could see.  

 

It would be a walking day for us, locating some of the familiar sights we recalled from 6 years ago and before that.  The last time we visited here, we docked at a different place and were provided a shuttle to the Plaza De Armas.  Docked at the Muell Arturo Pier, we were within walking distance of that same central plaza.  Making our way along the waterfront, we crossed the street and went inland about ? mile from the pier.  This central square has a statue of Magellan where many tourists touched the foot of the lowest male statue.  The bronze foot was worn smooth from the constant touching.  We even saw one man kiss the toes.  So what's the significance of this?  We guessed perhaps it was the chance of returning here in the future, or a fertility wish.  Nope, not the last one since there were too many elderly people doing it.    Doing some research later, it turned out to be for good luck, of course.  

 

The statue was surrounded with plenty of benches, and we took one of them to watch the activity.  The best was a group of youngsters on a field trip.  The little ones sure had a lot of energy….fun to watch.  Two policemen arrived on horseback, to patrol the square we guess.  There were police vehicles parked there and also a drone they were setting up.  The drone was much larger close-up than we imagined.  It was then we wondered why so much security.  Even the patrol vehicles had every window covered with heavy screening, preventing the bad people from breaking the glass.

 

We located the street that continued uphill to Cerro La Cruz, or the viewpoint.  A wonderful view of the Straits of Magellan, Tierra del Fuego, and surrounding peaks can be seen from here.  New benches had been added to a flower-planted median strip on the main drive here, so we stopped for a while sitting in what sun there was.  In order to access the viewpoint, one had to climb some very steep steps to the upper road.  One of us did that hike 6 years ago, while the other sat down below visiting with some local cats.   Today, both of us stayed on the lower street because it appeared the cypress trees were half blocking the view anyway.    Other passengers we know also choice the same path and recommended we take photos of the house Shackleton lived while plotting his plan to rescue his stranded men.  The house resembled a small castle and the name is Captain Milward's House….not opened to the public. 

 

Heading back downhill, we passed by a church and more historic buildings, some under remodeling.  Back to the central square, we discovered that many of the local restaurants were not opened.  Lunch in town would not happen today.   On the corner of the square was a famous hotel, The Sara Braun Palace.  We toured this icon on a past visit and discovered a nice restaurant on the side.  It was more of a glass atrium, but today, it was not opened to the public.   By now, it was high noon, and every church or cathedral was sounding their bells.  We checked out the items being sold from several street vendors, but everything was the same.  Lots of magnets, knit items, or trinkets were offered for sale.  And you never know if you might need one of those mate tea cups and metal straws.  Honestly, we could live without them. 

 

Making our way back to the waterfront, we hiked all the way to the monuments that face the Straits of Magellan.  There is a sculpture of a ship's bow with immigrants and soldiers coming to this part of the world.   It resembled what we saw in Lisbon Portugal last year.  Further up the promenade is another sculpture resembling the Arctic Circle monument of a globe and a ship.  It represents Magellan's circle the world venture we read later.  Looking for restaurants along this strip was not working.  We did see a waterfront building that had marvelous murals painted on the walls. 

 

We took photos all the way back to the hotel we had passed earlier in the morning.  Going inside, we saw they did have a small serve-yourself caf?, but not a real lunch venue.   We went back to the terminal and got back on the ship by 2pm, wind-blown and ready for a room service lunch.   We ordered a salad, a hot bowl of soup and mini burger sliders, the best little hamburgers on the ship.  The wind and waves were still hitting the hull and bouncing as if we were sailing in a rough sea.   If anyone had an afternoon nap in mind, it wasn't happening today.  It was a good time to work on pictures and research for the rest of the afternoon.

 

It was around 8pm before the ship finally left the dock and headed back into the Straits of Magellan.  Watching from our table on deck 5, we held our breathes until the ship cleared the dock.   Also leaving ahead of us was the Ventus Australes heading for Cape Horn we assume.  Dinner included salad, soup and chicken Kiev with risi-bisi.  We had one slice of key lime pie, and called it a night.

 

Now we will have 2 days of scenic sailing….maybe.

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

303 Pictures

Report #36---Wednesday, February 4, 2026--Ushuaia, Argentina--Docked Port Side To Pier Until 12:30 pm Then Anchored Till 3:30pm Using Tenders--Partly Cloudy--46 Degrees---27mph Winds----Casual Dress

Today's port of call was Ushuaia, Argentina, which technically began last night when we had to arrive by midnight to get our spot at the dock.  Most visitors begin or end their cruises in Ushuaia in southern Argentina.   Located at the end of the Andes, this city is the best place to get civilized luxuries or outfit yourselves for an unbelievable journey into the freezing cold.   Ushuaia claims to be the southernmost city in the world.  However, a town called Puerto Williams in Chile is actually 8.6 miles closer to the South Pole.   But who's counting?

