Cruising to Antarctica and South America with many photos

[scubacruiserx2]

 

 

Some of the birds were relaxing

 

 

and others calling out

 

 

and some were looking for a nice fat chick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and all too soon it was time to start making our way back to the ship

 

 

 

 

We also saw some small rodents here under the brush

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 

We asked Max if there was somewhere that he could stop for a photo of the Zaandam in port so he stopped across the water

 

 

 

 

We had a guest on the bulbous bow of the ship

 

 

 

The overlook where Max took us

 

[iflyrc5]

Have been following all of your outstanding images.  We are doing this cruise in 2020.  It appears that most of your shore excursions were private/small group and not through the ship.  Is this the case?   If you have time please share the companies that you used as we normally don't do ship tours.   Thanks again for these great images.

[scubacruiserx2]

27 minutes ago, iflyrc5 said:

Have been following all of your outstanding images.  We are doing this cruise in 2020.  It appears that most of your shore excursions were private/small group and not through the ship.  Is this the case?   If you have time please share the companies that you used as we normally don't do ship tours.   Thanks again for these great images.

 

Thank you.

Yes, we usually use private tours and rarely use ship tours. 

For Puerto Montt and Buenos Aires, we used Toursbylocals.

We joined a small group from CC in Castro and Chacabuco, Top Private Tours. 

We used Solo Expeditions, in Punta Arenas, but it was hardly a "private tour". We can not say we would recommend. This may be a case where you take the ships tour or someone else.

We had booked with Patagonia Explorer, we missed Ushuaia, and they refunded our deposit. We have used them in the past and were happy.

Stanley, we used Estancia Excursions. You book private but you do share with 2 other people. They have a total of 4 per vehicle.

In Puerto Madryn, we used Sentir Patagonia.

[scubacruiserx2]

As we left the pier in Puerto Madryn we had an escort service to show us the way out

 

 

 

Video clips :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A dolphin and birds feeding

 

 

 

It looked like a hurricane in the sky

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 

On our last full day at sea we also enjoyed a causal day of eating

 

 

 

 

 

The million dollar view for lunch

 

 

[Shebba]

I have thoroughly enjoyed your thread. Your pictures are beautiful and I love reading about your experiences. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful adventure with us!!

[cat shepard]

For the record, I would like to state that. I hate that your trip is nearing the end. I would definitely create a coffee table book with all your amazing pics.

[scubacruiserx2]

15 hours ago, Shebba said:

I have thoroughly enjoyed your thread. Your pictures are beautiful and I love reading about your experiences. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful adventure with us!!

 

Thank you for coming on the trip with us .

[scubacruiserx2]

12 hours ago, cat shepard said:

For the record, I would like to state that. I hate that your trip is nearing the end. I would definitely create a coffee table book with all your amazing pics.

 

Thanks Cat that sounds like a great idea .

[scubacruiserx2]

15 hours ago, Shebba said:

I have thoroughly enjoyed your thread. Your pictures are beautiful and I love reading about your experiences. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful adventure with us!!

 

Thank you for your kind words , they are greatly appreciated !

[Lido deck main]

I will really miss your reports and pictures.  I know I will go through withdrawal after following your trip and viewing in my opinion Best Pictures “Oscar” for cruise ship photograpy.  When I feel I need a fix will just have to reread your posts.  Safe travels home.

Mary

[scubacruiserx2]

7 minutes ago, Lido deck main said:

I will really miss your reports and pictures.  I know I will go through withdrawal after following your trip and viewing in my opinion Best Pictures “Oscar” for cruise ship photograpy.  When I feel I need a fix will just have to reread your posts.  Safe travels home.

Mary

 

You are extremely kind and generous with your words Mary . It means a lot to us . 

[scubacruiserx2]

Disney has a couple of show about Antarctica coming out soon

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We love this series of photos of a Great Shearwater  that we took walking on the water before taking flight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And returning for a fly by

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes I wish that I could fly like a bird

[iflyrc5]

On 3/30/2019 at 11:29 AM, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

Thank you.

Yes, we usually use private tours and rarely use ship tours. 

