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Cruise Line/Ship: Star Princess Date: January 2010
Itinerary (12 nights):
Santiago (Chile); Puerto Montt (Chile); Punta Arenas (Chile); Amalia Glacier (Chile) (cruising); Ushuaia (Argentina); Cape Horn; Falklands (UK); Montevideo (Uruguay); Buenos Aires (Argentina)
The cruise itself:
Chile is beautiful and with the Andes backdrop, the scenery is stunning. The ports are interesting, many of which have European influences (Germany, Italy, Wales!). The fjords and Straits of Magellan are peaceful and serene, with colourful sunsets and beautiful blue glaciers. The Argentineans are less friendly than Chileans but the country is no less beautiful. Favourite ports were Ushuaia and Montevideo (Puerto Montt was also nice but we had limited time here due to poor weather which slowed the ship down). Punta Arenas had a vague resemblance to San Francisco, with long, steep streets which run down to the beachfront.
Be prepared to be flexible as the itinerary is dependent on the weather. Most stops are tenders and therefore poor weather conditions can prevent stops being made (for example, in this trip, we missed the Falklands). It’s easy to do your own thing in most ports, with the exception of the Falklands, where some trips are on private land and not easily accessible.
Princess itself is not the most organised cruise line. Tenders can be slow and as a result, reduces time spent in port (so, keep watch for when tender ticket lines open and get in early). Trips also book up very early (prior to the cruise) so pre-book if you have particular ‘must-see’ places. On this trip, food, service and facilities were as expected of a standard cruise line, though nothing was exceptional.
Practical Information:
What to pack: Clothes for four seasons. The weather is very changeable and can be wet and windy in the south. Forget the umbrella – you’ll definitely need a windproof, waterproof coat and a mix of bikini and warm woollies. Temperatures in the south dropped to around 8 degrees and as we travelled north, temperatures rose to around 30 degrees. Suntan lotion is a must wherever – don’t be fooled by the cool temperatures
Currency: Most places accept American dollars and credit cards. Change is usually given in local currency, though, so it’s a good idea to keep small $US notes (not US loose change, though, as they won’t accept this)
Internet/email: This is very accessible in most ports with very reasonable rates (though very expensive on board)
Sea sickness: Sea sickness tablets. The sea is also changeable. During this trip, wind speed of 60 mph and swells of 20ft kept us rocking to sleep for a few days, but easily managed with sickness tablets
This holiday is not for: sun seekers or those who are very sensitive to sea sickness
This holiday is for: those looking for something different, with a mix of stunning scenery, very hospitable Chileans and time to relax and recharge on ship
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