Chuginadak Island 20.8.2022
21/08/22 00:28
Before I start todays travel journey some interesting facts and observations being on board:
- The Roald Amundsen is a ship registered in Tromsø ( Norway ) with other words under Norwegian flag
( unlike almost all the other cruise lines which are registered in Monrovia, Nassau and the like )
- the ships officers including the captain are all Norwegian
- the Zodiac drivers are all from the US because US Maritime law mandates that you have to have a US
license to drive them
- the restaurant staff are with apparently two exceptions from the Philippines. All the ones I came in contact with are very very polite
And have a very good memory for names. I for example was greeted for every meal by my first name and some even remembered
my cabin number. I was surprised when I discovered the some of them even speak German.
Hurtigruten seems to treat and pay them quite well because the few I spoke to in more depth all mentioned that and that they even get their
homeflight paid.
The passengers are an interesting chapter:
- Roughly 70% of the passengers are German ( a fact that is sometimes disturbing )
- same are from Austria, Netherlands, Norway, UK and Switzerland.
- Average age of the passengers I would guesstimate to be somewhere in the region 55 - 70
I know one should not use stereotypes BUT certain behaviours are very country specific and proof to the utmost extend.
In short: a very interesting microcosmos.
20.8.2022 @ 9:02 am
After a good nights sleep ( yes despite the very rough weather outside ) I woke up refreshed for a new day of adventure.
Only problem: no adventure today. The weather gods are not in our favour. Still very high winds around 40-50 kn and very foggy.
Alaskan weather.
All onshore excursions for today have been cancelled so that one can only see the islands ( or what you can see through the fog ) from the vessel.
As on the days before I am going to attend the lectures they are offering." Bald Eagles - Myth and Truth", "Bears of Alaska", lectures about the various indigenous people of these island etc have been lectures I attended.
To "replace " todays cancelled tours two new ones are on offer: " Geology - Plate Tectonics and Volcanos " and "Military History of the Aleutian Island" are on offer.
All lectures last about 45 min followed by Q & A and are done in a very interesting easy to understand way.
BTW: No pictures today unless foggy ones are of interest.
As all the expeditions have been cancelled for today we learned that we will stay for a little while on the northern side of Chuginadak Island before "setting sail" to drive slowly up north via St Paul ( where we can't stop because the islanders don't want guests because of Covid ) to St Matthew Island where we expect to arrive on 22.8.2022
Some pictures of todays endeavors your can find here and to track my tour click here
- The Roald Amundsen is a ship registered in Tromsø ( Norway ) with other words under Norwegian flag
( unlike almost all the other cruise lines which are registered in Monrovia, Nassau and the like )
- the ships officers including the captain are all Norwegian
- the Zodiac drivers are all from the US because US Maritime law mandates that you have to have a US
license to drive them
- the restaurant staff are with apparently two exceptions from the Philippines. All the ones I came in contact with are very very polite
And have a very good memory for names. I for example was greeted for every meal by my first name and some even remembered
my cabin number. I was surprised when I discovered the some of them even speak German.
Hurtigruten seems to treat and pay them quite well because the few I spoke to in more depth all mentioned that and that they even get their
homeflight paid.
The passengers are an interesting chapter:
- Roughly 70% of the passengers are German ( a fact that is sometimes disturbing )
- same are from Austria, Netherlands, Norway, UK and Switzerland.
- Average age of the passengers I would guesstimate to be somewhere in the region 55 - 70
I know one should not use stereotypes BUT certain behaviours are very country specific and proof to the utmost extend.
In short: a very interesting microcosmos.
20.8.2022 @ 9:02 am
After a good nights sleep ( yes despite the very rough weather outside ) I woke up refreshed for a new day of adventure.
Only problem: no adventure today. The weather gods are not in our favour. Still very high winds around 40-50 kn and very foggy.
Alaskan weather.
All onshore excursions for today have been cancelled so that one can only see the islands ( or what you can see through the fog ) from the vessel.
As on the days before I am going to attend the lectures they are offering." Bald Eagles - Myth and Truth", "Bears of Alaska", lectures about the various indigenous people of these island etc have been lectures I attended.
To "replace " todays cancelled tours two new ones are on offer: " Geology - Plate Tectonics and Volcanos " and "Military History of the Aleutian Island" are on offer.
All lectures last about 45 min followed by Q & A and are done in a very interesting easy to understand way.
BTW: No pictures today unless foggy ones are of interest.
As all the expeditions have been cancelled for today we learned that we will stay for a little while on the northern side of Chuginadak Island before "setting sail" to drive slowly up north via St Paul ( where we can't stop because the islanders don't want guests because of Covid ) to St Matthew Island where we expect to arrive on 22.8.2022
Some pictures of todays endeavors your can find here and to track my tour click here
