Day 45 – Sailing the Drake Passage

Throughout the night and all day today, Viking Octantis sailed the infamous Drake Passage, where the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans meet. The Drake Passage is the primary route between the Antarctic Peninsula and Ushuaia, Argentina, where we were headed, and it can be one of the most treacherous voyages for ships to make.

The famously rough seas, massive waves, and powerful winds have earned the Drake Passage the nickname “Drake Shake.” Sometimes, however, conditions can be surprisingly smooth and calm, thus the nickname "Drake Lake." Our incredible luck with the weather continued, and Tim and I awoke to the Drake Lake.

Yes, It's Official! - It's the Drake LAKE Today!

The Infamous Drake Passage Was Very Calm Today

Although the red parkas and puffer jackets that we received were ours to keep, the waterproof pants and rubber boots we wore were loaners, and they needed to be returned so they could be cleaned by the Expedition Team for the next group of passengers. Seeing our boots lined up in the hallway this morning was a sad reminder that our cruise was coming to an end.

All the Boots Lined Up, Ready to be Collected by the Expedition Team

My mood improved when Tim and I went to the World Café where we feasted on the Lobster and Crab Roll Lunch. That was a nice treat.

Lobster and Crab Roll Station

It should be no surprise when I say that packing is one of my least favorite chores, and I spent most of the afternoon trying to fit things into our suitcases. We had always planned to leave one suitcase behind, since it had originally held our hiking boots, extra toiletries, and other items that we consumed during the cruise. I figured that everything else would fit in our two larger checked bags. NOT! Now what? I decided I’d figure that out tomorrow!

I was more than ready for a nice diversion, so Tim and I joined fellow past World Cruisers from Viking Neptune and Viking Sky at a cocktail reception in the afternoon. Although we knew the passengers from the Sky, which was our World Cruise, it was nice to meet those who had sailed the previous year.

Past World Cruisers Cocktail Reception

We knew for certain that the end of the cruise was approaching when we attended the Viking Farewell Reception. Captain Jorgen led us down memory lane with a summary of the highlights of our cruise before he and the Senior Officers led us in a farewell toast.

Captain Jorgen (far right) and the Senior Officers

Although I knew what was coming next, I was still surprised when Captain Jorgen began to sing and joined Entertainment Manager Arianna in a duet. That, of course, led to welcoming the crew onto the stage to a rousing standing ovation. It was a perfect way to say, “thank you” and “farewell.”

The Singing Captain, Arianna, and the Viking Octantis Crew

Happy Holidays!