Cruising South America Wasn’t What I Expected (Or Planned)

[@shellyvick6300]

We did a very similar cruise--Buenos Aires to Valparisio in March 2020 on the Celebrity Eclipse. By the time we got to Valparisio, they had closed the port and we ended up circling for 3 days, while they fueled and brought supplies for our (unplanned) trip to San Diego. 14 extra days at sea--we never ran out of anything--and one of our favorite cruises ever! Since most of us had packed for cooler weather, we weren't very prepared for the heat when we crossed the equator. We finally made it home on April Fools Day...

[@danellafarrell7138]

Had friends on that cruise. An adventure for sure!

[@gilbydog7350]

wow, what an adventure. You will never forget that cruise !

[@choosewisely616]

Wow - what a terrific adventure! I wish I had been aboard :)

[@Maria-js9ou]

ValparaÍso, not Valparisio😅😂

[@jackiebyers3424]

I am taking that trip and ship (Buenos Aires to Valparaiso) in 2024. Please let me know of any tips or “must sees” that would help.

[@dzikijohnny]

In 1990 I went around Cape Horn when in the Navy in an Air Craft Carrier...on that day we had glass calm days...one of the best days I had in the Navy...

[@dcnole]

That trip looks amazing. But, as you say, a good reminder that not every great cruise is great for every potential cruiser!

[@peteventoux1815]

Probably the most important and useful video so far from the best cruise content producer.

[@collettepeck3263]

Gary, I'm a travel advisor in US. I don't book a lot of cruises, but this last year and next it seems everyone wants to cruise. I've been on several RCCL and HAL. Your videos are so helpful, thank you.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Great to hear! It does seem cruising is very in and getting more so, the lines have all said they are spending more to attract new to cruise, and interesting to hear you are seeing that happen

[@karinbinnie1862]

We did a 20 night cruise on the Veendam in January 2010 from Rio de Janeiro to Valparaiso and it was the best cruise (out of 15 cruises) of my life. My sister booked us independent shore excursions in Rio, Buenos Aires, the Falklands, and Valparaiso based on recommendations on the Cruise Critics message board which cost less than half the fee for the cruise line official shore excursions with the same itinerary. Rio and Valpo even included transportation to the airport. We had booked ocean view cabins but were upgraded to balconies; due to the economy the price was reduced 25%. The 4 lecturers were great. I will never forget cruising down Iceberg Alley and back again. Twenty nights with a balcony for $3k! Win! Win! Win!

[@conniehom6798]

Hi Gary! We were pleasantly surprised to run into you on this South American Passage Cruise on Holland American. You described our experience exactly! We liked the balance of sea days and port days as most of the action was happening outside of our balcony. We have travelled on many HAL cruises and surprised ourselves that we did not attend any of the Lincoln Center concerts or spend much time on the Music Walk as we often do. Our very early mornings…. generally, 4:00 am, we opted to also turn in early in order to experience awesome scenic viewing or prepare for busy tour days. Like you, we are fairly independent travelers but anticipated that difficulty of getting out of ports, so we booked our shore excursions months in advance with HAL. We felt very sorry for those who could not get on any shore excursions. We compared private tours outside and they were about the same price which surprised us as we usually get better experience with private or small group expert led tours. We anticipated that it would easier to go with the HAL excursions this time to get out of the ports. Many of the private companies required us to meet in town. We only did one private escorted tour with a driver and guide. We enjoyed the port talks but due to standing room only, we preferred watching Cruise Director Kevin’s talks early the next morning after it had been posted in our cabin. This cruise was the first time we utilized the internal television daily. I agree that this South American Passage Cruise is one of our more memorable cruises. The only negative was our long flight to Santiago. Once there, we found that the air quality over 300 AQI was hard to bear and was a concern as I did not feel particularly well, as it was hard to breath. Relieved to get outside of Santiago to the port to breathe better but it was short lived. The disorganized port agency embarkation process at no fault to HAL, was somewhat stressful. Once on the Oosterdam we were able to literally breathe a sigh of relief. Air quality was nice once on board and at sea. Advice to future travelers to this area, 1) pack for all seasons. We met many people who only packed summer vacation attire and had to buy limited clothing like sweatshirts on board. We packed water resistant and waterproof gear as well as light and heavy scarves and hats. Bring long underwear like 32 Degrees, dress in layers. 2) Brush up on middle school or high school Spanish. It made a difference for our enjoyment when interacting with vendors and restaurants at port. 3) Bring currency for each country as well as some various denominations of US Dollars for additional tips in the event you want to tip the staff extra. US dollars are preferred but EUROS are welcomed too. 4) Anticipate rough seas 5) If new to Holland America Cruise Line, expect traditional cruising vs flashy shows or amusement park rides…. the destination and scenery at sea is the focus. 6) Bring your patience and expect the embarkation process in Valparaiso port in Santiago to be disorganized and be pleasantly surprised if they get it right. Connie

