t60

Packing cubes.... we always use them now. His and hers, but all our cubes are black, so yesterday I made clear plastic wallet type thingies to sew on the front of each cube so I can add a list of what´s inside.

Sandy in Spain

Anyone willing to share their planning spreadsheets?

Sandy in Spain

We also missed Ushuaia on our 1st trip round the Horn in 2012 political unrest as ship hd visited the Falklands. This year we nearly missed it again this time due to bad seas, but we eventually managed to get in although later than expected. Just as a point of interest, you can get your passport stamped with End of the World stamps in the port (2$ charge) as well as at the End of the World post office if you´re out on a trip.

Sandy in Spain

I won an an ammolite pendant on a Princess cruise. I wouldn´t have been a stone I would have bought

Sandy in Spain

You don't have to read the posts that do not interest you,do you?

Thank you so much for pointing this out, however when I look at the general MSC section for posts which might be of interest, that´s where Divina is mentioned the most in the thread titles, so I can´t help but read it :)

Sandy in Spain

Was this true in the Falkland Islands also?

Limited tour available at the dockside to see the small burrowing penguin colony, We did this as OH couldn´t manage all the rough terrain on PW tour

There was nothing available like the Patrick Watts style tour to see the big penguins

Sandy in Spain

Maxis are fine

Sandy in Spain

If I know we are arriving before normal check in times, I always write to the hotel and ask if it is possible to have an early check in, they´ve always been very helpful. Occasionally they suggest to book a room for the day before to guarantee a room will be available when you arrive. In any case they will always store your luggage for you and you can change into something more comfy and fresh in the airport bathrooms. By the time you clear immgration ansd customs at Sydney, then transfer to the hotel, that will atke up a few hours.

Enjoy Sydney...it´s really worth the jet lag

Sandy in Spain

I started T/A rollcall for Lirica cruise in March 2015..I´m the only one on it

I must admit I´m fed up reading about Divina on the MSC board, thought all other sMSC ships had sunk!!

Sandy in Spain

snip....For the first time in 2013 we booked a cruise to eliminate having another long overnight flight. That convinced me to travel that way in the future. Fly one way and cruise back. So Sydney to Honolulu made me a believer. ....snip.

We fly cattle class so sometimes do have problems with jet lag. Agree the flight UK to AUS can mean you lose the first day. But we find that on an outward journey it´s not so bad as your excited with a new destination and with just an hour or so rst we are up and about then sleep at loal time.

We find the return journey grim, taking days to re adjust when we´re back home.

Our next cruise will be a repositioning, South America to Europe so hopefull jet lag will not be a problem

Sandy in Spain

I don't think not having lunch at the campo is an option on this tour. Obviiosly if you;re vegetarian it would be a problem. The lamb was delicious as were the empanadas, people joined in with the dancing it was a fun experience. There were LLamas, etc on the farm.

there were no extras to pay on the tour un, less you wanted to buy some honey at the farm house, everything was organic.

Sandy in Spain

We visited Chacabuco in March this year and it was one of the best private tours we did. Here is the link http://www.enpatagoniatours.cl/tour.html

Our guides were great, several stops along the way, info on history, geology, life style etc Brilliant lunch out at a small farm in the campo, absolutely delicious roast lamb cooked asado style and some local dancers giving a performance.

Sandy in Spain

Hello Ladies...snip

 

I was just thinking today that our next cruise is coming up and that I needed to loose some weight so that I would feel better about myself when we go...

 

snip

If anyone is interested there is a thread Lose before you Cruise on the conversations section of the board

Sandy in Spain

Thanks SadieN :)

 

We're going to Patagonia this coming winter (their summer) and I was hoping for a city-street appropriate set of pants that were designed for rain snip....

Which particular cities are you going to? We were in Punta Arenas, Ushuaia and there are lots of stores there with the appropriate clothing for the area. Everyone is into outdoor activities in all weathers there

Sandy in Spain

Hi Mary if you´re thinking of formimg a group to echange methos, ideas, hints, tips etcc the Cruise Ritual or Floataway Lounge might be a good area in the Cruise Converstions section of the board?

Sandy in Spain

Cruise Planners Anonymous?

Sandy in Spain

I ran the Butler idea past my husband....and it just kept on going....so that´s a No No then...men an be such a pain at times! (but I s´pose OH missed the point as he doesn´t do any of the packing)

Sometime a take a pic of how the inside of the case is packed

Sandy in Spain

I think the confusion is because on Divina, things are different than on other ships in the fleet...we´re going on Lirica next year and there are hardly any recent reports about that ship

Sandy in Spain

I made a plan of the clothes we needed for 6 weeks, mix and match but when packed there was still a lot of spare space and weight...so guess what we added more...doh!!

Sandy in Spain

Me too, Just love all the research and planning. The folders, photos others have taken, maps, etc etc. getting everything in order for journey, flights, hotels, then exursions, plus all the return stuff. I must admit I do stop at planning daily activities on board and daily clothes lists.

I keep files on my laptop (with back up) then when each topi is collated or booked it gets transferred to a hard copy and filed. I do a daily diary for the cruise, which again is kept on the netbook I take with us on holiday, so each day has it´s own heading prepared together with narrative of the place being visited, then when we´re off the daily diary gets completed with a blog and pix. I also keep a pre cruise month by month dairy from the date the cruise is booked with info on what´s happening daily....this has big gaps in it as I might do something cruise wise on a Monday, but not do anything else for a day or two. My OH sits back and does nothing... no I forgot he gets the suitcases out and weighs them.

I have my planning already started for next years March 2015 TA cruise.

All the planning etc is an exciting run up to the actual event...love it, tho´I probably wouldn´t admit it anywhere else but here...guilty secret:-)

Sandy in Spain

snip..As for early check in, I find that being proactive and contacting the hotel in advance with the request has always worked well for me.snip

I email the hotel in advance, sometimes many months, and explain what time our flight/ship is arriving and would it be possible to have an early check in. Quite often they say they can´t guarantee it but it seems to work.

Sandy in Spain

What are the times for arriving and departing for both options? Do you want a private tour or ship, where do you want to see penguins? What options are the ships offering? Are you going anywhere else to see penguins?

Sandy in Spain

We also have a smallish cloth bag we keep in our hand luggage, just in case we are told to check the handluggage. the bag is specifically for jewellery, meds and electronics and it has a velco fastening.

Sandy in Spain

Our CC information was taken at the terminal, and we were asked how much we wished to put onto the account.

 

snip..MSC will inform you that the room charge authorization will say France, and we informed our CC company that there would be international charges. For that reason, our goal was to just use one card for the entire trip. Thankfully, we estimated well and only had $30 left of our deposit.

 

That amount was credited back about 3 days later, though others have said it can take up to 2 weeks.

This seems odd to us, we´re on our 1st MSC cruise next year. What happens if you want to put 200$ 0n credit card, but spend 300$ on board?

Sandy in Spain

Arriving Madrid and need a hotel near the airport for an overnight stay before boarding for onward flight the next day.

Sandy in Spain