South America/Antarctica

[laurannd]

I am booked on the Amsterdam in January leaving from Valparaiso and going to Rio via Antarctica.. I know it is summer in the southern hemisphere then , but also know it will be cold as we approach the tip of SA.. Has anyone been on this cruise who can give me advise about clothes to take? I know I'll need both warm and cold weather clothing , but am unsure about how much of each I'll need.. Any suggestions and/or feedback from someone who's been on this one will be greatly appreciated.

[localady]

We were on the Amsterdam last year around South America. It was warm and humid in Rio de Janiero and Santiago, pleasant in Montevideo and Buenos Aires (short sleeve weather), and got colder and wetter in Stanley, Puntas Arenas, and around the Cape. We were not on the Antarctic portion of the cruise so I can't speak to that. I packed simularly to the way I packed for Alaska, yet I did use my "cold weather" clothes in South America more than I did in Alaska. (Alaska is having an unseasonally warm summer!!)

You will love the trip and the ship!:cool:

[dakrewser]

I am booked on the Amsterdam in January leaving from Valparaiso and going to Rio via Antarctica.
I can't help, but we're looking at this trip for 12/05, so please report back on it when you return!

Bon voyage!:)

[tbay27]

I did this trip last year (2003) on the Ryndam, leaving Valparaiso on the 20th of January. Packing as you would for Alaska is a good idea. It will get colder on the second day out and most likely will be rainy in portions. The weather at the tip of SAmerica is likely to be in the upper 50's or low '60s' during the day. Antarctica is cold and heavy sweaters and outerware resistant to rain will be the order of the day on decks or verandahs. I found gloves and a hat to be welcome additions for those three days - one of which was brilliantly sunny. The Falklands, if you are lucky enough to go ashore there - will be chilly and from then on it will just get hotter and hotter. BA, Montevideo and Rio are like Florida in the summertime in the northern hemisphere. Hope this will help.

[obriendan]

We we’re on the ms Ryndam in January, 2002 for the Rio to Antarctica to Valparaiso cruise. Without a doubt, it was the best of our nine cruises. The scenery in Antarctica is spectacular. The weather was hot and humid in Rio and in the 30-40 degree F range in Antarctica, so layering your clothes is necessary. A good heavy jacket with a hood, a scarf, and a pair of gloves was sufficient for Antarctica. The weather was actually colder and much windier on crossing the Drake passage. In Antarctica, we found the best viewing was on the bow. The wind was minimal and the Crow’s Nest, while warm, was always overcrowded. Enjoy your cruise!

[lknick]

The way to pack is to pack for all four seasons. Layering is required to the south and short sleeves in Rio.

[RuthC]

I must have been on the same cruise as obriendan and concur that it was the absolute best cruise of my life. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I remember Rio as hot and humid. I arrived after an overnight flight feeling sticky and sweaty and still felt that way when we sailed the next day. Montevideo and Buenos Aires didn't feel any cooler to me, either.
Now, Antarctica was a different matter entirely! The first day was brillantly clear, but cold with a wind chill that kept me on the lee side of the ship when I did venture outdoors. I had my heaviest winter coat (hooded) and heavy gloves. I love it cold, but this was a little too cold even for me.
The second day was threatening to rain, no wind, felt much more comfortable outdoors for longer periods.
The third day started out fairly warm, sunny, no wind. I was able to go out on deck (briefly) to check out the snowmen (yes! snowmen! the stewards had made two of them) in just the dress I was wearing! Later on the day grew stormier.

Plan on extremes of weather, and to layer.
I wore that "too heavy for home" coat to the airport, stuck the gloves in the pocket, then packed it in a duffle bag and checked it through. That was a lot easier than carrying it when I landed.

I can't gush enough about how great this cruise was. I could talk about it for hours on end. It was that good.
Hope you can come back feeling the same.

[Bill S]

HI! tbay27's description pretty well matches our experience. We did the exact cruise over the Christmas and New Year's Holidays this past year (2003-2004). We packed based on the number of days in warm weather vs cooler weather-translation: a bit more warm weather clothes than clothing for cooler weather. But, absolutely, layering is the way to go-turtleneck, sweatshirt/sweater and hooded windbreaker. Ear muffs and gloves are, IMHO, essential and take up little room in the luggage. '

Two days out of Valparaiso, it started turning cool and temps for the next few days were in the 50s-we had splendid sea and sky conditions rounding Cape Horn and absolutely clear skies and calm seas for our 3 days in Antarctica-just simply spectacular scenery down there-absoulely a cruise of a lifetime!!! Like, Ruth C, I would go in a heartbeat again if I had the time and money. I had a windgauge/thermometer gadget with me and in Antarctica, the temps were in low to mid 30s - we had lots of sun and we spent our time outside on the aft Lido deck-hardly anyone out there and not much wind. It only became uncomfortable when the ship picked up speed outside the narrow channels-that is when a hood, gloves and earmuffs were welcome.

One day after leaving the Falklands, it started getting warm again-Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Rio were all very warm and humid. We took the excursion to Petropolis on our last day in Rio to escape the heat-it worked!

Hope you have a great cruise! The Amsterdam and her crew were the best!

[Globaliser]

I would recommend good warm clothes for the Antarctica section, if you want to be outdoors for any significant part of the day. The year that I was there (February 2002), daytime temperatures got a few degrees above freezing point most days. It was fine to be wearing warm indoor clothes if you went out for a few minutes at a time, but to stand outside for a couple of hours needed the "two pairs of trousers, two sweaters and a parka" treatment.

[laurannd]

Thanks everyone... This is a lot of help...I can't wait to go now after all the glowing reviews.. I'll share your comments with my traveling companions. I'll let you know about the trip when I return..I'm counting the days now until January..

[user8]

Thanks for starting this thread, Laurannd. I will be joining you and had the same questions.

Hope to see you on board.

user8@swbell.net

[bobpatj]

We'll be getting on the ship the day you disembark, cruising Rio to Santiago. These posts are helpful to us, too. Thanks!

[xpcdoojk]

I love reading everyone's enthusiasm for their south American cruises. I am eagerly anticipating my own trip scheduled on the Rotterdam for November/December 2005! I didn't have time to include the trip to Antartica because I want to spend time at Machu Piccu in Peru.

I hope to read more people's memories.

thanks

jc

[zlato]

My husband and I are taking the SA trip Oct. 3 2004 out of Seattle to Rio and are anxious to speak to others who may also be on board. Please email to zlato@aol.com

[zlato]

Anxious to discuss this trip with anyone who will be on board. My husband and I are really looking forward to this trip and seeing so many places we have not been before. Appreciate reading the comments of those who took this trip as to sites to see, clothing to wear, etc. zlato
Please email Zlato@aol.com

[xpcdoojk]

Zlato, have you visited the ports of call section here at CC. It is a separate forum from the HAL forum. Lots of posts about past cruises to South America, and people like myself planning for my own upcoming trip.

jc

[Vistadeck]

I went around the Horn from Valparaiso, Chile to BA .. you can get an idea of good gear and clothes if you check out my pictures and review of the trip if you like :

http://www.recordlady.com/Pages/CRUISES/Zenith/Zenith.htm

It was one of my favourite trips :) Antarctica and the Galapagos are on my wish list :) I'm wondering which one I'll do first, tough choice!

Tina Johnson