[@tipsfortravellers]

Connie, it was lovely to meet you both, and it was great chatting to you and having your friendly faces in the lounge! I also ended up watching his talks on the TV mostly other than popping in to film how busy they were !!! Thanks for adding these comments and insights!!!

[@lauriesteinhauser8768]

Thanks for the great suggestions as we will be doing this same cruise in January. I know what you mean about packing for seasons. We have 5 days pre cruise in BA with a trip to Iguazu Falls where it will be very hot. Post cruise we have 3 days in Santiago. An extra suitcase will be needed I’m sure. Happy cruising!

[@chrisbridge4231]

Did this cruise in 2009 with HAL. Possibly the best cruise itinerary we have ever experienced. Cape Horn was dead calm and we made it into every port. The penguin colony at Punta Arenas was outstanding

[@sherigreene7028]

I did a similar cruise in reverse in 2008 in February (on NCL), and the weather was amazing for all of the journey - - Cape Horn was like a pond, and the sun was out most days. One of the things that we noticed back then was that the majority of the passengers were from South America. It did give the cruise a different vibe that we totally enjoyed. Our favorite shore excursions were The Los Alerce National Park out of Puerto Montt and the Penguins in Argentina.

[@davidbykowski9678]

We just got back from a 14 day round trip Buenos Aries and Antarctica. The scenic cruising is beyond words. It was the best cruise out of our 35 cruises. We used a group called tours by locals for our excursions. They ran about 20% of what the cruiselines were charging. For example we did a 7 hour full day in Ushuaia for 6 people and the total cost was $700. That was less then 1 person for the same tour on the ship.

[@Maria-js9ou]

Buenos Aires, not😂 Aries

[@Goodfellagoodguy]

Sounds amazing. The cruise line is flying me to Santiago Chile the day ahead of time. But having issues arranging transportation from Hotel in Santiago Chile to valpaaiso almost 2 hours away. Is the shuttle services you used?

[@bennicholls9284]

I am looking at doing a similar cruise. Your mention of > $700 for one person for a one day tour caught my attention. Would you mind telling me what excursion that was as I am seeing a mx of $200-$300 for the excursions on the HAL website for Usuaia. Thanks!

[@devorahanatolia8999]

I just got off a 31 day South American cruise on the Oosterdam; Buenos Aires to Ft. Lauderdale. It was a very different cruise from what I'm used to, but was a phenomenal experience. Agree with everything you said. Packing was challenging as we had both extremes, hot and cold.

[@druegillis1744]

Just booked this cruise for 2424. Would like to enjoy a unique experience from the usual cruise. On the Oosterdam.

[@incredibleshrinkingfungus1731]

Best Gary video ever. Thanks so much for the advanced notice on the unique issues in this itinerary.

[@peterwright837]

I did this cruise with my extended family over Christmas and New Years about 10 years ago on Princess, and I still consider it my all time favorite cruise because of its uniqueness in wildlife, landscapes and cultures. My only disappointment was that our rounding of Cape Horn was apparently the smoothest the capitan had ever experienced.

[@BTimmer]

We're doing this cruise this fall and we've done it once before (both on HAL). We totally enjoy this type of cruising for the reasons you note plus we like the adventure of the rough seas and blustery weather. Our crossing of the Drake passage was glass smooth and Antarctica was fabulous.

[@BuffBuffsHoomin]

Looks like a wonderful itinerary, even with the weather issues. Glad you had a wonderful time Gary.

[@sandraorourke8006]

Thank you, Gary. We are on the 14- Day Celebrity Eclipse South America Voyage in December. We are currently booking excursions and are SHOCKED at the prices. You did an excellent job in explaining why the pricing is so high, and what not to do as far as independent - walk off the ship exploring! Thanks for the Tips! Great Video!

