boursiquot

Thank you

57 minutes ago, OlsSalt said:

 

Open bar Pisco Sours in the caboose bar car with music on the trip back down the mountain on the Howard Bingham train. Things got a bit rowdy.  Or maybe they were just giddy from the higher elevation? 

Funny

Thanks

1 hour ago, VirginiaVacationer said:

It has reopened.   I went last year right before it closed, and I will tell you…if you have always wanted to go, and you think you might not have the opportunity again…and you can afford it…GO.  GO GO GO GO.   It is all that and a bag of chips.   You will not regret it.   Not just the site, but the train ride through some of the most mind bogglingly beautiful scenery anywhere.  All of it.   

 

also…if you can afford it and it doesn’t conflict with MP, I second the Nazca lines.   I went there on the same trip and…they are SO COOL.  Unless you really are freaked out by very small planes banking at really odd angles.  
 

(I did not go on cruise excursions however,I went on a high end (as in  we stayed at the JW Marriott in Cuzco - I don’t do hostels 😉 ) small group  tour to the sacred valley - with two visits to MP - and then on my own to Nazca.   If you can only do one, go to the lines and I’ll give you the name of the company I went with - they also organize the Smithsonian’s tours! 

Thank you

 you, i

On 8/28/2023 at 11:15 AM, OlsSalt said:

There are no "excursions" in Antarctica on HAL ships. Did you think otherwise when you signed up for this extensive time onboard?  It can still be a fabulous "drive-by" experience even if you don't land on the continent.  The rest of the ports on this journey around South America are pretty terrific. Much more low-key than other destinations.  Wait until you see the listed shore excursions and see what appeals to you.  

 

If you are traversing western South America (you did not mention your 73 day itinerary), getting up to speed on the  pre-Columbian history of this area and the layers of incredible prior civilizations and their remaining historic sites today will be well worth the effort.

Thank you

You are so resourceful. Thank you for all of your great tips and for shepherding me through this process. Keep it coming

17 hours ago, OlsSalt said:

Here is your roll call - Link -Grand South America - very, very active so just jump in and introduce yourself. Best is to scroll backwards when you read the pages of messages this roll call already has. 

 

We did both the South America cruise, the Antarctic cruise and went back for even more on the first Maasdam In-Depth cruise on our way to Easter Island - and we would easily go back to any of these ports again. 

 

You are in for a great cruise.  

 

Great suggestions for me to consider. I will definitely check them out. I’ve always wanted to go to Machu Picchu, but I think it was closed because of some political unrest. I’ll do my research. I will definitely check out that ValParaiso.

Thank you for this tip

5 hours ago, 1025cruise said:

You need to check out the ports of call boards for your ports.

How do I do that? I'm new to Cruise Critics and having much difficulty trying to navigate the site. I'm a senior and not good at this tech stuff. 

I’m taking a 73 day cruise to Antarctica on Holland America Zaandam, 10/7/23-12/1923. I need suggestions on excursions to take at the different ports we will be stopping at and also best excursions in Antarctica.