 

Yamana nomadic Indians lived here until missionaries arrived from England in 1869.  Not many native Argentinians wanted to live in such a dismal climate where it is almost always windy, wet, and very cold.  So in the late 1900's, government tax incentives attracted more businesses which led to Ushuaia becoming an expanded community.  The population went from 7171 to 57,000 people where tourism became the town's prosperity.  And it remains so to this day. 

 

There were several tour options starting with Beagle Channel and wildlife for 2 hours and $100.  Beagle Channel on a catamaran was 5 hours for $110.  Trekking in Ushuaia was 4 hours and $120, while Lake Escondito scenic alpine drive was 4 hours and $150.  A 4x4 road safari was 4 hours for $180 and the National Park/Beagle Channel was 6 hours and $210.  The train to the end of the world was 3 hours and $240 (we did this one years ago), and a King Crab feast for 5 hours was $270.  And last was an exclusive city tour and food for 2 hours for $320. 

 

Little did we know that when we opened our drapes this morning, we would be docked right across from the Celebrity Equinox.   Built in 2009, the Equinox holds from 2850 to 3420 guests and a crew of 1000.  It is 121,878 gross tons and was refurbished in 2019.  They are on a 14 day trip that includes Antarctica.    Now we are not sure if this was the ship we had to make room for. 

 

We had breakfast as usual in a less than full Pinnacle Grill due to tours we think.   Knowing that nothing was opened in town until 10am, we left the ship by 9:45am.  All aboard was 1:30pm, so we knew there would be no time for lunch onshore.  And there was a change in plans.  The Volendam had to move out of the dock by 10:30am, and drop anchor in the bay.  Tender boats would be used to transport guests back sometime after 11am or so.  It appeared there was a container ship that needed our dock space, and the Captain did not have any success in changing their minds. 

 

This town is quite walkable except for the steep streets that go up to the main shopping and restaurant streets.   You have to be part Billy goat to hike up a block.  Some of these narrow streets had steps, which are even worse on the knees.    Following the ship's map was near impossible.  We even had other people from the ship asking us where the museums were located.  Darn if we knew.  Taking the same path as we did in 2020, we passed by the interesting shops and cafes that were roasting lambs over a wood fire pit in their windows.   Sure smelled good, but none of the restaurants looked like they opened for lunch.   The description of this town included happening restaurants, boisterous bars, and welcoming B&B's.   And there were plenty of pubs for sure.  Speaking of pubs, yesterday we all got a notice advising us to be careful drinking the local Pisco Sours because they use raw egg white in them.  No one wants to chance a gastrointestinal illness.  Good reason to stick to beer, we say.

 

We walked all the way to the Naval Armada, then decided to head back to the center of town.  The last time we were here, we located the Hard Rock Cafe and bought t-shirts.  So we wanted to do the same thing today.  Lunch would have been nice, but there was no way we would chance not getting back to the ship by 1:30pm.   Their shop opened at 10am, but the cafe did not open until 12pm.  We did get our t-shirts and our special discount for wearing one of the city t's and a HRC scarf.  The bill came to an outrageous 88,000 pesos, but converted to the US dollar, were what these souvenir shirts cost elsewhere around the world.  Maybe even a little less expensive. 

 

Walking down this same street, we passed by several street vendors selling souvenirs.  There was one friendly lady with a cart of custom-made necklaces and earrings.  They weren't the run-of-the-mill stone jewelry we were seeing, but more like Mexican items.  She spoke English and asked where we were from.  San Francisco, we said, and she replied she had lived in Santa Rosa in the north bay.   Small world, we chatted for awhile until more interested customers gathered.  She did tell us summer in Ushuaia was fine, but not the winters.  She claimed it rained every day and it stayed dark all but 5 hours of the day.   For that reason, she heads to a beach somewhere else in the world.  Being retired, she said she can take her collection and sell anywhere as long as it is a warm place.  We agreed.

 

Stopping at the info center in town yielded nothing since all the information is gathered by a QR code.  Oh well, so much for that.  Around 11:45am, the Captain sounded the ship's horn with one long blast.  We had noticed that the Volendam had not moved from her slip at 10:30am.  Just by chance, we ran into Florin who told us that the bunkering of fuel had taken much longer than expected, so the ship was not moved.  Or perhaps that's what the Captain told the local authorities.  In the long run, it did not matter since we just missed our chance to board on the pier.    The horn went off twice more, and by 12:15pm, we had to get on the tender with a very steep gangway, and one big step to get into the boat.   There were plenty  of crew members helping everyone that needed help.

