The ship arrives at the Pio XI glacier (also known as the Bruggen glacier) at about 8:30am, and we initially go to the bow on Deck 4 to view the largest western outflow from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. It is very crowded here and we get a better view from Deck 6

The ship gets very close to the face of this magnificent glacier and we can hear

the occasional crack of ice, and there are  a couple of calvings

It stays chilly and cloudy for most of the prolonged time we remain at the glacier, with just the occasional glimpse of the sun and odd patches of blue sky

After some warming coffee, we exercise by walking on Deck 3.

Here, we find that Dutch Pea Soup (left) is being served.

This transpires to be like mushy peas with onions.

We also get to chat to the ship's first officer,

who kindly takes our photograph

We visit the library and then relax with books as the ship transits Trinidad Channel to exit the fjords and gain the Pacific Ocean. Although there have been warnings regarding a heavy swell in the ocean, this is not experienced.

 

This evening we choose to eat in the Pinnacle Grill:

 

Jeanette: crab cakes; filet mignon with chips; creme brullee

 

David: iceberg lettuce wedge; filet mignon with a large jacket potato; baked Alaska (also large).

 

A very pleasant, if expensive, meal in civilised surroundings.

 

Earlier today, the lift lobby on Deck 5 is awash with water from a burst hot water pipe in the ceiling. Very large quantities of water are soon spread over a wide area of carpet. Consequently, a humidifier is set to work for several hours

 

When we wake at 7am, the ship is still at sea, and it is dark. The humidifier in the lift lobby on Deck 5 is still going full blast. After a light breakfast of fruit and cereal, we attend an excellent presentation at 10am by the ship's captain entitled "Ask The Captain". His talk is followed by a "Question & Answer" session that includes some sensible and relevant questions. The Captain reveals that the "Princess" cruise ship attempting to round Cape Horn was forced to turn back and, subsequently, will not now go to two scheduled ports. An early, and light lunch (salads and small desserts) is taken in order that we can attend a "Towel Folding Demonstration" in the Rolling Stone Lounge. There are two demonstrators, one of whom is our cabin boy, Eko. He is keen to inform "Mrs Parkes" that one of his creations is a dog and not a flying pig. Later, we discover that Steph is suffering from sea-sickness. We do three laps of Deck 3 as the ship transits the Darwin Channel, and its here that we find Rosamond, and have a long chat. From our cabin, we contact Gill and Mike for a 40-minute video by WhatsApp. Our evening meal is taken in the Dining Room and we share a table on the upper level with two Canadians, an American, and two Germans. The conversation did not flow until after the meal when it was just ourselves and the Canadians, from Edmonton, Alberta.

Jeanette, Eko, and a 'monkey'