Date: 7/20/25 7:59 am From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Sea glasses
As a reminder when folks are asking about cruises and cruise ships, please
go online and find out *the passenger capacity* and report that in your
posting; that is more helpful to us than the length of the ship. "How many
people will the ship hold?" Looking it up, the Plancius -- which I have
been on -- holds 108 passengers. That is definitely binoculars only, but
surely you will have a few Oceanwide staff who are birders. This is normal
for any expedition cruise, and there were 3-5 such staff who were often
outdoors doing the bird IDs and helping clients identify the birds when I
did my trip. These folks also are the Zodiac drivers and some also give
programs on the ship. Many passengers seldom go outside in the cold, when
the ship in moving, and wait for the Zodiac cruises; or wait for the ship
to essentially stop once in the Antarctic. Birders need to be outside as
much as possible -- you often get just 5 seconds to spot that Kerguelen
Petrel that zips by. Note that the Drake Passage will typically result in
part of much of this crossing to be so rough that passengers are not
allowed outside; thus, find a good viewing spot in the observation lounge.
I got some of my first lifers from inside.
Harry LeGrand
On Sun, Jul 20, 2025 at 9:59 AM sheryl mcnair <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
> Steve,
> The ship is 293 feet long.
> FMTY,
> Sheryl
>
> On Jul 19, 2025, at 4:53 PM, Steve <sshultz...> wrote:
>
> I would definitely take a scope. The distances are rather long, birds
> will often be a mile or more away. Even a bird as “close” as the other end
> of the ship is a fifth of a mile distant, and birds “right off the ship”
> are at a minimum hundreds of feet away.
>
> Just having bins restricts you to the nearest of birds while the scope
> extends your reach.
>
>
> Steve Shultz
> Apex NC
>
> On Jul 19, 2025, at 3:58 PM, Simon Thompson <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Sheryl
> I have just got back from several cruises to Alaska on the royal Caribbean
> cruise- Anthem of the seas. I used my scope all the time as the ship is so
> stable. I could even zoom in on storm petrels with some practice.
> What ship are you going one?
> Your binocs are perfect for sea watching
> Simon
>
> Simon RB Thompson
> Asheville, NC and Saxmundham, Suffolk UK
>
> Ventures Birding Tours
> http://www.birdventures.com/ <http://www.birdventures.com/> >
> Please use the Ventures e-Mail (<Venturesbirding...>) to contact the
> Ventures office - thanks!
>
>
>
> On Sat, 19 Jul 2025 at 13:11, sheryl mcnair <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
>> All,
>> We have a cruise to Antarctica & I’m trying to decide—do I want to bring
>> my scope? And do I want any different binos than my 10X30 Swarovskis? Any
>> thoughts? It’s not a travel scope, btw.
>> FMTY,
>> Sheryl
>>
>
