February 6, 2026- Day #33

 This is day #2 of 2 on the seas and still heading toward the Falkland Islands or as the Argentinians and other Spanish speakers call it, Islas Malvinas. We are to arrive at Port Stanley tomorrow, but the seas are getting much rougher. Rumor is that we may not be able to get into this port, as it is another port requiring tendering to get to shore. It was a really good night for sleeping as we rocked like in a hammock most of the night. Due to the rocking this morning, most everyone is walking like a drunken sailor, and I asked one woman with a walker if we could all be issued a walker today. She just said she does not use hers every day, but this was definitely a day to use it. 

Ok, we have been informed that due to the rough sea the port authority in Port Stanley has closed the harbor to all fishing boats, commercial and cruise ships! Major bummer as the Falkland Islands was one of the main stops we were looking forward to visiting. This was a stop to see penguins, seals, and other Southern Hemisphere critters. Some more seasoned travels have told us that the Falkland Islands stop gets cancelled well over 30% of the time due to their rough sea and waves. Guess we are just unlucky. Not sure if I already mentioned this, but in the open water we have waves with white caps. My research says that this does not happen until there are winds at least 12-15 knots, which is around 13-17 mph. I heard some shipmates talk about winds 25 knots for the white caps we are having today.  This would be about 29 mph. Not the worst rough seas Joan and I have been on, but definitely makes all the elderly hold onto the handrails and not a day to be on a tender.  Another tidbit we were told at the Veterans gathering today. Due to safety reasons, if a tender boat (lifeboat) gets damaged, the cruise is immediately cancelled because the company cannot ensure the safety of all passengers in the event of an emergency evacuation. According to google, this is true based on the capacity of the ship. Sorry but my picture of the white caps on the water did not come out well. 

The newsletter today did not have any port information today, since we are at sea. Instead it reported information about this ship’s Godmother. She is an Italian American chef, New York Times best selling author, and Emmy Award winning food personality Gilda De Laurentiis. Due to her status in the world of food and fine dining, she christened the ship on May 8, 2023. 

Due to the rocking seas, wind and dropping temperature, all the outdoor events have been moved inside. The pool deck is vacant, all except a few hardy souls in the hot tubs. Because of the port closure, our route is moving closer to shore, so we are expecting a smoother ride soon. 

Dining this evening was in the Red Ginger restaurant. Their Asian cuisine was outstanding including Sushi, Sea Bass, and fried rice. We shared a table with a couple who have eaten at this restaurant a number of times, so they were happy to mentor us on what they really like to eat and drink.