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Argentina/Chile Shore excursions for less by booking directly or renting a car


Hilarion
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I too was surprised to see how expensive are the shore excursions. This will be my third NCL cruise this year. After my first sticker shock, I decided I could probably find better deals myself with some research; and I did. I'll be pleased to share my findings with others who like to save money to use at the casino, at the Champagne bar, or at the nice NCL shops. I am saving a LOT and doing it ALL.

 

What I have done is to write directly to local excursion providers and asked for their excursions. i also asked if they would be willing to pick-up and drop off cruise passengers or identify an easy place nearby to meet. I also found additional low-cost options which in my opinion may even be better.

 

I have drafted a list of superb alternative excursion deals for each port. The difference is that you deal directly wit the excursion providers and remove the ship from the arrangement; thus much cheaper. The excursions are in English or Spanish. I will be coming along and can help anyone who does not speak Spanish.

 

I have also reserved an automatic transmission rental car in Puerto Montt for only app. $60 and designed an easy driving itinerary using the NCL excursions and other guidance from tour books; I will do more than the expensive excursions. I will be pleased to share it with anyone. And if you would like to join me and make it really cheap, let me know. I am tons of fun. It is a Fiat 500 automatic so cannot take more than a couple of friends. I booked the car on Orbitz and even earned Orbitz rewards; and it includes insurance.

 

As an example, the excursion in Puerto Madryn (Argentina) to Punto Tombo which s the penguin colony is US$167 if you book it with NCL. I have two local companies that serve Argentine tourists who would do the SAME excursion for AR$ 800 which is app. US$57 if you exchange your USD for the $15 peso (the blue dollar rate) rate in Buenos Aires before you board. Imagine your savings!

 

I will be pleased to send anyone their flyers and you can reach out to them directly. I have done all the leg-work and will share it with anyone who wants to save over US$100 each for this excursion.

 

The mark-ups for the other excursions are equally unconscionable. In Puerto Arenas the boat ride to the Penguin colony and transfers from the NCL dock to the departure dock is only US$80 (compared to US $167 with the cruise).

 

In Montevideo I found a superb Hop on and Off Bus with multiple language descriptions that stops with near the cruise port. I have taken this tour before and it is great. It costs only US$ 25 which is significantly less than the NCL excursion. Montevideo is a great small city with plenty of safe, cheap and nice places to eat along the Ramblas. I am taking the bus, so come along.

 

I also learned how to get from Valparaiso to the main bus terminal in Santiago for less than US$20, including a taxi ride from the Valparaiso cruise port to the Valparaiso bus terminal. The buses are very clean, safe, and very efficient. Chile is quite developed.

 

Let me know if any of the above interests you and I'll post more information or send it to you directly.

 

I am traveling SOLO on this cruise so please say HI when you see me! I am in stateroom 8073 (AFT). I am a recently retired American diplomat and enjoy doing things like this and saving my dollars to shop and eat.

 

Lari

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Lari, everything you say is true. I think you will get more response by posting on the roll call for your cruise. Look under "NCL Roll Calls," then your ship, then the sailing date.

 

We have all private excursions planned for our upcoming HAL cruise. Don't overlook the "Free walking tours" in Montevideo and Buenos Aires, and "Tours for tips" in Valparasio and Santiago.

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Lari,

 

Thanks for the info. Would you please share the following info?

 

Thanks,

April

 

 

In Puerto Arenas the boat ride to the Penguin colony and transfers from the NCL dock to the departure dock is only US$80

 

In Montevideo I found a superb Hop on and Off Bus with multiple language descriptions that stops with near the cruise port.

 

I also learned how to get from Valparaiso to the main bus terminal in Santiago for less than US$20, including a taxi ride from the Valparaiso cruise port to the Valparaiso bus terminal. The buses are very clean, safe, and very efficient. Chile is quite developed.

 

Lari

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Lari, everything you say is true. I think you will get more response by posting on the roll call for your cruise. Look under "NCL Roll Calls," then your ship, then the sailing date.

 

We have all private excursions planned for our upcoming HAL cruise. Don't overlook the "Free walking tours" in Montevideo and Buenos Aires, and "Tours for tips" in Valparasio and Santiago.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I will book one of those Free Tours. I just got back from a month in Eastern Europe and used them. The great ones were great and got great tips; entrepreneurship at its best. I also try to take the hop on and hop off buses for a macro look at the city and search for discount coupons on Google. Thanks again.

