OK all you ZODIs,

Have any of you started buying any of the gear and clothes we're going to need? Any suggestions for places with the best prices? As I live in the South (as a few of us do), I won't have much need for a lot of cold weather garb when I return.

Thanks for any and all suggestions. The thoughts of packing for this trip scares. :eek:

Come visit us. We are going to the North Face and Columbia factory outlet. And you have your possum stuff!

Beth, as for "gear", they will gift you wonderful jackets, won't they? And of course, boots taken care of. I'd say a warm pair of ski-pants, some long underwear, a hat, and warm sweaters/sweatshirts and a good set of gloves, all purchased from a discount outfitters store and you'll be set. Maybe Fred can chime in, I think he suggested the store I used.

Thx, Andi. I think I may go to REI and try on clothes there. As far as the possum attire, I was a voyeur and didn't make any purchases. Knew I had no need for it here in NC.

Olivia, my main concern is packing for 17 nights on the ship, two sets of landing clothes and clothes for BA for 3 days or so.

Beth,
Bass Pro shops or Cabelas have the stuff you need at good prices. We got our rubber pants for $19.00 and gloves & long undies were also inexpensive. You can always leave them on the ship for them to provide for future guests who don't bring the right stuff (we did that on the Arctic cruise.) BA is very casual.
Jim

Jim, do you need a fleece vest/jacket too or is it sufficient to wear parka over a long sleeve shirt?

REI, that's the one I remember. I took two suitcases. I remember that, because one of them never made it back to me. Fortunately it was the one with most the the cold weather gear (except I was wearing the Jacket)

I just bought some base layers, sock liners and glove liners from LandsEnd. They seem very comfortable. I've been going by the Columbia outlet and have picked up mittens, a neck gaiter and hat. I think I found my waterproof pants for around $20 at Dicks Sporting goods.

My dilemma now is deciding exactly what I need as far as camera gear goes. Will I need a polarizing filter? Should I bring a backup camera? What focal length lenses are recommended? Is it worthwhile to bring a tripod or monopod?

Have you all ordered your parka yet?
I was planning on buying the winter stuff after Xmas........I definitely don't need it here. Jim, happy to know I can leave it on the ship. Boots are my biggest concern. I have a VERY high arch and most boots are impossible to pull on. Did any of you that have been on the Silver Explorer think the boots ran small?

Betty, I have been reading up on Cruise Critic. The folks there indicate that you need to go up a size or two. Ngaire emailed me tonight a link to her wonderful website full of great info, so do read her website if you haven't already.

http://www.bksilversea.com/2012_Prince_Albert_Antarctica.htm

Also, look at CC links under Silversea Explorer. There were some interesting tidbits... some folks recommended ski googles if you wear contact lens; they recommended collapsible ski poles to help you walk or walking sticks, face masks, ear warmers or headbands, neck gaitors and two pairs of socks and long underwear in case you get a pair wet and go out on am and pm zodiacs. Ngaire has a bunch of other useful tips. Doug and I liked the gloves for photographers that Ship to Shore sells.

Darn, I just ordered my jacket to size. Maybe I can change once on board.

Thx for the link, Andi.

http://ohp.smugmug.com/Travel/ICE-2008/4260395_GJ3D7z#258395534_GrEKz-S-LB

I was never really that cold on land or zodiac, BTW. I doubt this link will work to show you.

If it does, I will show us in lesser states of "dress".

Lauri and all,

I thought this was an interesting article on the photographic possibilities. Probably don't need this much gear but gave me some great ideas.
http://www.komar.org/faq/travel/vacation/antarctica/photography-tips/

Beth, I was referring to the boots. You are probably fine with the jacket.

The parkas we got on Silversea (when it was PAII)ran to size or a bit larger but they have plenty of spares to swap. The boots are just heavy mud boots and using 2 pair of heavy socks worked. They have plenty of sizes to try on. I just used an inexpensive fleece long sleeve tee shirt and that worked well. The parkas are really well insulated. There were all sorts of cameras in use from point & shoot to major lens envy professional style. The main thing we were told was how to reset histograms and whatever the old ASA setting is now called because of the abundance of white background and glare.
Penguin poop really stinks.
Jim

Don't forget to take some kind of ear muffs or head band that covers the ears.

Frank and Wendy, thanks for that photo link. It was really helpful. I think I will bring my tripod along and maybe even look into a wireless remote (mine has a short cable).

Thanks for the link Andi. Somehow I had missed it. Will need to print off and study. Sure happy to know about the charter's weight restrictions. I could have been in real trouble.

Betty, me too. Traveling Biz class, I didn't give it a thought.

