pmacher61

If you have to spend few days will you choose Rio or Buenos Aires. I know it is depends of what we like to do but I wish to have your opinion

I own homes in both Rio (Leblon for 10 years) and Bs As (Recoleta for 5 years). Yes, the answer to your question depends on what you like to do. But are you really limited to just a few days to allocate between one or the other of these world class cities and surrounding areas? You don't indicate your port of embarcation or disembarcation (or when your travel), but presumably Rio is one and Bs As is the other. You will be coming from Montreal, a long journey and I would urge you to reconsider allowing only a few nights total in ports. I suggest the following minimum schedule if you can manage it:

a) 3 nights in Bs As staying in a hotel in the Recoleta area; consult www.guiaoleo for restaurant options (Tomo 1, Resto, Vasco Frances, La Cabrera are fantastic and with the black market for US dollars Bs As is a real bargain. Don't use a credit card. Bring cash (US$), exchange it for pesos at a 75% premium over the official (ATM, credit card) rate and upgrade your hotel.

b) 3 nights in Rio staying in a hotel in Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon; Avoid Rio during carnaval unless money is no object in which case stay at the Copacabana Palace ($400/night and up) and take in the elegant costume ball there that starts the 4 day carnaval party ($800 pp). Buy a box seat to the first division samba school parade in the sambodromo ($1000 pp). Go to a music club in Lapa (www.lanalapa.com.br) ($75 for a night on the town).

c) 2 nights in Iguazu Falls (many flights from both cities). Stay in either the Sheraton on the Arg side or the Hotel Cataratas on the Brasilian side.

How often are you going to be in that part of the world?

p.s. There is no need to obsess about street crime in either city if you use common sense. Or just get very unlucky as you could in Montreal.

Apparently, it's based on how/where you booked your European cruise. If it's via MSC US/Canada or a North American TA, they will provide a bottle of 1L mineral water per cabin per day (water vouchers, to be presented to the waiters when making order).

That's correct. We once booked through an American TA and also received the booklet with free water vouchers. When booking through German TAs, we don't get it, although they will throw in other perks such as free excursions. You can always buy 14 of these water vouchers for 26 EUR, so not a huge cost either way.

This water controversy (is tap water freely available or not) strikes me as silly. I have lived in So America for the past decade. Tap water is not served in restaurants, only bottled water which is priced the same as a soda pop. I almost never ask for tap water because I prefer not to drink the tap water in my locale (though I am now impervious to any temporary health risks).

The tap water on ships is purer than most bottled waters. If I wanted tap water during a meal aboard MSC and was told I could not have it, I would ask to speak to the maitre and insist it be served to me. If necessary, I would seek to lodge my request with the hotel mgr. If my request was still not honored, I would reduce my automatic service charge (tip) by 50% and I would bring a pitcher of iced tap water with me to every dining area (incl specialty dining rooms). I would make sure my cabin steward kept me stocked with pitchers and ice. (I would take care of him for the extra service).

If I was prevented from bringing my own tap water to a dining area, I would remove 100% of the automatic tips and apply it to the cost of bottled water. Anticipating what some might argue, to wit, you are punishing crew for a management decision, my reply is that if my conduct were universalized management would soon find it had crew problems and it would be required to change its policy, a policy which is driven by profit motive but which is not in the best (health) interests of its customers.

I will be coming in on Sunday Feb 10 to GIG.

 

The cruise line wants $49 for a transfer to the cruise port.

 

I will have 2 suitcase - not huge - and a small electric mobility scooter.

 

Can anyone tell me what a prepaid taxi would cost?

 

I figure that with the scooter, it might be better all around to have a prepaid deal set up.

Considering that a cab would cost less than US$20 (R$40) the 49 bucks for a bus ride is a ripoff...unless your scooter prohibits you from using a regular cab. Most prepaid private rides (not taxis) are midsize cars. I don't recall ever seeing a van type private (radio) car, but quite a few taxis are minivans and it would probably not be difficult to find one at GIG... so

Thank you. I'll ask Park Tower.

 

How about making 11:45 am flt? Do we have enough time?

Yes. Assuming you get off the ship before 9:30 you should have lots of time. A cab ride from the cruise ship pier to AEP is about 15 minutes.

Even in the unlikely event you would personally have to accompany your excess luggage to the Sheraton Park Tower. you could have time though you might want to get off the ship a bit earlier. The P Tower is 10 minutes from the pier. You should avoid getting a cab at the pier - better to arrange a car from the hotel or a pvt radio cab co (search here for such cos). Have a ride waiting when you disembark, 15 minutes to get to the Park Tower, another 10/15 to arrange storage, and another 15 to get to AEP.

Best to have the Sheraton-arranged vehicle to take the bags without you to the hotel and to first drop you off at AEP.

Is it possible to do all that?

