kimanjo

While traveling throughout Patagonia for a month, we met a German couple who tired for 5 days to fly to King George. They never made it, weather did not cooperate. Cancelled cruise, and decided to go to Patagonia instead of going back to Germany. They said they WILL NOT re-book a fly cruise when they rebook for next year.

And we are 60 and 61, and pretty fit, and it is exhausting!! But sooooo worth it.

I pop into cruismapper every once in a while to see what's going on. It says seas are 6.9 m and 15 knot winds. When we crossed we had 4 m seas, and we were out and about, and were some of the few. I can only imagine 6.9 m. WOW!!!

We were on Origin in August. We had 523. The entire ship/passengers is pretty quiet. If I had to guess, 75% of people use the stairs, not the elevator. The ship is small, the pax are active sorts, so climbing a deck or two is the least exertion you will do!!!! Everyone is so tired by the end of the day. The main dining room waiters we so used to us, they got really good about serving our courses pretty fast, all we wanted to do was climb in the bed. Deep water snorkeling and kayaking 2X per day is tiring. Have a great time. My husbands favorite trip we've done.

Even if you pack them for him, and "surprise" him with them when onboard. I think it was the snugness, close to the body 2nd layer that makes them work. A few people also brought their own long wetsuit, and doubled up. We are full-time nomads and only travel with one suitcase each, so that is something we obviously don't travel with!!

When we were on it August we were given our own snorkel and mask to keep. We were also give the backpack and water bottle. I don't recall a poncho. But I will give this advice. Bring long sleeve rash guard AND some leggings for wearing under the wetsuit. We didn't the first time out, but after we got back people said add a long sleeve layer and leggings if you have them and it made a difference in warmth. Not cotton leggings, but poly and spandex tight ones. My 2 cents.

Cabin Number 8073 Ship Pursuit Month/Year sailed Dec 2022 Would you chose this room again Y Balcony size Normal Tub/Shower combo Any other comments This is below Windows Cafe. Last suite starboard side 9 before aft suites. There is noise from the Windows Cafe above, but it matters what time of day. I am noise sensitive, and we get up early in the am, so the noise above didn't bother me at all. Mainly because I know that it ends by about 10 pm when they are finished, and starts in earnest about 7 am. We rise between 5:30 and 6. So, if you keep the same type of hours, nose from above is not bothersome at all, because it is non-existent in the night.

Made it, however it was probably the most difficult thing I've ever done! All the young people also hiking those days, seeing me struggling, were so encouraging and enthusiastic, as they were passing me... I seriously couldn't have made had it not been for the cheers and kind words of all those strangers. My husband who is very, very fit, even struggled a little. I couldn't figure out why it was that hard?? I had been in Arequipa and Colca Canyon, which is a much higher elevation ( some points up to 14,000 ft) the week before and was fine. Well, we finally figured it out ( duh) after pretty much collapsing back at our lodge. Food delivery and isolation and rest for a week in Sacred Valley. What a year 2022.

We also have Xlear ( cheap sold on Amazon) and even good ol' saline spray. I've heard the saying the solution to pollution is dilution. Nasal spray and a good mask. Easy to do. Worked really well until we ran out. 😞 Still masked, but no spray for the times we had to remove mask. Tested positive. While hiking for 2 days Machu Picchu. Wouldn't wish it on anyone. Especially at +8000 feet. Probably would have died of a heart attack had I had my oximeter with me and seen what my ox was. I'm pretty fit, and thought it was the elevation and hiking up exertion.

That's it exactly. There was another passenger on our sailing that we met that was using it too. We've used it all over all travels in South America for months, from our Antarctica trip Nov 2021 until we finally ran out in July in our hiking Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu trip. And......

We did. But, to us, being denied boarding, quarantined, missing parts of the cruise didn't warrant "oh well, the insurance will cover it" mindset. Not only that SIlversea was refunding pax at the time who tested positive. That was still no reason for us to not take the extra serious measures we did in order to stay negative and enjoy this trip of a lifetime. We missed nothing!!

We were on the Silver Origin 3rd week of August this year 2022. Yes there were plenty of wetsuits. We wore leggings and long sleeve rash guard underneath ( as tight as you can). For some reason, it really helps keep you much warmer. We did not wear the 1st day, then we heard other people suggesting it. Not cotton leggings, but spandex and nylon or poly fabrication. Some people brought their own poles, and on some hikes, they had a barrel with lots of poles in it, and I took them from that. So, if you don't mind schlepping yours, go ahead. If you dont want to, they have them. We don't eat ANY seafood ( by choice, just don't like it) and there was plenty of veggie and chicken dishes. We do eat pork, so we had that too. But other types of seafood I hear was delicious. Day room in Guayguil. We had a night flight out, so we only used it for a few hours, but others stayed in it overnight who had a flight the next day. Pro Verde was the hotel. We were in Quito for the week before the cruise, so we had an AirBnb. Not sure which hotel they use... Any other questions, just ask. We LOVED it, DH wants to book the Northern Loop. He didn't want to go on this, and it's been his favorite trip. We've been traveling all over South America since February. Just have to come up with the $$$$.

From our Nov 2021 Cloud Antarctica experience. Free advice if anyone wants it.... Because this cruise was A. VERY expensive and B. Probably a once--in-a-lifetime trip we tried to give us our best shot at NOT contracting Covid ( and hence being quarantined!!!) and missing everything. Starting 2 weeks before the flight, we practically went into hermit mode. Curbside pickup for everything. If we had to go inside, n95 masking and all hyper vigilant. Had ordered Envovid ( SanOtize) and started using day of flying, at least 2X per day, everyday. Now, here is where most will say " no way". We masked from arrival at our departure airport to arrival at the hotel in Santiago. 9+ hours. Especially in crowded airport. I brought straws and stuck them up from the bottom of our N95 masks to have water on the flight. Did NOT eat. Masks around everyone, and only off outside. Once we got on the ship, masks in the hallways, during the daily briefings, ate outdoors as much as possible. Paranoid?? We saw it as hyper vigilant. Was NOT going to skip any part of this trip. We ended up being tested for a total of 9 times for this trip, and negative. We KNOW there was Covid onboard. Big unceremonious offloading incident. Our butler "dissappeard" for 4 days.

Then, the next one comes on board with the new/old rules, that are ignored, and said smoker is allowed to remain smoking cigars outside, then the rules change to accomodate them and rule changes back and so on and so on..... It's not rocket surgery. Cigars only in Connoisseurs Club. That's it. Don't care how much of a tantrum the fool has. Unceremoniously offloaded at the next port.

Ugh, I feel for you. The cigar smoker. And in a lot of our travels we have noticed the loud Face Tiimers are more often then not, semi-deaf loud talking Grammy and Grampy FaceTiming with the even louder screaming and squealing grandkids back home on the other end of the call.