South America on Oceania

[mike35]

We will be first-time Oceania cruisers on 1/3/06 (seems like an eternity away!), and we would welcome feedback from others who have taken this Valparaiso to Buenos Aires cruise.

 

Many thanks

 

Mike

[digby]

The 12/17/04 trip was wonderful. Bring warm clothes. Scenery is beautiful as is the ship. Both Santiago and Buenos Aires are worth spending time in. Any specific questions?

[mike35]

Thanks for the prompt reply. How far is Valparaiso from Santiago? Does Oceania provide transportation to/from the airport? How was on-board entertainment? We're also wondering about the difference between a Category A and Category B suite - Oceania's web site is rather skimpy on this. Is there a size difference, or just amenities and location?

 

Thanks again

 

Mike

[Queen of DaNile]

Valparasio is about 1 1/2 hours from Santiago. Currently the transfer from ship to Santiago with Oceania is $69.00 pp and it includes tours of Val, Vinya del Mar and Santiago. Don't know if the same applies if done in reverse.

Only difference in Penthouse suites is location-mid ship or not. We had a great cabin that was a little further back than mid ship. If seas are rough I think you would have the same experience where ever you are. We really liked the small size of the ship but it also means that there are not a lot of activities. Some of the entertainment was good but most was just OK. The program and entertainment needs a lot of improvement but then the reason for taking this cruise is the itinerary. Loved the food, dining options and overall service. Spa deck is a real treat and library is very good. Be happy to answer specific questions

[mike35]

Many thanks for the response! We recently took our first Radisson Seven Seas cruise, and we felt the same about the entertainment -- Crystal seems to have the edge in that respect. The ports of call look wonderful, and we're anxiously anticipating our first Oceania cruise.

 

Mike

[JoyceTeach]

Hi Mike,

We just got back from Insignia but opposite voyage.. BA to Val.. (Jan 03 to Jan 18, 2005) ..And would be happy to answer any questions. Just know .. we thought it was an outstanding trip.. it was our first ever cruise.. and what a wonderful choice we made! The ship is gorgeous.. the staff was top notch.. efficient and friendly.. Lovely cabin, cat A1 on deck 7.. so no butler! But great location.. near laundry room, walk to sun deck up two .. and stairs to dining room.. down 2.. perfect! That was just luck too.. ! Packing was a problem before we left.. but no weather was soooo terrible.. had fleece zip up jackets for Ushuaia (didn't need them there at all!) and for Punta Arenas..(did need them for our "penguin" trip!).. We have traveled quite a bit.. by land til now.. This cruise was really wonderful and we are now investigating where to go next by crusin'.. :-) .. Thinking about Panama Canal trip for next winter..

Joyce

[mike35]

Wow - great review Joyce - we're really looking forward to this cruise. I would welcome info on any ship-sponsored shore excursions you took - good and bad. We're A2 - plenty good for us ol' folks!

 

Mike

[phlewt]

I would welcome info on any ship-sponsored shore excursions you took

 

There is some info regarding shore excursions in my review of the 12/17 sailing

 

phlewt

[JoyceTeach]

Hi again Mike!

We are snowed in BIG time here in upstate NY this afternoon.. and just recalling a few days ago..in Chile when it was near 95 degrees.. it was 10 below here this morning near Syracuse NY!.. And again to say we very very much enjoyed our Insignia cruise.. awesome is inadequate! To answer your question about tours is to say that they were the weakest part of our cruise trip on Oceania. Since we were first time cruisers we decided to play it safe and book a couple of the company tours.. Did a highlights tour in Montevideo and it was a usual kind of bus tour, not bad but not great either.. Then in Port Madryn we decided to do the Penisula Valdez tour since we didn't want to do (as described) such a long bus trip out to Porto Tombo for the big penguin colony .. The tour we took was the biggest disappointment of the whole cruise.. We felt the description of it was inaccurate (to be kind!) and we spent a whole lot of time on a bus through the "stark Patagonia landscape".. to only spend a few minutes at the destination (elephant seals) then back on the bus ..again thru the "landscape" to an overpacked boat trip for a few minutes to see some sea lions.. We were very unhappy with that tour.. and know of several people who filed complaints about that tour and got a few $$ refund.. In retrospect, we probably would have enjoyed the Port Madryn and Gaimen tour a lot more.. (Read the book "In Patagonia" by Bruce Chatwin who visited the towns!).. sorry we changed our plans and did that Penisula Valdez trip.. $180 pp and WAY overpriced for the times we spent at the wildlife destinations! In Port Stanley we decided to tour with another couple but when we got on land there were no taxis or drivers to take us .. so we actually had a lovely time just walking and going to the Upland Goose Hotel (where Brit troops spent their time during the Falkland War).. Many who we talked with onboard went to see penquins there and were very pleased with that tour..

