Day 16 – January 10, 2026
Stanley, Falkland Islands
(Day 14 on the ship)
We arrived in Stanley, Falkland Islands, right on time at 7 am, with a 9 am excursion lined up to see Gentoo penguins. We enjoyed room service for breakfast, then headed down to the theater to pick up our tender tickets for the ride ashore.
Once on land, we met our guide, Robin, who took us on a short drive—about 15 minutes—through the town of Stanley. It’s a very small town, but full of character, and Robin shared bits of local history along the way. When we reached our destination, we transferred from the bus into 4×4 vehicles to make our way down to the beach where the penguins were located.
There had been quite a bit of rain earlier in the week, so the ground was extremely boggy—definitely the kind of terrain where vehicles can get stuck easily. The beach itself was home to a small Gentoo colony, but even a small group of penguins is endlessly entertaining. We spent about an hour watching them waddle around, interact, and go about their penguin business.
As a nice bonus, there was a little refreshment setup with hot chocolate, a penguin-shaped cookie, and a scone with cream and diddle-dee jam. Diddle-dee jam is made from locally picked berries that grow on a native bush—and surprisingly, it was really good!
We climbed back into the 4×4, and Lisa drove us back toward the port. John and I spent some time walking around Stanley before stopping for lunch at Groovy’s, a local favorite, where we split an order of fish and chips. Funny thing—these were much better than the fish and chips we had in Portree back in July. Sorry, Rick Steves… we think you missed the mark on that one 😂.
Next door, we popped into the Falkland Brewery, where we ran into Catherine and Scott. We enjoyed a couple of beers while chatting with locals—everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming.
On the tender ride back to the ship, we had the chance to talk with Penny, one of the expedition team members. Her specialty is whales, and she was absolutely delightful to chat with. Once back onboard, we stopped for afternoon tea at 4 pm, complete with a quick tart, then walked a couple of laps around the ship before setting sail from Stanley.
Dinner that night was at Compass Rose, and both of us decided to keep things light. I went with a small cup of tomato soup, three grilled shrimp, and steamed vegetables. John chose a fruit salad, red lentil-coconut soup, and pork medallions. Dessert was skipped—by mutual agreement 😂.
After dinner, we headed to the theater to watch Anne van der Zee, a Dutch-born performer who put on a great show. Fun fact: she and our cruise director, David, are a couple. We wrapped up the evening with a nightcap in the Observation Lounge before calling it a night.
Tomorrow is a full day at sea, starting with Sunday brunch at 11 am, followed by a massage at 3 pm—hard to beat that combination!
About Stanley
Stanley is the capital—and only town—of the Falkland Islands, with a population of around 2,000 residents. The town stretches along a sheltered harbor and is known for its colorful buildings and relaxed pace of life.
Stanley was the site of fighting during the 1982 Falklands War, when Argentine forces captured Government House before being defeated by British troops. Today, the town has both an airport and seaport, supporting local life and a small but growing tourism industry.
The climate is cool and temperate. Winters are mild, with temperatures ranging from about 32°F to 40°F, while summers are equally modest, averaging around 56°F in January. The surrounding landscape is treeless, dominated by grasses, ferns, and endemic plant species, and wildlife—especially birds and penguins—is abundant even near town.
About Gentoo Penguins
Gentoo penguins are one of the most common penguin species in the Falkland Islands and live here year-round. The islands support one of the largest Gentoo populations in the world, with estimates exceeding 100,000 breeding pairs.
Recognizable by their bright orange bills, white head stripes, and energetic behavior, Gentoos are fast swimmers and often “porpoise” out of the water while hunting fish, krill, and shrimp. They build pebble-and-grass nests, typically lay two eggs, and share parenting duties. Fun (and slightly ruthless) fact: Gentoo penguins are monogamous, and infidelity can result in banishment from the colony!
Gentoo quick facts:
- Height: 28–35 inches
- Third-largest penguin species (after Emperor and King)
- Males up to 19 lbs; females up to 18 lbs
- Chicks stay in the nest about 30 days and head to sea around 85–100 days