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Hi Lari,

We are doing Oceania BA to Santiago on Dec. 22d, I'm very interested in your information.

Could you please send me anything you have fifialiassophie@hotmail.com

I also would like to know what you recommend as absolutely not to miss.

Thank you!

Sophie

 

Hi Sophie! Of course. It will be my pleasure To share information and prior experiences with you to make sure you have a great trip. I will also port experiences and impressions here as things happen. I have a detailed list for the NCL SUN ports which I will send. Are you interested in information on car rental in Puerto Montt? I will again take the tour with Felix but have information on the cheapest car rental for automatic transmission cars. Is Oceania stopping at the same posts? Lari

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Hi Lari,

 

Can you tell me which operators you got info from for Puerto Madryn. During my research we found we could not use the companies that cater to non-cruise passengers and charge about 800 Arg. Pesos because the tours leave at 8:00 am and return at 5:00 pm, which won't work for us.

 

We are a party of 4 and are thinking of simply using a taxi service, but we would also be interested in doing a Tour because I can tell from my communications with our taxi driver that he does not speak much English, and my Spanish is woeful.

 

Also, based on my research you should be careful regarding the HOHO bus in Montevideo (although we will also be using it). The reviews are terrible regarding its frequency, but I am sure you can plan around that.

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Hi Lari,

 

Can you tell me which operators you got info from for Puerto Madryn. During my research we found we could not use the companies that cater to non-cruise passengers and charge about 800 Arg. Pesos because the tours leave at 8:00 am and return at 5:00 pm, which won't work for us.

 

We are a party of 4 and are thinking of simply using a taxi service, but we would also be interested in doing a Tour because I can tell from my communications with our taxi driver that he does not speak much English, and my Spanish is woeful.

 

Also, based on my research you should be careful regarding the HOHO bus in Montevideo (although we will also be using it). The reviews are terrible regarding its frequency, but I am sure you can plan around that.

 

Hi.

 

Thank you for the information about the HOHO Montevideo bus. I have taken it before but never hopped off. I just went around listening to the tour and ended up,in the center which is very walkable. I enjoyed the Ramblas. As we are there on a Sunday, it should be filled with families and be relatively safe. I also always enjoy lunch at the restaurants at the port.

 

The Puerto Madryn tour for AR$ 800'plus the entrance fee and discretionary tips is being organized with our schedule in mind. My contact is Gaston Aliendom of Alora Viaggio aloraviaggio@hotmail.com. He has confirmed the pick up and drop off is at the port, with a bilingual guide. I am also fully bilingual and will be there as well. He also assured me that if he signs up enough numbers from our ship, he will arrange for a private tour for us instead of being added to his regular tour. For the price of AR$800 (app US$54 at 15:1 exchange rate), I will pay in AR$ both the AR$800 + AR$180 and maybe give any tips in US$ which they can then exchange at the higher BLUE RATE OF 15:1.

 

Another option is Sentir Patagonia for US$85 or AR$ 1300 plus the AR$180 for entrance to the reserve. The contact there is DIEGO Allende info@sentir-patagonia.com.ar.

 

Two good options options to consider. I will be in the Alora Viaggio.

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Hi Sophie! Of course. It will be my pleasure To share information and prior experiences with you to make sure you have a great trip. I will also port experiences and impressions here as things happen. I have a detailed list for the NCL SUN ports which I will send. Are you interested in information on car rental in Puerto Montt? I will again take the tour with Felix but have information on the cheapest car rental for automatic transmission cars. Is Oceania stopping at the same posts? Lari

Thanks Lari, any information will do. Our port of calls are BA (we will arrive 1 nights before and stay 1 night with the cruise, so it gives us 3 full days in BA), Punta del Este, Puerto Madryn, Port Stanley, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Laguna San Rafael, Puerto Chacabuco, Puerto Montt, Valparaiso (we plan to book 2 extra nights in Santiago).

 

What I really want to do is see wildlife, especially whales and dolphins and pinguins, and of course beautiful sceneries like glaciers and lakes. I don't like commercial excursions or war musea ;-)

Rental car could be nice if you advice positively (easy to find your way? roads OK? safe feeling?

Thanks again!

Sophie

Thank you again for all your good advice.

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Hi.

