February 5, 2012 – Still in Punta Arenas, Chile
Day 31
The Captain’s weather alert was serious enough to alter our itinerary and schedule. I believe this day we were supposed to be cruising the Chilean Fjords, and then commencing our journey across the Pacific. Instead we spent the day in Punta Arenas while the Captain came up with some schedule (he is British so pronounces it “shedule”) alternatives and then discusses them with headquarters in Seattle. Since this was not a scheduled sea day, which would have been filled with activities, we spent the day watching movies and prowling the ship. Since we are in port, the casino and shops were closed which probably saved both of us some money.
In the afternoon the Captain announced the results of his conference call and gave us our new “shedule”.
Instead of cruising the Fjords, upon leaving Punta Arenas we will exit the Strait of Magellan and proceed northward along the coast of Chile to try and stay on the eastern edge of the storm, “minimizing but not eliminating motion discomfort” (oh oh!). Assuming the storm eases, we will then turn west toward Easter Island. To regain the lost day, we will eliminate the “cruise by” of Pitcairn Island – it wasn’t really a stop anyway, cut 4 hours from our visit to Pago Pago, Samoa, and eliminate our stop in New Caledonia.
Everyone seems to take the change with a big “ho hum” – I guess, like us, they cruise as much for the shipboard experience as the ports.
By 5:00pm we are headed out the Strait and preparing for a bouncy night.
The ship organized a Super Bowl Party in the Queens Lounge (the main performance theater) and it was packed. I would say that it was 15% New England, 20% New York, and 65% Party – the Giants may have won the game, but “Party” won the night!