J-D
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Posts posted by J-D
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Our experience in B.A. was in February 2010 and 2013, so the situation may differ now, with the recent addition of Zika (and perhaps Chikungunya?) to the list of concerns. In 2010, we noticed signs warning about mosquito-borne dengue fever posted in the downtown area. I do not remember encountering biting insects in the city. However, one afternoon we walked a few hundred metres east from downtown into the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve (marshland) and found that mosquitoes were abundant and voracious there. We had repellent with DEET, but as I recall, it was only partly effective in the marsh.
John
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Both Chile and Argentina use 220-240 Volt, 50 cycle, power (vs. 110 V, 60 cycle in North America). Of course, many (not all) devices can operate on either without needing a converter.
In Chile, I believe we encountered mainly plugs with "two round pins", as in Europe. Some may have a third round pin (ground) mid-way between the other two.
In Argentina, we encountered predominantly the outlets and plugs with two blades at an angle to one another -- the same as in Australia or New Zealand or (I understand) China. Grounded plugs have a 3rd blade at an "intermediate" angle. European-type 2-prong plugs may also be present, but my recollection is that the "Australian" angled-style were the common ones in Argentina.
This is a useful source for these and other countries:
http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plug-voltage-by-country/
John
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No issues for us during a 2-wk cruise on the Emerald in June-July 2016.
John
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We are in port only from 7 AM to 1 PM. No one have any recommendations of what you can do within that time on private tours? Thank you
That would be lots of time in which to go on one of the catamaran tours in the Beagle Channel, for close-up views of the islands, seabird and seal rookeries, etc., with time left over to walk through parts of the town.
John
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Count me down as the opposite. On my visit I did some sort of Beagle channel cruise, we had a large CC roll call aboard the ship and about 100+ of us all did a channel cruise. While we did get close to several islands with seals etc I thought the scenery was overall pretty much the same as from the ship. I did have time to walk around town afterward but really feel I missed out by not taking one of the tours that went to the National park and into the mountains.
Overall I enjoyed the SA cruise so much I decided to repeat the following year but missed out as I was on the infamous Princess "Earthquake cruise" when most passengers could not get to the ship. I later joined the ship in BA but missed the first 10 days of a 30+ day cruise.
Hope to one day get back again.
Whether it is a good idea to go on the catamaran trip at Ushuaia no doubt depends in part on how interested in the seabirds and seals one is. For anyone keenly interested in them, the catamaran trips are excellent. I agree that the mountainous scenery can be enjoyed from the ship as well as the catamaran, and that there are other interesting destinations in and near Ushuaia. One cannot "do it all" in a single brief port visit, and has to make choices. That was one reason why we also repeated this cruise, in our case 3 years later.
As an aside, another reason why we repeated was that we were on the 2010 Star Princess cruise, BA to Valpo, that preceded the "infamous earthquake cruise" to which DougH refers. Rather than disembark and deal with the earthquake problems in Santiago (including cancellation of international flights), we stayed aboard for 6 extra days, returned by ship from Valpo to Ushuaia, and flew home from there. Things worked out much better for us than for those like DougH who couldn't get to Santiago and to the ship to start their cruise. Of course, our problems were inconsequential compared to those of many local residents. Over 500 people were killed by the magnitude 8.8 earthquake: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Chile_earthquake
John
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I went on morning catamaran trips during two of our three stops at Ushuaia, and would be happy to do so again if we ever get back to that very scenic area.
Princess (and other) ships of necessity cruise east or west along the Beagle Channel en route to and from Ushuaia. However, as compared to the catamarans, the ships do not come nearly as close to most of the small islands, channels and shoreline east of and near the town, which are the primary destinations during the catamaran cruises.
Also, the ships often transit into and out of Ushuaia early in the morning or in the evening, with light conditions depending on date, etc. In contrast, the catamaran trips during port calls are (of course) during the main part of the day.
The highlights of the catamaran cruises include very close (in some cases within a few meters) approaches to large colonies of seabirds and seals, which one would see only from a distance (if at all) from the cruise ship. That is one of the highlights of the catamaran excursions, along with seeing the distant scenery. The distant scenery is, to some degree, visible from the ship, but the close-up views of animals are not.
