Following three days in the Weddell Sea, our navigation took us back through the Antarctic Sound en route to Wilhelmina Bay. The bay is located between the Gerlache Strait and the west coast of Graham Land. It is named after a Dutch queen. Adrien de Gerlache, the famous Belgian explorer, honored the queen in appreciation of the funding provided for Gerlache’s voyage by the Dutch royal family.
Arriving at Wilhelmina Bay, all onboard National Geographic Resolution were greeted by the wonderous sight of humpback whales feeding on the plentiful krill that reside in these waters. Guests spent the afternoon enjoying Zodiac cruises under clear blue skies, during which more humpback whales, leopard seals and Weddell seals were observed.
Following our Zodiac cruises, a very special Christmas Day dinner was served before a lively crew show later in the evening. Guests and staff very much enjoyed the crew performance, and all joined together for post-show dancing, including a long conga line that weaved through the chairs and tables of the Ice Lounge. In summary, December 25 was a special day within our special voyage to Patagonia and the Antarctic.
