mcmarya

Currently there is a dual currency conversion situation in Argentina, the official rate and the unofficial blue dollar (179 vs. 365). The dual rate resulted from restrictions on currency exchange to keep investors from taking their money out of the country. Recently a policy was implemented to encourage foreign tourism. When a foreign credit card is used, a charge made in AR Pesos will be converted by Visa or Mastercard at a MEP rate which is closer to the blue dollar rate. You can see the rates used by Visa here (327 today): https://www.visa.com.my/support/consumer/travel-support/exchange-rate-calculator.html So, using a credit card for a purchase in pesos, you will end up paying less than expected. For example, last week Taxiezeiza told me that the cost for a taxi to town would be $43 USD cash, 7500 pesos cash, or 8250 pesos with a credit card. The credit card price should end up being $26.23 after conversion. If you are paying for a hotel, the savings are significant. This won't help the original poster, but maybe someone else.

There are "facilities" on the pier right next to Kamakahonu Beach--public rest room and outdoor shower. There is food/drink available at the hotel right next to the beach. There might be day passes available at some of the resorts on the South Kohala coast but some of those resorts don't really have a good beach. They are also quite a ways from the tender port. The sand beaches are mostly state parks with facilities but no food.

Seabourn is requiring the same enhanced screening listed for Princess but we have to use the Verifly app. We embark 2/21.

Looks like some ship shuttles are dropping passengers on Perico Island--on the Panama City side of the causeway not far from the port entrance--instead of the facility on Flamenco Island. This makes for a little shorter trip. Hope it doesn't take too many years to get the port building completed or at least a decent road built.

Not the cheapest but possibly the easiest is Taxi Ezeiza. There is a booth to book near the arrivals exit. Apparently the current rate is $43 for 2 and 2 suitcases if you pay with USD or 7,500 Argentine pesos. The cost in $ is based on the official exchange rate, not the more generous blue rate. I had read that they don't take credit cards at the booth but when I contacted them on whatsapp, they said credit cards are accepted but the cost is more--8250. Since credit cards give the blue rate instead of the official exchange rate, it ends up cheaper--about $27. If you have data you can try uber. But, apparently it is unwise to take the unofficial taxis.

When we were there pre-pandemic, our ship provided a shuttle to the town where we could book a tour. It's hard to tell what will happen with yours.

We will be leaving from BA on a Seabourn cruise which also requires testing. On their website each sailing has a protocol requirement listed. I expect other cruiselines do the same. It looks like a self administered test will be acceptable for our departure, thankfully. It really makes a difference which country is involved. We were originally leaving from Rio which only required testing for unvaccinated passengers. Thank you for alerting us on the need to check for current requirements since I would not have focused on it.

Having fewer passengers is a real advantage if you have any tender ports or other situations where that would be an advantage. Recently we were docked at Ft. Amador (Panama City) with the Oosterdam. Our ship had 315 passengers to their ? The morning we were docked together, we got off and took the shuttle out at around 7:20 am with one other passenger. The Oosterdam passengers without a tour could not get out of the port area until late morning so independent tour arrangements were messed up for many. Not sure they did not allow Oosterdam passengers on our shuttle buses. I personally prefer the breakfast and lunch buffets on HAL since there are more options while dinners were comparable with more creative options and better cuts of meat on Seabourn (and larger shrimp). Internet is included and there are free self service laundries. The entertainment is also superior and they generally have lecturers on board, often 2 or 3. We don't drink but free beverages would be a plus for many and gratuities are included. Cabins are larger with better amenities. I would guess that those who book more expensive cabins on HAL might find that fares are not that different on Seabourn when all costs are considered. It is definitely a more luxurious experience.

Anyone know the current fare for the ferry?--preferably in $ if accepted.

The Quest has to dock in order to disembark/embark passengers. That would be pretty difficult using tenders. Until the cruise port is more complete, tendering is not a bad option for ships just making a port stop.

If we had waited to board at our original assigned time (4:20 pm for a 7 pm departure, Quest 11/11) we would have been the last ones on board. At 1:15 pm there was no one in the terminal.

Just curious where they drop passengers on Perico.

Jim McParland, also a Canadian, is your lecturer and he is terrific. We have cruised with him a couple of times when my husband was also a lecturer. Jim is so knowledgeable about so many things including astronomy--he probably provided some star-gazing experiences as well as everything else he talked about on the cruise. Holland America has cut back on lecturers as well as many other things. They used to routinely provide lecturers on Panama Canal cruises but mostly don't any more.