Incidentally, the catamaran cruises depart from berths that are within about a 5 min walk from the base of the pier to which the cruise ships either tie up or (sometimes) tender. Though our catamaran trips were Princess excursions, you could almost certainly go on the same type of catamaran trip at lower cost by doing it independently.
As a typical catamaran trip in the Beagle Channel occupies only about 3 hours, that would (during a normal full-day port call) leave time for a second excursion or to wander around the town, visit its interesting museums, etc.
John
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You'll almost always do better buying insurance from an outside insurance agency. You can get your hotel, airfare, transfers and other things covered whereas if you use the cruiseline's insurance, that isn't covered at all (air might be covered if you use their air program). Your coverage will be much more comprehensive and if you need to file a claim, you'll usually be reimbursed with cash instead of a voucher for future travel.
Coverage via an outside policy indeed can be much better. However, few of those independent policies have a "cancel for any reason" provision as included in the Princess Vacation Protection. If your claim doesn't meet the requirements for cash reimbursement*,
* e.g., you don't meet some arcane pre-existing condition clause, or have to cancel for a "non-covered" reason,it is a whole lot better to get a credit useable for another cruise (if you have the Princess policy) than to get nothing (if you have a policy without the cancel for any reason provision).
I am not an expert on this by any means. However, for some cruises, we've concluded that we should have both the Princess coverage (mainly for the "cancel for any reason" provision) plus independent coverage (for better medical and air-evacuation coverage, including pre- and post-cruise days, and for cancellation coverage on air or other arrangements paid for independent of Princess).
John
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I was convinced it was a mistake. Our mini suite on the 14 day Northern Europe cruise in 2017 is now $1,100 per person less. And we get paid gratuities and $300 OBC per cabin. We previously had the sip and sail but gave it up for this deal since we won't drink that much anyway. Normally the cruise line raises the fare before the sale, but Princess lowered the fare. How amazing!
Similarly, a few weeks ago, under the Sip & Sail promotion, we booked an ME minisuite on the Regal for 3 pax; this is for the summer 2017 11-day Scandinavia & Russia itinerary. Today's "3 for Free" price for the ME minis was dramatically lower, and the same much-reduced price applied to a better-located MB mini. We did lose the free drinks when we upgraded to the MB, but for light drinkers that will be counterbalanced by the free gratuities for pax 1 & 2, leaving us with a better-located mini at a much lower net price.
The fares for pax #1 and #2 were significantly reduced, but the fare for #3 is far lower than before under S&S. Something worth looking into by others travelling with 3 or 4 in a cabin.
Interestingly, most of the MA minis on our cruise on Regal (including the minis with bigger balconies) are not available for the same price as the MB and "lesser" minis. Those MA minis must be one of the cabin categories that fall under Princess's statement that "selected categories are not applicable" for the free upgrade to the best available category for the same type of stateroom. However, the premium for cat MA vs. "lesser" categories of minisuites under the "3 for Free" promotion is not too steep, and some would probably consider it well worth paying.
John
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Young King Penguins have a very lengthy period of growth, taking 10-12 months to mature from hatching until they leave the colony. Young birds and some adults are still present at the colonies in March and also through the subsequent (austral) winter.
We saw a few King Penguins at Bluff Cove on 22 February 2010. Numbers there are much smaller than at Volunteer Pt. From all accounts, the latter is the place to go if seeing King Penguins is your first priority during a port call at Stanley.
John
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Medical Advice & Princess Fleet Medical: Information from those of us who have personal experience with certain medical issues aboard ship may be useful during cruise planning, e.g., in helping identify questions to ask. However, it is obviously important to consult with appropriate medical professionals about travel plans and to fax a "passenger health" form (completed, in part, by a doctor) to Princess Fleet Medical, 661-753-0121.
Princess wants to receive that form several weeks in advance of embarkation. The "pre-cruise checklist" says at least 45 days in advance, but I was advised to submit the form earlier than that.
"Traveling with oxygen" is one of the things specifically mentioned as requiring submission of the health form. I have been told by Princess that they also require (or at least want) advance-notice, via that form, of a need for onboard INR measurements. If INR determinations are needed, I would certainly want to check that the specific Princess ship really does have that capability.
