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cboyle

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    Live from Le Commandant Charcot - The Ross Sea 2022

    in Ponant

    Posted · Edited by cboyle

    14 hours ago, Sitti said:

    I hope it was ok to start a new thread for sharing information on Charcot on this particular voyage. 

     

    I have just arrived in Santiago at 1:15am today and met very nice Ponant staff at the airport. I was taken to Ritz-Carlton that Ponant prepared.  It was very exhausting flying all the way from Bangkok. At least I have 1 whole day in this hotel to rest. Anyway, all the covid procedures at the airport were long. I wasn't expecting lines would be that long during midnight. It took 2.5 hours to go through and collect my baggage. 

     

    @cboyle, you're probably on your way. Have a nice flight and safe travel.

    @Sittiwe got in at 7 a.m. this morning (15th) and it took us 2 hours from plane to luggage. The Ponant reps who met us said we were much it usually takes at least 3 hours. 

     

    Once at the hotel we checked in with the Ponant hospitality desk and were able to get our PCRs for Ponant done even though it was a half hour before the official testing time. I have gotten my negative result from the airport test, but John is still waiting for his. 

     

    The welcome letter we got was in English. They probably had copies in other languages in addition to French. 

     

    We were up in our room relaxing when lunch arrived at about 10:40 a.m. We got double of everything you did except only one chocolate cake. We were told everyone would get the same thing for lunch and dinner unless you had some special need (e.g., gluten free).

     

    An hour or so later, room service came by again wanting to know how many tea services we wanted this afternoon.  We didn't want anymore food, so declined. Someone who took tea could comment on what it included. 

     

    Dinner is supposed to be brought at 7 p.m. and there will be a go-to breakfast in the lobby area tomorrow at 4 a.m. We will probably have the fresh fruit and the cereal bars from lunch instead of the box breakfast. 

     

    I hear dishes clattering out in the hall, so maybe that is the dinner signal. We hope there is some wine, but probably not.

     

    I know you mist be much more tired than us with all you flight legs, so rest up so you can enjoy the rest of the trip.

     

     

     

    • Like 2

    Geographic North Pole on Le Commandant Charcot

    in Ponant

    Posted

    On 2/9/2022 at 10:40 AM, jsea said:

    There seems to be a dearth of reviews about this ship / itinerary. I realize it’s only done a couple sailings but if anyone can point me to a better resource I would be very appreciative. 
     

    Our Seabourn Venture sailing was canceled so we are looking at Le Commandant Charcot’s itinerary to the North Pole. 
     

    We are also wondering about timing of charter flights to / from Paris but realize that information is likely only available from Ponant. 
     

    Thank you in advance for any tips or advice.

    Check out this review. It is in French, but I thought the Google Translate interpretation was very good.

    https://nmjjm.blogspot.com/2022/01/cap-vers-le-grand-sud-lantarctique.html

    • Like 1

    Why would Ponant make us come to Santiago, Chile first?

    in Ponant

    Posted · Edited by cboyle

    1 hour ago, Sitti said:

    Yes, there weren't any ideal options departing from here. I chose Emirates: Bankgkok > Dubai > São Paulo > Santiago (last leg on Latam). I wanted to avoid catching a connecting flight in the US, because I'd have to go through custom/immigration, collecting baggage, re-check in, and TSA. Looks like I'll see you in Santiago.

     

    Ouch! We are a lot luckier with Delta: RDU (Raleigh-Durham) > ATL (Atlanta) > SCL (Santiago). On the way back, it is United through Houston.

     

    Also, we don't have much of a time change: Santiago is only 2 hours ahead of us.

     

    At least you will be able to get some rest in quarantine at the hotel while we're all waiting for the Chilean PCR test results. We had wanted to go in early and do some independent touring (like we did in 2011), but with all the COVID-19 regulations we decided it was better just to follow the Ponant program.

     

    We are very familiar with the collect/recheck dance in the US. We do have Global Entry, which helps a lot.

     

    Safe travels and maybe we will see you in Santiago or on the ship!

    Why would Ponant make us come to Santiago, Chile first?

    in Ponant

    Posted

    Hurray! I just got an email from FedEx saying that the hard copy of our documents will arrive by tomorrow at noon! How about you, @Sitti?