[@bingbong46]

Totally agree with your review of the cruise ports . We were on Infinity Celebrity ship this January B2B with Antarctica and we got into all the ports . Wouldn’t have missed doing this area , it’s almost like an adventure cruise rather than lazing about the pool . On our cruise we didn’t need to get up as early as you did for excursions . Definitely book excursions as soon as you can to avoid disappointment . Really enjoyed your posting .

[@maintrainstation]

I did this Holland America trip (in reverse order) i think on the very next cruise after Gary’s, March 10-24. Gary is giving invaluable advice. Still , I hope those interested won’t use some of these cautions to discourage them from this trip of a lifetime. It far exceeded all my expectations, and was much more impressive than my cruises to Alaska, the Panama Canal, and Iceland & Greenland. 🙂

[@richardlo4867]

We did the tour from Buenos Aires right after yours. Totally agree - definitely need to pay $$$ for the excursions to enjoy the offerings at each stop. Even in Buenos Aires - we arrived three days before and walked around - but the city is so big a couple of ship and independent tours really helped us to see more of different aspects of BA and the environs. Oh and we too hit all ports - and the passage across the tip of SA was way too calm for my taste after reading about all of the eventful weather.

[@swisstroll3]

Don’t knock the taxis in South America. If you can find another couple to split the cost with you, you can go to the most popular tourist spots for half the cost of an independent tour or one third the cost of a cruise line tour. Plus you don’t have to wait in line at the restroom, or use a restaurant that can handle at least a bus load of people, or wait for that last person to get back on the bus. In Latin America, find another couple where at least one of them speaks Spanish, or use Duolingo for six months before your journey and you will have a much better tour than the crowds on the buses.

[@kuroon7553]

As a South American, listening to you talking about the weather was funny because to me it was like "yeah, sounds about normal 35 one day, 13 the other... Quite normal" 😂😂😂

[@KevinMontreal]

I am a seasoned cruiser and this was on my bucket list of cruises, but since I am slightly handicapped this is too much of of a challenge for me. Thank you so much for all the info!

[@tomsunday]

This sounds like an awesome cruise! I plan on doing this at some point in the future and appreciate all of the tips. Ill have to book those excursions not to miss out! Kind of crazy that your ship was the only one to make all of the scheduled ports. Wow.

[@wesleyhunter2834]

I was on a Jan 2023 cruise on Celebrity out of Valparaiso to Buenos Aires that made every port. The stops where your ship is tendered has more of chance of not making a stop at that chosen port due to wind & weather conditions. I did a New England cruise las year with 5 extended stops, and we only made 2. But, we were compensated for it. Don't let this stop you from doing this itinerary, especially if you are flexible.

[@tomsunday]

@Wesley Hunter thanks for the insight! To be honest, I never realized this could be such an issue. I will not let this stop me. Appreciate your help.

[@empowercarole11]

Gary,, you are simply the best when it comes to detailed explanations about ports of call, balanced with information about the ship itself. Very few Vloggers really understand how important it is to talk about the port along with the ship. You get it! I am planning on a South American cruise in 2024 and your advice and video are highly valued. Thank you, Gary! 🔆

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks for watching and great to hear you found this interesting. Yes, definitely talking about ports seems more important than ever as I feel people want to see places more than ever!

[@1plaintext]

This is different from my experience. Our HAL ship docked downtown Valparisio at the naval base, towered over smaller military freights. We taxi'ed to the checkin terminal, everything was in order, we got bused over to the ship in no time. The many sea days were not typical sea days: Glacia Alley, Canal Sarmiento were some of the most beautiful places I have cruised (nicer than Alaska). Port Stanley was windy but we made all of our ports too. The Drake passage was also really calm for us (well known to be super rough, we're lucky). Chacaboco was small and you can do it yourself. Puerto Montte (Petrohue maybe), Punto Arena (Penguin colony maybe), etc, you can do it yourself too, just find local tours they are much cheaper (just don't think about Torres del Paine, you won't make it). Weather description was right, these places are toward the south, so even during summer it can be cold. Everybody who's been agree that this is an amazing itenery unlike any other cruises.

[@raymondlyons8492]

When i want to know anything about a ship or destinations, or food i look up your videos by far the very best, Thank you Sir.

[@ccblue2140]

Such a great video Gary. We have been looking at this cruise for awhile now and we learned a ton from you. We still want to go, but now I feel like we will be much more prepared. Thank you.

