scubacruiserx2

We met our guide in the disorganization that was disembarkation and headed out for an unknown tour . The only 2 things that we knew were that we had a domestic flight to El Calafate at 1630 and that we needed to buy a new suitcase . AA has a more stringent weight policy on domestic flights . We were flying business class and were allowed more luggage but each suitcase had to weight less . 😜 The first stop was an upscale mall but the cheapest piece was $200 . So we moved on and would check the blue market later . We stopped at a park that dealt with the Guerra Sucia ( Dirty War ) . To summarize , Juan Peron was elected in 1946 and lived in an age when dictators were commonplace . Their society wasn't stable and he and his 2nd wife Evita brought some hope to the masses . After his death in 1974 , his 3rd wife and the state sponsored force AAA ( Argentine Anticommunist Alliance ) targeted left wing subversives and thousands of people disappeared under it's successor the Proceso de Reorganizacion National . This is what the park is about . What it didn't mention was that there was 1000% inflation and as the economy crumbled it tried to reintroduce national honor by attacking The Falkland Islands . The wall of missing people An instrument of torture with a free collage behind it A disappearing man as you walk by it This one disappears when the tide rises

We like Aerolineas Argentinas as our airline in South America just as we prefer Virgin Atlantic to fly to London . But they have a couple of quirks . The first was that they had lowered their luggage weight limit after we had booked and didn't notify us . Unfortunately our second checked bag was overweight in Miami . If we could have moved some things from the larger bag to the smaller it would be no problem . But unfortunately it was gone down the conveyor belt and they would not retrieve it or give us a credit for a couple of pounds that would have gone in it . The result was red HEAVY tag and a $100 overcharge , even though the total weight never changed . The second odd thing is that AA always closes the window shades during the entire flight and most people go to sleep in the morning , only waking to be feed or excrete . So nocturnal is the norm in Argentina . The first time that we went to a nice dinner place in El Calafate we were surprised that they didn't open until 8 PM .

We did show our last dinner but not our last lunch which was the same main for both of us and different desserts . While we sat at Gatsby's for the last time we were waiting for our guide and Monica to walk us down one last time to ding out from the Star . We had some time to reflect . Most of the cruise was good , very good . But just sitting in Gatsby's reminded us of a couple of reasons why we missed HAL . The most obvious was that we were in Gatsby's instead of our stateroom with it's peace and quite . And the second was the issue of laundry especially in warm climates where you sweat a lot like BA and South Florida . We were in a nice suite and we still had to pay for our laundry ! It seems like if you throw double digits in thousands of dollars that a couple of bags of free laundry wouldn't hurt them . Anyhow , we were purple tags for our checked bags and there was about a half an hour between it and the previous color so that's when we moved out of the frying pan and into the fire .

It's always striking to see the huge wall of ice . They tend to sprout microclimates maybe snow , fog or rain but always impressive . Years ago Amalia was the go to glacier when we first went but Brujo has become more common . https://www.afar.com/travel-tips/amalia-and-el-brujo-glaciers

You're welcome . If you look at our profile you will see Celebrity . Princess and HAL as our favorite lines . These are the ships that we have enjoyed the most and this was our 6th NCL cruise . Our 1st cruise to the Baltic and South America were both on NCL and this last cruise was too good for us to pass up , so we do have a soft spot for them . However , we think that longer is better and for that reason we preferred our 4 day cruise to Antarctica on HAL . We think that you made a great decision switching to the longer cruise and it may cost more but we think that the difference will be worth it in the long run ! Happy cruising . 🙂😊

As we near the end of our cruise we feel a need to briefly summarize our cruise before we move to Patagonia which all pretty much self booked . The high points were the best cabin that we've ever had at an affordable price . The People , Vonn the butler , Monica the Concierge and Arlene were superb and we take care of the people who take care of us . We loved the intimate breakfast and lunch gatherings and the bed , robes and towels . The embarkation was not all NCL's problem but we wished that they would have kept some separation between groups and had seats on the bus for everybody - no standing on moving vehicles . The food wasn't great overall and the tenders need some work . As a Firefighter /Paramedic , if the tenders didn't work well during a routine operation than I'm concerned if they needed to be deployed as life boats . But the lowest point for us deals with our faith and NCL's lack of cooperation with our attempt to organize a Bible Study . The CC coordinators who arranged the M&M meeting , our new friends , @ziggyuk Anthony and Tony did a great job and helped us book a space and refreshments from HAL on a couple of day's at sea and a Sunday self led group . Unfortunately , HAL refused to allow us to post any signs or place it in the Freestyle Daily . There were no Bibles in the Paris Room or in our night stands which was something that I has never seen before in a ship or a Hotel . We did notice that self led Shabbat meeting that held was printed twice in the Freestyle Daily . And that their books were placed at the meeting place at 6 PM . The books were still there on our Sunday morning and I spent an hour reading the book . It also features some patriotic American songs . I do wish that NCL would be more like HAL in the way that they treat people of Faith . HAL has self led groups for Jewish and Interdenominational people and a Mass daily for Catholics . I only love one person more than my wife and family . My Rabbi is a Jewish carpenter and his name is Jesus , the one person that I love the most on this Valentine's Day .