     

    John looked at the routes from Bangkok to Santiago and you seem to have a lot of bad options. He did see one that included a Atlanta-Santiago leg on Delta on February 14. We are on that one, so maybe you'll see us at the gate!

    • Like 1

    Chile Mobility Pass Question

    in Antarctica

    Posted

    On 2/1/2022 at 9:02 AM, scottjeanne said:

    Our Vaccine card did not have a QR code when we submitted it in December.  Be sure to submit each dose separately, uploading the same card each time.  Do check with you vaccine card.  Mychart (who is the system that my vaccine is registered with) now has a QR code.  Also many of the pharmacies have begun adding QR codes.  

    As @scottjeanne says, your healthcare provider or the pharmacy where you received the vaccine may be able to provide a QR code. Our UNC MyChart will print out a list with details of all our vaccine doses and a QR code.

     

    Also, our results were sent to the NCDHHS Vaccine Management System and we can use that to print out a list with details of all our vaccine doses and a QR code. Maybe your state has something similar?

     

    Anyway, I submitted our CDC cards and the printout from UNC MyChart. It took two days for my Mobility Pass to be approved and five days for John's.

     

    I was more worried about the names agreeing because John is a "Jr". That suffix appears on his passport, but not his CDC card. However, that turned out not to be an issue. I suppose having first name, last name, and birthdate matching was enough.

    Le Boreal for the rest of the Antarctic season

    in Ponant

    Posted · Edited by cboyle

    14 hours ago, ethan1171 said:

    Yes - I agree. Seems from an article just posted, Ponant is using l'Austral for quarantining crew/passengers in Ushuaia - so maybe Boreal might be ferrying positive crew/passengers from Punta Arenas / Le Commandant Charcot back to Ushuaia for quarantining at L'Austral - so that it would allow Commandant Charcot to continue on her next trip? The next few days will tell.... 

    @ethan1171 is this the article (near the end) or did you mean a different one?

    https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=6712

    Informative Posts About Current COVID Cases on Antarctic Cruises

    in Ponant

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Sitti said:

     

    This was very interesting. It shows how serious Hurtigruten is with their covid protocols. I haven't received final documentations from Ponant for my upcoming trip, but most certainly I will follow their protocols to the letter.

    @sitti, I was told earlier by Ponant that the final documents would not be sent until 1-2 weeks prior to the cruise. I have only sailed once with Ponant, but the documents were first emailed and then arrived by FedEx a few days later. We're also on the Ross Sea, so I'll let you know when we get ours.

    • Thanks 1

    Ponant's Cancelled Cruise List Updated for January - February 2022

    in Ponant

    Posted

    A person in the French-speaking Ponant FB group is reporting that his Jan. 20 cruise on Le Boreal has been cancelled due to COVID. His comments (translated by Google) are below:

     

    Comment 1: And yes, except that my trip to the Boréal that was leaving tomorrow from Ushuaia was canceled due to Covid cases on the boat. I am desperate

     

    Comment 2: I was due to board on the 19th for Buenos Aires and I was advised on the 17th at 18:09pm A few hours before my flight to Paris I only got a text from them to tell me the cruise was cancelled following the discovery of covid-19 on the boat on the 17th in the morning of the 18th my agency was warned of the situation They will reconnect in the week I find it very light and I'm really disappointed that I can't make this trip but I understand that Ponant is not there for nothing and that's kind of reassuring to say they are taking all the precautions but I can't understand with all the procedures how Covid showed up at the end of another cruise I really don't understand.

     

    Comment 3: Excuse me it's a mistake I was supposed to board on the 18th to RCD for Buenos Aires

     
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    Trip Report: 2019 “Northwest Passage: Epic High Arctic” on the Ocean Adventurer (Quark Expeditions)

    in Eco & Expedition Cruising

    Posted

    On 1/13/2022 at 3:48 PM, 2552phxcrzr said:

    Although it's been several years since this was posted, I want to thank you as I know how much time and effort it takes to document trips.  We'll be doing the "In the Footsteps: expedition this year ... our fifth time traveling with Quark.  Even though this is for a different High Arctic trip, I will still read it just for the joy of doing so.

    Have a great trip!

    • Like 1
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