athurstance

Wow, it's taking shape now. Thanks for this update. I'm so looking forward to our cruise next year.

There doesn't seem to have been many updates on the Iona build lately. Anyone know how it's going?

There are several discussions about this on the South America board. One poster has just done the journey from San Antonio to Santiago by bus and several have other arrangements so you should find some useful information there. We are on a cruise on 17th Feb and plan on taking the Pullman Costa bus.

From Google Maps there seems to be a rail line between the bus terminal and the port entrance. To walk one has to take a long detour to cross over the line. The distance is about 1.6 km or a mile with luggage.

I did this as well but I think the entrance is at the top of the loop that google maps gives you so a 10 min walk. I have not been able to find out where you are likely to check in for a cruise but I assume they will put some signs up when a cruise ship is in port telling you where to go.

I'm not sure if they will let you wander around inside the port itself as it is a busy working container port so if they won't allow it there will be some kind of shuttle bus available if you need to walk down through the port. Apparently, they are building a new cruise terminal but I have not been able to find any info on where exactly it is going to be placed. Hopefully before I set off on my cruise in Feb there will have been several other cruises already docking here so I'm hoping for more information before I go.

It can't be as bad as when we had to hunt down the ferry port in Shanghai - which didn't seem to be where it ought to me according to the map until we discovered you had to walk through an underground car park to the check in area. At least I speak enough Spanish to ask directions - my Chinese is limited to hello and thank you!!

Our cruise is 17th Feb so I will let you know how we get on before your cruise.

I'm sorry but I don't know about transport from the port entrance. We've turned up at several cruise ports worldwide on foot from public transport and the only one where they've put on a shuttle bus was Barcelona. Otherwise we've always been able to walk right to the check in desk. We will just make sure we leave Santiago in plenty of time in case it is further than we thought. Yes, head right from the bus station and keep going and you should come to the port entrance.

We haven't been yet but we are planning on taking this bus in February. I've been told that you can walk from the final bus stop to the cruise port and it is just a couple of blocks. I've checked it out on google maps and this appears to be correct so we're going to go ahead and give it a try. It is by far the best value way to get to the port from Santiago.

According to the P&O website you don't need a visa if you stay on board. For going ashore you should have a full tourist visa (current price approx £110) not an e-visa. P&O suggest that you can use an e-visa but it will cause delays but according to the foreign office travel advice and Indian government website the e-visa is only valid at airports.

The P&O page link is https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/before-you-sail/Visa_Requirements

I hope that helps.