[@billyslide7645]

I think this type of trip is right up on my priority cruise lists. Many years ago we did a trip on Hurtigruten along the coast of Norway, starting in Kirkenes in Arctic, sailing south. While the sea states were rather calm, the unpredictability of the weather was very similar to what you described here. Of course we were only dealing with one country, so many of the complexities you describe here were not an issue. However, thinking about the relative positions of these cruise (extreme Norther or South) one can see the similarities. As always you do a wonderful job!

[@magicman52uk]

Gary, I've enjoyed your videos for years, but this is one of the best. Very interesting.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Brilliant. Thanks for that. I really enjoyed making this one as an interesting mix of stories and things to talk abour

[@Paul-GrnHil]

I took a similar cruise on Viking in January. I took a transfer/tour from Santiago to Valparaiso through Viator which was excellent. We had no issues at the Valparaiso port at embarkation. We had a rough sea day early in the cruise and flat seas for the cape rounding. We only missed one port due to high winds. We stuck to the Viking offerings for excursions. This cruise is more about nature and scenery and not nearly as interesting as European or Mediterranean cruises I’ve taken. It is very sea day intensive. We are glad we took this cruise to check out Viking before we take them on a World Cruise this December. We were very pleased with Viking.

[@owensmith7530]

Which of the several different Viking world cruises are you doing?

[@Paul-GrnHil]

@@owensmith7530 Viking Neptune Dec 23 , 2023 Lauderdale to London

[@darleensun]

We did this same cruise Dec 2022 and were lucky to have great weather. It was cold and had occasional rain but the seas were smooth including Cape Horn. He describes the cruise very well though. It is an adventure cruise and you must be prepared for that. 14:50

[@bethonetwo]

Partner and I did 60 days SA round trip from Ft Lauderdale in 2016. Luckily, for us, the weather was just beautiful, except we almost had to spend the night in the Forklands because the weather had gotten too bad for tendering when it was time to return us back to the ship. I think the most days we had at sea was one/3day span before being on land again. That was a great experience for us, loved it.

[@hc7633]

It sound absolutely delightful. The point I took away is that this isn't the usual "touristy" trip.

[@katd6580]

I can't believe people wait to the last minute to book an excursion....If there is something I want to make sure to see, I book as soon as I can so I know I won't miss a thing.. less stress...

[@rbringardner]

This was very helpful as we plan to do the same cruise on the Oosterdam next year. The once change that they're making is that the departure port for Santiago will be San Antonio rather than Valparaiso.

[@Swynndla]

Great tips! On some of your videos, some of the tips don't apply to me, but tips like these certainly do. Thank you for sharing!

[@dellnichols4625]

We took the Sapphire Princess in February from Buenos Aires to Santiago. I totally agree on several of your points. We had a fabulous lady who gave port talks. We took several ship’s excursions as well as several from Viator. Yes, you really MUST book tours well in advance. As far as missing ports due to weather, we were the only ship to make all of our ports after the three before us missed several of theirs. I expected terrible weather but ours actually turned out better than the forecasts. The big take away from your video is if you have never done an “out of the ordinary” cruise, do your homework. Be prepared for it to be very different. All in all it was the most fascinating trip we have done and I highly recommend it. Thanks for taking me back to those fantastic places!

[@nigehogg133]

We did the same trip with HAL in 2019. We've only done this and an HAL Alaska cruise about 10years ago. We loved both, especially the immersion, the area specific talks and the amazing ship views whilst sailing. I'd hate to be on a boat that doesn't do that. We're off on a Iceland/Norway cruise on the Ncl Prima at the end of May and I hope its much the same (appreciate it's a different type of ship). Thanks for the great videos, been viewing for years😊

[@kiwitrains]

We did this cruise two years ago with Princess and it was fabulous we enjoyed every minute of it and would go again without any hesitation you can keep the Caribbean which does not compare to the culture and scenery of those places in South America 🇦🇺👍

[@AnnWharldall]

We did a similar trip with NCL in January. We were fortunate to have wonderful weather. I did not book any Shore Excursions except in Falkland Islands which I booked privately. At every other port we had no difficulty picking up trips from the shore. They were about $60USA and cash was king.

[@sabascales3088]

We did the Antarctica with NCL. Punta Arenas the dinosaur museum was great. We did not port in chile which added more sea days. We spent three days in Antarctica Cruising. Drakes passage was smooth. Excursions were expensive and sold out. I had booked in advance.

