Seven weeks after returning from South America, where we visited Buenos Aires, the Iguazu Falls and the Chilean Fjords in Patagonia, we were back on the same ship, this time sailing around the Azores and continuing on to Britain via northern Spain.

Despite being on the same ship, this was a very different type of cruise. The Patagonian Odyssey was an expedition cruise, having a sizeable expedition team comprising people who are very knowledgable about the natural world. Furthermore, almost all trips ashore are made using zodiacs. By contrast, this cruise was sold as a destination cruise with a focus on land-based excursions. The ship is mainly used for getting from one destination to another and getting on and off the ship is primarily via the ship's gangway, directly onto land.