Antarctica cruise pondering and add ons

[VPS]

So I'm thinking about doing this cruise which starts in BA and finishes in Santiago.

X867 22-Day South America & Antarctica Holiday

Has anyone used Vacations to go because they have a good deal on a single cabin (much better than my TA)

I've looked a QF prices and with my DSC sitting there waiting to be used it looks like if I stay a few days in Santiago I get a much cheaper price coming home than if I came three days earlier.

So - comments please about things I should do in BA and in Santiago (not too long because the cruise is 22 days so don't want to do too much)

 

[Pushka]

So I'm thinking about doing this cruise which starts in BA and finishes in Santiago.

X867 22-Day South America & Antarctica Holiday

Has anyone used Vacations to go because they have a good deal on a single cabin (much better than my TA)

I've looked a QF prices and with my DSC sitting there waiting to be used it looks like if I stay a few days in Santiago I get a much cheaper price coming home than if I came three days earlier.

So - comments please about things I should do in BA and in Santiago (not too long because the cruise is 22 days so don't want to do too much)

Vacations to go are fine to work with and have the freedom of USA booking privileges. Just do the maths on the currency conversions. I’ve booked a couple of cruises using them.

 

[VPS]

Actually starts in Santiago and finishes in BA - Duh

 

[tgh]

comments please about things I should do in BA and in Santiago

Thought you might have had some input by now..my 20c worth follows
In BA , the cemetery, Boca(with a tour) , and walk the cbd and main drag.
There is little of interest in SCL, (others may differ) ; catch the funicular , stop at the zoo , ride to the top and walk down the long way will fill in some time.
Some of the cruise stops will be interesting, and the fjords should be good.
I fail to see any point at all in pounding across the drake to mooch about offshore and never get close enough to see anything except some ice maybe.

 

[Pushka]

comments please about things I should do in BA and in Santiago

Thought you might have had some input by now..my 20c worth follows
In BA , the cemetery, Boca(with a tour) , and walk the cbd and main drag.
There is little of interest in SCL, (others may differ) ; catch the funicular , stop at the zoo , ride to the top and walk down the long way will fill in some time.
Some of the cruise stops will be interesting, and the fjords should be good.
I fail to see any point at all in pounding across the drake to mooch about offshore and never get close enough to see anything except some ice maybe.

Love_the_life will be returning in a couple of weeks, full of it.

 

[JohnM]

Each to their own capabilities, dreams and means.

I tend to agree with @tgh that to get so close, yet so far, from landing on the 7th continent may be a letdown. However, that may suffice for you.

But my attitude is if something takes your eye, meets your basic needs/satisfies a burning curiosity and offers what you perceive to be very good value, just do it. Not to take the plunge in the present in the hope that something better may come up in the future may cause regret.

 

[zig]

I think there might be a destination guide for SCL on this site which would be worth looking at.

I have cruised several times in South America and Antarctica once, but on a much smaller ship. I'm another who would not do a cruise through the Antarctica with no hope of getting onto land.
I cruise as a solo traveller and there are some reduced single supplements available on the smaller expedition ships. I understand everyone has a different budget, so this may not be an option for you, but it is worth looking at. The smaller ship allows better access in the Chilean Fjords as well.
If the HAL cruise suits your needs go ahead and book it. It is a lovely part of the world with some great scenery.

 

[VPS]

I think there might be a destination guide for SCL on this site which would be worth looking at.

I have cruised several times in South America and Antarctica once, but on a much smaller ship. I'm another who would not do a cruise through the Antarctica with no hope of getting onto land.
I cruise as a solo traveller and there are some reduced single supplements available on the smaller expedition ships. I understand everyone has a different budget, so this may not be an option for you, but it is worth looking at. The smaller ship allows better access in the Chilean Fjords as well.
If the HAL cruise suits your needs go ahead and book it. It is a lovely part of the world with some great scenery.

It is difficult to get reduced single supplements - can you give me an example of any you have encountered? TIA

 

[JohnM]

I'm also a solo traveller and I always go as a willing sharer.

About half the time I've had twin accommodation to myself (at no extra cost); the other half I've had a sharer. I like to think I'm pretty easy-going and I went to boarding school and lived in a residential college while at uni, so I have no dramas with mixing in.

Going as a willing sharer is probably not an option on fancier cruise ships. I went to Antarctica on a 100-pax expedition-style ship as a willing sharer in a twin-berth cabin and had a great cabin-mate about 40 years younger than me - and he wasn't a kid! The memory of walking into the cabin and seeing his skateboard leaning against the window will stick with me forever! (He actually owned an online skate-gear business).

I'm wondering if that ship or that particular cruise does not have a permit to go to the continent. It's getting a bit crowded down there.

It's worth noting that only 100 people can land on Antarctica at any one time from a ship. How big ships with many hundreds of people handle that I do not know. An advantage of the ship I went on is that all pax could land and we were doing two landings per day, every day we were down there. We also had an option of sleeping on the ice one night - great experience! It's in my Patagonia & Antarctica TR below.

 

[VPS]

I am an extremely unwilling sharer. When I was younger I did share a few times but as I've got older I like my personal space too much and figure if I have to pay extra then that's just the cost of travel.

 

[Pushka]

I am an extremely unwilling sharer. When I was younger I did share a few times but as I've got older I like my personal space too much and figure if I have to pay extra then that's just the cost of travel.

I think it’s fine for a few days and ltl and I have done this just fine. Well, at least from my end But for longer trips I like my own space too, partner excluded. But still .......

QM2 has single cabins now.

 

[VPS]

I'm starting to think that if I can't land on the ice then maybe I should look at one of the others

 

[drron]

You definitely won't be landing on the ice on that cruise.the larger ships all just cruise through Antarctic waters.Basically you have to go on an Expedition ship to land though the Silver Whisper has added zodiacs on it's world cruise so there will be landings.
Reviews of the Zandaam Antarctic cruises here-
Holland America Zaandam Antarctica Cruise - Reviews and Ratings of Holland America Zaandam Antarctica Cruises - Cruise Critic

 

[JohnM]

I will say that the cruise you're looking at, for the inside cabin price shown looks to be extremely good value. I think you will be looking at a substantially greater cost for those that do land you. And of course the smaller vessels won't achieve some of the economies of scale of the big tubs.

I went on this vessel: Expedition Cruise Ship Images | One Ocean Expeditions

 

[VPS]

Yep - I realise that I wouldn't be going on the ice and I thought it didn't matter but now I think that if I'm going to go there that I would like to stand on the ice

 

[Pushka]

Yep - I realise that I wouldn't be going on the ice and I thought it didn't matter but now I think that if I'm going to go there that I would like to stand on the ice

Alaska.

 

[VPS]

Vacations to go are quoting inside cabin as 4998 and outside as 5398 (all $US) so you'd be silly to go for an inside

 

[VPS]

Alaska.

Yep done that but I want to stand on all continents

 

[JohnM]

Like this?

 

[VPS]

Like this?

View attachment 144002

I probably wouldn't go topless though - I don't want to scare the animals (and whoever has to take the photo)