scubacruiserx2

We are experiencing some computer glitches as it has been idle for almost a month and it keeps trying to give us upgrades that we don't want . We think that we have returned it to a simi normal mode so let's try to post some photos before the doctor visit . We stayed a day before in the Sherton Convention hotel with a view of the ships leaving the port and a large building next to us . We had a club pass on the 22nd floor with afternoon munchies . The next morning sunrise . 1st bus ride from a large boarding area after about half an hour . They announced Blue # 1 ( Suites ) and White # 1 so there was a rush to the bus . It was packed and a lady next to me scolded me for carrying on a carry on bag . The second smaller holding room at the port this time . The same overcrowded busses to the ship this time . Boarding the Star . The suites boarded in the farther ramp an we walked to the front of the ship to our cabin . But we were on now !

We would not have used Pesos if we could but as we were staying for a week in Patagonia we need to . The stressful part was being exposed to a sick person in a small area on our glacier cruise in El Calafate . She was nice but sick people shouldn't go on day trips or at least wear a mask . Consequently we both got sick and are going to the docter today this morning . She got into an argument with a lady for the UK who currently resides in Spain . It was quite warm in the boat and the sick lady wanted it that way as she had the chills . Everone else wanted the door open to cool the room except the sick lady from Mexico .

That's great news Mic and Rosie . We were awake at 0400 to meet our driver at 0500 . He didn't get there until 0500 which meant that by the time we were processed it was close to boarding time and we couldn't try out the AA lounge but went directly to the gate . We had to have our carry on bags opened at a table and so they looked looked at our meds , cameras , and some dirty underwear . It's a 9 hour flight to Miami that left at 0900 . Global one wasn't working and they only had 2 machines in MIA ! We found a cab driver who wanted as much to take us to the Brightline station for the same price as the driver in Argentina . It's a 1 hour ride to to EZE but only a 10 minute ride to the train station in Miami . You should be boarded by now but we heard that you overnight in BA on the Oosterdam . If you change money in Argentina look for the Blue market price . We found out there that we were Argentian Millionaires if we tradeded all of our dollars ! We only traded $ 100 and got back 117,000 in funny money for later in Patagonia . Later we tried to get money at a bank ATM in El Calafate and they would not allow us to withdraw the max of 50,000 , about $ 50 dollars . They only allowed 10,000 per withdrawal with a fee of 7,000 ! Thus , a $10 withdrawal would yield only $ 4 . Such a deal . A dollar is worth a $1000 Pesos on average . So Bon Voyage Mic and Rosie , and we hope that your internet service was better than ours . We each had 300 minutes and it didn't work well on the Star for us and only got worse as we sailed south . The Falkland Islands was the worse for internet , even for the locals as it is a different system . We felt like we had stepped back into the 70's as they had to rely on CB radios to talk between vehicles going to Volunteer Point but we had good weather and the Penguins were there . We had heard on CC that only 1 cruise in 5 makes it there , but our guide at Estancia said that it was more like 70 % .

It is 0430 and we are getting ready to leave EZE for home . Miami first the train to Palm Beach County second and our grandson picks up last . We can’t wait to sleep in our own bed tonight and share our day by day review tomorrow. The photos of Patagonia in near hurricane force winds are spectacular.

If you fly to EZE in BA you will have to give a right thumb print and have a photo or a retinal eye scan . We also had to do it at the domestic airport . After you are cleared , you have to have all of your bags scanned thru an X ray machine at both flights . Welcome to Argentina . We are due to fly at 1400 but the airline will not allow us to check in or print boarding passes yet . We have a 3 hour drive to get to the airport so we hope that the airline gets it together before we drive at 0900 .

Fun with the internet in Patagonia. Save travel s to you and Rosie also and have a great trip on HAL .

A word to the wise . When we flew from AEP domestic in BA we had to by a suitcase to meet the 15 K maximum weight . We could carry the same weight in 3 bags , but not the 2 checked bags that we had brought internationally . We locked it with a lock from our carry on . When we arrived at El Calafate we found that the lock and the zipper holders that you put the lock thru had been broken . Nothing was taken but the main compartment cannot be locked . Also , Pat’s large suit case had been open and the contents had been rearranged , again nothing taken but it was still locked with the same type of lock that was broken on the other suitcase ! Weird . We may have to invest in the cellophane suitcase wrap for insurance.

