hawkesbaynz

That’s a shame for people as Chile a fabulous cruise destination. We sailed out of San Antonio on Oceania but visited Valparaiso on a day trip from Santiago -outstanding! Puerto Montt, Castro and the Chilean Fjords are great. We originally had a cruise on the Eclipse Valparaiso to Buenos Aires but cancelled when they changed the ship to Infinity and the length of the cruise to 12 nights. Eventually splashed out much more on 20 nights with Oceania and did the San Antonio to Buenos Aires with Antartica and Falklands. It was DWs bucket list and well worth the cost. Personally I would consider changing to another cruise line for this itinerary if X are reducing the stops. HAL and Princess do similar as do Oceania and ?NCL.

You have not read the Oceania forum! People book that line specifically for the food….. and it is good! Never for the entertainment😮. I hate the term ‘complementary’ or ‘free food’. We paid for it like we did for the cabin and the officers salary etc.

Been a couple of times to HK. Prefer Kowloon. Just booked the Eden Hotel for our post cruise stay in November. Spent hours on Tripadvisor and hotel websites. Not as cheap as before and harder to find a free refundable rate. You’ll love it. Imagine this will be moved to Ports of Call page.

I have only heard good things about Virgin Voyages. Admit that the TV series was off putting but.... Shame they have limited cruise itineraries. Last year VV offered 7 night balcony cruises for ?120,000 virgin points for a couple in the Med. We have 150,000 virgin points and cannot anticipate using them for the airline as planned. VA mainly flies to the USA and we have done a few holidays/cruise there in the last several years and no plans to return. If VV offer the same deal this year I have allocated a week in September/October. Effectively it will be a free cruise.🤞 We are early 60s and mainly sail X but last two on Oceania (snooze).

In the UK you will be fine without cash. I just use Apple Pay on my mobile and do not carry wallet or cash. Tip a barman for bar service in a UK pub …. no. Tip a waiter who delivers food to you in the pub …. yes.

It was actually Kelp Beach on the Falklands we went to. Originally Berthas but cancelled as the penguins have been unwell. Photo of Infinity in Antartica.

I did this on the Silhouette on a round UK cruise September 2021. I was the only participant. The guys doing the Bourbon tasting were sat next to me. Unless doing the tasting with a group it would be a disappointment. I had been in Islay a couple of months prior and the barman had a 1/100th of the knowledge of the guys in Scotland.

@markeb I am with you! My wife does not cook lamb so I usually take the opportunity to have lamb when at restaurants. Although I enjoy lobster and fish Brits generally do not appreciate seafood. Most of our great seafood gets exported. Doubt there has ever been talk of lobsters on the P&O CC board.

Love these lobster posts! Just got of an Oceania cruise. Could have Maine lobster in numerous guises. However I was dreaming of the bacon on Celebrity and I could pay for a huge amount of lobster with price difference. I’m more passionate about bacon😏

Just back from Buenos Aires after a month in South America including 20 nights on the Oceania Marina. Great photos brought back fantastic memories. I have a picture of the Infinity in Antarctica. I will upload it over the weekend. Glad you got to the Falklands. 50:50 I am told. We did not do Volunteer Point as my wife has knee issues. We went to Berthas Beach with Falklands Outdoors although it was still 90 minutes from Stanley. Lots of Gentoo penguins and some Magellanic with a solitary King. Close by beach resting Elephant seals which were fabulous. We were the only vehicle😀. £450 for the four of us.

Just had a fantastic itinerary led cruise on the Marina. Wife and I (both early sixties) said that we would return in 10 years when we were old enough! Although my 20-30 something self would have loved interesting conversations around the dinner table with Flatbush flyer et al. However after dinner would like something better to do than listen to cellists or listen to shows about singer/song writers who were at their peak before I was born. Wife refused to go to any shows after a while and was in bed by 9.15. We are usually up to midnight on Celebrity.

Just completing our Marina South America cruise (fabulous!). I do not think anyone has to worry too much about what to wear. There has been a fair mix of smart casual/country club (the majority), popping out to the hardware store comfortable, and care home casual. Personally I wear smart shirts & trousers and long sleeved smart tops with smart chinos. Shoes too although have seen may trainers in the restaurants. People do dress up smarter for the specialities. Jackets etc although I did not bring any as this trip is a logistic challenge with hot/cold weather. Still looking out for those gorgeous well dressed folk in the O magazine😀.

