March 6, 2025

Day two in Antarctica is the type of day you cruise for, live for. The amazing part of it was the clouds that lifted showing the mountain peaks and providing a textured sky for a beautiful cruise day. There was no wind, so the mountains and clouds reflected in the sea. The temperatures were in the mid-30s but with the sun it felt warmer. It was a great day to spend time outside.

The first thing in the morning, Captain Rens Van Eerten (how’s that for a Dutch name) announced that there was a pod of Orc (killer whales) working at the bow of the ship. By the time I got there I was able to capture this image.

Our route took us slowly through the long Neumayer Channel, named for the German geophysicist Georg von Neumayer who organized the first international polar year in 1882/83. From there into the Gerlache Channel to Paradise Harbor, named by whalers and sealers who pulled into the harbor to shelter. In both Paradise Harbor and Gerlache Strait we saw humpback whales. One whale was recognizable from its whistle as it exhaled.

We encountered many Gentoo penguins. Large numbers were feeding in Paradise Harbor and Gerlache Strait. They were feeding adjacent to the humpback whales, perhaps going after the same krill. Their swimming is called “porpoising” because they look like those marine mammals. Porpoising may be the proper term but when feeding they look to me like a thrash of penguins.

You may recall that we came across the remote Chilian Research Station. Well, they must have been just as happy to see us as we were to see them. A fellow passenger shared with me this photo she found on their website showing them taking a picture of us!

After an amazing day sailing through the Antarctic, we anchored in Paradise Harbor Channel where we spent the night.

Next blog: Volunteer Point off the Falkland Islands, Islas Malvinas, home to 1,200 adult king penguins the largest colony of king penguins in the world.

Thanks for traveling with us.