 

Thank you for the information about the HOHO Montevideo bus. I have taken it before but never hopped off. I just went around listening to the tour and ended up,in the center which is very walkable. I enjoyed the Ramblas. As we are there on a Sunday, it should be filled with families and be relatively safe. I also always enjoy lunch at the restaurants at the port.

 

The Puerto Madryn tour for AR$ 800'plus the entrance fee and discretionary tips is being organized with our schedule in mind. My contact is Gaston Aliendom of Alora Viaggio aloraviaggio@hotmail.com. He has confirmed the pick up and drop off is at the port, with a bilingual guide. I am also fully bilingual and will be there as well. He also assured me that if he signs up enough numbers from our ship, he will arrange for a private tour for us instead of being added to his regular tour. For the price of AR$800 (app US$54 at 15:1 exchange rate), I will pay in AR$ both the AR$800 + AR$180 and maybe give any tips in US$ which they can then exchange at the higher BLUE RATE OF 15:1.

 

Another option is Sentir Patagonia for US$85 or AR$ 1300 plus the AR$180 for entrance to the reserve. The contact there is DIEGO Allende info@sentir-patagonia.com.ar.

 

Two good options options to consider. I will be in the Alora Viaggio.

 

Thanks Lari!

 

We will be on Celebrity's Infinity so unfortunately I won't get to meet you, but I very much appreciate your help.

We too plan to take the HOHO once around and then walk around the Center, Old Town, etc.

Have a great trip!

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Let me know what you are interested in doing, Send me Your email and I'll be pleased to suggest a few things. Hilarion

Can you post the information for Montevideo and Buenos Aires private english speaking tours here? Do you know of any private tours for Punta Del Este?

Thanks!

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
I too was surprised to see how expensive are the shore excursions. This will be my third NCL cruise this year. After my first sticker shock, I decided I could probably find better deals myself with some research; and I did. I'll be pleased to share my findings with others who like to save money to use at the casino, at the Champagne bar, or at the nice NCL shops. I am saving a LOT and doing it ALL.

 

What I have done is to write directly to local excursion providers and asked for their excursions. i also asked if they would be willing to pick-up and drop off cruise passengers or identify an easy place nearby to meet. I also found additional low-cost options which in my opinion may even be better.

 

I have drafted a list of superb alternative excursion deals for each port. The difference is that you deal directly wit the excursion providers and remove the ship from the arrangement; thus much cheaper. The excursions are in English or Spanish. I will be coming along and can help anyone who does not speak Spanish.

 

I have also reserved an automatic transmission rental car in Puerto Montt for only app. $60 and designed an easy driving itinerary using the NCL excursions and other guidance from tour books; I will do more than the expensive excursions. I will be pleased to share it with anyone. And if you would like to join me and make it really cheap, let me know. I am tons of fun. It is a Fiat 500 automatic so cannot take more than a couple of friends. I booked the car on Orbitz and even earned Orbitz rewards; and it includes insurance.

 

As an example, the excursion in Puerto Madryn (Argentina) to Punto Tombo which s the penguin colony is US$167 if you book it with NCL. I have two local companies that serve Argentine tourists who would do the SAME excursion for AR$ 800 which is app. US$57 if you exchange your USD for the $15 peso (the blue dollar rate) rate in Buenos Aires before you board. Imagine your savings!

 

I will be pleased to send anyone their flyers and you can reach out to them directly. I have done all the leg-work and will share it with anyone who wants to save over US$100 each for this excursion.

 

The mark-ups for the other excursions are equally unconscionable. In Puerto Arenas the boat ride to the Penguin colony and transfers from the NCL dock to the departure dock is only US$80 (compared to US $167 with the cruise).

 

In Montevideo I found a superb Hop on and Off Bus with multiple language descriptions that stops with near the cruise port. I have taken this tour before and it is great. It costs only US$ 25 which is significantly less than the NCL excursion. Montevideo is a great small city with plenty of safe, cheap and nice places to eat along the Ramblas. I am taking the bus, so come along.

 

I also learned how to get from Valparaiso to the main bus terminal in Santiago for less than US$20, including a taxi ride from the Valparaiso cruise port to the Valparaiso bus terminal. The buses are very clean, safe, and very efficient. Chile is quite developed.

 

Let me know if any of the above interests you and I'll post more information or send it to you directly.

 

I am traveling SOLO on this cruise so please say HI when you see me! I am in stateroom 8073 (AFT). I am a recently retired American diplomat and enjoy doing things like this and saving my dollars to shop and eat.

