Veendam South America/Antarctica 12/20/10

[Liv4cruzin]

I originally put this post on our roll call thread; but since there are quite a few active posters on this cruise.....thought I'd create a new thread for updates on the voyage.

 

 

Happy to report that I & a few others have made it to Santiago; & waiting at the Marriott for my room to be ready. Some are; some aren't. Weather is beautiful, pleasantly warm. Hotel is gorgeous all decorated for Christmas.

 

As soon as I boarded the plane in ATL, I met my Mrs. & Mrs. (Obnoxshs). Great flight, food outstanding (bus. elite class); but no sleep for me. Well, maybe a cat nap. The sunrise behind the Andes Mountains was absolutely fabulous. And the arrival procecdures at the Santiago airport were tedious, to say the least. The "Visa Man" didn't like tiny creases in a few of my $20 dollars bills. So, I went through every bill in my wallet till I found ones that suited him. Took 90 mins; & then another hr waiting on the bus to head to the hotel. The Celebrity Infinity is turning around today; & there were quite a few of their Pax on our plane. And now the hotel lobby has filled w/ those that are doing a post cruise hotel pkg.

 

PS: Finally got my room at 12:45; & man, was it worth the wait. Not sure what type of room this is; but it's huge. I have 2 rooms actually. The main part, of course, is a king bed, sofa, coffee table, 2 side chairs, 2 end tables. There's a hidden beverage bar & a (maybe 36") flat panel TV above it. This corner room juts out; so there's windows on 2 walls. There is an adjoining "conference room" (for lack of a better word). It has a large oval table, 4 rolling chairs, a long cabinet/desk combo & another flat panel TV on the wall. There are a variety of electrical plugs for the computer. It's just so cool.

 

I had a short nap late this aft.; ordered room service & ready to hit the sack again. I didn't realize that Santiago is 2 hrs. ahead of FL. So, I have just a mini case of jet lag. And I've just see drtee's post on the roll call thread that there's possibly a delay in transfer times in the morning. Sure hope I can confirm this before I set the alarm for some ungodly hour.

[SilvertoGold]

Thanks for posting.

Hope you have a truly wonderful Christmas cruise!! We did this two years ago and keep saying that was our best cruise ever.

Would absolutely love to hear all about every aspect of your cruise.

Merry Christmas!

[dfish]

I'll be following this thread as I will be boarding in BA when you get off. Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

Debbie

[IRL_Joanie]

OK, I'm biting:) Who is the Visa Man and why did you have to pay him and how much eventually was enough??

 

Joanie

[Liv4cruzin]

OK, I'm biting:) Who is the Visa Man and why did you have to pay him and how much eventually was enough??

 

Joanie

 

My terminology for the man in the booth that collects $140 (U.S. currency or credit card charge only) to purchase the "visa" stamp for your passport. They call it the reciprocity fee. They charge us the same amount WE charge the Chileans when they purchase a visa to enter the U.S.

[Liv4cruzin]

And for anyone who is brave enough to come along......I keep an online travel blog. I have just posted the first entry for this voyage. You are welcome to read (or not) my take on this adventure. I am providing the URL; feel free to bookmark & check back for updates as you wish (or not).

 

 

http://liv4cruzin-my-life--welcome-t.blogspot.com/

[luvcruisn']

Thanks for your blog information, Liv4cruzin. I will be entering Argentina at Buenos Aires, we have to pay the reciprocity fee there. The Canadian receiprocity fee has just gone up from $70 to $75.00, starting Dec. 20/10. We can now also pay $150.00 which would cover five years of entry. This is totally new, as the fee has always been per visit for us before. For American citizens, their reciprocity fee covers the life of their passport, which is 10 years if it is a new one.

[DrTee]

I'm on the same sailing, and I also keep a blog, have for a couple of years now. The link is below, in my signature.

 

See you soon, Becky!

[aussiedisneyfan]

I will be reading the blogs as we really wanted to do this sailing but it didn't work out for us. Still a happy girl though because I get 28 nights on the Volendam instead. Have a great trip!

[rafinmd]

Becky, it looks like I missed my opportunity to wish you Bon Voyage before you boarded, but better late than never. Looking forward to your reports.

 

Roy

[Mary Ellen]

You're in for a GREAT cruise. We did Rio to Valparaiso via Antarctica two years ago. Antarctica was beyond our wildest expectations. I hope you enjoy it too.

[Liv4cruzin]

We're still rockin' & rollin' today/tonight. I wondered how some of those gals in the high heels were managing to stay perpendicular to the floor tonight.