We had trouble getting to port in Ushuaia, over 2 hours waiting around onboard til they finally tendered some over.. We had pre-paid for the end of the earth train and catamaran but decided to just forego the cost and walked around.. shopped.. A store clerk gave us the name of a good lunch place along with her business card.. so we went there.. Had a wonderful time, great food and outrageous service (Mustachhio's).. and they gave us souvenir pens to boot!

Did penguin tour to Otway Sound in Puenta Arenas one day.. that was fine and worth the price.. just wished we could have stayed there a bit longer.. they allowed us one hour..

In Port Montt, again we did our own thing.. walking in town.. it was relatively mild when we were there.. so it worked out fine.. Stopped at tourist info office to inquire about where to have a nice lunch and beer.. they suggested.. (believe it or not..!) a place called the OK Corral.. so we did that.. very very reasonable.. good menu, great pitcher of local Chilean beer!

We purchased the ship's package for post embarkation.. had a great tour guide and bus tripped through Valpo and thru wine country (with very good lunch stop) to Santiago.. they left us off just a bit before 7PM at Santiago airport for our 10:40 flight back to ATL.. worked out great.. that was worth it..

Pre cruise we stayed in BA for 3 days/2 nights.. at Marriot.. well worth it! Centrally located.. good shopping, lovely park across the street from hotel..

Bottom line.. we were extremely happy with our first cruise experience and wouldn't hestitate for a moment to choose Oceania again!

Phew!!!!!

Any questions?.. happy to respond.. think we are snowbound for this weekend so ask away!

Joyce

[shoshona2]

Hi Mike,

 

We took the Santiago to Buenos Aires cruise on the Infinity last February. We had a wonderful time and didn't take any of the ship's tours. We used http://www.portcompass.com and were happy with all of our tours. We had them pick us up at the airport in Santiago along with two other couples coming in from the U.S. and give us a tour of the city before taking us to our hotel in Santiago. We used Portcompass to transport us to the ship the next day and for most of the ports. They have rates from 2 people and up. They also suggest "growing a group" which wasn't difficult since this board has a S.A. port section and you can also check with the Yahoo board to see who is going on your cruise. Go to their website and compare their tours with the ship's tours. We most we had on any tour was 11 people. There are posts on other boards also about the ports in S.A. as well as frommers.com and fodors.com so you have an idea of what to see in each port.

 

Sheila

[smj]

Hi Joyce,

 

We will be staying at the Marriott before our cruise. Do you have any tips on shopping, sight seeing and eating? What did you think about the leather? We are wondering if the quality is as good as Itlalian and how the prices are.

 

Thanks,

Steve

[JoyceTeach]

Hi Steve,

The Marriot was a perfect location in BA. We arrived on Sat Jan 1 so many shops in the immediate area were closed for the holiday but many did open on Sunday. Great pedestrian walkway area contiguous to the hotel and the lovely park was across the street. We mainly browsed the area, but a good selection of stores.. several leather shops with beautiful goods. I didn't buy anything but a friend we met there did get measured for and had a leather coat made and delivered to ship before we left on Monday! I thought that was pretty amazing service! The leather goods looked and felt gorgeous but being a hard core Italian, I still prefer the Italian leather! The prices in BA were very reasonable (except I thought the shoe prices were.. well, pricey) and the U$D is pretty strong against the Argentine peso, so shopping was quite reasonable.

We toured with a private driver and guide and our guide suggested we return to and go to the Port Madeira (sp?) area (was a drive by experience she pointed out) which is recently developed for dining and shopping. We didn't visit there though.. not enough time. About 20 mins walk from hotel to there, tho, she told us.