 

We’ll be on Celebrity Infinity, disembark in BsAs on 2/3/13. We want to drop off part of our luggage @ Sheraton Park Tower then catch 11:45 am flt to Iguazu Falls from AEP.

 

Park Tower is in Rrtiro not to far from the cruise port. We’ll stay in Sheraton Iguazu Falls for 2 nites from 2/3, then back to BsAs & stay in Park Tower. Would Park Tower keep our luggage while we are in Iguazu Falls?

Have you asked Park Tower to send a car to pick you up at the Port, then to drive you to AEP, and then drop off the bags you want to keep at PT while you are in Iguazu? I would be surprised if such a service were not available.

Hi, could someone please explain to me the difference between the Pistarini and the Jorge Newbery airports in Buenos Aires? Is it better to fly into one than the other? Is one international and the other domestic?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.....

Yes, EZE is the international airport located about 35 minutes from the center of town. A cab to the center from EZE costs about 200 Ar pesos. There is a good bus service operated by Tienda Manuel Leon for 60 pesos.

Jorge Newberry aka Aeroparque (AEP) is the domestic airport located about 10 minutes from the center. A cab to the center will cost about 50 pesos.

You won't have much choice where to land except perhaps for flights coming into BS As from Uruguay. All other things being equal (and they seldom are) it would be more convenient to fly into AEP.

Thank you pmacher61, Fattony and Menininha82 for your replies.

 

I think I did confuse Bs As on some of the parts.:o

 

So it seems the best option (price, safety and convenience) is to take a metered taxi at the cruise terminal or just outside of it. Is it safe to assume that there will always be metered taxis there (especially in the morning) when ships are in port?

Yes.

How far from the cruise port gate do we have to walk to get to the yellow taxis stand? I understand that the ones in the cruise port are run by a taxi mob of some sort?

A regular metered taxi from the cabs waiting in the cruise terminal lot is the best option to get to GIG. If the cabs waiting in the terminal lot refuse to work on the meter (not likely, but possible), then simply walk 30 meters outside the terminal front entrance and catch a metered street cab (of which there are many). By and large taxis in Rio are safe and honest. The fare to GIG from the cruise terminal should be about R$ 30. Even on weekdays the ride should last less than 30 minutes.

With respect to a taxi mafia, you may be confusing BS As and Rio. The cabs at the cruise terminal in Bs As work off the meter and are way overpriced. Bs As taxis and their Rio counterparts are required by law to use the meter within city limits. The Bs As airport is outside city limits so airport taxis in EZE may lawfully set a fixed fair. I don't believe the Bs As port is outside city limits though technically it may be thereby allowing cabs to work off the meter, but in any case the fares charged by cabs at the Bs As pier are absurdly high relative to meter cost.

As previously advised above , you will need time to check luggage at GIG or be subject to serious overweight penalties on the domestic leg to Iguazu.

Hello, everyone! I am new here and very confused reading those two threads below:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1527992&page=3

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1527992

 

Last night I read leoparana's post and was worried about being kicked out since I had few doubts about entering Tunisia with my passport expiring in five months. I called the Tunisia embassy and they told me I would be fine(still I have some doubts) Reading PC168's I have a question to ask out of curiosity. if by any chance I am not able to enter Tunisia, can I just stay on board?

 

It's my first cruise experience, so have no idea about everything. Thank you!!!

You would do well to ask your Cruise Co whether you will need a visa to board the ship and go on the cruise. Or your travel agent. Especially if you are cruising with MSC. The Cruise Co may not care that it's your intention not to go ashore at the port in question. If you would need a visa to go ashore the fact that you don't intend to do so may not be determinative.

Celebrity USED to spend more per passenger on food than any other mainstream cruise line.

They held that #1 position for years.

Since 2008 they have cut that spending more and more until they are now in third place.

Holland America and Princess now vie for the First Place position, depending on ship and itinerary.

I understand that this data is not commonly shared or known. Can you say how MSC compares to the mainstream competition per passenger food expense?

Your understanding about EZE is incorrect. Taxi Ezeiza charges slightly more than a traditional taxi to offset the costs associated with operating out of the airport. The advantage to the customer is there is a record of the driver and car which minimizes the risk of being robbed or assaulted. Unlike the port where taxi service is controlled by a mafia and charges are triple or quadruple the rates of regular taxis, taxi Ezeiza charges a flat fee that is not much more than a metered taxi. The current fare is 150 pesos (4 pesos per dollar) for the 45 minute to one hour ride to town from the airport.

 

http://www.taxiezeiza.com.ar/

It appears you misunderstood my question. I was not asking about the fairness of the charges of the Taxi Ezesia company relative to other taxis or remises, e.g., whether or not they were a lot more than the cost of a regular cab to go between EZE and the city. Let's see if I can make myself clear and better pose my assumptions about the right of taxis to set flat fees of any amount.