[@gjsthreefoursevinoneone8945]

That's why we did Antarctica with the SA stops. More variety Re Port Stanley the rule of thumb I use for any island port beyond 55-60 degrees North or South Latitude, expect a 50/50 chance of tendering ashore. That was the case for us at Port Stanley, Easter Island, Stewart Island NZ.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Great tip and rule ! Thanks

[@AKMOOSE]

I embarked in Buenos Aires on March 10th, and had a brilliant time. One of my all time favorite cruises and the staff on the Oosterdam was amazing. Overall we had great weather and also made all of our scheduled ports

[@anthonykoeslag]

This looks amazing! Some bad weather just adds to the adventure.

[@wesleyhunter2834]

I loved my cruise to South America it was great. Checking into Valparaiso was an experience, but I didn't let me get me down.The cities on the cruise were a little edgy, but the excursions really made up for that. I loved Ushuaia and Buenos Aires. I found your critique spot on. I only took three excursions. I was more excited about being in South America for the first time, and the many people I met with genuine conversations. I was on Celebrity in Jan. 2023.

[@suzannejohnson1381]

We did South America (Buenos Aires to Santiago) on Princess in 2019. Fabulous. It was fun to see your videos, which brought back good memories. We also were able to get into every port.

[@tammywoodruff9225]

We did the same in March 2017. From Valparaiso was our worst disembarkation ever; there was a port strike with a container ship parked in our berth. NCL was trying to tender people and luggage to disembark for flights. We went and explored Vina del Mar the morning before check in and could see from it our ship floating in the ocean, not docked.

[@iowa_don]

Did this trip in 2019 on the Zaandam (though we crossed over to Antarctica). Cruising around Antarctica was the absolute best!! We were lucky and had mostly FABULOUS weather in Antarctica. The Falklands penguins were wonderful, we had a tour that went in Range Rovers over some bumpy farmland to where the Rock Hopper penguins were by the coast. Highly recommended.

[@tipsfortravellers]

The penguins are a definitely amazing !

[@stevenparker634]

We did this itinerary (reverse direction) on Viking in 2020 just before the Covid shutdown. Viking of course included an excursion in every port but we did pay for a couple of the more extended excursions as well. Had an incredible time and were pretty lucky on the weather. We also made it to all scheduled ports including Port Stanley. Currency was an issue but we had brought a small quantity of pounds for the Falklands and pesos for Chile. Argentinian pesos we obtained in Buenos Aires at a money exchange close to our hotel. Uruguayan pesos were not needed as we were only in the city of Montevideo and Visa cards were accepted. Strongly recommend one or two nights in Buenos Aires and in Santiago before/after cruise (depending on which way you’re traveling) because both cities are readily explorable on your own. But while on the cruise, definitely plan on taking excursions or you will miss a lot.

[@justincarlzwartkruis5605]

I have just come back from this cruise on celebrity infinity. I found the tours expensive. The only thing was the cold weather limited my time on the deck. I agree with all your points. I had my friend that is a local to Valparaiso so it was easy to get to the port. 6m swells and 100km hour winds made the trip an adventure in itself. But like you we were lucky enough to get to each destination. Our cruise had a naturalist on board who kept everyone engaged with facts and trivia. Her relationship with the cruise director was the best comedy.

[@pocketsizeforyourtravelcon3325]

We sailed on the Norwegian Star January 1-15 2023 from Santiago Chile to Buenos Aires. We actually sailed out of San Antonio, Chile which is just south of Valparaiso. We had all the same stops as you. We were supposed to stop at Puerto Madryn as well in Argentina’s patagonia region but that got cancelled due to weather. It’s definitely our favorite cruise that we’ve taken so far!

[@marilynmcphail9221]

Thank you for sharing about your South American cruise. I am wanting to do a similar one in a couple of years once I've retired. I've been to Argentina and Brazil and love the culture, food and amazing people!

[@larrymefford737]

I am so glad I watched your video. I had watch someone else’s video with a similar itinerary and they didn’t describe the varying weather as well as the importance of prebooking excursions. Thanks for the info

[@mattcolver1]

We did the reverse itinerary on Princess. We were blessed with nice weather the whole trip. A little chilly in the Falklands and Ushuaia but no rain or snow. The winds weren't a problem either except after we went around the horn. We got 20 ft seas and 70 mph winds. But it was beautiful and sunny at our next port Punta Arenas. We took a small jet then tour bus to Torres Del Paine National Park in Patagonia. That was one of the best shore excursions I've ever taken.