Currently in El Chalten , Argentina hiking Mt. Fitzroy . Wind speed of 100 Km. per hour at Torre’s del Paine , Chile on Tuesday . Almost as windy today with rain . Gas line for rental car was 1 hour . There was a strike Wednesday protesting new presidents policies that shut down many flights . We are scheduled to fly to BA Saturday and home on Sunday . We will review the cruise and post photos after we return . We will answer some questions in a general manner if we can , saving some for the review .

Saturday, January 13th, arrived Ushuaia at 08:00 and left at 17:00. Cruising to Antarctica by way of Drake “shake”. Loud and bouncy night. 15 foot ways, windy and on and off rain. Princess ship seen returning this morning. Looking forward to calmer weather and Antarctica.

Missed Punta Arenas today because of strong winds and winds affects on the tenders. Weather was forecast to get worse.Currently cruising toward Glacier Alley in light steady rain and fog. Projected arrival at Glacier Alley is 20:00? We are scheduled to arrive Ushuaia 2 hours early at 8:00am.

Heading into cooler waters. Scheduled to cross through the Magellan Straits/Passage tomorrow to Punta Arenas.

We got closer than Mic, but did not actually cross the Antarctic Circle. We did get our Blue Nose when we crossed the Arctic Circle, north of Iceland.

It's getting more windy , and colder . We had to offload a guy at Mar del Plata for a medical issue . We hope and pray that they are getting the treatment that they need and that they are getting better . CC Meeting went well. Several officers, Cruise Director and Food and Beverage showed up. Thank you ziggyuk for your planning and organizing.

I won’t be posting the Daily, but I can tell what the lectures are if you like . I will post photos of the Freestyle Daily’s after we get home. Along with many other photos of the trip. Scheduled lectures tomorrow are Intro to the Antarctica Program, A Short History of the End of the World, I have not seen any lectures on tv yet.

Thank you very much.

Good morning Montevideo . We had a ripping rain storm for about 2 hours just before left last night .

The area has been restored well here . Yesterday there were numerous complaints of 2 hour tender waits . They use a shuttle bus system at the port here . A bus brings people from the ship to the terminal and people embark to the ship normally . But now we don’t know, but will update when we find out.

Thanks Mic . It’s 0500 and the Star has just landed . No sign of the Quest yet

The ships did all leave -Celebrity Eclipse 19:30, Symphony of the Seas 19:45 and MSC Lyrica 20:00. Don’t know what held them up, but they are now at sea. We are the only cruise ship tomorrow (to the best of my knowledge). Hopefully smooth sailing. FYI, Monday’s temperature is projected to 31C for Montevideo. 😎

We will begin our cruise tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for the address, hoping our taxi will know the way. Our guide told us about the hurricane force winds (110mph) that damaged the cruise port.

Of the 2 ships that were to sail none have left. Celebrity 1 1/2 hour , MSC 1/2 hour ago. RCCL is scheduled to sail in 1/2 hour. So wait and see .

The down side to us doing this tour now is that we miss the nice weather at home . The day that we took the train to Miami it was in the upper 50’s at night and the low 70’s in the day , which we love . We set our AC at 68 F at night to sleep cool and well and drown out the new , loud neighbors . The AC here is anemic . When you set it for 19 C here is only reaches 22 C = 72 F after fixing it . The day temp here is like a Spring or a Fall day where we live - 86 F .We can’t wait to board the ship and go South for the Winter for some cooler temperatures tomorrow . This afternoon we hope to see an RCCL , MSC and our old favorite , the Celebrity Eclipse sail away this afternoon . We should see the NCL Star on the horizon at sunrise from our room .

Sorry about that . We are currently obsessed with our own trip . We did make it to the Hotel at 9 PM last night , 2 hours ahead of EST . A very long day yesterday . At the check in line with Aerolineas Argentinas , they made us change the weight and contents in all 4 bags . 1 overweight bag cost $100 . English is no longer the most common way of talking in the City of my birth , Miami , Florida . After take off all of the shades we pulled and everyone except the Americans went to sleep for most of the flight except meals . Lights on inside , but no open shades - weird to us . It is an adventure . One day to tour , today and board the Star tomorrow , we hope . .

Having our last lunch at home and waiting for our eldest grandson to give us a ride to the Brightline station . It will be interesting to compare it to the Sapsan from Saint Petersburg to Moscow and back .