20.08.2023 Sunday Busy day and crossing the Arctic Circle

 We have a very busy day today. There are compulsory activities and introductory talks. When we collected our new jackets yesterday, we were given a Velcro label to put onto the Velcro receptor on our sleeve. They have a name of an Arctic Wild Animal, we are Arctic Foxes. Some activities will involve timings for the various animal groups. Morgan and I stayed in bed and the Master and Missus went off to breakfast at the Lindstrom Restaurant, which is for Suite guests only. The app is still not working on the Missus's phone, so she is having to rely on Masters phone for the menu. We are learning that ALL information is sent through the app. The days activities are as follows:-

8.00-11.00 wildlife watching from observation Deck 6. This activity you can stay for as long as you want. We saw a Short Tailed Shearwater flying across the gentle waves. There were Auks as in a type of Puffin. We didn't stay too long as we wanted to do some more exploring of the ship. Also we saw a skein of Female King Eider Ducks.

9.30-10.15 Trip overview, life on board in the Deck 6 Lecture Hall. Most lectures are streamed to your cabin on channel 5 for English and Channel 6 for German. These are the two languages used on board.

11.00-11.45, King Neptune held forth about being Christened for crossing the Artic Circle. That was held on Deck 10 by the pool. Morgan and I didn't fancy the ice so we stayed in our suite. The Master and Missus went to see the ceremony. Several people volunteered to have Ice cubes poured over their heads and then given a tot of something to warm them up. So now it is officially cold!

14.00-14.45, Introduction to Citizen Science in the Lecture Hall Deck 6. This was an overview of various activities on board you could take part in. Master and Missus were interested in the NASA Cloud project. Basically, NASA has satellites monitoring the clouds from above, but can't monitor the various levels of cloud from the ground. This looks like a good piece of science to be involved in, we are all wanting to take part now.

14.45-1515, Meet the onboard Naturalists, again in the Lecture hall. This had just started when a call went up 'Whales on the Starboard Bow!' It got even more exciting when Whales were seen on the Port Bow too. There were quite a few Whales and everyone dashed outside to see them. In the end there were, Humpback breaching in the distance, Fin Whale, Grey Whale and Bowhead whales. Phew that was exciting! It was apparently unusual to see whales this early in the cruise. However we saw more Whales this journey than the last one, they didn't see any! Morgan and I sat and watched the Whales from the comfort of the suite. Nice bright sunny day and calm sea.

16.00, Master and Missus Artic Foxes  had to go to the Expedition Launch area on Deck 3 to get their Expedition Boots, they tried on several pairs till they found the right size for them.

17.30-18.00 This was the Captains welcome in the Expedition Lounge on Deck 10. Morgan and I said we wanted to carry on Whale watching. We sent the Master and Missus along. Apparently there was Champagne. The Captain gave a speech and then got every senior member of the crew to introduce them selves. Then the Expedition Team did the same. 

18.30-19.15 there was a mandatory AECO boat safety and expedition talk, this was about the protocols to follow while we are off the ship. This was held in the Lecture Hall, it was also streamed to cabins so we all watched it in our suite. Then Morgan and I went back to Whale watching till it got dark and it was time for bed. There will be a paper to sign in the morning.

M and M had breakfast and lunch in Lindstrom today. Met John and Gil at breakfast and at lunch were joined by Geoff and Diane.

Phew! a busy and tiring day, we all slept very well.

Morgan and I were Whale watching from our suite.