Rare Btimmer Posted December 28, 2023 #1 Share Posted December 28, 2023 This post was recognized by LauraS! "And another from Btimmer! Thank you for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic! See your post featured on our: Click: Live Cruise Reports page.. . When you return, please consider submitting it to the site for publication as well: Click: Write a Review" Btimmer was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' and 5 points. We are headed back to Antarctica starting January 7, 2024 in San Antonio, Chile. Some of you may recall that we were just there on the Zaandam's Grand South America (GSA) which ended last week. Thanks for following along on that thread. Why would we return? There are several reasons. 1. Antarctica is a very cool place to visit and we want to get deeper into Antarctica since this voyage will be later in their summer. 2. We missed the Falkland Islands and want another opportunity to see the King Penguins. 3. It's a slightly different itinerary but includes Puerto Madryn, Argentina which is home to another large penguin colony. 4. We have another opportunity to visit Punta del Este, Uruguay which we also missed on the GSA. 5. We booked this cruise while on the GSA. It's fairly inexpensive at just over $100/day for an obstructed window room. 6. A chance to be back on the Oosterdam which we have sailed on a couple of times. 7. A possible opportunity to visit Iguazu Falls at the end of the cruise without the pressure of getting back to the ship. 8. We will not be leading or planning any group excursions and will enjoy visiting ports without outside pressures. We are participants on excursions in a couple of key ports to be able to see penguins. 9. Because we can. I'll post a few pictures here and make comments comparing what it's like to do a Grand cruise and compare it with a "regular" cruise as the route is quite similar. I'll also do one of my daily blogs that I'll later provide a link. If you have any questions about this cruise or comparing it to the GSA, please post the question on this thread. I'll try to answer as best as I can. 14 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare SUESEABE Posted December 28, 2023 #2 Share Posted December 28, 2023 Have a wonderful cruise! Thanks for taking the time. Looking forward to following along! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SusieKIslandGirl Posted December 28, 2023 #3 Share Posted December 28, 2023 We rushed through a day trip to Iguazu Falls when we ended in Buenos Aries. Glad we went but it would have been nicer to have more time. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakridger Posted December 28, 2023 #4 Share Posted December 28, 2023 This is going to answer my questions about the difference between the Grand Voyage and this "regular" Antarctica trip. I'm very seriously considering one or the other but not until 2026. I'll be here reading each day as you have time to post! Thank you, ~Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montythecat Posted December 28, 2023 #5 Share Posted December 28, 2023 Lucky you. It is my favourite itinerary. I do hope you get to do the things that were not possible on the GSA. I think your reason no. 9 is a good one ! Indeed, why not ? I do hope this time you have our good fortune with The Falklands (wall to wall sunshine both times). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilvertoGold Posted December 28, 2023 #6 Share Posted December 28, 2023 Wonderful, smart move, this cruise will enhance your GSA for sure. Looking forward to your trip and hope you both have a fantastic time. Thanks very much for your posts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TravelBluebird Posted December 28, 2023 #7 Share Posted December 28, 2023 See you onboard! I’ll be doing a LIVE blog also! This will be my first time in Antarctica (and first time to Chile, Argentina and Uruguay). Also first time on HAL in 10 years. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted December 28, 2023 Author #8 Share Posted December 28, 2023 5 minutes ago, TravelBluebird said: See you onboard! I’ll be doing a LIVE blog also! This will be my first time in Antarctica (and first time to Chile, Argentina and Uruguay). Also first time on HAL in 10 years. See you onboard. This will be our 3rd time to Antarctica; the two prior voyages were on the Zaandam. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisin'teach Posted December 28, 2023 #9 Share Posted December 28, 2023 Looking forward to following along again! Hope you get in to Falklands this time - Volunteer Point an amazing place esp. on a sunny day! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riversedge Posted December 28, 2023 #10 Share Posted December 28, 2023 I’m the one that asked you to do the comparison. Thank you!! So glad to see you back doing another “Live”. I hope you have fabulous weather with lots of wildlife viewing. Maybe you’ll convince us to book another Antarctica trip for next year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenliner Posted January 3 #11 Share Posted January 3 We'll be right there, following along with you! Hope you make it into Port Stanley this time. Volunteer Point is beautiful! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted January 4 Author #12 Share Posted January 4 We depart Seattle at 8:45am tomorrow (1/4); arrive Atlanta at 4:30pm. Then Delta to Santiago at 7:45pm arriving around 7am. Transferring to our hotel in San Antonio for a couple days stay to board the Oosterdam on Sunday, 1/7. We have an obstructed window cabin on deck 4 starboard which is perfect for us. It's getting real now! Stay tuned. 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SusieKIslandGirl Posted January 4 #13 Share Posted January 4 Please bring back a little warmer weather with you please. Have a fantastic cruise and thanks for another cruise review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare The-Inside-Cabin Posted January 4 #14 Share Posted January 4 Have a great cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TravelBluebird Posted January 4 #15 Share Posted January 4 12 hours ago, Btimmer said: We have an obstructed window cabin on deck 4 starboard which is perfect for us. We are also starboard, just past the life boats on 4, so I’m right down the hall from you! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelnap Posted January 4 #16 Share Posted January 4 Have a safe flight to South America, and I look forward to following along with your voyage again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted January 4 Author #17 Share Posted January 4 We're in leg one to Atlanta. Luggage is with us. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare slewis7 Posted January 4 #18 Share Posted January 4 Excited to follow along. We board the Oosterdam when you disembark. Have a great cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TravelBluebird Posted January 4 #19 Share Posted January 4 1 hour ago, Btimmer said: We're in leg one to Atlanta. Luggage is with us. Safe flights! See you on the ship! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted January 5 Author #20 Share Posted January 5 After an overnight flight from Atlanta and a 1 1/2 hour taxi ride, we made it to our casita at San Antonio. Chile. It's not the Ritz Carlton, but has a great location and is cute. A 5 hour nap then happened before we ventured out to the nearby mall and walked the waterfront. We'll take it easy tomorrow likely returning to the waterfront. Here's a few pictures from today. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted January 6 Author #21 Share Posted January 6 For those who wish a more detailed daily description of this voyage and particularly how it compares to a grand voyage, below is the link to my blog site. Https://timmer2024osa.blogspot.com If you have any questions about the voyage, feel free to post them here. Thanks for following along. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogladyrider Posted January 6 #22 Share Posted January 6 @Btimmer...allcaught up on your blog....any secrets to overcoming jet lag on these long overseas flights? Are you just "used to it" from doing it often? Have you found it takes longer to adjust as we get older? Excited to be following another journey with you both! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted January 6 Author #23 Share Posted January 6 36 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said: @Btimmer...allcaught up on your blog....any secrets to overcoming jet lag on these long overseas flights? Are you just "used to it" from doing it often? Have you found it takes longer to adjust as we get older? Excited to be following another journey with you both! I wish I had a secret. What works for me is to get what sleep I can on the plane and then try to get a long sleep as soon as I can at the destination. Eastbound tends to be the hardest on me. So far age hasn't seemed to have an effect. Thanks for following along. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogladyrider Posted January 6 #24 Share Posted January 6 @Btimmer...thanks for the info! ENJOY your day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted January 6 Author #25 Share Posted January 6 1 minute ago, Hogladyrider said: @Btimmer...thanks for the info! ENJOY your day. We're hanging out down on the waterfront esplanade and about enjoy some ceviche. We just watched sea lion's gorge themselves on fish cleanings and toured the local fish market. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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