Second Sea Day

Scenic Cruising

Canal Moraleda & Coastal Pacific Ocean

January 28, 2020

We arose with the 6:44 AM sunrise to partly cloudy skies and temps in the low 50's.  It would be getting colder as we traveled further South, weather which we Tropical dwellers did not anticipate with joy.  As early birds we were able to claim a window table in the World Cafe for breakfast and the view.

There are just too many eateries from which to choose.  For breakfast alone there is the Viking Living Room Bar where one can get a Barista made coffee and a sweet roll, Mamsen's, the Norwegian style deli, makes the best waffles, has berry bowls, hearty oatmeal, sweet rolls, thick breads, sweet brown goat cheese, salmon and pickled herring, the World Cafe serves any American breakfast item you want as well as European, British and Asian choices plus The Restaurant is open on sea days if a person wants the luxury of a menu and table service.  The World Cafe by far has the most panoramic windows and our usual choice.

The ship was steady in the still protected waters of Canal Moraleda as we navigated the numerous islands and rocky islets.  There was not much wind and it was surprisingly clear.

Puerto Montt is off the chart to the North at the top.

Red dots are our cruising track for the day.

North

South

The weather ever shifted from sunny blue skies to brooding dramatic clouds with the occasional misty rainfall transforming the mountainous terrain into a play of light and shadow.  An artists' palette and a photographers delight.

By mid morning we were passing in-between Isla James and Isla Melchor as we headed to Bahia Adventure and the open waters of the Pacific at a bit over 45 degrees South latitude.  With luck we found two loungers in the main pool area on the portside facing land.

I don't think we have ever sat on the pool facing loungers or used the main pool but then we have never been on a warm weather cruise.  However, the chairs in the same area facing the sea are premium to us with thick comfortable cushions, a table for our stuff, a blanket for the AC and the best view.  They fill up fast on sea days and some people leave there things there to hold the spot - a no no to us.  I will leave my book and bag there during a bathroom run but not when I take a lunch break.

As the motion of the ship increased, we could hear waves in the swimming pool adding sound effects to our visual enjoyment.  I like to sit, read and watch for birds or sea life while Ray prowls the ship with his camera taking the best pictures.

After lunch Ray found me working on my journal in what would become my favorite quiet space on the ship situated just outside the Wintergarden.  The chairs, chaise lounge and love seat were arranged for five and friends stopped to chat when they spotted me.

Another photo of this lovely quiet sitting area.

As the rocking motion of the ship increased offshore, I could see crew activity through the glass doors to the main pool area.  They were carrying some sort of orange plastic netting.  The water in the pool was sloshing fore and aft with the motion and, at one point, a wave washed over the planter at the head of the swimming pool.  Crew quickly used squeegees to push the water into the scuppers.  Once the netting was in place it served to dampen the wave action.  I've heard that the pools are actually drained as a safety precaution if the seas become too large.

I must have obtained my sea legs because the swaying motion did not bother me on this second offshore day.  I do, however, see the telltale signs of sea sickness precaution in the patches affixed behind the ears of others.  Whatever one needs to do to enjoy the day I say.

With all the games, lectures, and events of the day, I chose a trip to the Spa where I thoroughly enjoyed massaging my stiff muscles in the Therapy Pool followed by the Sauna and a plunge in the ice pool.  Oh yeah.

Ray and I had reservations for a lecture on the Southern Night Skies by the Resident Astronomer, Warren Wiley, at 3 PM.  The talk would be accompanied by a display on the ceiling of the Planetarium dome.  We learned how to identify the Southern Cross constellation as well how to find both the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds, the largest dwarf galaxies in the Milky Way's retinue, which would be visible from the Cape Horn area.  It was a short but very interesting talk and our first visit to this new feature on recent Viking ships.   Unfortunately a dark, Southern Hemisphere sky would be hard to find until very late as our days were becoming longer the more southerly we traveled.  Sunset today was 9:45 PM with Astronomical Twilight ending at least one and a half hours after that.

By 5 PM our course approached very close to the Peninsula de Taitao, the Northern boundary of Golfo de Penas.  We hoped the Jupiter would cross the Gulf to sail the protected inner passages once again but we did not turn.  Guess with evening approaching the Captain wished to make time offshore rather then having to pick their way in the narrow fjords.

I noticed a spattering of leafless trees along the ridges and occasionally the mountainside.  Looks like there is evidence of a landslide too in the photo below.  In summer the trees should be green.  So what defoliated them, I ask?  Wind, weather, salt air?  There was no blackened land to indicate fire.

These rocky headlands were the last we would see until morning.  Golfo de Penas is a huge body of water with land seen only in the far distance.  It would be nightfall before we were beyond it.

Below is our evening and overnight cruising track.

By morning we were already inside.

It was time for cocktail and friends in the Explorers Lounge with magical views of the sea and the romantic tones of the Viking Classical Duo of violin and cello.  Champagne was the order of the hour to celebrate this magnificent day.  Traveling with friends is fun.  We are not attached at the hip so to speak doing the same things all day but it is fun hearing about who did what during drinks.

We hung out until Bill & Sandi's 8 PM reservation at Chef's Table for the Asian Panoramic, a tasting menu I wanted to try, but the only time available for all of us was 9:30 PM much too late to dine.  The Chef's Table is quite nice and includes wine pairings with each course.  We headed to The Restaurant just as the earlier diners had finished and were escorted to a nice window table.  Yes!  The Restaurant menu on one side contains dishes served every day and the other side outlines the daily specials for a revolving taste treat.  The dress code is upscale but does not require jackets for men which is nice.  The rule is no blue jeans, shorts, t-shirts or sweats for anyone and men must wear a collared shirt.  It's kind of like Yacht Club casual.

The Star Theater entertainment that evening was the Cruise Director David Peterson's show "An Evening of Magic and Comedy".  We heard it was good afterwards.  But that show did not require the back up of the Viking Band so Synchrony and the Resident Vocalists were on stage in Torshavn, the nightclub from 9 to Midnight.  The band was decent, the vocalists were okay and we enjoyed the music.  We chatted with some other guests, people were dancing and it was a nice end to the evening.