Gawker

Thank you very much for taking the time to do such a complete and interesting blog.  We are on this cruise in two weeks time, and I have gleaned much useful information and many tips.  May you have many more wonderful trips ahead!

We're also on the January 29 sailing, and am excited to follow your blog.  Thank you for doing this.  

1 hour ago, Gawker said:

Sea42, they dropped Puerto Madryn, Argentina early in the cruise and added Castro, Isla Chiloe, Chile towards the end of the cruise.  Thank you for the reply.

Sea42, I am incorrect.  It was Punta del Estes that is dropped.

18 minutes ago, 0106 said:

@Gawker I have attached our updated itinerary below.  As I stated, Punta del Estes has been dropped.  We are still visiting Puerto Madryn.

You are correct, thank you.

36 minutes ago, Sea42 said:

HAL needs to contact their tour providers, verify they are available on the new dates and make the arrangements official. It make take a bit to work it out but they will change you over to the new tours when the arrangements are in place.

What port was dropped? Did they put in a new port or a sea day?

Sea42, they dropped Puerto Madryn, Argentina early in the cruise and added Castro, Isla Chiloe, Chile towards the end of the cruise.  Thank you for the reply.

I received an email from Holland that they have changed the itinerary for our upcoming cruise, Buenos Aires to Santiago on the Oosterdam Jan 29-Feb 20. We will skip one port early in the cruise and subsequent ports have been moved back one day. There is no information on the website regarding our booked ship's excursions except that one missed port will be refunded, and that more information will be upcoming in two weeks.  I was able to change our private excursions to the new dates, but I am concerned about the ship's excursions I booked.  How likely is it that Holland will simply move our excursion reservations to the new dates, or should I try to find more private excursions?  Most of these ports are small, and have limited tour operators.

Thanks, everyone.  I booked a starboard cabin for the heck of it, but will expect to be outside for most of the time to gawk at the scenery.  Happy sailing!

We are ready to book the Oosterdam next winter for the Buenos Aires to Santiago Antarctica cruise. Does it matter which side of the ship the cabin is on for views of Antarctica? 

Four years ago I traveled to Australia and New Zealand for 2 weeks each, then from New Zealand to San Diego via cruise ship for another 26 days with a broken wrist.  I had surgery the week before I left, had a cast the entire trip.  Non dominant hand.  Very helpful husband.  Get complete instructions and extra pain meds from the dr before you leave, go to the physical therapist and get detailed instructions for exercises and do them as instructed.  Cannot get the cast wet.  This limited my activities - no snorkeling or swimming, but there was still wonderful adventures to be had.  I say go for it.  

I came to the same conclusion.

We are flying into Hobby two days before our Carnival cruise,staying on Galveston Island, then going directly to the Houston port upon disembarkation for a Princess cruise, then leaving for home the same day we disembark from the Princess cruise.

After doing all the math, and taking into account the definite possibility that one or more of the cruise ships may be delayed because of fog, I decided to rent a car. Even though we will leave it parked for almost all of the time, and pay for parking, it will be more convenient than getting transfers to and from the airport, cab between ports, and getting around the island for 2 days.

I reserved an economy car from Dollar at Hobby airport for 15 days for $238. Figuring about $50 in gas, and $75 to park at Bayport, we will pay $353. Transportation from Hobby to Galveston via CoolTours is $100, taxis around Galveston I estimated at about $100, Paradise Taxi from Galveston to Bayport quoted me $70 + tip, and taxi from Bayport to Hobby will be at least $50, more if we get stuck in traffic.

So it looks like we would spend about the same amount either way. I will say that had I thought about the ground transportation ahead of time, we would not have chosen to cruise out of Galveston/Houston.

Thanks for all the photos, I can't believe how few people are in them. You must get up very early! Very helpful to see all the different areas, appreciate all the time you spent on this.