[@andreagriffiths3512]

I’d love this cruise and it wouldn’t be much different than packing for a trip to Tassie or NZ - gotta pack for every weather eventuality. In this case layers are the way to go.

[@gilbydog7350]

I have sailed around the south of Tasmania, down to Port Davey which is totally uninhabited, and some of this scenery looked very similar.

[@benyounce8390]

Antarctica has been on my bucket list for a long time. I have hesitated for some of the same reasons you had some less than stellar experiences on. One of my big issues is the having to fly into and out of different cities. NCL came to the rescue. They have a 14 day itinerary on the Star that is round trip from Buenos Aires. By not having to pay for a multi-city ticket the overall price became affordable with even dinners, open bar, wi-fi and excursion credit included. I'll be on the last February sailing in 2024 season. Thanks so much for your review. It got me looking and now hopefully sailing to one of my top 5 destinations. 😄

[@tipsfortravellers]

Great! You do know, of course, that those are sail by cruises with no landings. But you will get to see the amazing scenery!

[@texasboy5117]

We just did the 22-day trip which included Antartica in January. You are right, it was hard trip to pack for due to vastly different temperatures of the trip. While the shore excursions were no inexpensive, we booked with HAL months in advance as we heard it's a very isolated part of the world; and how often do get to go to a place like this trip.

[@Goodfellagoodguy]

First cruise like this that's out of everyday since I live right by Miami port. So not sure about transfer from Hotel in Santiago Chile to Valparaiso 1hour 40 million tues away. Does everyone just arrange a bus transfer service. I'm going on celebrity cruise and have air through them.

[@Bobrogers99]

Because this itinerary requires some very different planning, this video is vital if you are considering a similar trip. Even though the facilities at most of the ports were quite limited, you didn't have to share them with thousands of passengers from other ships, making the experiences more personal. The lack of onboard entertainment wouldn't bother me (if that's what I wanted I'd go to Las Vegas), and if I were younger and more weather-tolerant, this is the type of cruise I would enjoy.

[@endodevices8129]

Thanks for the content Gary. Have been looking for one like this. This is in my bucket list!

[@sashh2263]

I'm not a cruiser but I do know one thing, you can actually get stuck on the Falklands overnight if the sea gets rough.

[@aecs422]

Your posts always provide us with excursion ideas. I really enjoy your site. You're an excellent presenter.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thank you very much! Really appreciate you watching!

[@Reed-2big]

My favorite thing to do on sea days is related lectures, regardless of area visited.

[@coachab100]

I went on a similar cruise but 33 days and it started in LA. We were on Princess and we had 4 day of scenic sailing in Antarctica, which were amazing! We did miss one port, Ushuaia, due to weather! I was bummed….I really wanted to do the train to end of the World, with dinner! We were lucky because the seas weren’t too rough IMO.

[@crimlarksSteve]

Thanks, Gary! This video is incredibly helpful. My wife and I are cruising on Princess later this year from LA all the way down the west coast of South America, over to Antarctica and up to Buenos Aries so all these tips are great. I probably wouldn't have bought the local currency, but I will now that I watched this video.

[@TheSlavetoabunny]

We did the same trip (in reverse) with Holland America and it was one of the best trips ever. Unfortunately, we didn't get to do the Falklands due to weather, but had excursions in every port. You are correct - they are very expensive.

[@oxymoira]

I did the reverse trip in march 2019 with norwegian and it was smooth and perfectly organised .. loved it .. the chilean fjords are spectacular but it was my most expensive cruise to date but well worth it.

[@karenbach9706]

This is your best trip yet...wish I was there! TY for the info about Holland America South America/Cape Horn. Wondeful.

[@hettytravels]

Phew….I’m tired already! Beautifully explained as usual. I have my eye on a new itinerary that includes this area….

[@sherimosley3095]

Excellent!!! Thank you!!! I am boarding the oosterdam 5/8 in Lisbon for a jazz cruise.

[@Clutching.My.Pearls]

Gary, I really appreciate your extensive information and attention to detail.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks for watching. There was a lot to say! It took a while to distil it all but great to hear this

[@erikh9991]

I am doing this cruise from Santiago to Buena Aries. All the cruise line tours are booked and cost a minimum of $500/pp. I went with big named tour group for half the price and guarantees our return.

