On any other cruise trip I’d call this a Day at Sea and I’d be bellyaching about boredom. We might not be coming to a port today but the bellyaching I have to report has to do with the seas of the Drake Passage, not boredom.

Actually, the seas, while not calm (they call it the Drake Lake when seas are calm) but it isn’t as bad as it could be. Our captain reports seas are running 4 to 6 meters, or roughly 12 to 19 feet. Winds in the 30s, too strong to open the walking deck. But the skies have been partly cloudy with lots of sunshine so we’re not in the middle of a storm. Temps in the low 40s.

As for my belly aching, it hasn’t been all that bad. It started getting rough during the night but we both slept well. The motion has continued at about the same intensity all day. At first I though I’d be fine. We attended a mandatory 8 AM briefing about protocols for shore visits. Summary: don’t do anything to damage the environment, either by changing the landscape or by introducing foreign substances and especially disease. The environment here is unique and quite susceptible. Avian flu is a particular worry. Watching the screen, I felt the beginnings of queasiness and so chewed a Bonine.

A bowl of oatmeal for breakfast made me think again, but I retreated to the cabin and watched the horizon for an hour and felt better, either by the calming influence of the ocean or the Bonine.

I did quite well at 10 AM when we went down to A Deck to be fitted for boots and shore pants and for a mandatory cleaning of any exterior garments we intend to wear ashore. It was actually a fun process, giving us a chance to meet some of the expedition crew who will accompany us in the zodiacs when we land.

Immediately afterwards was a tour of the ship, starting on Deck 1 and moving up. I made it half way through Deck 2 and retreated once again. This time, after Judy returned, I put on a patch, the one with prescription scopomine. A little more horizon watching and I was ready for lunch. Rather than do the cafeteria feed at the World Café, we went to a Norwegian café called Mamsen’s. A bowl of Lentil soup hit the spot, along with a Norwegian cake of some variety.

One of the side effects of the patch is drowsiness, a warning I took to heart immediately after lunch. I’d spotted a pleasant spot in the Living Room on Deck 4 so we went there at 1 PM. I told Judy I’d be there until our next event at 3 PM. Two hours and two naps later, I was feeling fine, ready for a third nap, but totally void of mal de Mer.

At 3 we attended a lecture by the Octanis’s Chief Scientist who explained the eight or so scientific studies being conducted on this ship and the sister ship Polaris. They study all sorts of natural phenomena here and the Great Lakes and everywhere in between. The research is done in conjunction with scientific organizations and Universities.

As an example, Viking had established a PCR lab on board for Covid testing back when testing was mandatory of Viking cruises. No longer needed for Covid testing, they’ve converted the equipment to be a full DNA sequencing lab to do marine research. A PhD student is doing dissertation work using the lab. The scientific studies are funded by Viking, and of course by extension, by passengers. The data they collect in the remote Antarctic region especially useful since it would not be economically viable to use  a research trip ship to gather the data.

Now it’s 5:30 PM and time for the welcoming party (“Let me introduce your Captain . . . “), followed by dinner at 6 and a lecture “Introduction to Antarctica.” Let’s hope my patch doesn’t fall off.

Judy’s doing just fine without chemical assistance, thanks for asking.

The welcoming session turns out to be more interesting than most. In addition to introducing the ship’s executives, All 24 expedition team members were individually introduced. An interesting group with widely varied spheres of knowledge and interest.

Dinner was fine (we both had lobster and scallops) and after, the 8 PM lecture that Judy tells me, was about the natural history of Antarctica. I’d read the book and elected instead to enjoy the drowsy side effect of my seasickness patch, which continues to work well. Judy kept poking me in the ribs, embarrassed to have me napping in public, but that was a minor disturbance.

And, lo and behold, upon returning to our room, we  found certificates from the captain attesting to our successful transit of the Drake Passage. Let’s not count our chickens . . .  We’ve got several more hours before we hit dry land, or what passes as dry land down here.

Not many exciting pictures today. Just a few shots of what the ship is like.

Tomorrow, we’re supposed to be at Astrolabe Island at the northern reach of the Australian Peninsula. We’re scheduled for a zodiac ride, but not landing, at 4 PM.

Note from Judy:

My stomach has been fine with the use of the wrist bands on the acupuncture spot that I assume is for nausea.  My problem is that I act like a drunken sailor and it is not from  alcohol!  I hold the railing or wall to steady myself.  I also took three naps: one after breakfast and two in the afternoon but stayed awake for the lecture.  The reason for my naps is that I love sleeping when the boat is rocking.  My father always told me to just imagine rocking yourself to sleep and it really works for me, at least so far.  I have had lots of memories today of my parents as I fall asleep and when I am unsteady on my feet My Mother as she had the same problem.  I am looking forward to tomorrow and a little anxious about leaving the ship but hopefully all will go well.