PORT

First, lets talk about the port cabs. I was asking for confirmation whether, assuming a special license is required to enter the port to pick up the passengers from the ships, such specially licensed cabbies are, ipso facto, allowed to set flat rates - of any amount. The port, like Aeroparque, is within city limits. Cabs from Aeroparque do not charge flat fees. They go by the meter. Dropoffs in the city limits from Aeroparque are just the meter reading. I would be surprised if cabs authorized to work the cruise ship terminal are thus authorized to set flat fees of any amount, fair or unfair. They are required to use the meter. They may not assess a surcharge for dropoffs within the city limits. Can you confirm?

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - EZE

Cabs that pick up a fare in the city and make a dropoff outside the city limits are permitted by law to assess a surcharge to the meter price. I am not sure if the reverse is also true. I believe this outside the city limits surcharge is taken into account in the setting of flat fees charged by taxi companies for rides between EZE and town. The standard fixed flat fare of taxi companies I have used including Premium to go between EZE and town is 122.80 pesos including tolls (as of a week ago).

I believe the cabs that are authorized to enter the passenger pick up zone at EZE are not, ipso facto, authorized to set flat rates of any amount other than the amount of 122.80 which appears to be an authorized fixed flat fee. I suspect, but do not know for sure, that they are only entitled to charge the standard flat fee (although many charge a higher price). That is what I sought to confirm.

In other words, taxis may need a special license to enter the passenger zones at both the port and at EZE, but it is my understanding that they are not solely by virtue of this right permitted to charge whatever amount they are able to exact from hapless tourists.

Your comments above concern the fairness of the tariffs charged by Taxi Ezesia which operates within the terminal as a remis company. The price a remis may charge is higher than a cab (but I believe remis prices are also controlled by the local government). I do not dispute that the 150 peso charge for a ride into town ordered at the Taxi Ezesia booth (if that price still holds) is not exhorbitant. However, I do believe that the Taxi Ezesia 35 peso surcharge for a second passenger drop off in town (no matter how close to the other drop) is a rip off.

How is the special licensed access paid for by cabs NOT participating? Example: Cab A charges a flat rate from XXX to YYY. INCLUDED in that rate is the money Cab A has paid for special access PLUS a flat rate for point to point transport. Cab A is recouping business expenses.

 

Cab B only charges the meter rate but gets to pick up in the special licensed area WITHOUT paying the special access fees???? How is this fair to Cab A???

 

If you owned Cab A, I am sure Cab B infringing on your "territory" which you paid MONEY to access would result in you being part of the "taxi mafia". Food for thought!!!

It is my understanding that at EZE only specially licensed cabs are allowed to pick up passengers ...except for radio cabs that have been called by specific passengers (just like private cars that go to pick up their fares). These non-specially licensed cabs are allowed access to pick up their prearranged fare. Same goes for taxis that work those parts of the port that are not accessible by public street.

I would not mind a preset tariff that was reasonable, but the cabs that work the ports and EZE are not reasonable. Moreover, it is my understanding that they are not allowed to set flat rates. The special license is to enable them to accept fares at the metered rate at these locations whereas other cabs are not entitled to do so (unless called).

Is my understanding incorrect?

The cost of a taxi from the cruise ship terminal may depend on exactly at what pier you disembark. At all port exits/terminals there is a taxi mafia that charges disembarking or simply exiting pax exhorbitant flat fees instead of using the meter as the law requires. Yes, it is illegal not to use the meter if the customer requests. Having special ( licensed) access to passengers exiting the pier or the international airport does not give the cab the right to set flat rates that gouge the tourists.

I exited a couple of times at one terminal that was adjacent to a public street so I could walk 30 meters and hail a street cab. The mafia thugs would not allow him or other non-mafia cabbies to pull into the parking lot, but the distance from the exit doors to the street was only 30 meters so we could walk with our bags to the curb and get in despite the dirty looks the other waiting cabbies gave us. What creeps they are and what creeps the local government and its taxi dept are for allowing this condition to exist (at EZE as well).

On the other hand, the last time I disembarked in BA the terminal was not adjacent to a city street. It was deeper inside the port area and there was no ready access to regular public cabs UNLESS you called a radio cab which I will do next time. A radio cab will arrive in a few minutes and the mobsters will have to allow it to pick you up. If you cannot call a radio cab at this terminal you can expect to pay US$25 (they don't bother to quote prices in pesos) to go from the port to Aeroparque, US$20 to go to a Recoleta or Palermo hotel...when the meter for these trips would be much less than half of these fares.

The tel # for Taxi Premium, one of the largest radio cab cos, is 5238-0000. There are others (Pidalgo, Paris) that can be searched here.

Good luck dealing with this deplorable, uncivilized introduction to BA.