Aggie83

In Montevideo, I did the free walking tour with Curioso Free Tour (December 2022). It was very good and was an excellent introduction to Montevideo. Montevideo is a very walkable city. I did not feel unsafe there. I think I tipped $10. Free Walking Tours Montevideo - Curioso Free Tour Hope you make Punta Arenas. The Sapphire missed that port last December due to high winds.

From my Dec 2022 Sapphire Antarctica experience, yes internet is weak to non-existent when cruising Antarctica. If strong internet access at all times is a high priority for you, then Antarctica is probably not the best destination. FWIW, my DH and I are booked on the Dec 2024 Sapphire Antarctica cruise. It was such a beautiful and unique experience that we thought we'd do it again. Hopefully, this time weather will cooperate and we'll make Punta Arenas, Port Stanley, and the originally planned Antarctica route.

It depends on which ship you are on. It costs more on the Royal class ships. The $130(with wine)/$110(without wine) is for the Royal class. $110/$95 for non-Royal class.

I realized I haven't received a marketing email in ages even though it is checked in my profile. I deselected email and then saved. Then selected email and saved. Will see what happens.

Have you checked the selections in the "Receive Offers and News" section of "My Profile"?

It depends on which ship you are on. It costs more on the Royal class ships. The $130/$110 is for the Royal class. It is approx. $110/$95 for non-Royal class.

The 'enhanced' protocol was updated on December 2 to the wording you see today. The reference to 'medically observed' in the first sentence and the second bullet stating 'medically observed or self-administered home test.....' has caused lots of confusion. Very poor editing/proofreading by Princess. The wording prior to December 2 did not include the 'or self-administered home test' language. Because I was going to have to do the test in Chile, I was closely monitoring the testing requirements for months. The email I received came directly to my email on Dec 12. I use a TA. The subject line referenced the Princess Booking # and 'Booking Notification.' The email also included the itinerary and passenger information. The only controversy I can think of is that those who boarded in LA on Dec 2 had to have a medically observed test and on the Roll Call some of them were insistent that those of us boarding on Dec 19 also needed to have a medically observed test. I happened to still have the free tests from the Federal government and was able to use those.

You don't need to do a medically observed/proctored test. That requirement was applicable to the November cruise. The requirement changed effective December 2. Yes, awful editing/proofreading by Princess on the Dec 2 update. I was on the Dec 19 (Sapphire) South America cruise which boarded in San Antonio Chile. For those people who boarded the Sapphire on Dec 2 in Los Angeles, they had to do the monitored test. I did a self-administered, non-monitored home test in my hotel room on Dec 17. I put the test on a piece of paper, my driver's license next to it, signed and dated the piece of paper. Took a picture and uploaded it to the app. The app clearly referenced to upload self-administered test. Boarded with no questions. I met others at our hotel doing the same thing. All got on the ship.

I was on the Dec 19 South America (Sapphire) departing from San Antonio, Chile. This was an 'enhanced' protocol cruise. My husband and I did non-monitored, self-administered home tests in our hotel room on Dec 17. I placed the test and driver's license on a piece of paper. I dated and signed the paper. I took a photo of the results and uploaded to the app. Also retained the pic on my phone. No questions asked when we checked in at the cruise terminal. I met others at our hotel who were also doing the same thing. They also got on the ship. Those passengers who embarked in Los Angeles on Dec 2 had to provide monitored test results. Princess updated the 'enhanced' protocol on Dec 2. The update allowed for non-monitored, self-administered home tests. Yes, the first sentence contradicts the second bullet. Princess did a poor job of updating the 'enhanced' protocol wording when they allowed self-administered tests effective 12/2. The 'enhanced' guideline changed quite a few times and I think the last edit was sloppy. They did better on the other protocols (e.g Japan). A week before embarkation, Princess sent the "Booking Notification" email. It contained the following info:

All the production shows in the Princess Theater were at 7:30 and 9:30 on all nights. I was on a recent TA on the Sky, so most days were sea days.

I was just on the Sapphire (12/19-1/4) and I think they labeled the desserts you are thinking of as 'Chocolate Journey' just no reference to Norman Love. They were easy to spot on the menu as they typically had a blue box or other identifier with them. Although I almost always ordered the highlighted dessert, I don't recall if the hazelnut/pistachio was on the menu. Overall, chocolate was well represented each night and I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one!

