boursiquot Posted August 28, 2023 #1 Share Posted August 28, 2023 I’m taking a 73 day cruise to Antarctica on Holland America Zaandam, 10/7/23-12/1923. I need suggestions on excursions to take at the different ports we will be stopping at and also best excursions in Antarctica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlsSalt Posted August 28, 2023 #2 Share Posted August 28, 2023 There are no "excursions" in Antarctica on HAL ships. Did you think otherwise when you signed up for this extensive time onboard? It can still be a fabulous "drive-by" experience even if you don't land on the continent. The rest of the ports on this journey around South America are pretty terrific. Much more low-key than other destinations. Wait until you see the listed shore excursions and see what appeals to you. If you are traversing western South America (you did not mention your 73 day itinerary), getting up to speed on the pre-Columbian history of this area and the layers of incredible prior civilizations and their remaining historic sites today will be well worth the effort. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 1025cruise Posted August 28, 2023 #3 Share Posted August 28, 2023 You need to check out the ports of call boards for your ports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted August 28, 2023 #4 Share Posted August 28, 2023 If you check out the roll call for the Grand South America 2023 people were giving great details about shore excursions 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobby36 Posted August 28, 2023 #5 Share Posted August 28, 2023 I would check out the South America board, as it looks like you are doing a SA circumnavigation from FLL. There’s lots of info there on tours to see penguins, things to do in Buenos Aires, Lima, etc. You may also get value from the Panama Canal forum. we cruised South America with HAL earlier this year and enjoyed penguin excusión to Bluff Cove on the Falkland Islands but there are many. If you are using the web browser to “manage my trip” on the HAL website, you can read reviews of past cruisers experiences with HALs official excursions. The descriptions in the navigator app don’t provide reviews. I take them with a grain of salt but they are helpful. since you are only a few months out I wouldn’t delay, especially in the Falklands or other popular places where vehicles and guides may limit tour capacity, so best of luck and get to reserving! 😉 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare bluesplayer Posted August 28, 2023 #6 Share Posted August 28, 2023 We did the Antarctica January 2023 on the Oosterdam. Volunteer Point excursion is amazing. Not sure what ports you are visiting. .. or what your interests are. If you email me May be better to have a conversation? Let me know if you are interested, We also sailed around Cape Horn on the Zaandam in 2015. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boursiquot Posted August 28, 2023 Author #7 Share Posted August 28, 2023 5 hours ago, 1025cruise said: You need to check out the ports of call boards for your ports. How do I do that? I'm new to Cruise Critics and having much difficulty trying to navigate the site. I'm a senior and not good at this tech stuff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boulders Posted August 28, 2023 #8 Share Posted August 28, 2023 (edited) @boursiquot Click on this link to find the discussion about your cruise. Grand South America roll call For Port Stanley, I highly recommend a Volunteer Point excursion with Estancia Excursions Edited August 28, 2023 by boulders 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cccole Posted August 28, 2023 #9 Share Posted August 28, 2023 It's easy. When you go to the CC boards, you scroll down to Roll Calls. You find the cruise line you are cruising on, click on that. then find the ship you are cruising on. You'll see Zaandam and can click on October. Voila, there will probably be a very active roll call for this cruise and you can post directly on the roll call with your questions. Good luck and have a great cruise. Cherie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlsSalt Posted August 28, 2023 #10 Share Posted August 28, 2023 Here is your roll call - Link -Grand South America - very, very active so just jump in and introduce yourself. Best is to scroll backwards when you read the pages of messages this roll call already has. We did both the South America cruise, the Antarctic cruise and went back for even more on the first Maasdam In-Depth cruise on our way to Easter Island - and we would easily go back to any of these ports again. You are in for a great cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cccole Posted August 28, 2023 #11 Share Posted August 28, 2023 1 hour ago, boulders said: @boursiquot Click on this link to find the discussion about your cruise. Grand South America roll call For Port Stanley, I highly recommend a Volunteer Point excursion with Estancia Excursions Hi, I'm so happy to hear you recommending Estancia-Excursions. We booked with Nyree and are really looking forward to the adventure. Cherie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boulders Posted August 29, 2023 #12 Share Posted August 29, 2023 @ccole Volunteer Point was probably the best shore excursion I've ever been on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boursiquot Posted August 29, 2023 Author #13 Share Posted August 29, 2023 Thank you for this tip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare whogo Posted August 29, 2023 #14 Share Posted August 29, 2023 23 hours ago, Mary229 said: If you check out the roll call for the Grand South America 2023 people were giving great details about shore excursions This is the best answer. The roll call is here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2871117-zaandam-october-7-2023-grand-south-america/ With money to burn, I would think you would want to consider overnight trips to Machu Picchu and/or the Galapagos and/or a flight to view the Nazca lines. I thought Valparaiso was a fascinating city, steep streets, funiculars, you could take a walking tour there during your San Antonio stop. