Getting a chance to go to my 7th continent was possible in December and January while spending the holidays on a South America & Antarctica Cruise for the first time. I will have to say this was probably the best itinerary that I have ever been on thus far! For 16 days starting in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Montevideo, Uruguay; Puerta Madryn, Argentina; Puerta Arenas, Chile; Ushuaia, Argentina; Elephant Bay, Antarctica; Paradise Island, Antarctica; Puerto del Este, Uruguay; and back to Buenos Aires the cruise makes a nice roundtrip.
Again all this was on the NCL Star, an older ship but also accomodating and has all the areas that I like to have on a ship. Of course the ship was completely full plus about 350 children were on board! This made things a little bit crazy and access to restaurants became difficult most of the time.
I started this cruise via flights from Puerto Vallarta to Dallas and then Buenos Aires, Argentina via American Airlines for about $2341 USD round trip in Business Class; again a good deal! Orginally this flight was another around the USA trip, but then American changed some times and I ended up getting this very direct flight! I always arrive a day or more early and since this was my first time in Buenos Aires, I came in 2 days before, affording me the next day to explore the city and I overnighted in the downtown hotel, The Savoy Hotel. It was a classic old style hotel where Evan Peron had stayed before and was quite interesting just a few blocks from the Congress Hall.
Argentina had just elected a radical new President with reforms like devaluating the Pesos drastically just before I arrived. So things were very very cheap compared to the USD, like 2 slices of pizza and a drink at La Americana (famous chain in Buenos Aires that serves empanadas and pizza) for only about $2 USD! I decided to take the Buenos Aires Bus which is a hop on hop off bus on the next morning for the 3-4 hour loop around the city. Then I finish the day with typical Argentinian Grilled Meats plate!
The next day, I board the ship about midday for the South America & Antarctica Cruise and leaving Buenos Aires about 7pm for the very close first port of Montevideo, Uruguay. I had booked the NCL Tour “Montevideo Highlights and Tango”which was a bus ride around the area with a final stop at a famous bar called Baar Fun Fun. Orginally opened by the stutterer, Agosto Lopez because he invented several drinks including La Uvita that keeps the customers coming back. We were able to view Uruguayan Flamenco dancers with a very entertaining show while we sipped on a sample of his famous liquor.
We are treated with 4 different scientists on board during our entire cruise with experts in Penguins, Antarctica, History, and Geology that would be providing us with lectures and narration on certain topics throughout our voyage on this South America & Antarctica Cruise.
A day at sea takes us to the first scheduled penguins port of Puerto Madryn, Argentina and I am excited to go on my first Penguins Tour with NCL “Punta Tombo Penguin Rookery”. A short van ride and we are at the site of a private farm where the owner donated and created a large area for Penguins in their natural habitat. There where currently about 400,000 Magellanic Penguins!
The owners constructed a nice walkway all the way along this area to the ocean of about 1 km, so you can see the multitudes of habitats as well as the area where they go fishing for food. While their young and partners waiting patiently in the blazing heat. Yes, it was very hot here and not associated with Penguins as most people think they live only on the ice. As a matter of fact very few breeds live directly on the ice in Antarctica. We walk among the penguins as they come and go to the ocean area and obviously they are very accustomed to people!
Another day at sea and we arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile where I have booked another NCL Tour “Punta Arena Highlights”. Unfortunately due to weather and waves conditions we are not able to tender this day and the port has to be canceled. This is the risk of cruising in this area and the likelihood of more cancellations is possible.
Onward we go to our overnight port of Ushuaia, Argentina considered the southern most city in the world and the hotspot for ships from South America to Antarctica. And there were plenty! Not only 3 cruise ships of our size, but at least 6 smaller “expeditionary” ones that allow passengers to actually step foot onto the continent. I have booked my 2nd Penguins tour “Penguin Rookery Navigation” and unfortunately it was canceled due to access to their area being unavailable due to very strong winds. I did get off the ship and walk around the waterfront area to explore the city a bit and it was indeed extremely cold and windy. Another disappointing day!
The 2nd day in Ushuaia presents more favorable weather and I have booked the tour “End of the World Combo which takes us by boat, train, and bus to various places around Ushuaia. The first part is a boat ride around the islands were we see lots of penguins, sea lions, and seals on these rock islands.
The 2nd part is a train ride tour into the mountains to take us to the Tierra del Fuego National Park and finally to the southernmost Post Office in the world. It was a great way to see the landscape and wild horses around the area.
Now the next day at sea moves us further south across the Drake Passage to Elephant Island, Cape Lookout, and Paradise Bay, Antarctica. They become our next destinations over the next several days. The weather looks exceptional and according to one of our scientists, he has been in this area over 100 times, and has never see such great weather! We see plenty of hump back whales feeding as well as more penguins scattered about on pieces of floating ice. These ice flows are massive and are not like icebergs you see in the north because they are broken pieces off the ice shelf, not necessarily from the glaciers as you see in Alaska.
It was fabulous and the views were incredible with temperatures in the mid 30s, not even too cold! These memories will last my lifetime! But it is time to head north again as we spend the next day back across the Drake Passage and make our way to Stanley, in the Falkland Islands.
Arrival in Stanley looks good as we have to use tenders to get ashore here and I have booked my 3rd Penguins Tour “Bluff Lagoon”. A short 20 minute drive takes us to another private farm that has allowed a natural area where a small group of King and Gentoo Penguins reside side by side. We are able to get very close and with a 10 minute walk we are in the gift shop cafe area where they treat you to a hot beverage and some homemade breakfast pastries (delicious scones).gent
Another 2 days at sea as we make our way back from the South America & Antarctica Cruise as we reapproach the coast with a stop in Punta del Este, Uruguay and I have booked a tour “Punta del Este Sights & Liesure”. It is a drive around in a bus with stops along the way and finally at the famous ‘hand’ sculpture at the beach. Its a very hot day as I make my way walking back to the pier for the tender back to the ship.
All I can say this was a fantastic itinerary and the trip of a lifetime on this South America & Antarctica Cruise! Yes it was a full ship, but once again I met some wonderful people and we thoroughly enjoyed each others company as well as the fabulous sites to see at the End of the World!
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