El barco Discovery

The big adventure of this trip is traveling to a country I've never been to - Chile, and of course, the opportunity to touch on a continent so unique.


But, I've also been provided my first cruise ship experience, so that prompts some observations. Particularly so due to my contact with cruise ship passengers over several summers in my job for the flightseeing company. Now, I'm the one wondering if I should take a shore excursion (sold aboard) as I'm not sure what to do independently. I have not sought out jewelry stores though, mind you. (Ketchikan residents will know what that reference is about.) But, I did line the deck along with all the other gawkers as we pulled into our first port - Puerto Montt.


This ship is the perfect size and fit for me - not too big, not too fancy; and the people a nice mix as well - none appearing too stuffy. Most are from Britain, or New Zealand, or Australia with just a few Americans sprinkled in. Once I got settled onboard, my biggest concern was if my dress was fancy enough for the formal dinner. However, I seemed to be fine. No tiaras that I could see. I'm sure on some ships there is even more of an emphasis on appearances, but considering where this ship is going, I'm assuming this group will continue to be a little more laid back. Although, one of the Kiwis told me that for some of these passengers this is their only chance to dust off their nice "frocks." (As they may be from a little town or farm where there is no place to wear them. Sound like Ketchikan? She also told me a funny anecdote about attending a black tie affair at home in New Zealand. A bloke she knew who never had to dress up was concerned as he told her - "I don't have a black tie. Can I wear a red one?"



The M/V Discovery is 553 feet long, and for this trip is carrying about 375 passengers. I believe it carries no more than 450 or so for trips to Antartica. However, it seems that this will be the last voyage to Antartica for this ship. The company has purchased another - Marco Polo - and the Discovery will be shifted to the Mediterranean. In the opinion of the person who told us this, this ship filled a needed niche in the choices for cruising to this area. The larger cruise ships do no make shore landings on the Antarctic Peninsula and the very small ships, while intimate, may be too rough a ride for some passengers. So, the Discovery fits nicely in between those options. Large enough to offer the nice cruise experience and small enough to still be intimate and to physically be able to access the shore (via Zodiak.)



This ship has 8 decks, although not all, of course are accessible to passengers. The breakfast and lunch buffet area is almost at the top (only a outside walking area is above it), while the nice dinner restaurant is on the lowest deck accessible to passengers. My cabin is on the fourth floor which also holds the reception area. This is where passengers can book cruises, and also where the purser's desk is located. On other floors there are nice seating and viewing areas with lounges to watch the scenery go by. Amenities on the ship include a gym (yes, I've actually worked out a few times); sauna; two theatres for shows, dance classes, and lectures; an outside whirlpool; a library; and a bridge playing room.



Each night, a schedule for the following day is slipped under the door. It details all the activities you can participate in that day- such as exercise classes, lectures, art class (and today, even a martini demo). I've tried to attend all the lectures as that seems one of the obvious aspects of this experience to take advantage of. However, I have missed a few BUT they are televised on the cabin TV so I can still be edified as I'm dressing for dinner or brushing my teeth at night. Cool, eh? The other day, there were three lectures: at 9:30 a.m. -"Naked at the End of the World: the People of Tierra del Fuego" (about the indigenous people at this end of the world); 2 p.m. - "Discovering Antarctica" (about the early explorers who came close to Antarctica, but never touched on it - including Cook); 3:30 p.m. "Hurley and Ponting: the Photographers of Shackleton's and Scott's Expeditions." These lectures have all been very interesting and well-worth it and I'm even taking notes.

Tomorrow - comments on Shore Expedition Team: the lecturers, Zodiak drivers, and volunteers.