We all need this hat: http://www.amazon.com/Penguin-Anima...d=I3RBSCGF6L43SK&colid=218Q73EXCGHF7

Lauri, I'll be sure to take a picture of you in that hat. I seem to have other photos of you with birds on your head!!

So true! Now if I end up with a real penguin on my head that would make for quite a photo!

Lauri, I would want to shoot that photo!!

Just got new literature on Zodiac from Silversea. It seems that we can take 88 pounds each....2 bags of 44 pounds...on charter flight from Ushuaia. This should be more than enough for all of our clothing layers and boots. The issue may be for the camera equipment. Only 11 pounds carry on.

If you have free lunch time in Ushuaia, a great restaurant for Argentine beef, lamb & wine is La Estancia. Walk up to the main street, turn right and it will be on the left side of the street with glass windows to view the cooking pit. I don't know what SSS plans from the airport to ship but when we went on Regent we skipped the bus tour and buffet lunch and had a better time in town.
Jim

Just getting ready......

Doug

beautiful

I found some nice stuff at decent prices at Dick's today. Columbia has omni heat base layering tops and bottoms for less than the Silversea gear shop. I also found some stretch mid layer pants by Koppen (Hemisphere Tech pant) there as well as Columbia waterproof pants that I found in a petite, which were on sale for $35. They were very light. With all three pants on, I don't look too bulky and I am short and they didn't drag. For you taller gals, the Koppen waterproof pants were $5 more and were longer. They all had matching tops. I am wondering if I should buy two pairs of the base layer?

For men, they have Muck waterproof boots that are lightweight and insulated. No ladies boots. With coupons, it comes out much cheaper than the Silversea package. They also have glove and sock liners as well as heat packs.

I found some great gloves and a combo hood/facemask/scarf while shopping at a Sun and Ski Sports. I *think* I have all the necessities now.
Still wondering what other photo stuff I want or need. (really want, I don't need anything else but I really, really, really want a super wide angle lens...)
Oh, I found that they have good prices on three packs of both hand and foot warmers at drugstore.com

Does anyone know if I should bring a sports coat (and tie) for either Buenos Aires or the ship? Is the ship really casual EVERY night? Are restaurants casual in BA?

thanks

No sport coat for me. From experience on ARCTIC it is fairly casual for dinner. Keep the weight limit of 44 lbs in mind. I can just barely make that limit using a very light duffle type bag. I plan to wear cotton khaki type pants with long sleeve sport shirt. For the captains night I think some on ARCTIC had sport coats but many did not. Unless you think you would need one in BA I would leave it home. That is just me. Only been to BA once 5 / 6 years ago and did not need a sport coat where we went to dinner.

Biggest challange in packing is the carryon limit of 11 lbs. With camera and lens equipment I am over a bit. Plan to use back pack so it is not so obvious that weight is what it is.

As trip is getting closer Brayden and I are getting excited about this trip. Hearts anyone.

I play hearts. Tell Brayden I am ready to eat the Q of spades every hand. NOT!
Can someone scan the info about the charter flight and email it to me? The one from the packet. Can't find mine or it was left out of packet.

Betty ,

Sent you an email, think I have your email address. If not let me know. I do not know how to post the scan from the SilverSea doc on lct. It is on page 5 of the Setting Sail document. Bottom right corner.

Thanks Ralph.

The packing scares me!!! Going to try for one bag. :eek: :eek: :eek: I read somewhere that there is a self-serve laundry on the ship? Can someone clarify this?

I haven't played Hearts in years. Guess I'll need to read up on the rules!!

Yes, there is self-serve laundry. Used it on ARCTIC. Plan to use it on ZODIAC.

Thx, Ralph. I can breathe easier knowing that I can do a load of laundry or two while on ZODIAC.

Is the 44lb per person or can it be 88lb per couple. We have one suitcase that regularly weighs in around 49lb and another we can pack to 35lb; would that work?

Curious (nosy) folks want to know. Is it the pink one that weighs the most or the blue one. We can guess but ??

This does seem like an odd requirement on the part of Silversea. Can not imagine that the charter plane is not a fairly good size one 737 or somewhat similar and not a regional jet size. I would guess that most if not all the 135 or so passengers are on the flight. The normal 50 lb limit most airlines use these days would make it so much easier. We all are used to the 50 lb limit and that is what the flights to Buenos Aires have.

Getting excited about this trip. Picked up the shirts I had made for Brayden and I this morning. Similar to ones I had made for ARCTIC. These of course say ZODIAC with the January 2012 date.

re: the 44 lb limit.

In Africa they weighted everyone together and figured out the weight in total. After all, the point is not to over weight the plane in total.
I wonder if someone's light bag could offset someone's heavy bag?
Anyone know?

Doug