South America

[bfox13]

We are sailing on the Marina December 8, 2013 South American cruise and would like some advice on how to handle money. Also are the seas typically very rough going around Cape Horn. Thanks.

 

Barbara and David Fox

[RuthC]

We are sailing on the Marina December 8, 2013 South American cruise and would like some advice on how to handle money. Also are the seas typically very rough going around Cape Horn. Thanks.

 

Barbara and David Fox

I've sailed around the Horn three times, and each time it was as if I were sailing in a bathtub. True, this is unusual that three out of three times would be so smooth, but know that rounding the Horn is not necessarily rough.

 

I don't understand the "handle money" question exactly. I've never obtained local cash, but I've never found a great need for it, either. I pretty much use the cruiseline shore excursions, and use my credit card if I need to pay for something.

[Paulchili]

You would only need local currency for some incidental expenses (local taxis, food, maybe some souvenirs although many vendors may take USD, etc). You can always get that from a local ATM.

Rounding the Horn was smooth for us as well on a couple of occasions.

[RJB]

You would only need local currency for some incidental expenses (local taxis, food, maybe some souvenirs although many vendors may take USD, etc). You can always get that from a local ATM.

Rounding the Horn was smooth for us as well on a couple of occasions.

Yup, same for us. Rounded Cape Horn about 7 years ago on Crystal and it was so smooth that we slept thru it. Also did mostly cruise tours and did not need much cash. The best place if you need it are the ATM's

[LuAnn]

in Feb. of '11 so the Captain decided to just sail along side the tip of the horn rather than "go around". Still a thrill to see the "horn"!! LuAnn

[Hawaiidan]

We are sailing on the Marina December 8, 2013 South American cruise and would like some advice on how to handle money. Also are the seas typically very rough going around Cape Horn. Thanks.

 

Barbara and David Fox

 

Yes, historically this is one of the roughest stretches of ocean. It can be dead calm one day and violent the next it all depends on the weather that week. There is no way to forecast what will be. The wind can be extreme too.... called the Roaring forties, and furious Fifties

 

I was there in Jan and calm, went back 2 weeks later and it was a roller-coaster. Bottom line be prepared for the worst hope for the best.

You will have a good idea 2 days prior, and non of us can predict that no matter what we experienced ourselves.

[marilynfaye]

We are on the cruise with Barbara & David. We would like to invite those of you who attract good weather to please join us. :D

 

As to the money issue, the quotes I have received from private tour guides are all in U.S.$. Some reference entrance fees for monuments, parks, etc. in local currency. If you are taking ship's tours none of that will be an issue and I feel certain you can tip your guides in dollars, if that's more convenient, as they are used to dealing with tourists. Some places like the Tango shows in Buenos Aires will take credit cards. Truthfully, my concern regarding all this, is that I have an aversion to carrying larges amounts of cash and it will be necessary to do so just to cover our private tours.

 

Marilyn

[no fuss travel]

Around the tip was smooth sailing, but the west coast of South America was rough. A lot of people were queasy and wearing patches, wrist bands etc. I honestly thought it was no worse than sailing on a BC Ferry when there is a swell, so I guess I would say not all that bad. We did all private tours and found that we arrived at the various sites before the tour buses therefore we saw more.

[Mura]

We are on the cruise with Barbara & David. We would like to invite those of you who attract good weather to please join us. :D

 

Marilyn,

 

We leave the ship the day you board but we're overnighting in Rio. I'm assuming you and Stan will come in early? Maybe we can get together Saturday night? We have a tour with Manu that day but I think we're supposed to be back at the ship by 5pm.

 

Mura

[LuAnn]

Yes, historically this is one of the roughest stretches of ocean. It can be dead calm one day and violent the next it all depends on the weather that week. There is no way to forecast what will be. The wind can be extreme too.... called the Roaring forties, and furious Fifties

 

I was there in Jan and calm, went back 2 weeks later and it was a roller-coaster. Bottom line be prepared for the worst hope for the best.

You will have a good idea 2 days prior, and non of us can predict that no matter what we experienced ourselves.

 

 

the nick-names for the winds!! We sure had them!!! BTW...I see you served on the Midway! Have you been to see her here in SD? My DH is a docent on board and loves working there...especially with the kids who get their "junior wings" on board. If you make it to SD and would like to "come aboard" let us know and Kenneth would be happy to escort you as his guest. (Think you might already know what she looks like...but might be fun. Kenneth served on her sister ship...the FDR.) LuAnn

[marilynfaye]

Marilyn,

 

We leave the ship the day you board but we're overnighting in Rio. I'm assuming you and Stan will come in early? Maybe we can get together Saturday night? We have a tour with Manu that day but I think we're supposed to be back at the ship by 5pm.