 

We happened to be the first boat, but the platform was not completed yet, so they held us at the pier for 15 minutes or more before we began sailing back to the now anchored ship.   The winds had picked up a lot by now, so getting back onboard also needed help for most folks.  We were back by 1pm.  Did the ship leave at 1:30pm as stated in our itinerary?  Nope, it turned out that we would not leave the bay for two more hours.  Tours may have been late and the winds delayed our sailing.   The plans were to open the bow for scenic sailing of the Beagle Channel and Glacier Alley.  Captain Rens came on and apologized for the need to tender today as it was out of his control.  He intends to write a letter of complaint to the head office in regards to the negative treatment he received today.

 

Lunch was 2 cannonball burgers and fries from the Dive-In.  Expecting it to be crowded, it wasn't and the wait for the food was short.   

 

We still have 283 nautical miles to Punta Arenas, Chile tomorrow.  He said he was picking up the speed to 17 knots so we can see Glacier Alley during dinner time and before it gets dark.  The bow could not be opened due to 50 knot winds.   We doubt any of the outside decks were opened.  There were five glaciers to be seen, but all of them were on the starboard, so we missed most of the scenic sailing.   During dinner, it appeared that it was raining or there was a heavy fog and the scenery was not visible anymore. 

 

Dinner warmed us up with one bowl of chicken noodle soup and one seafood cocktail.  Both of us had salads, although the lettuce part has been getting smaller .  With re-provisioning today, we suspect the new lettuce will appear tomorrow.  Our entrees were one chicken piccata and a Dutch meatball meal with sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots.  Very different -  very Dutch.  There was no room for dessert.

 

The show tonight was instrumentalist Sebastian Fucci with tunes from Queen to Chopin, Bach to the Beatles.   The Dam Band in the Ocean Bar was going strong, which seemed to attract a lot of folks enjoying their Have-It -All packages.  Good for them.

 

Tomorrow we will be in Chile.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

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Report # 35 Tuesday, February 3, 2026---Sea Day #7 Of 7--- Enroute To Ushuaia, Argentina---Cloudy And Overcast With Rain Showers---45 Degrees---29mph Winds---92% Humidity---Casual Dress

Well, we had hopes of seeing the scenic cruising around Cape Horn and the Faro Les Eclaireurs, or the famous lighthouse that marks the Beagle Channel some time today.  However, there was no mention of it in the Daily newsletter as to the approximate time we would arrive to the area.  We asked some friends at breakfast if they heard any announcements we may have missed, and they said no, they were not aware of any sight-seeing.  It was printed on our official itinerary as "Drake Passage and Cape Horn" – cruising only.  We did it in 2020 with Captain Mercer and looked forward to it again today. 

 

It became crystal clear to us when Captain Rens came on with his noontime talk.    He gave the usual temps and winds, and sea conditions, which we knew were deep swells with the increased motion during the evening.   The only mention of Cape Horn was that we had sailed past it, and it was just too rough to get close to it.   He had sped up to get us out of the Drake Passage and into  slightly calmer waters.  We still had 120 nautical miles to reach Ushuaia tomorrow morning.  The temperature will be a chilly 48 degrees F with winds of 13 kilometers.  The skies will remain overcast and cloudy and the swells would continue to be confused at 5 to 9 feet high on the way there.  His plan was to pick up the local pilot at 3am in order to be docked by 7am.   In ending his talk, he recited a touching poem about Antarctica and the many souls that had lost their lives there.

 

Anyway, that was the plan.   Sometimes these well-laid out plans go awry.  And they did.    Around 3pm, we noticed that the ship's speed had picked up enough to toss us around even more.  The driving wind even blew our veranda door open without warning.  Something had changed.  Then the Captain came back on the speakers and announced that he was taking the ship directly into Ushuaia tonight instead of tomorrow morning.  If we heard it correctly, a commercial vessel was going to take our spot unless we got there first.  In addition to that, we would be needing provisions and fuel, which could be loaded tonight by the crew.  Even more pending was the fact he had three medical disembarks.  We knew of the one lady, but two more came as a surprise. 

 

We kept busy as usual catching up on photos.  Ship activities went on as usual with three lectures and three sessions of trivia.  We still need to catch up on those talks on our TV. 

 

Dinner was in the Pinnacle Grill this evening with their regular menu, not the pop-ups.  In order to do justice to this meal, we did not have lunch, but just some mixed nuts and an apple.   It wasn't too busy at 8pm, so the service was excellent.  For starters, we had the wedge salad with their special ranch dressing.  Finally, we added one order of clothes- line bacon, which was perfect cut up on the salads.   Their bread basket was filled with fresh tasty rolls and crispy lavage. 

 

Entrees were the same with lamb chops (cooked medium), a small baked potato with the toppings, and a shared bowl of sauteed mushrooms.   Passing on dessert, one of us indulged with one macaroon cookie.  We had to laugh because these little morsels resemble tiny cheeseburgers.  There are no more chocolate candies and we do not miss them. 

