Any latest reports from Amsterdam?

[toots]

We're leaving 2/26 from Rio - any latest reports about the Amsterdam or ports in South America?

[SEATTLE CRUISER]

We cruised Seattle to Rio in the fall. We took the ship's tours to Corcovado and Sugar Loaf in Rio. The views were wonderful, but roughly the same from both points. In Buenos Aires we went to the gaucho show. This is a 3 hour trip to, "Cowboy Country," that everyone enjoyed. You saw a bit of the country, and the entertainment and food were very good. The next night we went to the Tango Show. We were able to sit in the 2nd row, and really enjoyed it, but those, who sat in the back missed a good deal of the show. Many went shopping here for leathers and cashmere. Take the city tour in Montevideo. We only signed up for it because it was Sunday, and everything is closed, but we really enjoyed it. At the end of the pier there is a place to call home. I think it was around 50 cents per min. We had calm seas around the CAPE and cold but clear weather. After many days on the run it was very relaxing. We called home again from Ushuaia. Again the phones were at the end of the pier. It was $1.00 for 3 min. It is a chance to touch base with those at home, and I thought very inexpensive. We took the penguin tour from the boat in Punta Arenas. This tour was very expensive, and it is a 2 1/2 hour trip by "Ferry." The "Ferry" was an old world war 2 landing ship. We sat in plastic chairs bolted to the ship. A better option for penguins is in Stanley if you go there. There were taxi's on shore charging $20.00 to see the penguins. We did not plan on Stanley, as we had been told, that if the seas are not calm, they bypass Stanley. Since you are traveling west, you would still have enough time to sign up for the Ushuaia tour if Stanley was cancelled. Another must do on your trip is the tour inland in Puerto Montt. I think we enjoyed this as much as anything. You bus into the Andes, take a cruise, then go to to the waterfall. We stopped for a wonderful lunch. We took the all day tour to Santiago. This was our favorite city. As we took 2 cruises back to back, this was the only tour offered that day. Again, we enjoyed the tour. Whatever you do, I know you will enjoy it. Have a good time. I wish I was going.