Look what we found in the mailbox yesterday . It's an invitation to observe World Whale Day ( February 18th this year ) with National Geographic . The only problem is that all of the ships have sailed except the cruises to Antarctica and Patagonia : Legendary Ice and Epic Ice Fjords . It's no wonder that they can afford to be so generous with their discounts !! We don't have to walk in the penguin poo to smell it . We want Antarctica and the Falklands and not at $21 K p.p.

It appears that the Oosterdam is doing a turn in a cove so hopefully it's the glacier . Meanwhile the Sun has left Punta Arenas and it appears that the Star is in Penguinland in the Falkland Islands .

We will Chris . We also hope that you will have a Happy Anniversary and that perhaps NCL may reconsider their options and honor the 2 port commitments in Antarctica and also The Falkland Islands . May it be the trip of your dreams . 😊🙂

We have not pursued it . But we had a couple of friends who were a retired LEO and his wife who lived and worked in Cozumel . They missed the family and returned back to Denver . Grand Turk is a nice laid back place but may be too slow for some people . Cayman is pretty but pretty expensive . We could dive there twice for the same price as Cozumel and we prefer the drift diving there . It's similar to Palm Beach County but clearer water and a lower cost of living .

When we arrived at dinner they were closing down the 2 other stations and ours was the only one working that night . I guess everybody was packing . They have 2 chefs working back to back which was really noisy . Spinning the fork ( you'll poke your eye out ) The egg snake and the fried rice The Main course , of course After the din of dinner we really wanted a quite walk on the deck and I thought of Al Stewart's song that I always listen to on the first night of a cruise .

You're welcome and Happy Valentines Day . We still got a dinner before they kick us off the ship and we fly back to Patagonia .

That sounds like a great plan to avoid the crowds on the tenders and a nice relaxing day . We needed a tube of some lip balm for cracked lips and bought some there in the Pharmacy . It was unmarked and we thought how much could it be ? It was $5 back in 2007 . We love cruising through the Chilean Fjords and it seems to be much cooler there than on the Atlantic side and you should see 1 more glacier there . Cheers Mic and Rosie . It is still summer so you may need the hat and glasses .

A lot of our day was spent packing and reorganizing to move to hot and then cold weather again . Our last night on the ship was saying fair well to some of our new friends and the many people that helped us have a great cruise . It was the only night that we could get the TEPPANYAKI at a reasonable time and to help things we were called an asked if we could come in early at 1900 which was fine for us .

It appears that you may be in the Falkland Islands a day early . Hopefully , they will let you sleep in a bit instead of the 0600 tender time that they gave us in January where we missed breakfast at O ' Sheehan's because they we not open for breakfast early enough . And hopefully they have more tenders in the water or allow you to say later than the 2 pm last tender that they told us . The reality was it was 1630 before we boarded . We never heard from the Captain once , much different than the early morning and lunch announcements that we hear every day on HAL . Additionally , if there were problems , he let us know on the PA .

One thing that we had forgotten on our brief walking tour was our trip down to our deck . I first looked at the other forward corner on the 9th deck which was on the Port side . And after crossing the hall I was back where I started at 9006 ready for breakfast and a cup of real Jo for Pat .

When heard that Angel , Vonn's friend was playing in the atrium we tried to get good seats to video him with his permission . We were eating at O'sheehan's and we did lift a couple of his songs to share on line , hopefully it will help him . He did a couple of Beatles song that were not our favorite but a couple that we did like . He did Proud Mary the way that CCM wrote and performed it . John Lennon said that it was his favorite song of 1969 . He also performed Hotel California

Popping up for a walk on the deck Empty terraces Walking on the jogging track The Sky high Bar Moving forward The loop Sun deck The way in

Our fear of Triskaidekaphobia was ignited we we first noticed that we usually ate breakfast and lunch at the intersection of Moderno and Cagney's . Fear of choking here was allayed as this was one of Monica's usual places where we would see her . When we met her at the ship 's receiving line of officers and I shook her hand I told her that " I've been Touched by an Angel " . She didn't get it as a TV reference and I felt like a Dumbo with my wife trailing , while I stood alone with my punchline failing . Maybe 13 really is unlucky . A quick walk thru of the grill at Cagney's and where we were first seated in the corner for lunch back on the 1st day . For breakfast we usually ordered from the menu while grazing at the small buffet . Early risers we almost always ate by the windows , one battery before the buffet and the other on the other side of the buffet . We almost always heard a cat's meow in the aft section . I usually take the gunslinger's place but once when I faced the other way and noticed that the door leading to the kitchen was the culprit when it closed a certain way near the last window . Something that I had not noticed during my pool walk was the Smuggler windows over the Topsiders pool grill . This is where we usually ate breakfast .

The last view of deck 12 was Spice H2O NCL infinity pool True infinity pool Just in time for Valentine's Day Chair Hogs of the world unite . Those are our pillows holding our place !

The last NCL Star drydock

We hope that you have a great day . Any plans ? The Sun seems to be running a day late but the same ports except Castro we think , and back in BA a day later than you .

We will continue with our cruise by photo tour with the aft section of deck 12 . Hopefully the future Antarctica will get better than this . The Oasis Pool Deck and the Market Cafe'

I'm sorry Chris but somehow I totally missed this post ! I guess it was Super Bowl Fever . 🌊 Isn't it convenient to have someone or something to blame ? In light of the new information that has surfaced , the situation has changed . We hope that the reports are wrong and that NCL gives you and the people , what they have planned for and paid for .