 

There was a grand variety show in the World Stage this evening.  Five of the recent acts were combing for an evening of movement, magic, and music. 

 

Back in our room, we saw that there was going to be a nice sunset tonight.  Bundling up, one of us took some photos of the orange-lit sky with the mountains and islands as a backdrop.  There were even albatrosses flying along with the ship.  Even though we missed the Horn, this sighting of the sunset and the albatrosses made up for the deletion.

 

So the plan was to pick up the pilot at 9pm, and be alongside the dock by 12am.  Sure hope our guys have heavy jackets because working outside all night will be bone-chilling.  Although he did not say it, we highly doubt that anyone will be let off of the ship tonight.  Most everything would be closed anyway.  Oh yes, and one more last minute change happened.  Captain Rens said the Volendam will be docked until 10:30am, then he will have to move the ship away from the dock, and use the tenders to transport the guests until 1:30pm.  He cautioned those folks with mobility problems to make sure if they do get off early, they must be capable of tendering back.    All aboard remains at 1:30pm.  A very short day for sure.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

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Report #34 Sunday, February 2, 2026---Sea Day #6 Of 7---Enroute To Ushuaia, Argentina---Heavy Overcast With Rain Showers---34 Degrees Climbing To 41 Degrees---26mph Wind--72% Humidity----Casual Dress

Unless you got up during the night, you may not have noticed the increasing motion of the ocean as we have headed back into the Drake Passage.   Last night we heard about some accidents that have happened onboard.  One involved a broken arm and several black eyes from falling.  The worst case was a lady that fell and broke her hip while out on the bow a few days ago.  All the more reason to be extremely careful walking anywhere and everywhere on the ship. 

 

Neither of us had a problem sitting down while working on the computer most of the day.  Only one of us has been faithful to the daily routine of walking the promenade deck in the morning.  Very few people have been outside there due to the extreme cold or wet decks from rain or snow flurries.  Most all the day's activities were conducted inside the ship, with the exception of pickleball.  With the wind and rolling of the ship, we don't know if this activity really took place.   

 

Captain Rens came on with his noon talk and hoped we all had a fantastic time in Antarctica.   We are headed due north now, sailing through the Drake Passage once again.  We are doing an average of 15 knots and have another 480 nautical miles to reach Ushuaia on February 4^th.  The temperature has come up to 41 degrees F with winds at 25 knots.  There is a lot of motion due to 6 foot swells that are "confused".  With the ship's stabilizers out, we will have the smoothest ride possible.  Smooth??  Not exactly.  Tomorrow they are expecting increased wind since a low- moving system is ahead of us.  It will be warmer, if you consider 47 degrees F warm.   It will remain cloudy.

 

Today's weather was dismal for the most part.  High clouds and overcast stayed with us most of the morning.  We were so busy working, we did not notice the rain drops on our railing and veranda deck.   Some sun did appear, but there was no warmth in it.  Just bright and glary.  We do know that the sea conditions in this area of the  Drake Passage can be 10 times worse than what we are experiencing.  It might be a meclizine day for one of us.  We hope to catch up on the port talks and lectures that we have missed.  We assume the guest speakers will be leaving us in Argentina or Chile.

 

Dinner had some interesting items such as chilled lumpia, rice paper wrapped with pulled pork, toasted peanuts and hoisin sauce.  Neither of us was game to try the tofu entr?e, but we did have different salads, and mains of breaded chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, but hold the spinach.  We call it KFC chicken and it was quite good.   It has to be a favorite of the crew as well.   No dessert for either of us tonight.  We happened to run into hotel director, Florin.  He asked how we were doing regarding the leak in our room.  So far, so good, we told him.  He said the plumber informed him that he found an old drain that was causing the leaking.  We asked him why we were not able to use our President's Club complimentary dinners for the Tamarind venue in the Pinnacle Grill.  Just last November, we used some while on the Zaandam for that "pop-up".   He admitted to fighting for that perk for our group but had no luck with Seattle.  However,  he promised to check into this again.  Then he asked how we were liking the dining room dinner.  We said it was even better than last year's menu.  The head chef has been doing a fine job with tasty meals and very good baked items.  

 

Doc Dixon with "Too Much Coffee"  was the magician/comedian act this evening.  Does anyone know what the game of Rummikub is?   At 8:30pm, the Library filled with folks playing that game.  It is nice that some different options are offered in place of the show, a movie, the bars or the Casino.    By the way, the Casino has been mostly empty every time we pass through there.  This is sure a different crowd from the last cruise we did in the fall to the South Pacific. 

 

One more day of rocking and rolling, and we will be on solid land.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

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