This was originally posted by brewmax on the community forum.

Wow! You grabbed me with that incredible first photo and never let me go!

Wonderful shots, as always, Jill!

This was originally posted by Jill Cruse on the community forum.

Here's the link to a few pics! Give it a minute to load . . . Just so you know, many of the guest shots were removed, and it is mostly of our beautiful scenery and animals, mammals and birds we encountered along the way. If you were on the trip, and would like a copy of some of the shots we got of you in the slide show we presented on board, just shoot me an email, and I'll be happy to forward them on.


Enjoy!

Jill

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=vhdaosf.9gei5ucj&Uy=8jikrr&Ux=1

This was originally posted by brewmax on the community forum.

Thanks, Jill. Sounds like another amazing trip of "firsts"! 2010 gives everyone time to save and to plan! Meanwhile, we'll look forward to photos!

This was originally posted by Jill Cruse on the community forum.

Many of us are just getting back from an incredible experience. Many have continued on the Iguazu Falls for our extension.

We had some difficulty with some emails getting out, so I will try to fill you in a bit on the final few days.

Each day was better than the last. We were just so lucky to have the great weather we did, and a very smooth crossing on the Drakes passage on the way home. Memories of seeing the millions of stars on a clear night remain, and is a site I have never experienced anywhere else on earth. Many of us were lucky to see several shooting stars as well. We were so lucky to have a gorgeous day with blue sky and towering white glaciers to give us turkoise and all shades of blue, both in the water and on in the ice. We were also fortunate to have Minky Whales surface right next to our Zodiac. More Fur Seals lined the ice and "dolphining" Gentoos glided through the waters.

At Deception Island many of the gals went swimming in the natural hot springs and in the ocean. Later that day we went to Port Lockroy, and were really lucky to spot a King Penguin! Somehow this guy got lost and found it's way to this Gentoo populated island, hundreds and hundreds of miles away, probably from South Georgia. He was beautiful.

What a trip. For me, having had the opportunity to go again after having been to Antarctica 2 years ago, it was a priviledge, and a completely different experience seeing the chicks full grown, with their baby fur (they are even cuter than the stuffed toy penguins) and having this very different weather. Both experiences were fantastic in their own right.

We hope you all will be able to join us the next time we do Antarctica. . . maybe in 2010? Photos are being posted soon!

Jill

This was originally posted by brewmax on the community forum.

Jill, all I can say is that your memoirs will be something else when you write them!

These vivid descriptions are just wonderful and allow us to vicariously "experience" some of what you are actually seeing, feeling and touching.

Keep these descriptions coming! Your travel writing is actually intoxicating!

This was originally posted by Jeri at Olivia Guest Services on the community forum.

Here is more from Antarctica from Jill ...


Our crossing of Drake's passage was the smoothest the ship had experienced the entire Antarctic season. And the weather - we have experienced it all. As we were coming to our first stop, Paulet Island, the sun was shining and it was 47 degrees! To meet us were Adelie Penguins, the babies about as big as the adults, moulting, and we had our first experience of "Guanu" - that's Penguin Poop for short.
Everyone was so excited to get on land and get up and personal with these very funny creatures. We also saw Weddel seals.

As we departed, the sun was covered by cotton-like clouds, and suddenly we found ourselves in a thick fog. That quickly disappated, and out first Humpback whale was spotted. We continued maneuvering through gigantic icebergs; as big as high-rises, and were in awe of the size and beauty of this place. It is hard to describe in words; and as many of the guests have expressed; one that can only be felt by the experience itself of feeling like small, insignificant "dots" among the grandeur and magnificence of the icebergs and glaciers surrounding us. Often we could hear the glaciers "calfing" with mighty, thunderous roars.

Soon it was snowing, and even sticking on deck; enough that snow balls could be made for a short snow ball fight among a few :-). Our next stop, Brown Bluff, was filled with Gentoo Penguins and fur seals. We ended the day in complete awe and amazement of such a wonderful experience - and it was only our first day of landings! After dinner we joined in the lounge to watch "An Inconvenient Truth" then Roxanna Ward tickled the keys in the Club for an impromptu one hour performance.

Today we had another landing, seeing more Gentoo Penguins, and this time Leopard Seals up close and personal on floating icebergs. The weather held up for this landing, and as we are on to the next, the snow is falling again - making everything so white and beautiful.

As it is Valentine's day, we decided it would be appropriate to do the Newlywed-Oldywed game tonight. After a Valentine's celebration with a special cake at lunch (and the celebration of Hilda and Pauline's 37th
anniversary) the guests will also be getting a red heart with Hershey kisses on their pillows tonight as turndown. Valentine decorations adorn the ship, and we are definitely celebrating in style.

We are having a great time, and will fill you in with more later! Can it actually get any better than this????

Jill, Nicoll and Roxanna

This was originally posted by Bev and Susan on the community forum.

Julie, Good point!! I can't believe how close the time is coming! Yes, the ship looks amazing! A friend told me her in-laws went on it and couldn't stop talking about how fabulous the ship was... truly first class!!

This was originally posted by JoCindy on the community forum.

Jill.
Thanks for taking the time to tell us each time you are on another Olvia trip.
I love reading about what you and the Olivia womyn are experiencing.
Thanks for taking the time to do this.

This was originally posted by evergreen on the community forum.

Just think Bev & Susan, pretty soon you'll be aboard when Jill posts her travel updates from Tahiti.
Time is going fast & gosh I wish we were doing it this year too. That ship looks awesome!

This was originally posted by Bev and Susan on the community forum.

I love reading all Jill's stories! She writes so well that I can picture all that she is talking about, even though I have never been there! Thanks, Jill, for always sharing your adventures with us! xo Susan

This was originally posted by Jeri at Olivia Guest Services on the community forum.

Everyone had made it safely to Buenos Aires, and many of us enjoyed a wonderful city tour and dinner and Tango show. Our hotel location was perfect - walking distance to fabulous Argentian restaurants, shopping and parks.

We arrived into Ushuaia and had a short tour of the city, with a little shopping time before boarding the beautiful Corinthian II cruise ship.
We were happy to see a few familiar faces of our Expedition leader and Naturalist that had been with us 2 years ago. That evening was our first briefing, and we were preparing for a rough crossing of Drake's Passage; the roughest body of water in the world.

To our pleasant surprise, the passing has been very smooth; one of the smoothest the ship has experienced all season! We saw all types of birds and even came across our first iceberg loaded with Chinstrap penguins. Roxanna Ward entertained us tonight in the Club, and we are all excited about our first landing tomorrow morning.

More to come!