We are very happy with the Concierge cabin. The extra wardrobe space and opportunity to have more speciality meals is a bonus in PH but we could book another holiday with the difference! Access to the concierge lounge for convenience of drinks is great for my wife who does not breakfast. I even managed to hop in the jacuzzi on the forward ‘retreat’ deck today. I enjoy Luminae & Blu on Celebrity but the food that O offers is so much better. Terry If you enjoy a premium included beverage package on Celebrity and you use it to the full, plan for the extra expense on O. We purchased several great bottles of wines from vineyards in Chile and are happy to pay the corkage. Enjoy a G&T in our cabin. Collecting airpoints (churning cards) is a hobby so I can fly business class. I would never pay for BC. Would fly premium economy or even let DW fly PE and I would go in the back! We have three Celebrity cruises and a Princess cruise booked in 23/24. Am seriously considering booking another O cruise onboard. Just love the food!

We are currently on the Marina too. Great so far! We flew direct from London to Santiago in Business class. Used airpoints. Flight was fine! Santiago and Valparaiso are great. We are in a concierge verandah. Plenty of space although the wardrobe is a bit cramped although we have overpacked (3 cases). Glad we booked a mid-ship balcony. Possibly the 7th floor maybe better too. Although I would say that the seas have not been rough you can feel it more at the bow and aft.

On Sirena in November there always seems to be classes when I was in the gym. Same few faces every session. Yoga, Pilates, spin, stretch etc.

Can you not take it to dinner, and not pay the corkage? Is it really that bad? I think we took the last one home and gave it to our neighbour who will drink anything.

Looking forward to it in next month. Thanks for the reminder about the binoculars. Already purchased the anti-emetics and seasickness medications. Hopefully ours will be calmer……… and get to the Falklands. Enjoy the remainder of the cruise.

Am off to Chile this week prior to Marina cruise. We have a couple of tours from Santiago which include vineyards😃. Also a foodie tour which am sure will include beverage purchase opportunities. Will be buying gin at Heathrow. My question is: Do I have to carry the purchased wine/liquor onto the ship or can it go in the suitcases (I have reinforced bubble wrap sleeves).

Fingers crossed for the Marina tendering for the Falklands next month. Can only be optimistic. I will start looking at weather a few days prior. Unfortunately even flying there cannot be guaranteed as some flights are diverted to Chile due to the harsh weather.

Great TP. Reminds me we must return to NZ to visit friends soon. Admittedly I do not wish to travel that far just to visit friends (DW does). Your cruise has given me a cunning plan for a trip back😀

Thanks @Buckeye94 for the Trip Report. We will be sailing a similar itinerary in a few weeks and this has give us some insight. We booked many tours with ToursbyLocals. See www.tourguideushuaia.net Not sure I could do a cruise without my wife. However I usually ski in France/Austria a couple of times a year by myself. Ski hard all day (off-piste) and read/iPad in the evenings.

I am keen to try the Virgin product. Some of Branson's Virgin branded products have been poor but the cruise line seems to have been well thought out. Particularly like adult-only, no MDRs, reasonably priced drinks (I do not need a paid for beverage package). Hopefully will expand their itineraries as a bit limited at the moment. Virgin have offered cruises in exchange for virgin points. Last summer I believe about 120,000 and are still offering short cruises ex-Miami for less points. We have about 180,000 and no desire to fly to the USA so hoping there is an offer this Summer so we can try it out. I will pay for a cruise otherwise but love a deal. Viking cruises? Starts with a V but a different animal to Virgin cruises. An older demographic and much more expensive. Will give it a try one day.

I have noticed that they have started calling the non-speciality dining ‘Complementary’ as if it is free and they are doing us a favour. A word that has always stuck in my throat like the complementary sweets provided on cheap airlines.

Am also a local. You can eat Italian and the usual Shopping Mall type stuff at home. Wetherspoons……. 🤭only if I am dining alone and have something to read😳. There is a great Indian Restaurant between the Holiday Inn and the Ferry Terminal. Kutis. Excellent Indian food that I have never come across in the USA. Have a beer in the Dancing Man across the road. The food is good too if you are not into the spice.

We are currently trying Oceania (cruises Nov 22 & Feb 23) and have been reading up on the Oceania Forum and other social media sites. There has been a fair amount of grumbling about the quality of the vaunted best cuisine at sea and service. We found the food great but service no better than Xs. Less personal. Very different entertainment (zzzz). The CC Forum has hardcore O groupies who will be on every thread whilst the other site has a wider group of respondents. Oceania's alleged new trick is to sail slowly to save fuel (claiming good for the environment). This has limited time ashore for trips. Oceania is well known for great itineraries but it is frustrating when you only get six hours in Port xxx when you need eight hours because the sites are two hours by road. The 'sailors' on the Virgin Voyages topics page seem a happy bunch. Just wish Virgin did longer more interesting cruises. I have three more X cruises (and am trying Princess too). Fingers crossed.