The Falkland Island penguin excursion is one of the most highly anticipated and popular experiences on this three-week cruise to and through Antarctica. These excursions are notorious for selling-out early, so we were sure to secure our spot, and booked the excursion a full sixteen-months prior to our departure date.
Bumping up against obsessive, during the next year we explored all things penguins; including purchasing weather appropriate clothing, and updating our camera equipment with some high-tech zoom lenses and intimidating computer editing programs. Packing for the trip, it was clear our pending walk among the penguins had informed and influenced the contents of our luggage. We were ready.
On day six of our cruise, we had arrived at the Falkland Islands. Few of the 1,700 guests had slept well the night before, as we were, much like children on Christmas Eve, far too excited to sleep. We had set our alarms early, leaving plenty of time to get prepared, but were up long before the alarms went off. Thinking ahead, we had placed our breakfast order the night before and had room service deliver the meal to our room so we could eat while we got dressed and geared up.
With only our outer layer of clothing yet to be applied at the last minute, I stepped onto the veranda to get a glimpse of Stanley bay. Because there is no dock access, we would have to tinder, by life-boat, from the ship to shore. So, not being docked was not a surprise. However, I did think it odd that our ship was not facing in the direction which would support our going ashore. But, what did I know; And, honestly, what did I care? We were going to see the penguins, I had little brain space for anything else.
A moment later the Captain’s voice came on the ship-wide PA system. His tone, though commanding, was not enthusiastic. “Good morning ladies and gentleman. Unfortunately I have some unpleasant news regarding our Falkland Island excursions.”
The captain then went on to explain how the swells were too high for us to tinder safely to shore; and, guest and crew safety being a top priority, he had made the call to cancel all excursions for the Falkland Islands.
Everything after that was “Blah, blah, blah … Blah, blah blah.
My heart sank, my stomach churned, and my mind took off in a half-dozen directions of doom and gloom. “This can’t be! This is why we booked the cruise in the first place. We got all this expensive camera equipment, and a bunch of clothes we are unlikely to wear anywhere else …EVER!” (((WTF?!)))
I stood there on the butt-freezing cold veranda, in shock.
I had a choice to make. Which way was I going to go with this? Was our entire cruise ruined? Was I going to have a monumental melt-down? I didn’t know whether to throw up, ugly cry, or release a primal scream.
“Use your tools, Peter” my inner voice instructed. “Use your tools.”
So, I took as deep of a breath as I could muster, and, defeated and depleted, asked the Powerful Question. “What is this trying to show me, the seeing of which will change everything?”
Fighting back tears, and holding down last night’s dinner, I took another deep breath, quieted my mind, and waited for guidance …
