New to Hurtigruten

[catsforkids]

We are cruising with Hurtigruten for the first time. We will be sailing on the Roald Amundsen doing their “In-Depth Patagonia & Chilean Fjords Expedition” from Ushuaia to Valparaiso. We have a few questions if someone could shed some light on the processes aboard the ship, we would greatly appreciate it. 

 

1.    In most ports of call on the cruise (Puerto Williams, Puerto Eden, Caleta Tortel, etc.) it seems we must tender in. How does the tendering process work? Who gets priority? How long does it take till the last tender in? 
2.    How does disembarkation work? Do the times off the ship correspond to flight times of pax even if the air was purchased on our own?
3.    From these boards it seems that bringing a couple of good bottles of wine on board to enjoy in our stateroom or on our balcony is forbidden. Is this enforced with bag searches at each port? Just a shame since Argentina and Chile wines are so good and readily available.
4.    If we arrive early in Ushuaia, does H. take care of our carry-on or do we lug it around town? We will have small backpacks with the important things.
5.    Where do you stash your empty luggage on board? Pictures I have seen posted do not show any bags.
 

[CDNPolar]

I will answer what I can in RED

 

1.    In most ports of call on the cruise (Puerto Williams, Puerto Eden, Caleta Tortel, etc.) it seems we must tender in. How does the tendering process work? Who gets priority? How long does it take till the last tender in? When you can board a tender often depends on the shore excursions that are booked and the ships main priority is to get guests to the pier to keep the shore excursions on time.  If you have a ship booked excursion then you are often issued a tender time.  If you have not booked a ship excursion and just want to wander in yourself or you are meeting an outside tour guide, then you MAY have to coordinate with the ship when you can tender.
2.    How does disembarkation work? Do the times off the ship correspond to flight times of pax even if the air was purchased on our own?  On our arrival back to Ushuaia we were taken off the ship based on our flight times out of Ushuaia.  However if you are not relying on Hurtigruten for your flight and transport to the airport, you can disembark the ship when you like.  Suggestion is always to check a day or two in advance with Guest Services to log your intentions.
3.    From these boards it seems that bringing a couple of good bottles of wine on board to enjoy in our stateroom or on our balcony is forbidden. Is this enforced with bag searches at each port? Just a shame since Argentina and Chile wines are so good and readily available.  When the cruise ship does not allow your own alcohol, and Hurtigruten does not, then my best advice is not to try to find ways to smuggle it in.  Hurtigruten will keep any wine you buy on board until your disembarkation.  
4.    If we arrive early in Ushuaia, does H. take care of our carry-on or do we lug it around town? We will have small backpacks with the important things.  We were of course bussed from Ushuaia airport to the city centre and we were there 4 or 5 hours before we could board the ship.  We left our checked luggage with the Hurtigruten reps at the airport and it was trucked to the ship.  The bus we came in on from the airport allowed us to put our carryon luggage under the bus and it stayed there until we were able to go to the ship.  The bus drove us around the small city pointing out shops, restaurants, and points of interest, and then parked.  We were told that our bus was the bus to return to at X:XXpm to go to the ship.  We were instructed in so many words to NOT go to the ship on our own, but to return to the bus.  

5.    Where do you stash your empty luggage on board? Pictures I have seen posted do not show any bags.  Under the bed.  The beds are constructed on most all cruise ships to slide your. cases under the bed.

[catsforkids]

I cannot say thank you enough for answering my nitty gritty questions! You have helped me tremendously! Thank you so much.

[skydawg]

Hi! we did this voyage LAST March and I think I can answer some of your concerns. We had an Arctic Superior Cabin on board. There was no real need to smuggle booze on board. The wait staff did a magnificent job of keeping our wine glasses FULL at lunch and dinner. One of them even told us that since the RA was going north after we arrived in Valparaiso, they needed to empty down the wine supply else they would be taxed on what they brought when they got to America (so it was free flowing). 

    As for tendering and excursions, we were all on all the excursions because, as you will see in places like Tortel, there is not really any other "game in town". So they tender everyone in a very orderly fashion and you won't feel like you are missing out. 

    Hang loose and enjoy. Not very much was well explained to us before that trip (or even onboard). But the places we went and the things we saw.....amazing.