Diary of South America Voyage

Journey to Southern South America 

Having cruised for 30+ years, our cruise selections are driven primarily by destination and secondly by cruise ship. We love exploring new destinations from our bucket list as well as revisiting some of our favorites. Exploring new ships, including older ships we've never sailed on before, is also quite enjoyable. Of course, we love to share with our readers so that they can discover the world that awaits them.


 
Quest to see Penguins 

Those of you who have followed me here or on Twitter, know that I love Penguins. That's what this trip is all about - having the opportunity to see multitudes of penguins in their natural surroundings.

This trip wasn't only about penguins. We arrived in Santiago, Chile on January 18, 2017.  For the next 14 days, we explored South America including the countries of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and the Falkland Islands.  We saw Amalia Glacier, Glacier Alley, Fjords, Cape Horn and many other magnificent sites along the way.

Having sailed the seas for more than 30 years, it's hard to narrow the list down to one trip as the "best", but this trip certainly is among the top contenders.

Come along with us as we provide a day by day diary of our voyage to South America - Cape Horn.

14 Day South America - Cape Horn

	Port	Blog Posts	Photo Albums
Jan 17	Travel Chicago - Santiago, Chile	Beginning Adventure to Chile Flying to Santiago Chile	ORD to JFK JFK to SCL
Jan 18	Transfer: Airport To Ship Santiago (Valparaiso) Check In 1:00pm-5:00pm	Crown Princess Embarkation Crown Princess Welcome Dinner Oh Happy Days	Transfer to Valparaiso Crown Princess Embarkation Welcome Dinner
Jan 19	At Sea	Chocolate Journeys
Jan 20	Puerto Montt, Chile Tender Required	3 Must See Sites in Puerto Montt	Puerto Montt Puerto Varas German Settlers Museum Frutillar
Jan 21	At Sea
Jan 22	Amalia Glacier  Scenic Cruising	Cruising Amalia Glacier	Amalia Glacier
Jan 23	Punta Arenas, Chile Tender Required	Penguins of Punta Arenas Punta Arenas City Tour	Punta Arenas Penguins Patagonia Institute Salesian Museum City Cemetery La Cruz Hill Plaza Munoz Gamero
Jan 24	Ushuaia, Argentina	Cruising Glacier Alley Beagle Channel Wildlife Cruise	Glacier Alley Beagle Channel
Jan 25	Cape Horn Scenic Cruising	Cruising Around Cape Horn	Cape Horn
Jan 26	Falkland Islands (Stanley) Tender Required	Penguins of Falkland Islands	Bluff Cove Rookery
Jan 27	At Sea	Experience The Salty Dog	Salty Dog Gastropub
Jan 28	Puerto Madryn, Argentina Tender Required	Penguins at Punta Tombo	Punta Tombo
Jan 29	At Sea
Jan 30	Montevideo. Uruguay	3 Prominent Sites of Montevideo Montevideo Pier and Markets	Plaza Independencia Centenario Soccer Stadium Legislative Palace Montevideo City Tour Montevideo Harbor Montevideo Market
Jan 31	Buenos Aires, Argentina Overnight	Tigre Delta River Cruise	San Isidtro Tigre River Buenos Aires Port
Feb 1	Buenos Aires, Argentina Transfer: Ship To Airport	Explore City of Buenos Aires La Recoleta Cemetery Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral La Boca Shopping	Metropolitan Cathedral La Recoleta Cemetery Debark Tour
Feb 2	Travel Buenos Aires - Chicago	Argentine Precious Stone	Inca Rose Gems

Tropical Storm Octave in East Pacific

Tropical Storm Octave

Tropical Storm Octave	500 PM PDT MON OCT 14 2013 ...HEAVY RAINS SPREADING ACROSS  PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA...
WIND:	NEAR 50 MPH...85 KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
WATCHES/ WARNINGS:	A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR... * SANTA FE TO PUNTA ABREOJOS
SHIP IMPACT:	NO CRUISE SHIPS IMPACTED

     
Storm Archive       Graphics Archive  

A new tropical depression, TD 15-E formed Saturday and became Tropical Storm Octave on Sunday.  While there are no tropical storm warnings posted at this time, interests in the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula of Mexico should monitor the storm.

OCTAVE COULD BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION ON TUESDAY BY THE TIME IT NEARS
THE BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA.

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANES (CLICK HERE)

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

SUMMARY OF 500 PM PDT...0000 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...24.6N 113.0W
ABOUT 65 MI...105 KM WSW OF CABO SAN LAZARO MEXICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH...85 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...999 MB...29.50 INCHES

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
RAINFALL...OCTAVE IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF
3 TO 6 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 8 INCHES
POSSIBLE...OVER MUCH OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN BAJA CALIFORNIA
PENINSULA...AND THE MAINLAND MEXICO STATE OF SONORA.

