South America, Unbelievable Deals

Author Message   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 4327 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 09:38 pm:    When WE went around Cape Horn (on Holland America's "Ryndam") the weather was so blustery and the waves so high that all deck chairs were tied down and there were notices on the doors asking people not to go out on deck. I think there would have been no swimming in the pool--it was quite cold in those latitudes (despite being early March, corresponding to "late summer") and just generally not conducive to any kind of outdoor recreation. (However, we were some of the few passengers who DID get [briefly!] in the ship's pool while transiting the Panama Canal on a different cruise, so we could boast that we swam in the Canal. The cruise line only sold t-shirts with a year-by-year history of the Canal on the back.)   Kenneth E Cantrell Member Username: Kcantrell Post Number: 29 Registered: 06-2007 Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 02:12 am:    Carnival Splendor has a great deal on Mar. 03,2009. Valpraiso(Santiago), Chili to San Francisco, 18 days I think, $599.00 for an inside cabin. Great price. Really thinking about this one. Got airfare from Phx-Santiago for about $800.   Jan Advanced Member Username: Seychelle Post Number: 172 Registered: 07-2006 Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 08:58 am:    Interesting cruise. We are going on Royal Caribbean on Mariner of the Seas for about the same itinerary, except that we leave January 4, 2009, and from Port Canaveral to Rio, Rio to Valparaiso, and Valparaiso to LA. It is a little more expensive, but not much with some military discounts that were in effect a couple months ago, and we booked before the fuel surcharge took effect so we don't have to pay that. We heard they have t-shirts that say "I Swam Around the Horn" for those in the pool while going around Cape Horn. We already know one other SPAT couple going on the RC cruise.   Earl Burgess Intermediate Member Username: Earl_burgess Post Number: 90 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 08:44 am:    John, we just returned from the Bahamas. May have interesting info on 2 of your stops. We rented a car from Budget for our 2 day stay. But the #10 bus will get you to these places as well. The buses (also called jitneys) are 32-seaters and travel to many parts of the island. They operate from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily, except on Sundays when there is reduced service. The basic fare is $1 per person and $3 for out-of-town zones. Exact fare is required. Nassau: Ardastra Gardens were well worth the admission price. The only flock of Flamingos trained to interact with people. Ft. Charlotte is the islands newest and largest fortification. Admission is no longer free, but is an interesting side trip. The view of the harbor from the hill is spectacular and a good photo op. A "self appointed" guide met us at the ticket collection area, provided a short tour of the various rooms and passages, provided interesting details which I had not found elsewhere, and made an appeal for tips at the end of his tour. Dining, we had a fantastic meal in an area favored by locals (Fish Fry +1 242 323 2227) off West Bay St. We tried the Conch (of course) and the grouper.   Earl Burgess Intermediate Member Username: Earl_burgess Post Number: 89 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 07:09 am:    Warren, we are looking at the same set of cruises. You're correct in that this is really an opportunity which may not be available again - 22 stops. Most of these are in areas which we have not visited! Where possible, we try to use military services - lest these services go the way of the wood working hobby shops (only one left in the Hampton Roads area). We usually book through Cheryl - and have received very good service.   Warren Sprinkle New member Username: Jowar Post Number: 2 Registered: 07-2007 Posted on Saturday, October 25, 2008 - 11:22 pm:    Loved the Navy question; Army, but I suppose for me extended time on a tank makes a ship cabin look large. My wife is the real trooper! Longest cruise so far was 18 days. Found that we gear up mentally for the number of days booked and we will get to meet three new sets of people on this one! Even though almost all stops are one day, there is no way we could see this much of South America(or anywhere else) for $50 a day each. We have been doing a lot of space a lately, so this should be a nice change. We will make a point to post as we go for this trip. Have a great time in the Bahamas.   John C. Wagener Member Username: Jcwagener Post Number: 14 Registered: 07-2007 Posted on Saturday, October 25, 2008 - 04:34 pm:    What an adventure! Especially around Cape Horn. I would enjoy hearing of your trip once through it all as to how it went. You look at these deals right now and you wonder if you can afford to stay home! What is the longest time you have been cruising before? Are you Navy peope, and so used to being tight quarters for an extended period of time? My wife had trouble with a 7 day cruise our first time out, having not taken Dramamine early enough so she is wary of any of the longer cruises. We are going to Bahamas Nov. 15 for 7 days and I yearn for a longer trip. Seems you just get into it and it is over. WAG   Warren Sprinkle New member Username: Jowar Post Number: 1 Registered: 07-2007 Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 09:27 pm:    Carnival Splendor, built this year, will do 3 consecutive cruises that we found so compelling we are doing all three. Here is the info: 31 January 2009 leaves Ft Lauderdale arrives Buenos Aires 17 February. Inside cabin $613 (no military discount for oceanview for this leg). That evening departs B.A. and arrives Santiago (Valapariso),Chile via Cape Horn, 3 March. 14 days, Inside $509 (Oceanview $562). Departs that night, 18 days, arrives San Francisco 21 March. Inside cabin $560 (Oceanview $613). There is a couple of hundred dollars per segment for fuel surcharge, tax, etc., that you have on any cruise. Only place that I found this is on Vacations to Go (hit "military rates", fill in boxes for Carnival, South America, January through March 2009). Since I have gotten better service with My Cruise Value in the past, I called them (Jay, 732 257-4545 or 800 231-7447, ext. 3178). Booked inside for first leg and oceanview for other two since there is so little difference. They sweetened the pot w/cruise insurance for $30 each segment, $180 total. Jay is working to get an upgrade for first leg so we can have the same cabin for the entire trip. Everything for my wife and me comes to about $5300. A round trip plane ticket alone to Buenos Aires is over $3000 for both of us. There is no other way that we could visit so much of South America for this price. Fantastic value. Hope this entices others!