Viking Polaris: Day 11! Sadly, this was our last day at sea - I’ve had a wonderful time! During the night, we completed Drake Passage Crossing #2 without much incident. I was awake at 0615 after a restful sleep. Before getting dressed, I read and relaxed. I also took photos of the Cape Horn Islands and then got breakfast (eggs, sausage, fruit, hash browns) at the World Cafe (0730). While there, I gave a tip to Mega (who was serving nearby) - she has been so nice to me each time I've encountered her. At 0800, the Captain announced that we were passing Cape Horn. Hoping to get some good photos of this important event, I went topside (bow) and got some hot chocolate. Since temps were in the 40s, I was comfortable in a long-sleeved shirt - everyone else was bundled up in winter gear... The weather was wonderful and I was glad to be able to be outside. During the next 10 minutes, there were a few other announcements about the ship’s course and the history of the landmark. Here’s to all the sailors from Cape Cod who made the journey around Cape Horn! I returned to my cabin (0815) and, for the first time on the ship, I did laundry. While waiting in my room, I did some more reading. Rico and the other stewards wanted to clean my room so I left the cabin and went walking. I came back to the laundry room several times (to check on the washer/dryer) and also picked up a hard copy of the “Viking Daily”. Later, I began watching some more Enrichment videos (rest of “The Seals of Antarctica”, by Rorie; all of “Thrilled for Krill, by Rorie; part of “Seabirds”, by Ewa). It eventually became clear I’d never complete them all… My laundry was finished at 1100 and, soon afterwards, I went down to the Aula foyer so I could join a tour of the Laboratory. Spent more than 30 minutes there, learning about (and viewing through the microscope) microplastics in the Drake Passage. Other than the excursions in Antarctica, I’m going to miss the scientific nature of this Expedition the most. Afterwards, I got some hot chocolate and had a nice talk with Steve and Regina. It was getting close to lunch time so I next headed towards Deck 5. Along the way, I stopped at Expedition Central to watch a demo of knot tying. At 1200, I went on deck for photos in the Beagle Channel and, 30 minutes later, stopped in for some lunch at Mamsen’s. Jim and Gayle had suggested we meet there for lunch; I had the Viking Burger and some fries. We had a very nice conversation and exchanged contact information. While eating, I was able to tip Satria (he was very appreciative). I took some more photos on the way back to my room (1400). When I arrived, I found a special Cape Horn certificate lying on my bed - I’ll proudly add mine to the collection of similar documents I got during my Navy career. With the warm sun outside, I started feeling rather warm and opened the window of my cabin. This allowed me to enjoy the pleasant sea breeze. I’d felt so at home in my fancy cabin that I had to double/triple/quadruple check in every drawer. I tried reading but soon got quite tired - ended up napping between 1500 and 1700. As a result, I skipped a planned Hangar Tour. With the window still open, I got great views of lots of soaring albatrosses, pretty mountains and picturesque coastal communities. Most of the rest of the day was spent preparing for the return home. Started organizing all my belongings (for packing later) but it wasn’t easy. I filled out a six page Cruise Satisfaction survey - that was quite difficult, with so many things to report and people to recognize. Fortunately, I’d kept some notes since we began the cruise and believe I submitted kudos for almost all of the wonderful staff. Also left a tip for Rico and Jocko when I next left the stateroom (1830). Took more photos outside (approaching Ushuaia). As I walked through The Library, Paul gave me a small cup of an alcoholic drink, a sort of "Tea" (mmmm). For my last meal in the World Cafe, I had some Asian soup, sushi, sashimi and some desserts; my last “wine of the day” was a Marius Grenache Syrah (by Michel Chapoutier). I'd been planning to move on to another activity but then stopped to visit with Richard and Duane because they had more questions about Patagonia. Eventually (1945), I left the dining area and watched a bit of the docking maneuvers ("Polaris" was docked by 2000). Next, I returned to my cabin to finish packing. The stewards were quite happy with my tip and helped me repair my old duffle bag with safety pins. After that, I left my two bags in the hallway (I’d labeled them with special colored tags) so they could be taken to the airport in the morning. At 2045, I left the ship and headed into town, hoping to explore a bit before the sun went down. I initially went walking along the coast and checked out side streets. Some members of the Expedition Team (crew) had told me the name of the bar (“Krund”) where they often have an “end of cruise” drink. When I arrived there, however, it was closed. I waited nearby for about 30 minutes but eventually gave up. In the pretty dusk, I took lots of photos and was just (2130) about to go back onboard "Polaris" when I encountered Olly and Rorie. They graciously showed me the way to the bar that the crew had chosen on this particular night (The Birra) and I was able to buy a round of beers for the nearly 20 people (mostly the Excursion Team) who were there. During the ensuing revelry, I met some new crewmembers, talked with the penguin counters, learned more about the “Polaris” future itinerary and chatted about experiences. I hope I was able to thank them properly for all the wonderful experiences during the last week. They are an amazing group of young people and constantly exuded positivity, even during the tough times. Believe me, it was infectious! After about an hour, I mentioned that I was going to depart; they were disappointed I’d only had one beer. But I was feeling quite tired (still not 100% after cold). Regardless, I'm very glad I could join them. I was back at the ship by 2300 and, in my cabin, made one more run at verifying my packing. Did some Duolingo and enjoyed the views of the pretty shoreline from my window. Finally went to bed at 2345 after another full day. Thoughts in my head as I drifted off to sleep: the people onboard “Polaris”, from guests to crew, were all very nice. Tomorrow this cruise officially ends and I'll start making my way homeward. Already, though, this has (hands down) been the best trip ever!