STORM SURGE...A STORM SURGE IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE COASTAL FLOODING
NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL. NEAR THE
COAST...THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DANGEROUS WAVES.

SURF...SWELLS GENERATED WILL CONTINUE AFFECT THE WEST COAST OF BAJA
CALIFORNIA SUR INTO TUESDAY. THESE SWELLS ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE LIFE-
THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS.
 

 Historical Data:

800 PM PDT SAT OCT 12 2013
 
...NEW TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS SOUTH OF THE BAJA CALIFORNIA
PENINSULA...
 

800 AM PDT SUN OCT 13 2013
 
...OCTAVE STRENGTHENS A LITTLE MORE AS IT PASSES TO THE WEST OF 
SOCORRO ISLAND...

800 AM PDT MON OCT 14 2013
 
...OCTAVE WEAKENS SLIGHTLY AS IT TURNS NORTHWARD...
...TROPICAL STORM WARNING ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE BAJA CALIFORNIA
PENINSULA...

200 PM PDT MON OCT 14 2013
 
...OCTAVE WEAKENS SLIGHTLY AS IT MOVES CLOSER TO BAJA CALIFORNIA...
...OUTER RAIN BANDS PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL AND STRONG WINDS...

Norwegian Plans for Belize

What Does it Cost to Buy 

an Island in Belize?

According to new sources in Belize, a press conference was held this week unveiling details of an agreement between Norwegian Cruise Line and the Belize government to begin development of a new cruise destination in the southern part of the country.

Norwegian Cruise Line is keeping details quiet, perhaps since they have already been shot down once before by the government.   However, the news reports indicate the price for the island is $50M USD.  The new development will be called Harvest Caye and be an eco-friendly endeavor.   The project could be completed in 2015.

Two of the main figures at the press conference were Colin Murphy - VP, Destination & Strategic Development, NCL and Hon. Godwin Hulse - Minister of Labour.  If you watch the following video, you'll hear the minister say “It is not, as some would say, that we are all lying down, ‘licky licky,’ et cetera. We are here to protect the interest of the Belizean people – so that is why we were brought to Government and that is what we are going to do and we are going to do so successfully. No ifs, maybes or buts about it,” Hulse added.

Colin Murphy didn't know what "licky likcy" was but figured he would have known about it if there had been any.  Apparently that is slang for greedy.

Time: 00:30:41 - Start of press coverage of announcement

If the project is approved and actually goes forward, the construction phase could bring 1000+ jobs to the region. NCL is also sweetening the deal by recruiting more of their onboard staff from Belize. Currently there are very few crew members from this country. 

References:

Will Harvest Caye Take Ships From Belize City?
No “licky licky,” says Godwin Hulse

Seventh Tropical Storm Forms in East Pacific

Tropical Depression Seven-E
Becomes TS Greg 
Now a Category One Hurricane

OFF THE COAST OF SOUTHERN MEXICO

200 PM PDT THU AUG 18 2011

...CENTER OF GREG PASSING BETWEEN SOCORRO ISLAND AND CLARION
ISLAND...

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

We are monitoring a new storm which has formed off the coast of Southern Mexico. Tropical Depression Seven-E is forecast to become Tropical Storm Greg Tuesday night and a hurricane by Thursday.    

East Pacific Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking 

SUMMARY OF 200 PM PDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...18.8N 112.6W
ABOUT 335 MI...535 KM SSW OF THE SOUTHERN TIP OF BAJA CALIFORNIA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...85 MPH...140 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...980 MB...28.94 INCHES

THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 85 MPH...140 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  GREG IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
HURRICANE WIND SCALE.  THE CENTER OF GREG IS MOVING OVER COOLER
WATERS AND WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
None
 

Historical Data:             Archive        Graphics Archive         

200 PM PDT TUE AUG 16 2011
...NEW TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS OFF THE COAST OF SOUTHERN MEXICO...