For Puerto Montt and Buenos Aires, we used Toursbylocals.

We joined a small group from CC in Castro and Chacabuco, Top Private Tours. 

We used Solo Expeditions, in Punta Arenas, but it was hardly a "private tour". We can not say we would recommend. This may be a case where you take the ships tour or someone else.

We had booked with Patagonia Explorer, we missed Ushuaia, and they refunded our deposit. We have used them in the past and were happy.

Stanley, we used Estancia Excursions. You book private but you do share with 2 other people. They have a total of 4 per vehicle.

In Puerto Madryn, we used Sentir Patagonia.

Thank you so much.  I have really enjoyed your excellent images and I hope that we see some of the same wild life on our trip in 2020.  Be Well!

[scubacruiserx2]

2 hours ago, iflyrc5 said:

Thank you so much.  I have really enjoyed your excellent images and I hope that we see some of the same wild life on our trip in 2020.  Be Well!

 

You're welcome . We do hope that you have a great trip .

[scubacruiserx2]

 

 

Soup before broth

 

 

 

 

 

The sunset before Montevideo

 

 

We received several pieces of information :

 

After almost 3 weeks we could pick up our passports .

 

We learned the name of the hotel that HAL booked for us as part of the Signature Experience Package . We were given 2 nights in the hotel and the tour and transfers by HAL after we booked the Neptune Suite 

 

 

We received this letter from the Captain before arriving in Buenos Aires

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We still remembered Montevideo from our previous trip there in 2013 . We would like to share some memories from that trip before we share our most recent trip .

 

In Montevideo we found our friend from Ushuaia , the ADIA cara had already docked

 

 

 

 

We had decided to DIY in Montevideo with our friends Daniel and Sarah. We were greeted by some people on quay offering a free ride to a leather factory located at Plaza Independencia which is where we began our walking tour. This is approximately the route that we walked

 

 

 

 

After leaving the shop , we saw this statue of Artigas "the father of Uruguayan nationhood"

 

 

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Gervasio_Artigas

 

 

 

At the end of the square is this beautiful building , Palacio Salvo

 

 

 

 

 

Our next stop was at the Plaza Constitution where a flea market was being set up. They had some interesting antiques with good prices , but we were very limited weight in the amount of weight that we could carry on the upcoming flights.

 

 

 

 

As we walked a little farther down the Sarandi pedestrian mall we saw a lot of excitement going on. I couldn't resist videoing this happy couple's big moment !!

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 

 

 

 

We loved some of the colorful graffiti that we saw during the walk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 

Many of the shops on the street that we walked by , and went into , had a distinctly European feel. Except for all of the Coke signs that we saw everywhere !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a solo Pepsi sign at the Beatles BAR

 

 

 

 

We wandered into the Estancia del Puerto at 11:30 am , and the place was empty

 

 

 

 

 

And found what we really wanted - Asado on the Parrilla !!

 

 

 

 

 

The grilling process is better appreciated in this video clip :

 

 

 

 

We found a table and ordered drinks , steak and chorizo . We were enjoying our drinks and our friend's company when we noticed that the place was filling up - Fast . Soon , our lunch arrived and the smell was incredible !! After tasting we realized that we had found meat heaven . It was more than just a lunch. It is the Quintessential dining experience of South America.

 

 

As you can see in this video - We were not alone !

 

 

 

Before we knew it , it was time to re board the Zaandam. And set sail for Buenos Aires .

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

That was our visit in 2013 and this is our visit from 2019 .

We had a beautiful but limited view sunrise coming into Montevideo

 

 

The top deck for the big picture 

 

 

 

 

A lot of ship traffic

 

 

 

 

Following the Sun

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Into Montevideo

 

 

Here comes our Uber

 

 

A graveyard of ships

 

 

Palacio Salvo

 

 

Uruguay Naval barricks

 

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

Got behind -- great pictures!!

[scubacruiserx2]

10 hours ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

Got behind -- great pictures!!

 

Thank you , here's a few more .

 

We had a quite , casual breakfast before going ashore

 

 

 

 

DW tried the Japanese breakfast

 

 

 

 

Follow the green walkway