John
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I assume the OP is new to Coumadin, or recently had surgery. The only times I had my INR checked that frequently was when I initially started Coumadin, and after coming off Lovenox and returning to Warfarin after any surgeries. ...
When I travel, my INR tends to go out-of-range fairly quickly -- presumably at least partially because of diet changes. I have read that this is a common problem for travelers who take Warfarin / Coumadin. Hence the need for blood tests (for some of us) aboard cruises of significant duration. It is very helpful that, on Princess and at least some other lines, INR measurements are available.
John
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On Emerald Princess 20th. August. I need weekly blood test for Warfarin levels. Princess have confirmed they can do it, there will be an initial consultation fee plus a fee for each test - but they cannot give me the cost. Anyone had the test done on board, did you get result same day? and what do they charge?
Thanks
On the Emerald during June of this year, I had INR measured twice. The cost was $116 USD each time, including 3 components: a charge for "nurse/paramedic assessment", a charge for "prothrombin time (INR) measurement", and a charge for "testing supplies". Each time, the measurement was done from a single finger prick, and the result was provided within a few seconds. Excellent service, but in future, I would ask whether the "assessment" portion of the charge was necessary on 2nd or subsequent measurements.
John
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This is another thank you, Stephen & Geoff. We were on the June sailing of the Emerald on the same itinerary, and it was very interesting to see how your trip compared with ours. "Revisiting" all the ports (well, except Flam) through your writeup, some in much better conditions than we encountered and some in poorer, reinforces my thinking that one needs to do any good itinerary at least twice...
John
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Starboard is preferable to port on this itinerary, but the advantage is minor. The main times when the starboard view is definitely better are when you are entering port in Ushuaia, and when travelling west from Ushuaia that same evening past a series of glaciers. (Depending on the date and when your ship gets away from Ushuaia, it may or may not be light when passing those glaciers.)
At Cape Horn, the ship may approach from the east (best view from starboard) and then rotate 180 degrees providing an equally good view from port. We did that on Star Princess in 2010. Or the ship may circle around Isla Hornos; we did that on Grand Princess in 2013, in a counterclockwise direction, such that the only view of the island in general and of Cape Horn itself was from the port side.
In the Chilean Fjords, during both of our visits, the ship turned 180 degrees when just off the most notable glacier, providing equally good views from either side.
In general, a starboard cabin is (in our view) marginally preferable to port for this cruise. However, even with a starboard balcony, we chose to spend significant time viewing from the open upper decks where we could quickly get from one side to the other.
I would not choose an aft cabin for this itinerary. It is fairly common to see whales, dolphins and sea lions, and these are most easily viewed when ahead or to the sides of the ship. Seabirds are also plentiful; I think a forward or lateral view is best for them as well, but aft could also work for some seabirds. Also worth considering is that there is a possibility of fairly rough seas on this route, for which aft may not be ideal, depending how you react to sea motion.
John
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For anyone at all interested in the history of European exploration, don't miss Captain Cook's first landing site in N.Z., and associated monument, along the shore just south of the river mouth in Gisborne.
Anyone with a strong interest in Cook, and the time and stamina for some significant hiking, might want to find a way to the Tolaga Bay area some 50 km up the coast to the northeast. Cook's landing site there, and the "hole in the wall", are at Cook's Cove -- on a headland just to the south of the very long Tolaga wharf. The trail to the Cove is a round trip of a few kilometres over fields and hills, assuming no changes in the several years since we were there.
John
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I would give the Eden Killer Whale museum a slightly stronger recommendation than have previous responders, at least for anyone with even a slight interest in whales and the history of whaling in this region. We also enjoyed the walk and scenery along the cliffs.
John
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We chose a Punta Norte tour rather than Punta Tombo in large part because of the greater variety of wildlife species (both birds and mammals) said to be likely on the Punta Norte tour. We knew that we would see fewer Magellanic Penguins than would be sighted at Punta Tombo. We were happy with our choice. The Punta Norte trip included a walk along a path through the penguin colony, with penguins right up to the edge of the path.
John
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There is some confusion in names. The firm we dealt with in both 2013 and 2010 sometimes referred to itself as "AboutChile", but its web address was http://www.chileabout.com . Their current website seems less complete than it used to be, but the tours described there are similar to those we booked. In both years we made arrangements via Vanessa at info@chileabout.com She was very thorough and clear in setting things up, and everything went as promised. Admittedly, our most recent dealings with them were 2.5 years ago.
