The ship has been rocking back and forth since around 2 am this morning.
Swells look to be about 12 feet high, and the crew calls this the Drake Lake. This is versus the Drake Shake which is what I'm hoping for on the return trip. A few of my fellow travelers hope for the same, but we're
definitely in the minority. Most passengers are walking around with the little motion sickness stickers stuck behind their ears, and the seem relieved at the calm passage.
This morning I was up early and saw my first albatrosses - two Black Browed and one magnificent Wandering Albatross. Cape Petrels fallow our course and seem to joyfully follow the crests of waves around the ship. And I spied one stormy petrel around 10am this morning.
The lectures have both been fabulous. The first, regarding sea birds, was the most entertaining, and has me excited to spot as many of the mentioned birds as possible. The second was on geology and was enlightening, particularly on the source of tsunamis.
Food has been fantastic, and the fruit and veggies are several steps better than what we found in Ushuaia's restaurants.
I find myself continually climbing from the top of the ship to the bottom in excitement. The Russian crew is super friendly and I find myself searching my brain for Russian words to speak with them.
All in all, and absolutely fabulous first day at sea!
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.