 

Mura

 

Actually, we are not coming in early. The ship is in port overnight so the usual concern about delayed flights and missed connections won't apply. If things are on schedule, we arrive at GIG around 10:30. Are you staying in Rio or flying straight home?

 

Manu will get you back at the appointed time. He was our guide in 2011. Obama was in town the same day. His Secret Service detail closed Christ the Redeemer to do a security sweep. Resulted in long lines for the regular folk. Manu reorganized our schedule so we didn't have to wait in line more than a few minutes. At the end of the day, streets were closed and traffic was a mess. Manu didn't know how he was going to get home himself, but he managed to direct the driver so that we got back to the ship on time.

[Mura]

Too bad, Marilyn. We *were* going to stay on but decided not to. So we'll be flying home after our Sunday tour. Too bad! No near and yet so far ...

 

Have you forgotten that YOU recommended Manu to us???

 

Mura

[Hawaiidan]

the nick-names for the winds!! We sure had them!!! BTW...I see you served on the Midway! Have you been to see her here in SD? My DH is a docent on board and loves working there...especially with the kids who get their "junior wings" on board. If you make it to SD and would like to "come aboard" let us know and Kenneth would be happy to escort you as his guest. (Think you might already know what she looks like...but might be fun. Kenneth served on her sister ship...the FDR.) LuAnn

 

I was a docent too back in 2004-05.... I used to live in Carlsbad/Lacosta and had a boat in Shelter Island... Tell Ken, to have a cup of coffee for me in the dirty shirt .... He will know what I mean...fair winds and following sea... shipmate

 

One more wind name the" screaming 60's

[LuAnn]

I was a docent too back in 2004-05.... I used to live in Carlsbad/Lacosta and had a boat in Shelter Island... Tell Ken, to have a cup of coffee for me in the dirty shirt .... He will know what I mean...fair winds and following sea... shipmate

 

One more wind name the" screaming 60's

 

and he DID know what that meant...and just explained it to me!!..What kind of boat did you have at Shelter Island?? I used to sail here and in Hawaii...so much fun!!! We will be in Hilo this November...will you be around? Would be fun to meet up for a drink? We are coming in on the Century R/T out of SD of the T-Day cruise. LuAnn

[azam71209]

Hi Mura-

 

We sailed on the same ship with you up to Spitzbergen. We just signed on for the cruise from Buenos Aires to Rio in February, 2015.

 

Who is Manu and what tour did he provide?

 

Any other thoughts, suggestions especially regarding weather, seas, for that time of year from any of you?

 

Thanks so much.

 

Mary

[Mura]

Hi again, Mary,

 

Manu is a guide in Rio who has been recommended to me by a "fellow traveler" on CC. So we booked him for two days of tours when we are in Rio this December. I'll be happy to give you a personal report after we return. However, the person who recommended him to me just informed me that the day they used Manu President Obama was in Rio which caused all sorts of traffic problems. Manu got the passengers home easily, even though he didn't know if HE was going to be able to get home. That sounds good to me.

 

We are using Manu for two full day tours. The first is when we arrive in Rio which features the main outside spots -- Corcovado, Sugar Loaf, etc. The other is an "in-city" tour on the day we leave the ship. He picks us up at the ship and returns us to the airport with all of our luggage.

 

He has been highly recommended by former Rio visitors on other threads here at CC.

 

Write to me privately and I'll give you more info!

 

I cannot myself comment on the seas on your cruise because I have not done the BA-Rio route. We did a BA-Valpo cruise on NCL in Jan '02 which had some rough seas but we were quite lucky. The cruise coming up to us (from Valpo to BA) had to pass on the Falklands because the seas were so rough, but when we came by a few days later the captain said it was the best weather at the Falklands that he'd seen in 25 years. You just never know! We also had wonderful weather at the Cape.

 

You might check the "port" information section, or past roll calls on this route for better info.

 

Regarding weather, I'm not exactly expert either. Our first trip to Rio (not a cruise, just a visit to Rio) was in April 1974, just after Mardi Gras, it was HOT. My vague recollection is that it was most hot at the beach! But that is their summer time.

 

Again, I can give you a better indication of weather after we return in early December.

 

Have a great cruise! (I'm in the process of booking a Lima to NYC cruise in April 2015 myself.)

 

Mura

[tanny18]

Hi again, Mary,

 

Manu is a guide in Rio who has been recommended to me by a "fellow traveler" on CC. So we booked him for two days of tours when we are in Rio this December. I'll be happy to give you a personal report after we return. H

 

Mura

 

Mura, you will absolutely love Manu. We had him for two days a few years ago and he was just terrific. Enjoy!! Arlene