You can easily find things to do on your own. We spent quite a bit of time just walking around the point--the intersection where you can see water in all 4 directions (Cuatro Mares I think at 2 de Febrero and Captain Miranda), the point, the sea lions being fed at the fish market, the hand statue, the lovely homes. The beach on the Rio de la Plata is way nicer than the beach on the ocean which we did not expect. I thought it was a beautiful place and enjoyed just exploring the area on foot and spending some time at the beach.

It has been awhile, but we took Taxi Ezeiza from the airport--there is a booth near where you leave the airport. The exchange rate will be poor but you can pay in USD and it is a flat rate to town. We stayed in the downtown area which is convenient to Plaza de Mayo, etc. The hotel we used, Facon Grande, is fairly basic but I would recommend the general area--there are quite a few options. Close by are places to eat and small stores as well as a fancy mall. If you are into walking and/or using public transport, it is a great location. We have only taken cabs to and from the airport and the port. I would not necessarily recommend the hop on hop off bus because you would end up wasting a lot of time waiting for it to move you from place to place. Since you don't have a lot of time, you may want to try to arrange something with Tours by Locals or similar organization for a tour instead. There is so much to see and do in Buenos Aires it's a shame not to see as much as you can. There is lots to see around the Plaza de Mayo including the changing of the guard at the Cathedral. You can visit Casa Rosada if you book tickets in advance--not sure of the current status. The Cabildo is also on the Plaza. Puerto Madero is close by with some other attractions. In some cases, walking is the best way to get around. We had 4 or 5 days there and still didn't see everything.

From what I have read, the radio taxis--there is apparently a booth or something as you leave--are safe. You prepay so no issues with scamming.

You should be able to pay is USD, you will just get a lousy exchange rate. For the official taxis it should be a flat rate.

Retiro is the location of the train station nearby which is generally in the same neighborhood as the port. The old port and the current port for some ferries is Puerto Madero, a different neighborhood.

Sorry, just got back from a cruise. I did not see snorkel gear rentals at Kahalu'u. There were some at the beach near the port. Hope you had a good cruise.

I expect that for the for the foreseeable future the shuttles from the pier will go to the Flamenco Island building where the tenders have always docked. From there you can catch the Hop on Hop Off Bus or get a taxi. You can only return to the pier by catching a shuttle at the Flamenco Island building, reversing the process. Unless your ship is disembarking/embarking, tendering could be easier than docking. I think the tenders are faster than the buses since the road into the pier is so bumpy and long. The port building appears to be far from being finished and the only paved road is on the pier itself.

I should add that we did have a terrific time at Amador in spite of the state of the pier. I don't know who determined what kind of vehicles to use for transporting passengers off the facility but it was probably the pier operators--one size fits all. They were quite accommodating when needed. On Friday, the shuttles for the Quest started operating at 7 am but on Saturday, when the Quest was alone at the pier, the shuttles didn't start until later. We had arranged to meet a friend at 7:30 and it was not likely we could reach her to change the time. So, we were accommodated and driven to the Flamenco Island facility by ourselves on a huge bus. I hate waste and felt terrible about it. But, we took shuttles 3 additional times that day during regularly scheduled times and were still always the only passengers. It is unfortunate that the road out of the pier has not been paved since the trip is so much longer than it needs to be. Since we were gone (and glad to be!), we did not observe the chaos of trying to get all of the Oosterdam passengers to their destinations on Friday. Knowing how things work, we knew we had to get out early if we were going to get out. It is unfortunate that the shuttle buses could not have been shared by the 2 ships so that the Oosterdam passengers could have gotten off faster. By the way, we normally travel on Holland America and are only on the Quest because my husband is a guest speaker.

A week ago we witnessed the Caribbean Princess utilizing the new locks for its partial transit, if you need any more evidence.

I am currently aboard the Seabourn Quest, docked at the Amador Cruise Port. The only thing about the facility that is finished is the pier itself. The port building looks a long way from completion. The really fun part about docking here is getting out of the port area. There is no paved road once you off the pier itself. So, to get out of the port facility you must bounce along a dirt road at 5 mph before getting on the causeway and being dropped off at the Flamenco Island building where tenders have left passengers in the past. The Quest has no need for large buses that have difficulty navigating the pier area. I've ridden a bus to or from the pier 4 times so far and have never been on a bus with more than 6 people on board. Vans would have made more sense but perhaps the port facility makes the arrangements. Anyway, yes, ships do dock here but personally I would have preferred tendering. But, our first cruise ended here and the second started today, so tendering luggage and anything else needed to be taken off or on the ship would have been difficult.

Our ship is not docking in Nicaragua in a little over a week due to covid--i.e. it appears they are closed to ships.

Have you thought about taking the bus? In the past they have left right from the port. We've done it but it was 2018.