We used a local agent there, Daniela, from Consult-ar.com and were extremely pleased with their company. We did a tango/dinner for $55 each on New Year's Day night, then about a 5 hour city tour and wine tasting on Sunday, the 2nd, for I think about $70 pp. Very satisfied with both of those adventures! BA is a place I would love to return to for a few days.. only bizarre thing is such a beautiful city and they throw trash all over the place! We shopped a bit before embarkation on Monday .. til about noon. I was not into buying too much at that point since we had toted more than enough luggage just to get there and the cruise hadn't even begun. A beautiful city with lots to see and do.. and hoping to return there!

Joyce

[willmschen]

Steve,

 

My husband and I stayed at the Marriott when we left the Insignia on Jan 3. Florida Street has many leather shops. We found 2 that we liked just off Florida. One was on Paraguay. As you walk down Florida away from the Marriott, turn left on Paraguay. The shop is on the left about 2/3 of the way down the block (can't remember the name). I had a really nice jacket made there.

 

The other shop is right by the Marriott. As you leave the hotel and turn left, just cross the street and go a couple doors to the left.

 

Both shops have a nice variety of styles and several kinds of leather. If you see a style you like, choose a type and color of leather and they'll make it, usually in less than a day.

 

The shop I bought from gave a discount for US dollars.

 

By the way, most places on the trip were happy to take dollars.

 

Betty

[Guest Jancruz]

Right now I am on the Insignia in Punta Arenas, Chile..I will be happy to answer any questions (short please) that you may have about the ship or itinerary!!...

 

Regards Jan

 

*****:)

[mike35]

Hi, neighbor (we live in Palm Springs). How many formal nights on the Insignia? How's the cuisine and entertainment so far? Internet access from the ship and/or cabin?

 

Thanks

 

Mike

[Jane110]

Mike,

 

I haven't been on the Oceania line since it's inaugural cruise July 2003, however, I can tell you that the food was fabulous and all reports say it still is.

 

As far as formal nights, there are NONE! As Frank Del Rio said on the inaugural cruise, "if we see you wearing a tux we'll assume you're a waiter and put you to work!". The dress is upscale casual which seems to suit everyone. (pun intended) :-)

 

Entertainment on Oceania is "pleasant". Those looking for the big ship type of reviews will be disappointed. Since Oceania is a destination oriented line, the empahsis is not on the night time entertainment. They do have their share of musicians and entertainmers, but there are no big productions. Of course, there's always the casino!

 

Jane

leaving this weekend for Argentina for the 2/2 Buenos Aires to Rio on Insignia

[mike35]

Thanks Jane! We had the same "no tux" cruise on RSSC's Navigator last fall,and it was wonderful.

 

Mike

[ClaudiaF]

And it's a darn good thing.. with all the stuff we are getting together to take- no room for that too...

[Liat]

We did this cruise on Celebrity's Mercury in January 2002. I have an extensive review at http://www.cruisereviews.com. if you have not used that site, the cruise lines are reached by scrolling down a menu on the left side. Click on Celebrity, and when that site comes up, scroll down to Mercury and click there. My review is a mega-review under my name; Philip M. Haggerty. I just re-read it, and noted our inter-city bus trip from Santiago to Valparaiso cost $6.00 each, not the more than $60.00 from the cruise line. I also have some comments on our off ship tours.

Just recently a passenger on Insignia posted a review of his trip around the Horn, and that contains some interesting facts also. You can get that on either http://www.cruisereviews.com or cruisecritic.com.

This is a great cruise. Rereading my own review brought back many delightful memories. If it had not been for my stolen camera, it would be my favorite of all our 14 cruises; and we had some other excellent ones.

Bon Voyage

Phil Haggerty

E-mail: hagglawphx@aol.com

[digby]

The trip from Santiago takes a bit less than 2 hours. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton which is a wonderful hotel - much nicer than the Marriott. We didn't buy the Oceania hotel package. We went online to the Ritz Carlton web site and got a much better rate by doing it ourselves. Our concierge arranged a van to take four of us plus luggage from the hotel to the ship for $16.00 US per person. Oceania transfers were $69.00 US per person.

 

We did the same in Buenos Aires. We stayed at the Park Tower. They arranged a car and driver for the short trip from the ship to the hotel for about $15.00 US.