FlaMariner

Guessing.....maybe like $15 a person? It was all per person. The taxi super directs you to the next taxi heading where you are going and it was one of those open air pick up trucks. Yes, Havensight to the American Yacht Club dock in Red Hook.

We did the half day. Plenty of time for us to swim and hang out on the sailboat.

There was no office. We paid for the tour prior to the cruise and they were at the stop outside the port with a sign.

Back to my original questions.......

Our March South America cruise includes two port calls in Peru and Peru is listed as "Level 3 Reconsider Travel" by the USA State Department. But then, so is Hong Kong, Jamaica and Honduras........(just browsing the list today 1/19) Does anyone know what HAL might reference to make the go/no go decision on a port call (not weather issues but civil unrest, riots, etc)? And if we do not stop in Peru, any speculation about what HAL might have in store for us besides the obvious of more sea days (which is never a negative)?

Looks like no trains, no air in Cusco.....Probably time to cancel our pre-cruise Machu Picchu trip in March. https://pe.usembassy.gov/demonstration-alert-u-s-embassy-lima-peru-january-19-2023-2/

Not my experience at all.....are you sure that is a reference to Holland America Line? Was onboard 2 months ago and never ate iceberg (it lined my shrimp cocktail though) but had plenty of spring mix and romaine (great salad bar in lido). Good veggies.....plentiful, delicious and many green ones! Not sure I ever ate rice....but did enjoy noodles with my stir fry a time or two. No shortage of pineapple or other fruit either. Go enjoy.

As far as time tracking the stock OBC request....... Email request sent 1/5 @9:34am CT OBC approved in email received 1/5 @9:42am CT (I'm not sure this can be more efficient or faster or easier......8 minutes...LOL)

We were at Half Moon Cay in November....... If you walk down the beach (away from the crowds, to the left) there are some great loungers and you can set up under the trees at the edge of the beach. There is also a nice hammock if you are early. Enjoy HMC, it is the best beach day ever.

I'd take that over my $100 stock OBC anyway.....Enjoy the great rate and the cruise and the upgrades you chose to buy....we probably would have passed on the upgrade purchases and happily paid our port charges. most of the cruises we book have the past guest price and we get the stock OBC. Do you know the fare type that disallowed the stock OBC?

Awesome! We booked the TP a long time ago......We were booked to go a year earlier.....Our first time in Asia.

Peru government has extended the state of emergency........not looking good. https://www.yahoo.com/news/peru-extends-state-emergency-one-154115344.html

If it were me, I'd book this online pre-cruise and then when onboard I'd go to the spa w/my paperwork that shows "I bought the thermal suite online" and get my sticker on the back of the card and enjoy the spa for the entire cruise.....at that rate. (We are boarding a 17 night cruise in March and the thermal suite is for sale for 14 days.....we are planning to do as above) I've never seen a range of prices/day to choose from...the pre-cruise offering has always been for the entire cruise. And even onboard, I've never seen different pass day choices...it's either for the entire cruise or daily (unless, of course, you are on a B2B). Enjoy the thermal suite...it's our big splurge and Her Majesty requires it when we are on a cruise with lots of sea days.

I based my answer on the ship sailing south from Buenos Aires, around the cap to Santiago and then north thru the canal.....Thus starboard would be the "land" side the entire trip. And that would be preferred.

We will be at Fuerte Amador/Panama City in March. We've done the Canal tours so interested in Panama Viejo (old Panama City) and/or Embera Village. Or perhaps DIY? Can anyone pass along recommendations for independent tour operators or how best to go DIY in Panama City?

Agree. you want to be on the "land" side and that would be starboard for that route.

we are big-time thermal suite patrons...... We like the VF cabins forward....on deck 8 (either side) Why? only one floor from the spa (stairwell is nearby and you arrive on deck 9 next to the spa) they are tucked away in the front of the ship at a dead end corridor you are also near the lido deck they have a good price point Enjoy the journey!

Check out the Sommelier wine packages that HAL sells before hauling wine around Lima.......the cost per bottle w/tip might be somewhere around $40 a bottle (others will have the exact costs) whereas bringing wine onboard to drink is $20 corkage. ...and yes, you do not want to leave the port gate in Lima/Callao looking for the local grocery store.....that will probably not end well.

Here is an article from Reuters.... RE: protests in Lima and Cusco's closed airport all on Thursday 1/12....(the city of Cusco, not the Cusco Dept....for those that are more geographically understanding of Peru and the important need to be correct in disclosing locations): https://www.yahoo.com/news/thousands-march-peru-capital-demanding-034056163.html We still have our air & hotel reservations to for Cusco (the city, not the dept) in mid March prior to our Santiago cruise .....We plan to make the go/no go decision 30 days prior. If we were traveling in the next 30 days, the decision would be no. I continue to appreciate the updates folks are posting.....especially the details by @Mercruiser

Not sure about Club Orange bags but on our 2 B2B Nieuw Statendam cruises in November we got 2 handy tote bags.....So if no CO bag, you have a chance at the regular steerage class bag.

Whatever time I want. Usually 10am

Front page of the WSJ this morning has a tank and soldiers with guns guarding Cusco (the city, it says). This is the tagline.... TENSIONS: Police guard the city of Cusco, Peru, on Wednesday to prevent riots by supporters of Pedro Castillo, who was removed as president after he tried to close Congress on Dec. 7. At least 40 people have died in the protests.

We've boarded 4x since the unpleasantness. Amsterdam and Port Everglades. We have never been stopped, asked to wait, wait for our boarding time, sit at the curb.....We have been welcomed in and we were able to check in. It is just like the pre-unpleasant days except today check in is much, much faster with the passport face recognition, etc. Another HAL upgrade! Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future performance and YMMV.

We can never create a positive business case with the "have it all" promo.....I've done the math many times. We are fine with the free coffee and tea. We certainly do not need the internet. We rarely/never go to a surcharge restaurant. My Mariner discount on the wine package takes care of our drinking. So the math does not come out positive for us. I'm glad we have choices...and YMMV.

New alert on the USA Embassy site in Lima......I believe this references the city of Cusco (gateway to Machu Picchu) but I'll rely on others on here to correct me. LOCATION: Cusco and Puno, Peru. EVENT: Significant, sometimes violent, demonstrations and roadblocks continue in Puno. Puno is under a curfew from January 10-12 between the hours of 8:00 p.m.-4:00 a.m. Demonstrations and roadblocks continue in the city of Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and surrounding areas. Demonstrators are attempting to block access to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) in Cusco. Do not approach or attempt to drive around roadblocks. U.S. citizens should avoid crowds and follow the instructions of local authorities. The airport currently remains open for domestic and international flights, but please monitor the news and consult with your airlines about potential delays or cancellations.