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The round-trip cruises start either in Buenos Aires or Santiago and include four days of scenic cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula as well as calls at Ushuaia (Argentina), Punta Arenas (Chile) and Montevideo (Uruguay). From mariachis to margaritas, the Mexican Riviera is where it all began with our first cruise in 1965. More than 50 years later, we still visit the best ports like Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and less-traveled jewels like Loreto and Manzanillo. Sail from Los Angeles or San Francisco on five- to 11-day roundtrip cruises, and stay overnight in Cabo San Lucas on select voyages for a taste of vibrant nightlife. Princess is celebrating its 40th anniversary of Mediterranean sailing by featuring two of its newest and largest ships – Star Princess® and Sun Princess®. Explore the best of Europe in 2025, from the British Isles to Scandinavia, the Mediterranean and beyond with itineraries from five to 33 days as you visit famous landmarks, including many UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Canada & New England cruise itineraries
As the afternoon progressed, it got quite windy and a little more overcast. The winds were giving the tender boats a hard time as they slowly motored their way back to the Sapphire Princess. There was a line waiting to get onto the tender boats, but eventually, we all got on board and the ship was able to sail on, though a little later than originally scheduled. Instead, we had a bumpy day at sea as we cruised north along the wide Bransfield Strait. This was the roughest experience I have had on a big ship, and while it did not bother me, the captain did recommend that anyone prone to sea sickness should take their medication or remain in bed in their cabins. The weather was somewhat better with high clouds that allowed us to see the glaciers and the ice fields.
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Occasionally we had a glimpse of a hanging glacier or one that was marching its way into the ocean. This short introduction to Patagonia convinced me that I need to come back and spend a lot more time exploring this gorgeous scenery. The UNESCO listed old town in Valparaiso is a fun mix of colorful houses, lots of unique street art and interesting graffiti.
Non-Expedition (Mainstream) Cruises to Antarctica
Sail along glacial waters and enjoy views of Elephant Island, Antarctic Sound and Gerlache Strait. As the captain stressed many times throughout the trip, his priority was the safety of the ship. Unlike expedition ships, the Sapphire Princess could not go through ice because she did not have an ice protected hull, so the goal was to avoid it.
Though most of these little guys and gals were sleeping lazily in the sand while the parents were away fishing, some were interacting with each other, totally oblivious to our presence. Since it was cold, windy, and raining, the outside spaces were not usable, so all the indoor public spaces were very busy. The crew did a nice job planning other distractions, including three additional enrichment lectures. It’s a good thing I am not bothered by sea sickness because this was the night I was schedule to partake in the Chef’s Table dinner which was fantastic.
Experience Buenos Aires, a world-famous city for dancing, dining, and rich colonial history, on your next cruise to South America. Explore the world-class wines, cuisine, and rhythm of the most diverse continent on the planet on a cruise to South America. You’ll experience the distinct cultural offerings of Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Punta Arenas and Santiago — and witness the unforgettable beauty of Cape Horn and Antarctica.
The thermal beds and steam rooms are located within the spa space and there is no additional fee to use them. The tour boat was docked at the same pier as our ship which made it very convenient. We cruised east along the Beagle Channel for about 5 hours, doing photo stops at some of the rock outcroppings that were home to imperial cormorants and sea lions.
Summer Caribbean cruise itineraries
This Week in Cruise: Antarctica, the Mekong and New Schedules - Travel Agent Central
This Week in Cruise: Antarctica, the Mekong and New Schedules.
Posted: Mon, 28 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Meanwhile, Seabourn Venture will operate with two six-person submarines and underwater camera streaming footage to its Discovery Center. Antarctica is half a world away, but if you want to visit, you have more options than ever before. There's no shortage of evocative sights to behold on South American vacations. Two can't-miss attractions include Tijuca National Park and Tambo Colorado.
Cruising on the Sapphire Princess to Antarctica
Our actual itinerary was a little different than what the Captain originally wanted to do, but it was a spectacular day nonetheless. From the deck of the ship, it was quite hard to get a sense of how large the peaks and glaciers were. It was only when I saw a boat or a research station that the scale of the scenery became evident.
In the middle of the night the ship finally set sail, but only to the nearby port of San Antonio, Chile. I understand that my boarding experience in Valparaiso was quite an exception and that this type of weather event was very unusual. Before we reached Antarctica, Captain Todd gave a navigational presentation explaining what his scenic cruising goal was for our 4 days in the Antarctic Peninsula for our specific cruise. We were also given a map that showed where and when we would be each day. I learned on this trip that an Antarctic itinerary is the hoped for plan but the weather dictates the reality. As Captain Todd said “it’s what we want to do, not necessarily what we can do”.
Because of the weather, a local pilot could not get on and off the ship safely and the ship was not allowed to do this sailing without the experience of the local pilot on board. Set sail across the globe on a truly epic adventure – a Princess World Cruise. On a voyage spanning more than 100 days, and travelling over 33,000 nautical miles, you’ll visit more than 40 destinations in over two dozen countries.
Antarctica, once off limits to all but research-station scientists, is becoming an increasingly popular cruise destination. The ship, which will feature a series of new onboard spaces and the fleet’s largest casino, will operate a full season in the Mediterranean from multiple departure ports, including Barcelona, Rome, Athens, and Southampton. The ship is slated to reposition to Fort Lauderdale in November 2024. Holland America's 1,964-passenger Oosterdam will sail 22-day itineraries from Buenos Aires to Santiago and include a stop in the Falkland Islands and scenic cruising in the Palmer Archipelago of Antarctica.
Between the two ships, the line will offer port calls or scenic cruising at 26 destinations in 14 countries. Princess Cruises will feature 11 unique itineraries and 15 total Antarctica and South America departures. More than 50 cruise ships are approved to sail in Antarctica for the upcoming season, according to the vessel directory of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators. This ranges from expedition ships to ocean ships from mainstream cruise lines that operate scenic cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula. Indulge in a feast for the senses on an epic South America cruise with Princess®.
Sister ships Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris carry 364 passengers apiece and mark the start of the line's expansion into expedition cruising. You can expect onboard scientists, an enclosed marina where people can board Rigid Inflatable Boats and Zodiacs from a stable surface, and three different temperature-controlled pools, as part of the indoor-outdoor Aquavit Terrace. I am a retired PhD chemist and traveling the world is one of my deepest passions which continues to add to my ever growing quilt of life experiences. I like to focus my traveling lens on history, art, architecture, nature, cruising, and soft adventures with a touch of luxury.
There are five opportunities to see storied local festivals, including the popular Nebuta Festival. We also have sailings that arrive when Japan’s famed spring flowers are in bloom. Sail where ancient traditions and modernity co-exist in harmony on the #1 North American Cruise Line in Japan. In February 2024, @ruinedvacation posted on TikTok that a cruise line had made a last-minute name change to its itinerary via its app. Instead of visiting Paradise Bay on the Antarctic Peninsula, the Norwegian Cruise Line ship visited Admiralty Bay in the South Shetland Islands (an island group 75 miles north of the Antarctic Peninsula), before heading to the Falklands.
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