Easter Island,crew

[janecambridge]

We have just had two days at Easter Island.We were made aware how tough and slow the tendering could be.And it was,but I have to congratulate the crew on how hard they all worked those 2 days to make sure we all got on the island.All the tender pilots and transfer staff were magnificent.It was very difficult the first day and once or twice the transfer took around 30 minutes when rough.But still they persevered.Well done Marina team.

[Paulchili]

I am glad that you were able to enjoy this unique place.

Not everyone is so lucky.

[deus]

Jane

 

Thank you for taking the time to let us know how hard the Marina crew worked to get everyone ashore. We are going January 2019 to Easter Island on the Marina and I am so looking forward to this being there.

 

Thanks again.

[sammiedawg]

You are lucky indeed and I’m happy for you. Two out of two days on Easter Island!!!

We are debating whether to try for Easter Island again.

[Queen of DaNile]

So glad you made it to Rapa Nui Jane. We know how hard the crew works to make it happen. On our voyage it was not safe for Marina to transfer guests at Hanga Roa so the Captain moved the ship to anchor off Anakena Beach. The crew actually had to "build" a landing platform to transfer guests from the shuttle to terra firma. We consider ourselves very lucky to have spent two day on the island, thanks to the dedication of the crew.

[Sea42]

That's great! I'm so happy the crew were able to make this happen for you!

[Flatbush Flyer]

There's nothing quite like Easter Island

 

 

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[janecambridge]

Jane

 

Thank you for taking the time to let us know how hard the Marina crew worked to get everyone ashore. We are going January 2019 to Easter Island on the Marina and I am so looking forward to this being there.

 

Thanks again.

 

We had people with canes,a wheelchair,leg cast and a mobility stroller who they managed to get on.There was talk that the first day,any other stop and they may not have gone ahead.

If you do private tours,there is a charge of $80 per person to gain entry to all the park and all the sites.Oceania includes it in their prices.

Really hope you make it too.Its amazing.

[floridatravelersforlife]

Congratulations that you made it . We didn;t last year . Just proves that Easter Island has low probability of a successful tender

[Tansy Mews]

We had two days there but Marina clipped something on the side - something they had to repair. But the crew made it happen for us!

[roberts2005]

Very lucky indeed. We did not make it ashore in April 2016 on Marina. Captain did not stay around till 2nd day to see if weather improved. All we had was a circum navigation of Island

[Paulchili]

Very lucky indeed. We did not make it ashore in April 2016 on Marina. Captain did not stay around till 2nd day to see if weather improved. All we had was a circum navigation of Island

 

For that reason I cannot recommend a cruise to E.I as the way to see them. Too often it is missed on a cruise that is expensive, far away to get to with too many sea days if the Islands are missed.

If you really want to see Easter Islands - and you should - then do it on a land trip out of Santiago pre or post S.America cruise.

JMO.

[roberts2005]

For that reason I cannot recommend a cruise to E.I as the way to see them. Too often it is missed on a cruise that is expensive, far away to get to with too many sea days if the Islands are missed.

If you really want to see Easter Islands - and you should - then do it on a land trip out of Santiago pre or post S.America cruise.

JMO.

We wound up with, I believe, 10 sea days. Tahiti to Peru without a stop.

[Flatbush Flyer]

We wound up with, I believe, 10 sea days. Tahiti to Peru without a stop.

 

 

 

That would be heaven for us.

 

 

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[Paulchili]

That would be heaven for us.

 

 

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Sign up for that cruise and pray that you miss Easter Islands - maybe you’ll get lucky :D

You’ve got at least a 50/50 chance of being “in heaven”

Edited January 27, 2018 by Paulchili

[Flatbush Flyer]

Sign up for that cruise and pray that you miss Easter Islands - maybe you’ll get lucky :D

You’ve got at least a 50/50 chance of being “in heaven”

 

 

 

Been on Valpo to Papeete with one of two EI tender days OK. Doing Sydney to LA this May/June and looking forward to 18 sea days.

 

 

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Edited January 27, 2018 by Flatbush Flyer

[Paulchili]

Been on Valpo to Papeete with one of two tender days OK. Doing Sydney to LA this May/June and looking forward to 18 sea days.

 

 

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Sounds like a nice cruise and that you should be very happy.

Enjoy!

[sammiedawg]

Very lucky indeed. We did not make it ashore in April 2016 on Marina. Captain did not stay around till 2nd day to see if weather improved. All we had was a circum navigation of Island

 

We were on this sailing. We are “Ofor” many sights but this one still shocks a little.

And the most sea days ever. Even crew members hoped they would find a new port or two on mainland SA. We docked a day early in Lima due to a crew illness and we took the opportunity to fly home a day early.

[travelberlin]

I am glad you were able to visit EI. It is such a special place! We were also lucky a couple of years ago with the Crystal Symphony. We had to tender at a different place than the one planned and the boat was moving so much! But we made it and the crew was great.

Ivi

[roothy123]

Original Poster, that's such a great idea to give credit to the hard work of the folks on Oceania who made your EI visit so successful. I remember our first day, when there was pushing and shoving (relatively unusual for Oceania) and unhappiness with the Destinations folks who were desperately trying to get 1000 passengers off on tender boats for ship excursions and private excursions. So, so many people were really worried they wouldn't make it to shore in time to meet their private tour groups that they were getting a little unruly and overly vocal.

 

We only made it in one of our two days, but it was an awesome experience and I was thrilled. The ship had to move farther offshore for the night because of a storm, and then wait the next morning while two people were brought out in a small boat to join the ship. (They had spent the night ashore in a hotel.)

 

I often feel that the Destinations folks have the hardest job on the ship. It's great to hear that someone appreciated what they (and others involved in getting everyone ashore at EI) managed to accomplish. Easter Island is a special place. I hope to go back one day, but if so, I'll likely fly rather than cruise.

[Rob the Cruiser]

Our tender was scheduled for 9:00AM. Actual time was 12:15PM.

 

There was a two hour wait return to the ship.

 

Considering the difficulty tendering, we expected better communication as to status. CD Paul finally announced we should take an early lunch.

 

Putting these issues aside, the tour was fantastic. Or perhaps amazing, unforgettable, inspiring. Well worth the wait and the cost.

[roothy123]

Based on our experience, I would add these things that I feel EI cruisers should be aware of:

 

--There's not much of a tender pier there. You must walk up some metal steps that, at least for us, were wet.

--The tender ride over is long and rather bumpy, even in decent weather.

--On our cruise, the ship's tours filled up before the ship sailed. I would pre-book excursion (for both days - ship or private) before you go. Two days before our arrival, a couple we met at dinner mentioned they had no way to tour the island unless there were tours offered by people at the pier. I emailed the person we were using for our two day tour, and the couple called him as well. (Email is not absolutely fabulous there; calling might be better.) The tour provider was able to get them on the tour, which made me extremely happy and them extremely grateful.

 

Before going, I had read an article which stated that only 1 in 4 ships get their passengers on the island as scheduled. I don't know if that's an accurate statistic, but in any case, it's certainly true that this is one port that can be very tricky.