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.