 

We had a fabulous C.C. party this afternoon w/ about 35 in attendance. Battha in her cute Santa hat presided over the festivities. I finally got to meet Mariwind (whom I had been in e-mail contact w/) & my Ft. Myers "neighbor" Jean (matrasa). She, Deb (Mrs. Obnxshs), Lee Ann (jettaleea), Lou (drtee) & I hung around the Crow's Nest so long, they were about to throw us out because they had another party scheduled in there.

 

And later drtee & I had a nice gab session in the Lido restaurant. As a matter of fact, we discussed our "dueling" blogs. Loads of fun!

 

I did just update my blog. Probably going to hit the hay before I upload today's entry. Maybe find some free wifi at McDonald's or somewhere else tomorrow.

[Coolcruise02]

I will check in and out over the holidays to see how your trip goes.

 

We were on the "hurricane cruise" that was late getting into port for you!! :)

 

My husband and I loved the 24 hour storm but many others spent that 24 hours in their rooms. We did get to the Falkland Islands but had to miss Puerto Montt.

 

The Captain kept us informed about every hour or so as to the conditions we were in. I think at one point we had only gone 15 miles in 5 hours. He reported a 3 degree list that felt like much more when the ship was on the crest of a wave. Highest wave was 98 feet and wind speeds up to 115 mph. The captain said the weather projection info he received was about 1/2 of what we actually got. He said we basically went thru a hurricane!

 

The dining room was closed that night and they brought sandwiches to the rooms. The next morning at the lido the "casino staff", in their uniforms, were serving a very limited breakfast.

 

After the holidays we will post a review and some of the pictures we took of damage around the ship.

 

If you get a chance, go out on the navigation deck (7th deck, I think) and check out the damage to the teak floor from slamming into the waves!

 

We were VERY impressed with the captain and the crew!!!!

[SilvertoGold]

I will check in and out over the holidays to see how your trip goes.

 

We were on the "hurricane cruise" that was late getting into port for you!! :)

 

My husband and I loved the 24 hour storm but many others spent that 24 hours in their rooms. We did get to the Falkland Islands but had to miss Puerto Montt.

 

The Captain kept us informed about every hour or so as to the conditions we were in. I think at one point we had only gone 15 miles in 5 hours. He reported a 3 degree list that felt like much more when the ship was on the crest of a wave. Highest wave was 98 feet and wind speeds up to 115 mph. The captain said the weather projection info he received was about 1/2 of what we actually got. He said we basically went thru a hurricane!

 

The dining room was closed that night and they brought sandwiches to the rooms. The next morning at the lido the "casino staff", in their uniforms, were serving a very limited breakfast.

 

After the holidays we will post a review and some of the pictures we took of damage around the ship.

 

If you get a chance, go out on the navigation deck (7th deck, I think) and check out the damage to the teak floor from slamming into the waves!

 

We were VERY impressed with the captain and the crew!!!!

 

Please do post a review. Would utterly love to read about your adventure and see some of the photos. What an experience!!

[Liv4cruzin]

We had the most perfect weather today for Puerto Montt (sorry y'all had to miss this stop, coolcruise02). Perfectly blue sky, low 70's. My tour to Puerto Varas & Frutillar was so scenic. Roses in bloom everywhere (& they smell like roses used to). Gorgeous photos of the snow capped volcanos. It was priceless! Tonight I've lost the internet signal about 8 times in the last 30 mins. Hope this is not a sign of things to come.

[RuthC]

We had the most perfect weather today for Puerto Montt (sorry y'all had to miss this stop, coolcruise02). Perfectly blue sky, low 70's. My tour to Puerto Varas & Frutillar was so scenic. Roses in bloom everywhere (& they smell like roses used to). Gorgeous photos of the snow capped volcanos. It was priceless! Tonight I've lost the internet signal about 8 times in the last 30 mins. Hope this is not a sign of things to come.

Isn't Puerto Montt a great stop! I love Puerto Varas, and even enjoy the shop-stop there. Some things I consider cheap at twice the price. That lake is gorgeous. Makes me want to go out on it for a sail. Maybe next time.

 

Oh, and the loss of internet signal? Yes, it is a sign of things to come as you head south. :( Can't be helped.

[Liv4cruzin]

Re: Internet signal. I thought it was interesting when asked by a C.C. member at the meet & greet on Tues, if we could expect internet interruptions. The Hotel Mgr. said "no" w/ a perfectly straight face.