[@billdeibner7105]

Well, if you rubbed the toe on the statue in Punta Arenas you have to go back 🙂. This is our favorite cruise, great stuff to see, off the beaten track, with a sense of adventure.

[@Michael-Bennett]

Thanks for a very informative video. There are certainly a lot of things to consider when planning a South American cruise.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@lisderoa]

I did the inverse route from Buenos Aires to San Antonio (a comercial port near Valparaiso) in a Norwegian. We lost Punta Arenas call because the ship barely could remain moored to the pier with the help of two tugs pushing against a 100 knot wind. The captain decided not to let the passengers go to shore and only took bananas and fresh eggs. Eggs are vital for breakfasts for USA and English citizens. We then went slowly to the next port to arrive in time. There is a parte where the ship must go out to the Pacific Ocean before entering the channels of the south islands of Chile. At that time the ship rolled quite a bit and that may be tiring for people not used to it and seasickness may kick in. At Cape Horn there was no waves but I measured 70 knots of wind with my portable anemometer. In that zone you may have all seasons in one day. You may get some sun and warm temperature (is summer, but you are far south) then a short storm with cold and rain, that after three or four hours is gone and the sun comes out again. And ALWAYS it will be windy. You are below the Roaring Forties, in the Furious Fifties and not far away of the Screaming Sixties. Although Cape Horn is in the same latitude than London, there is no Gulf Stream to temperate the weather. And in the Southern Hemisfere you don't have any land masses to stop the building of big waves with the wind. Waves may circle the world without anything to stop them. I must note that the pounds used in Falklands (Malvinas for Argentina) are not valid outside the islands. Be careful to ask your change to be in UK bills and coins. In Argentina you shouldn't use your credit card because they are going to use the official exchange rate (it is said that now they use a special rate, similar to the "blue", but it can fail). You can exchange in Florida Street US dollars with a "blue" (soft name for black market). At the moment of writing official exchange is 217 pesos for each dollar at Banco Nación while blue is 437 pesos. You may find people accepting euros, Brazil's Real, but is more difficult to exchange pounds.

[@aherve2003]

I have done three times South america, never missed a port. I was lucky three times

[@kathyhedges5064]

Hands down best advise for any traveller's who asks...should I ook that now. If you are planning on it ir the words out if your mouth when they are sold out is "but this is what I came for." you book once you know and once you can.

[@collettepeck3263]

Thanks!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks 👍🏻👍🏻

[@helenrizi4719]

Your itinerary is still on my bucket list. We are planning on doing the Amazon on HAL early 2024. It’s difficult to do research -not finding too many videos and shore excursions are quite limited.

[@robward367]

Celebrity Infinity March '23, finding the Valparaiso terminal was tough for our taxi driver, but the cruuse check in and boarding was quite smooth. Would have liked to have visited Port Stanley though!

[@KenAndrew-f9j]

We're doing this cruise in reverse in February 24. This video was so informative. Thank you Gary.

[@daisydix3238]

Thank you for this great video. Good recommendations for when we eventually do our 14d South America Cape Horn adventure

[@joliettraveler]

Interested to hear your opinion on Hurtigruten. On our cruise up the coast of Norway we ran into rough seas in the North Sea where the wave crests were higher than our room windows. Many got seasick. The secret is to always keep your eyes on the horizon.

[@earlbiggers7044]

Thanks Gary, this is a cruise we plan to do someday. You confirmed my suspicions.

[@karenvonbargen4472]

You were on Oosterdam the cruise after ours. It’s interesting to see your perspective. The port in both Valparaiso and Buenos Aires were mayhem, particularly the covid testing. We hated the tendering in Ushuaia and were pleased to see them extending the dock, it took some people 4 hours to get back on the ship. Our cruise missed Punta del Este and Port Stanley, very disappointing.

[@richardgriffiths3206]

Thank you for this video, Gary. Extremely informative with valuable details. This cruise is on our bucket list.

[@44duty]

We did this cruise in 2014 with Holland America .We did it the other way around from Argentian spending 3 night's there meet our friend for 2 night's and also went to Paraguay...Left in Sunhine but knew we would be freezing 🥶 most of rest of Cruise Fabulous...

[@dogzdad123]

Gary: Thanks for the info and imparting your tips on sailing in that area. It’s not for everyone. And for me who gets frustrated with these types of roadblocks, I think that I’ll take this off any potential bucket list.