John
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Not Merlinite, but I we liked the Hotel Orly and its neighbourhood in the Providencia District of Santiago. It is a smaller "boutique" hotel that is chosen by numerous cruisers. We stayed in the Hotel Orly itself, but the Orly also has a nearby building with self-contained apartments. Many restaurants nearby, 5 min walk to a subway station, good breakfast included. Excellent for us, but not for people who want a large, resort-style hotel.
John
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One other "unusual" routing is the Air New Zealand flight from LAX to Rarotonga, followed by the relatively short Air Tahiti flight from RAR back to Tahiti. (We did this in 2011.) Probably no more roundabout than the route via Honolulu. However, these ANZ and Air Tahiti flights (like the Honolulu-Tahiti flight) operate infrequently, so would not be suitable for people on a tight schedule who are unable to take advantage of a stopover in Rarotonga.
John
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Generally concur with the previous posts, but in addition to tetanus and Hep A/B immunizations, we choose to keep our typhoid immunization up to date as well.
Unfortunately, Chikungunya (like dengue) is another mosquito-born disease now occurring in FP -- a further reason to do whatever you can to reduce the risk of mosquito bites.
John
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For the southern ports, the layers should include a waterproof (and windproof) shell, with hood. If you plan to spend much time away from shelter, waterproof rain pants and footwear are desirable as well. Rain, sometimes driven by strong winds, is a definite possibility. However, that should not deter you -- this is a wonderful route, which we have done twice. (Actually, 2.5 times, involving a long story...) We got to the Falklands on 1 of 2 attempts.
John
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Here is recent guidance from the U.S. CDC regarding the recent outbreak of Chikungunya in the South Pacific:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/chikungunya-french-polynesia
The other mosquito-borne disease you mentioned is dengue, which has been around for a long time and is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions.
You may want to consult a travel medical specialist. However, based on my layman's knowledge (and time in the region), the main things to do are to avoid or minimize being bitten by mosquitoes through use of effective repellent, and to minimize time in areas where mosquitoes concentrate, e.g., the interiors of some forested islands.
John
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One really does need to look at a detailed map to follow the convolutions of the routes through this area.
The Beagle Channel is aligned east - west between Tierra del Fuego (to the north) and other islands, including Isla Hornos where Cape Horn is located (to the south). There are additional islands west of Tierra del Fuego. For cruise ships travelling from the Atlantic to the Pacific side, the normal route is to enter the eastern part of the Beagle Channel (often approaching the eastern end of the channel from the south after visiting Cape Horn), travel west to Ushuaia, and then continue west along the western part of the Beagle Channel, including the transit along "Glacier Alley".
After exiting the western end of the Beagle Channel into the Pacific Ocean, ships follow a curving but generally northward route through Cockburn and Magdalena Channels, which separate the western side of Tierra del Fuego from additional islands to the west. Magdalena Channel connects to the Strait of Magellan, which separates mainland South America (to the north) from the aforementioned islands. Ships en route to Punta Arenas travel north from Magdalena Channel through the central part of the Str. of Magellan to Punta Arenas.
From Punta Arenas to the Pacific, ships follow the Str of Magellan south and west between the mainland and islands.
As noted, one really needs to look at a detailed map... In any case, this is a very scenic route whether or not one tries to keep track of one's position.
John
The North Cape, Honningsvåg....and beyond
in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea
Posted · Edited by J-D
Clothing requirements will of course depend on the specific day. When we were there in late June 2016, winds were very strong. The temperature was not especially cold -- in the 40s (F) -- but it felt much colder due to wind and intermittent light (near-horizontal) rain. We were very glad to have a substantial fleece layer below our Goretex rain parkas. Here and at a few other stops along the Norwegian coast, we also made good use of our waterproof outer pants and waterproof footgear, and gloves. The cruises to northern Norway go well into the Arctic, and it is best to be prepared for just about any potential (summer) weather conditions.
Because Nordkapp is at an elevation of about 1000 ft asl, the globe and structures at the top would appear quite small even if the ship does come close and if the visibility is good.
John