Antarctica with Apprehension

[Flying mermaid]

The Singular included breakfast in the room price as
well as any soft drinks or water in the room fridge. Breakfast was simple but nice and you could get eggs etc made to order

Lovely hotel - would be happy to stay here again

 

[Flying mermaid]

Off to the airport and looking forward to getting home, although we enjoyed our stay in Santiago - very nice, friendly people.

We knew thanks to a description from @juddles that we needed to go upstairs for J checkin. I told the gang this as we entered the departure terminal and they gave me a "she's crazy" look, as we were clearly on the top level After a few false starts, we worked out we needed to turn left and walk to the end of the terminal, where another floor suddenly appeared and signs to priority boarding etc.

Went upstairs, where there is a checkin, gold and above, plus J passengers. The real benefit of this, is that you then have your own immigration and security. It was still quite busy, but nothing like the mayhem downstairs.

From there you were quickly in the Lan lounge. Lots of little snacks, which I actually prefer to a meal - especially the slop that Qantas tends to have in their J lounges. You are going to get a decent meal on the plane, so all you need is a few snacks in case you are hungry or delayed.

 

[Flying mermaid]

We are back to me taking photos again, as I am sure everyone can see

Anyway trip back started off quite well. No sub of plane, so we kept the 4 exit row seats upstairs, Mk2 seats and the entertainment system was working. We were only 1/2 hour late departing, so I was pretty relaxed about making our connection.

Crew was pretty average. Apparently the female FA hadn't worked this route before, so she didn't seem to know what she was doing. e.g. serving Ms FM a prawn risotto with no prawns. The male FA became more and more stressed to the point where when he asked what I wanted for dessert and I asked him what there was, having misplaced my menu, he snapped "oh, Cheese, ice cream, the usual". I was too intimidated to ask what else, so just had cheese. Later on I found my menu and there had been a nice lemon curd tart - oh well......

We landed in Sydney with 90 minutes to go until the Canberra flight left. Breezed through passport control and raced down to get our luggage - except only non priority tagged luggage was coming off. As economy passengers had yet to arrive, it all piled up and the carousel started having problems. Over an hour later we finally got our luggage - raced to the transfer area, but of course it was too late.

We stood around for two hours as a Qantas guy very bad temperedly sorted everyone out. By this stage there were people from three international flights who had missed connections. Felt very sorry for the people with young children.

We then all trooped over to the Rydges, who did a wonderful job of checking everyone in quickly and then fell into bed.

we were up bright and early to have breakfast. Have never had breakfast there before, as we generally stay before an international flight and just go over to the lounge and have breakfast there. Breakfast was perhaps more about quantity than quality, but I was so hungry it was great.

Back to the International terminal to check in for our domestic flight. Was chatting to a Qantas lady and she said there is often problems with baggage handling. She reckoned that they don't have enough personnel and because it is outsourced, the people have really poor pay and conditions and don't care at all. Whatever the case we are not flying Qantas internationally again. Fortunately for our next trip in April, we have already booked Qatar to New York.

We were soon home and reunited with our fur babies and grand puppies, who seemed in good condition, except perhaps a little overweight!

 

[Flying mermaid]

So - did we enjoy it and was it worth all the angst about the Drake Crossing. Hell yes!! would not have missed Antarctica for anything.

We were amazingly lucky - the Drake crossing both ways was incredibly calm and the weather on the Peninsula superb.

Would we do a cruise again - hmm - not so much. I won't say never as if the right thing came along and we needed to be on a boat to do it we would. However we aren't good with motion sickness and we can't keep on being so lucky. Also the whole being stuck on a boat doesn't do much for us.

We dislike being herded around and although Silversea did it beautifully, it was still herding. Also we like the fun of being in different restaurants and not knowing what we might find around the next corner. We have started doing tours in cities, but they are private tours - just Mr FM and I and a guide and so totally tailored to us and what we want to see. e.g we did a 3 day private tour in Cappadocia and on the third day we were discussing the silk route and our guide suggested instead of going to another underground city, why didn't we go to a caravanserai instead - it was so interesting.

We travel very lightly, so getting luggage to and from hotels is not an issue. I can see how a ship can make things easier, but I think as long as we are able, I much prefer to do it independently.

However anyone thinking of Antarctica - don't delay - it is totally worth it.

 

[love_the_life]

Are there some chocs missing in that photo?
Agree the Costanera Centre is just like a big shopping mall found anywhere in the world.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Are there some chocs missing in that photo?
Agree the Costanera Centre is just like a big shopping mall found anywhere in the world.

Just a few - I couldn’t resist trying some, before I got round to taking the photo. .

 

[love_the_life]

Thanks for the TR FM. Have really enjoyed it and seeing the differences with when we went. Glad you haven't crossed off ships for ever as there are some interesting itineraries out there that you might consider after you get to the stage where it all seems too hard. That won't be for a while though I suspect!

 

[tgh]

Super TR FM , thank you.
Quite sad that cruising did not stick, but to each his own...

 

[amaroo]

Very nice TR - some keepers in those photos. The Singular is a lovely hotel - good choice.

We’re still cold on cruises .... pretty much the same reasons that you’ve articulated. Maybe in another 20 odd years...

 

[Flying mermaid]

Very nice TR - some keepers in those photos. The Singular is a lovely hotel - good choice.

We’re still cold on cruises .... pretty much the same reasons that you’ve articulated. Maybe in another 20 odd years...

Do Antarctica - it’s worth going on a cruise to do it and because you are doing two landings a day you are off the boat a lot. Who knows what state Antarctica will be in, in 29 years.

I have been looking at an eco lodge near Churchill in Canada - I think that might be my polar bear option

Churchill Wild | Polar Bear Tours | 1 (866) UGO-WILD

 

[drron]

If going to Churchill do it in August.Still polar bears around but the Beluga whales put on a great show then.Not much snow though.

 

[Flying mermaid]

If going to Churchill do it in August.Still polar bears around but the Beluga whales put on a great show then.Not much snow though.

yes I have heard the Beluga whales are good. August seems a good month.

 

[Drakecula]

I am happy for you to borrow a pair and try them out -PM me if you want to.

Not to detract from the wonderful trip report and amazing photos - FM suggested I add my review of the Boarding Glasses (that she kindly lent me to try) here, since we've talked about it earlier in the TR.

Now I get seasick pretty bad - I've been on a cruise and about four days of that was okay because my Mum made me get an injection at the doctor's office on the ship. Then we hit a rough swell (the crew lined the halls with paper bags) and I was out for the rest of the trip. Not fun. Haven't done a cruise since, but I have been on boats since. Didn't do so well on the ferry to/from Rottnest, a one hour catamaran trip had me feeling ill half an hour in, and even the Manly ferry from Circular Quay is just long enough for me to start feeling queasy.

I also can't read in cars without feeling ill. So with no easy access to a ferry or boat I decided to try reading in the car to give the Boarding Glasses a test. I tried a few times, differing how long I wore them to see if they'd work for me. Alas, they didn't.

I do wonder if reading in the car vs feeling seasick is different for me, but safe to say I think I'll just keep avoiding cruises and minimise boat time if I can. That being said, this TR has made me want to suck it up for the chance to see Antarctica, so we'll see. The photos are just so impressive!

 

[Flying mermaid]

If anyone else in Canberra wants to give them a trial do contact me

 

[kermatu]

Wonderful TR. Thank you.

Didn't want to interrupt and clog your TR with unnecessary posts but could easily have commented "Stunning pics" after almost every post.