Just did this tour on January 3rd. It was quite informative and ends at the Mercado near the port. Excellent way to spend a couple of hours in Montevideo.

I just did the Dec 19 Sapphire cruise from Santiago to BA and spent 5 days in Santiago before the cruise. My recommendation is to find either a tour that will pick you up from the cruise port and drop you off at a hotel in Santiago or an airport hotel. If you stay at a hotel in Santiago, you can spend a few hours arrival day and the next day walking around Santiago. The following day take a car from your hotel to the airport. There are private tours available from the cruise port that will take you to visit a winery in the Casablanca region and other sightseeing and they will drop you off at your hotel. Check out Trip Advisor for tour options. I had tried to do that tour in reverse (Santiago to the cruise ship) but unfortunately the tour company didn't have others sign up. Ultimately, we used them to transport us from the hotel to the cruise port (San Antonio). There are apparently a couple of bus lines from the airport to the city. This site has some info: ✈ Transfer Options from Santiago Airport to City Centre (welcomepickups.com)

I just did this tour (January 3rd). Both tours had a good number of people. For the English tour, there were people from several different countries and not all from a cruise ship. I signed up for the tour about 2 weeks prior. It was quite informative and an excellent way to spend a couple of hours. I tipped in US dollars ($20).

Your cruise has the 'Columbia' protocol assigned. Below is link with cruises and assigned protocols. https://www.princess.com/protocol/?voyage=enhanced

Yes, this is what I mean.

Test card (test strip?) is the thing that displays the test results. I don't recall how my test kit referred to it. You will upload a pic of the test results and a pic of your vaccination info to the Medallion app. On a side note, to get an in person medically observed Covid test in Chile, you go to a medical clinic not a pharmacy (such as Lloyds or CVS in UK/US). I found that much harder to figure out, especially because I don't speak Spanish. If Princess was going to require an observed test, I was going to do it via internet in our hotel in Chile.

On a piece of paper I wrote the date, included my driver's license, the test card, and added my signature. I took a pic and uploaded that. If necessary, for additional proof, I could show them the date/timestamp of the file. I had my husband do the same. I hope something simpler, such as no testing requirement, appears prior to your departure. As I was in Chile for 5 days prior to the cruise, I was thrilled when they changed to allow self-administered. Made things much easier. All of this works relatively easily if you have a smart phone. Can't imagine trying to navigate this without one.

I don't think the rule is as straightforward as cruise duration. If that was the case, the Enchanted Princess would have more cruises on the enhanced protocol.

Self-administered and you take proof. Not observed by anyone but yourself. I met 4 people at our hotel in Chile that did what I did and they are on the ship. Prior to Dec 2, the only option was a 'medically observed' antigen or PCR test. The Dec 2 update to the protocol added the 'self-administered' verbiage. Below is partial expansion of the question I posted above. Also look at where you upload the test in the Medallion and you will see self-test verbiage.

Yes, I had same questions. I think it is sloppy editing/proofreading and that it should read like the Japan protocol. I had 2 different chats with Princess reps between 12/10 and 12/12 and they both said it can be self-administered. I received the following in an email from Princess on 12/13: I'm telling you what I did to get on the Sapphire on the 19th in Chile. As I previously posted, check the CruiseHealth FAQ which was updated 12/19.

See posts #4 and #9 above. Also check out the CruiseHealth FAQ on the Princess website. This was updated on the 19th. The cruise duration guideline for testing was eliminated several months ago. Also, there is a dedicated pinned Covid topic in the Princess section of CruiseCritic.

You need to do a Covid test. You don't need to do a proctored antigen test to get on the ship. You can if you want, but it is not required. A self-administered antigen test, not proctored, is accepted. Another option is a proctored PCR test if you want. I boarded the Sapphire on the 19th. See post #4 above.

The OR is correct. Yes, a non-medically observed self-administered antigen home test is accepted. Granted Princess could always revert to the previous requirement of a medically observed test in the future, but today self-administered is accepted. On Saturday I took my non-medically observed self-administered home antigen test at the hotel. I uploaded a pic of the negative test results along with my ID to the Medallion app. I boarded the ship in San Antonio on Monday. No issues or questions asked about the self-administered test. Take a look at the Medallion app - same section where you upload your proof of vaccination. You'll see a reference to self-administered.

Check now. There are updates noted as of 12/19.