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boursiquot Posted August 29, 2023 Author #15 Share Posted August 29, 2023 Great suggestions for me to consider. I will definitely check them out. I’ve always wanted to go to Machu Picchu, but I think it was closed because of some political unrest. I’ll do my research. I will definitely check out that ValParaiso. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boursiquot Posted August 29, 2023 Author #16 Share Posted August 29, 2023 17 hours ago, OlsSalt said: Here is your roll call - Link -Grand South America - very, very active so just jump in and introduce yourself. Best is to scroll backwards when you read the pages of messages this roll call already has. We did both the South America cruise, the Antarctic cruise and went back for even more on the first Maasdam In-Depth cruise on our way to Easter Island - and we would easily go back to any of these ports again. You are in for a great cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boursiquot Posted August 29, 2023 Author #17 Share Posted August 29, 2023 You are so resourceful. Thank you for all of your great tips and for shepherding me through this process. Keep it coming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlsSalt Posted August 29, 2023 #18 Share Posted August 29, 2023 6 minutes ago, boursiquot said: You are so resourceful. Thank you for all of your great tips and for shepherding me through this process. Keep it coming All you have to do in return is to promise to write a daily blog while on your cruise. (!!!) (Not really) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisin'teach Posted August 29, 2023 #19 Share Posted August 29, 2023 Volunteer Point is a must do! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare bluesplayer Posted August 30, 2023 #20 Share Posted August 30, 2023 Iguazu falls.. post cruise.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VirginiaVacationer Posted August 31, 2023 #21 Share Posted August 31, 2023 On 8/29/2023 at 11:49 AM, boursiquot said: Great suggestions for me to consider. I will definitely check them out. I’ve always wanted to go to Machu Picchu, but I think it was closed because of some political unrest. I’ll do my research. I will definitely check out that ValParaiso. It has reopened. I went last year right before it closed, and I will tell you…if you have always wanted to go, and you think you might not have the opportunity again…and you can afford it…GO. GO GO GO GO. It is all that and a bag of chips. You will not regret it. Not just the site, but the train ride through some of the most mind bogglingly beautiful scenery anywhere. All of it. also…if you can afford it and it doesn’t conflict with MP, I second the Nazca lines. I went there on the same trip and…they are SO COOL. Unless you really are freaked out by very small planes banking at really odd angles. (I did not go on cruise excursions however,I went on a high end (as in we stayed at the JW Marriott in Cuzco - I don’t do hostels 😉 ) small group tour to the sacred valley - with two visits to MP - and then on my own to Nazca. If you can only do one, go to the lines and I’ll give you the name of the company I went with - they also organize the Smithsonian’s tours! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlsSalt Posted August 31, 2023 #22 Share Posted August 31, 2023 Machu Picchu - HAL at one time offered the Howard Bingham Orient and Express luxury train option for their Machu Picchu excursion -smaller group, off hours access to Machu Picchu, a very nice and deluxe option. Plus the comfort of knowing HAL will get you back to the ship, one way or the other. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boursiquot Posted August 31, 2023 Author #23 Share Posted August 31, 2023 you, i On 8/28/2023 at 11:15 AM, OlsSalt said: There are no "excursions" in Antarctica on HAL ships. Did you think otherwise when you signed up for this extensive time onboard? It can still be a fabulous "drive-by" experience even if you don't land on the continent. The rest of the ports on this journey around South America are pretty terrific. Much more low-key than other destinations. Wait until you see the listed shore excursions and see what appeals to you. If you are traversing western South America (you did not mention your 73 day itinerary), getting up to speed on the pre-Columbian history of this area and the layers of incredible prior civilizations and their remaining historic sites today will be well worth the effort. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boursiquot Posted August 31, 2023 Author #24 Share Posted August 31, 2023 1 hour ago, VirginiaVacationer said: It has reopened. I went last year right before it closed, and I will tell you…if you have always wanted to go, and you think you might not have the opportunity again…and you can afford it…GO. GO GO GO GO. It is all that and a bag of chips. You will not regret it. Not just the site, but the train ride through some of the most mind bogglingly beautiful scenery anywhere. All of it. also…if you can afford it and it doesn’t conflict with MP, I second the Nazca lines. I went there on the same trip and…they are SO COOL. Unless you really are freaked out by very small planes banking at really odd angles. (I did not go on cruise excursions however,I went on a high end (as in we stayed at the JW Marriott in Cuzco - I don’t do hostels 😉 ) small group tour to the sacred valley - with two visits to MP - and then on my own to Nazca. If you can only do one, go to the lines and I’ll give you the name of the company I went with - they also organize the Smithsonian’s tours! Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted September 1, 2023 #25 Share Posted September 1, 2023 16 hours ago, OlsSalt said: Machu Picchu - HAL at one time offered the Howard Bingham Orient and Express luxury train option for their Machu Picchu excursion -smaller group, off hours access to Machu Picchu, a very nice and deluxe option. Plus the comfort of knowing HAL will get you back to the ship, one way or the other. I agree. If it is in budget HAL does use the top of the line options for their overland excursions 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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