This morning started off with a visit to the Medical Clinic on Deck 3. Rickee was up most of the night with a persistent cough and headache. Rickee has a pretty bad history with Covid. She had more vaccine boosters than I did (I only had the original two jabs), and she has had Covid four times, and every time on a cruise ship! So, we figured for everyone’s safety, we should get her tested.

Dr. Mila tested Rickee for Covid and for Influenza A and B and all tests were negative. That is good news. No quarantine! However, it appears that she does have strep throat and a slight infection that Dr. Mila is going to clear up with some antibiotics and some cold relief meds. Dr. Mila insisted that Rickee get out in the fresh air and not stay cooped up in the stateroom, which I personally think was great advice.

The Medical Clinic, by the way, is very nicely equipped. And, the nurse on duty remembered Rickee from our cruise last year on SH Diana, when Rickee DID have Covid and had to be quarantined.

After the prescription to get some fresh air, it was time to try on the parkas that Swan Hellenic has provided for us. All guests receive a blue parka for expeditions and they are yours to keep (if you can find room to pack them for the trip home).

With all of our gear in place, we head down to Deck 3 to Basecamp to put on our Muck boots and board the Zodiac for the ride over to Ittoqqortoormitt, Greenland.

When we arrive at Ittoqqortoormitt (please don’t ask me to pronounce that), we can see the colorfully painted homes and businesses.

We walk the hilly dirt roads of the small community.

There is a cute little church in the background. We spend a little more than an hour walking up and down the roads of this quaint community. At one point we were invited into a local residence to see the living conditions first hand, and to enjoy some coffee and cakes. I did take some photos, but did not ask permission to post their private residence, so decided not to.

We are back on board SH Vega in time for an extravagant lunch buffet presented on the Pool Deck. We have been really blessed with good weather today, so the galley crew has decided to take advantage of it. It is about 48 degrees (F) today, which is very warm for this time of year.

Later today we sailed to Borgvik where we get an up close look at this massive glacier. Zodiacs took guests to the glacier as well as to some of the surrounding ice bergs. Guests interested in kayaking also had the opportunity to do that here.

For dinner this evening, Rickee ordered the always available Spaghetti with tomato sauce while I enjoyed a tender and delicious braised lamb shank.

When we returned to our suite, we found that our stateroom attendant had left a very nice Happy Anniversary cake along with some other sweet treats. Such a great way to mark 31 years together!

We also found that our bed has been decorated for our anniversary celebration.

Tomorrow, SH Vega will sail to Bear Islands, Scoresbysund and Sydkap, Scoresbysund.

Ittoqqortoormitt and Borgvik, Greenland

Bear Islands and Sydkap

Day At Sea