Cruising Around Cape Horn

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Cape Horn 

Scenic Cruising

Our scheduled called for Crown Princess arriving at Cape Horn around 6:30 AM on Day 8. Due to the strong winds pinning our ship to the pier in Ushuaia, the 7:30 PM departure was delayed to 12:30 AM or so (not quite sure of exact time since we went to bed). Surprisingly the Captain got on the speaker system about 7:50 AM to announce our approach to Cape Horn in about 10 minutes. He must have had the peddle to the medal after we left Ushuaia.

Narration & Viewing 

The destination expert onboard narrated the entire scenic sailing around Cape Horn. He made announcements in English and Spanish. The best viewing was on the upper decks,
or for this particular destination, port side. For those with balconies on that side, they could stay in their cabins if they wanted and view in comfort. Most people were on deck 15 and higher. We were perched in two different locations on deck 16.

There was a chain of mountains on the starboard side as we approached Cape Horn as well, so both sides of the ship did have some gorgeous scenery. The weather cooperated nicely. The winds were calm, the sun was out, no rain, just a chill in the air. As long as you dressed in layers, along with a hood or hat, you would have been warm for the one hour scenic tour. Gloves would be an added comfort if your hands get cold easily.

What To Expect 

There are three things you want to see on the island of Cape Horn itself: the memorial marker for those that lost their lives sailing around the horn, the naval station house, and lighthouse. There is also a smaller beacon on the point once your round Cape Horn and are on the Atlantic side.

Bring your camera(s) including video and enjoy the view. Marvel at those that used this passage way before the Panama Canal was built. While the winds were calm for us, that is not usually the case, so expect rocky seas when you visit and be happy if you have a calm day.







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Cape Horn


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Cruising Glacier Alley

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Destination 

Ushuaia, Argentina

Throughout the night we made our way through the fjords of South America towards our first stop in Argentina. The route taken to Ushuia was via the Magdalena, Cockburn, Ballenero, O'Brien and finally the Beagle Channel.

At 07:00 AM Crown Princess sailed along glacier alley, passing abeam España Glacier first followed by the Romanche, Alemania, Francia, and Italia Glacier at 08:19 AM. When reaching the end of the scenic cruise, the ship slowed and an Argentinian pilot boarded the vessel. By 12:00 noon the ship was safely alongside in the harbor of Ushuaia.

The onboard port expert / naturalist narrated the entire journey through glacier alley.   At the end of the cruise, we purchased the Reflections DVD set so we could relive the experience back home.






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Glacier Alley
Beagle Channel


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Cruising Amalia Glacier

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Amalia Glacier

Despite Day 5 being a sea day, we set an alarm for 7 AM.  We were scheduled to arrive at Amalia Glacier around 8 AM depending on conditions.  Unfortunately, the weather wasn't cooperating - we arrived on time, but it was overcast and raining.  That didn't stop guests from lining the open upper decks to get a glimpse of the glacier and ice flows.  Guests adorned rain gear, warm clothes, umbrellas and captured memories on cameras and other devices.

If you've cruised to Alaska, the experience is very similar.  The ship anchors and does a 360 degree

rotation to allow all passengers the opportunity to see the glacier. We spent about an hour there before continuing our journey toward our next port of call, Punta Arenas. They also had a lifeboat in the water.  We didn't see for sure, but suspect they brought an ice flow back onboard to show guests.  Since it was raining, most of the day, we never went outside to see if they did or not.


Day 5 at Sea

The Horizon Cafe was packed with guests after the glacier viewing.  Nevertheless, I decided this would be a good day to have a made to order omelette.  You tell the chef what you want and he writes up a slip that you give to your waiter once you find a seat.  It was an excellent omelette. 


Scenic Cruising


The Southern Patagonian Ice Field covered the entirety of southern Chile just 10,000 years ago. Today, this region gives way to the awe-inspiring channels and islands that comprise the fjords of southern Chile's Pacific Coast, which extend as far south as Tierra del Fuego and the Strait of Magellan.

While cruising through the sparkling waters of Chile's legendary inlets, you'll be graced by the presence of snow-capped mountain peaks, majestic forests and spectacular blue-tinged glaciers that will take your breath away. The unspoiled scenery is filled with dramatic rock formations and abundant wildlife known for making their homes here, including sea lions, Peale's dolphins and a variety of seabirds that soar amid the splendor.

After breakfast, we headed to the cabin to get a few things (book, laptop, etc.) and headed up to deck 18 aft to SkyWalkers Lounge.  There's plenty of seating with floor to ceiling windows just perfect for viewing the passing scenery without having to contend with the elements which as we mentioned wasn't cooperating. It also was a great place to work on our blog while enjoying the view.

The winds were howling and the seas were covered in white caps as we made our way slowly towards Punta Arenas.  The captain made an announcement that we might not actually be able to get into port tomorrow as the winds were forecast to be 50 knots and the safe operating limit for the port is 35 knots.  This port is the first scheduled destination for seeing penguins, so all we could do was to wait and see what the weather would bring tomorrow.

The scenery we could see reminded us of Norway.  We've cruise thru the fjords there in both summer and winter time.  When we sailed there in winter time, we'd had similar overcast / rainy days.  It is a shame since this would be gorgeous with clear skies.






Related Albums:

Amalia Glacier


Note:  we will be adding to these albums as we continue our journey.

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