[@kevintunnicliffe2181]

We did the same itinerary, except Port Stanley, in 2019 with Celebrity. Our experience was very different in that we were blessed with fantastic weather and very calm seas (except in Buenos Aires where it rained ferociously. Cape Horn was like glass. This year we sailed from Puerto Williams (across the straight from Ushuia and in Chile) to Antarctica with Silversea and the weather was very much as you describe. Unpredictable to say the least. Ushuaia is a fantastically interesting and vibrant place compared to Puerto Williams I can assure you, especially in sleet and snow. I enjoy your vlogs they are always thoughtful and cover all the details.

[@ladykayla7417]

I love sea days. Just did a 19 night med cruise (Southampton round trip) and only had 7 port days. Sooo relaxing. And I prefer onboard activities at the “educational lectures” end of the spectrum. I’m never likely to manage a fly-cruise because of my wheelchair (risking damage and being without it for the holiday isn’t something I’m prepared for) so it has to be a uk port round trip. It’s a pity because I’ve always wanted to visit some far flung places. Maybe they’ll find a cure for my conditions (before I’m too old to enjoy myself). ;)

[@chriswilliams6568]

I have travelled the world with my walker, and it has always been fine. In the airports I take it to the gate, and they load it, then on landing, I wait at the gate where we exit the plane, and it is brought to me. Good luck.

[@poutinenator]

My cruise was on NCL to Argentina and Antarctica, with stop in Punta Arenas, Chile, in 2022. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Agree with everything you said. Even though I get seasick all the time, I took a chance and did not regret it. We missed Stanley due to bad weather. For future cruisers, watch this video again for planning your trip. I chose NCL because they allow better solo prices, but if I do it again, I would try HAL, or Celebrity for a different experience. My friends cruised on HAL from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso one month before me. They have better daytime cruising in the straits of Magellan, and Cape Horn;. Our NCL missed some sights, because we traveled at night, and because our itinerary takes us back to BA. However, we got to see other things, like those hundreds of whales around us in Elephant island, Antarctica. Just enjoy and Carpe Diem. Be grateful to be alive, and able to travel.

[@helenpaul4886]

We missed Falkland Island due to weather. The sea was rough. It was a different experience and really interesting 😊

[@246lee50]

I was on the first leg of this cruise, Miami to Santiago. Lots of logistic bottlenecks. Poorly organized ship disembarkation in the ports. Ship personal said they were 20% short on help. We enjoyed the cruise, but would not do it again.

[@lesleybthedapperkiwi]

Same latitudes as New Zealand - amongst the roaring 40s (wind and rain) and as Crowded House sang - 4 seasons in one day. I hope more destinations keep these type of tours.

[@Juliehomevideo]

We missed this about Hal on our recent Celebrity Cruise. There wasn't much to do on board except games shows and a couple of night shows.

[@benb-1485]

Did same with Azamara in 2020. Small ship go every port. Most probably the better option. Do it again ? Oh YES !

[@barbarap5278]

Awesome informative video Gary! The glaciers looked amazing!

[@lynns5675]

That was very informative. I'm booked on the Oosterdam for 2025 for this itinerary. After watching your bucket list video I might just change things up!

[@petertrudel8240]

Yeah we're booked for 2025 as well . Looks like those excursions are gonna add up$$$

[@notallwhowanderarelost4797]

Glad to hear you say Ushuaia wasn't that interesting in town - in some previous video you agreed with a commenter who called it a very weird place, so I thought I'd missed something, lol. I had an unexpected day there at the end of my cruise to Antarctica (Le Lyrial 1st of season so not starting in Ushuaia, pre-pandemic with plenty of English speakers btw) my cousin and I tried to get the hop-on hop-off bus, but the line for tickets was ridiculous so we just walked around, running into lots of people from the ship.

[@ljacobs357]

We did this cruise on Holland America Ryndam over 20 years ago. We missed Falkland islands because of the roughest areas we have ever experienced, but it was smooth when we got to Cape Horn. Then rough again in the Beagle Channel but better the last few days before we got to Valparaiso. I tell people that this is an adventure, not a cruise. You need good sea legs. An Alaska cruise is tame in comparison.

[@notallwhowanderarelost4797]

Thanks for the warning about excursion costs and the need for excursions. Those prices are shocking! I recently booked my third ever cruise - Alaska on Cunard - and am finding myself wanting to spend a lot more on excursions than I expected... at least they're not on that level!