200 AM PDT WED AUG 17 2011
...DEPRESSION BECOMES TROPICAL STORM GREG...

800 PM PDT WED AUG 17 2011
...GREG BECOMES A HURRICANE AS IT MOVES FARTHER AWAY FROM
SOUTHWEST MEXICO...

Tropical Storm Resources (click links below)
Hurricane Greg	National Hurricane Center
East Pacific Tropical Weather Outlook	National Weather Service
East Pacific Tropical Weather Discussion	Hurricane Preparedness
Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook (EPAC)	Real-Time Hurricane Information
Active Storms	NOAA Satellites & Information
NASA: Latest Storm Images	WMO Severe Weather Information Centre
Real-time Monitoring (E. Pacific)	The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
Real-time Weather Sites	Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

NCL Caribbean Deployment 2012/2013

Norwegian Epic

Norwegian Dawn

Norwegian Epic

Norwegian Jewel

Norwegian Star

  Norwegian Sun

Caribbean Deployment

2012 / 2013

Miami, New Orleans, Tampa

Five Norwegian Cruise Line Ships will be deployed to the Caribbean in the 2012/2013  season.

Out of Miami, you can chose from Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Jewel, and Norwegian Sun.  The Sun will sail 10 and 11 day Southern Caribbean itineraries while the Epic and Jewel will sail alternating 7-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itinerarires.

• Saturdays from November 3, 2012 to April 13, 2013 (Norwegian Epic)
• The Eastern Caribbean cruises call on Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands with an optional tour to St. John; and Nassau, Bahamas. 
• The Western Caribbean cruises stop in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras. 

• Sundays from October 14, 2012 to April 14, 2013 (Norwegian Jewel)
• The Eastern Caribbean cruises call on Samaná, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands with an optional tour to St. John; Tortola, British Virgin Islands with an optional tour to Virgin Gorda; and Nassau, Bahamas. 
• The Western Caribbean cruises visit Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island in the Bahamas; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico. 

• October 14, 2012 to April 10, 2013 (Norwegian Sun)
• The 10-day cruise calls on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands with an optional tour to St. John; Roseau, Dominica; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.  
• The 11-day cruise calls on Cartagena, Colombia; Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curaçao; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands with an optional tour to St. John.
• One seven-day Western Caribbean cruise from Orlando and the Beaches (Port Canaveral) on April 14, 2012 with stops in Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island in the Bahamas.   

Out of Tampa, the Norwegian Dawn replaces Norwegian Star sailing 23 seven day Western Caribbean itineraries

• Sundays from November 11, 2012 to April 14, 2013 (Norwegian Dawn)
• The 7-day cruises call on Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. 

Out of New Orleans, the Norwegian Star will sail seven day Western Caribbean itineraries

• Sundays during Winter and Spring (Norwegian Star)
• The 7-day cruises call on Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras. 

Completing the Deployment

Limited Time Offer (click)

Norwegian will also offer 11 repositioning cruises ranging from a four-day Pacific Coastal to a 17-day Panama Canal from April 15 to October 26, 2012 departing from Miami, Tampa, New York, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Quebec. For the first time, the cruise line will offer a 16-day Colonial America cruise on Norwegian Dawn sailing from Quebec City, Quebec to Tampa, Florida on October 26, 2012 calling on Portland, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; New York, New York; Baltimore, Maryland; Norfolk, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; Miami and Key West, Florida.

In addition, two-day Quick Getaways will be offered from Miami on board Norwegian Jewel on October 12, 2012 and from New York on board Norwegian Gem on September 28, 2012

Search (here) for Norwegian Cruise Line Itineraries

One Small Step - July 20, 1969

One Small Step for Man,

One Giant Leap for Mankind

July 20, 1969, another one of those days that will be remembered for years to come. Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the lunar surface fulfilling a challenge put forth by President John F. Kennedy.

If you were alive in 1969, odds are you were glued to your radio or television set waiting to hear those first words, "The Eagle has landed." Unlike other days that we remember, this wasn't a tragic day, but rather a triumphant day. Man had entered the new frontier and successfully landed on new unexplored shores, much like the explorers who sailed the oceans in search of new land centuries before.

What does this have to do with cruise vacations you ask? The event itself isn't directly related to cruising, but Port Canaveral, home of NASA, is one of the popular ports of embarkation. That means you can extend your cruise vacation either before or after your cruise and visit the Kennedy Space Center and learn more about the space program.

Several cruise lines depart from Port Canaveral. You can select from Carnival Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. The cruises include 3, 4 or 5 night Bahama cruises, 7 or 9 night Eastern/Western Caribbean, 11 night Southern Caribbean, and even 14 night cruises to Eastern/Western Caribbean or even a Transatlantic.

Search for cruises leaving from Port Canaveral.

Since 2009 is the 40th anniversary of the landing on the moon, this would be a good time to visit Port Canaveral, Florida. What better way to begin or end a cruise vacation than by visiting the space center to add some enrichment to your pleasure trip?

You too can make one small step by learning more about our history in space and those that have explored the new frontier. Let me help you take that step.