 

Lari

 

Thank you so much for such a detailed contribution. We are 2 retired women and am a little worried about safety away from the NCL tours . I cannot see the date of your cruise . I am rather new at this sight . I have also checked the cost of tours and as we are on board for 34 days you can understand why I am looking at other options We depart Buenos Aires 26 March.2016

I will now get to work and follow up all your details . Thank you again.

My email is plympton72@gmail.com

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Lari

I would be most appreciative of you sending me any info you have gathered. I am especially interested in knowing where the car rental is located in relationship to the port in Puerto Montt. We will be on the 2/13/16 sailing of the NCL Sun.

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I too was surprised to see how expensive are the shore excursions. This will be my third NCL cruise this year. After my first sticker shock, I decided I could probably find better deals myself with some research; and I did. I'll be pleased to share my findings with others who like to save money to use at the casino, at the Champagne bar, or at the nice NCL shops. I am saving a LOT and doing it ALL.

 

What I have done is to write directly to local excursion providers and asked for their excursions. i also asked if they would be willing to pick-up and drop off cruise passengers or identify an easy place nearby to meet. I also found additional low-cost options which in my opinion may even be better.

 

I have drafted a list of superb alternative excursion deals for each port. The difference is that you deal directly wit the excursion providers and remove the ship from the arrangement; thus much cheaper. The excursions are in English or Spanish. I will be coming along and can help anyone who does not speak Spanish.

 

I have also reserved an automatic transmission rental car in Puerto Montt for only app. $60 and designed an easy driving itinerary using the NCL excursions and other guidance from tour books; I will do more than the expensive excursions. I will be pleased to share it with anyone. And if you would like to join me and make it really cheap, let me know. I am tons of fun. It is a Fiat 500 automatic so cannot take more than a couple of friends. I booked the car on Orbitz and even earned Orbitz rewards; and it includes insurance.

 

As an example, the excursion in Puerto Madryn (Argentina) to Punto Tombo which s the penguin colony is US$167 if you book it with NCL. I have two local companies that serve Argentine tourists who would do the SAME excursion for AR$ 800 which is app. US$57 if you exchange your USD for the $15 peso (the blue dollar rate) rate in Buenos Aires before you board. Imagine your savings!

 

I will be pleased to send anyone their flyers and you can reach out to them directly. I have done all the leg-work and will share it with anyone who wants to save over US$100 each for this excursion.

 

The mark-ups for the other excursions are equally unconscionable. In Puerto Arenas the boat ride to the Penguin colony and transfers from the NCL dock to the departure dock is only US$80 (compared to US $167 with the cruise).

 

In Montevideo I found a superb Hop on and Off Bus with multiple language descriptions that stops with near the cruise port. I have taken this tour before and it is great. It costs only US$ 25 which is significantly less than the NCL excursion. Montevideo is a great small city with plenty of safe, cheap and nice places to eat along the Ramblas. I am taking the bus, so come along.

 

I also learned how to get from Valparaiso to the main bus terminal in Santiago for less than US$20, including a taxi ride from the Valparaiso cruise port to the Valparaiso bus terminal. The buses are very clean, safe, and very efficient. Chile is quite developed.

 

Let me know if any of the above interests you and I'll post more information or send it to you directly.

 

I am traveling SOLO on this cruise so please say HI when you see me! I am in stateroom 8073 (AFT). I am a recently retired American diplomat and enjoy doing things like this and saving my dollars to shop and eat.

 

Lari

Disagree with earlier poster that this is not proper place to post.

 

We did Around the Horn on Celebrity and saved on excursions using SouthExcursions private tours.

 

If you rent a car and drive to Punto Tombo how are you going to find the location of the animal sanctuaries? Will you have a navigation system or GPS? I can see how easy it would be to get lost.

 

Also, the gravel roads over much of the peninsula would be a tough ride in a small vehicle.

 

I think taking a private tour with a minibus would be the best.

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Did anybody receive private e-mail response from Hilarion (Lari) answering their requests for information? I've asked him 3 times but I haven't received anything so far.

 

Lari if you're reading this message please send me tour info about Ushuaia and Puerto Madryn. Thanks.

 

Robert

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Lari

 

I should be most grateful if you would advise re non-HAL tours for Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Punta Arenas and Punta Montt, Chile. we are a group of 5 seniors cruising in South America for the first time. Thank You, Glencree

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