 

Just like they said there was no A/C problems (well just ask Lee Ann & Mike about that one). No bedbugs (just ask Ken & Shirlety about that one too). HAL is in a total state of denial about the status of this ship. Can we talk a whole panel of glass & the frame falling out of the sliding door of one of the lanai cabins on deck 6? Or the filthy plasticc light grid cover the fluorescent bulbs in the Lido? A few of these problems may be attributed to the battering the ship took during the last voyage. But I'm appalled at what I see happening to this lovely ship.

[Liv4cruzin]

Re: Internet signal. I thought it was interesting when asked by a C.C. member at the meet & greet on Tues, if we could expect internet interruptions. The Hotel Mgr. said "no" w/ a perfectly straight face.

 

Just like they said there was no A/C problems (well just ask Lee Ann & Mike about that one). No bedbugs (just ask Ken & Shirlety about that one too). HAL is in a total state of denial about the status of this ship. Can we talk a whole panel of glass & the frame falling out of the sliding door of one of the lanai cabins on deck 6? Or the filthy plasticc light grid cover the fluorescent bulbs in the Lido? A few of these problems may be attributed to the battering the ship took during the last voyage. But I'm appalled at what I see happening to this lovely ship.

 

I inadvertently called Lee Ann's husband, Mike. His name is Bill & always has been!

[Liv4cruzin]

I have no idea how high the waves were last night (too bad that one bit of data is not shown on the TV). I was awakened this morning about 6:45 when a bottle of water & a glass fell off the dresser. Had to chase the bottle down as it rolled under the bed. Made for good sleeping though.

 

The Capt. has announced a small change in the plan for tomorrow. In his opinion the Amalia Glacier has receded so far back; that the payoff is not worth the hassle of going there. So, he's taking us to 'his favorite' spot; the Asia Glacier (referred to as the Blue Hole). So, it'll be a late night w/ the crew's Christmas choir performance at 11 pm; & midnight mass afterwards. To see the Blue Hole, we must be up at 6 am. And as the Capt. promised, WE will have a white Christmas!

[SilvertoGold]

I have no idea how high the waves were last night (too bad that one bit of data is not shown on the TV). I was awakened this morning about 6:45 when a bottle of water & a glass fell off the dresser. Had to chase the bottle down as it rolled under the bed. Made for good sleeping though.

 

The Capt. has announced a small change in the plan for tomorrow. In his opinion the Amalia Glacier has receded so far back; that the payoff is not worth the hassle of going there. So, he's taking us to 'his favorite' spot; the Asia Glacier (referred to as the Blue Hole). So, it'll be a late night w/ the crew's Christmas choir performance at 11 pm; & midnight mass afterwards. To see the Blue Hole, we must be up at 6 am. And as the Capt. promised, WE will have a white Christmas!

 

 

Thanks for your reports on C-C and the blog --great photos, wonderful commentary!!

Could you tell us who the Captain, Hotel Manager, Cruise Director are on this voyage?

Merry White Christmas to you!

[DrTee]

Just checking in to say I'm also having a/c problems. They pretend to be very concerned, yet nothing is done.

 

I'm enjoying the CC group as well as plenty of time on my own.

 

Really rolling (or pitching?) tonight. A large water bottle just went flying in my room too!

 

Becky, I had the weirdest dinner tonight!

[deserttraveler]

I was surprised to read of difficulties with internet. Maybe the new antenna was damaged in the storm last week. When I was on the Nov. 26 Valparaiso to Buenos Aires leg, internet was both consistently available and fast. I had to take work on the cruise that required me to sync with a server in the USA about 5 times a day, and there was only once in the 12 days when I could not easily accomplish this. The internet guy said they had installed a new antenna and new modem in September. The internet was WAAAYY better than I've found on any other ship.

[Liv4cruzin]

Just checking in to say I'm also having a/c problems. They pretend to be very concerned, yet nothing is done.

 

I'm enjoying the CC group as well as plenty of time on my own.

 

Really rolling (or pitching?) tonight. A large water bottle just went flying in my room too!

 

Becky, I had the weirdest dinner tonight!

 

I saw you on the port side; I ate on the "crew side" (starboard) since I'd already set up my office over there. Can't wait to hear all about it.

[Liv4cruzin]

Thanks for your reports on C-C and the blog --great photos, wonderful commentary!!

Could you tell us who the Captain, Hotel Manager, Cruise Director are on this voyage?

Merry White Christmas to you!

 

Merry Christmas back atcha.

 

Captain Rik Krombeen

Hotel Mgr. David Wood

C.D. Patti Honacki

[Liv4cruzin]

I'm gonna attempt to upload a photo from Bruho Glacier this morning. (That's BREW-HO, not Blue Hole as I thought he was saying on the PA system yesterday). So, we did have a sort of white Christmas.