Pursuing pingu the penguin

[amaroo]

Just read cover to cover - terrific TR with some stunning photos.

Thanks for posting.

 

[amaroo]

I was looking at the Hyatt in Santiago - tossing up between that and the Singular.

Singular - stayed twice. Fabulous hotel.... plenty of pictures in my MP trip report.

We’re also a Meile household .... no more. Have 5 appliances all less than 5 years old. Everyone one of them is a lemon. Have they changed origin of manufacture?

 

[love_the_life]

Singular - stayed twice. Fabulous hotel.... plenty of pictures in my MP trip report.

We’re also a Meile household .... no more. Have 5 appliances all less than 5 years old. Everyone one of them is a lemon. Have they changed origin of manufacture?

Re hotels, Hyatt Centric is not 5 star. It’s only quite new and some of the furnishings are form over function. It was good for what we wanted, room not overly large though and although a Nespresso machine, no kettle. The bar was good though. We didn’t do much as we’ve been to Santiago a couple of times before and it was very hot.

Some of the Miele stuff is not made in Germany any more. The dishwasher we selected was, but the model below it was somewhere like Czech Republic or similar.

 

[amaroo]

Ours is proudly stamped “Made in Germany” but one wonders where all the bits and pieces come from. If it is 100% bona fide .... it’s still a lemon.

They were so embarrassed about the clothes dryer they extended the already extended warranty FOC for a total of 6 years .... they’ve replaced all the expensive bits twice, it’s still a dud.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Singular - stayed twice. Fabulous hotel.... plenty of pictures in my MP trip report.

We’re also a Meile household .... no more. Have 5 appliances all less than 5 years old. Everyone one of them is a lemon. Have they changed origin of manufacture?

That’s good to hear - we’ve just booked two rooms for after the Antarctica cruise.

Our appliances are still going fine and mostly date from 2000, but when we replace we shall have to have a good look around. Our washing machine and dishwasher are newer than that and still fine and Ms FM bought an induction cook top 3 years ago and it’s good as well. I would say maybe bad luck, but 5 out of 5 seems more than that

 

[VPS]

Great TR - thanks - has firmed my ambition to get to stand at Antarctica

 

[love_the_life]

A couple of other pertinent (or not) comments. When we boarded we were offered an upgrade to a suite (twice the size as a balcony cabin) for a bit over 6,000 euros. I must admit we were sorely tempted but reason won the day, given we had just paid out a goodly sum for the Miele appliances for the kitchen reno plus the builder's deposit. We really didn't miss much, yes, the extra space might have been good, but in the end it was the landscape we had come for.
There were quite a few solo travellers as Ponant did not change a single supplement so it made it quite cost effective for people travelling on their own. The overall cost for the cruise was about $1K per person per day for a prestige balcony (about the third level price point). We did spend a little on board but only for laundry and internet. Given the drama that daughter was having with the cats, we needed to be in contact. The coverage was actually pretty good for straight email text, a bit slow in the cabin but acceptable in the lounges.

 

[Flying mermaid]

A couple of other pertinent (or not) comments. When we boarded we were offered an upgrade to a suite (twice the size as a balcony cabin) for a bit over 6,000 euros. I must admit we were sorely tempted but reason won the day, given we had just paid out a goodly sum for the Miele appliances for the kitchen reno plus the builder's deposit. We really didn't miss much, yes, the extra space might have been good, but in the end it was the landscape we had come for.
There were quite a few solo travellers as Ponant did not change a single supplement so it made it quite cost effective for people travelling on their own. The overall cost for the cruise was about $1K per person per day for a prestige balcony (about the third level price point). We did spend a little on board but only for laundry and internet. Given the drama that daughter was having with the cats, we needed to be in contact. The coverage was actually pretty good for straight email text, a bit slow in the cabin but acceptable in the lounges.

That’s interesting - Ms FM has just been offered an upgrade as well to a suite twice the size of the one she’s got for Aus$6,000. Hers is 27m2 and the new one was 52m2. Given money is in short supply I declined it on her behalf (Africa, Antarctica and New York have really exhausted my travel fund ). It has annoyed me that in spite of me booking and paying for the two suites, Silversea has treated them as totally separate. We even have two different people looking after us, so things happen at different times and it’s total chaos. The new suite does look very nice, but we don’t need it. As I said to Ms FM, if I was going to pay another $6,000, I would take it not her

 

[love_the_life]

The flight from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires. After the luxury of the ship, it was a bit of a comedown to be squeezed into an Aerolineas Argentinas 737. We were on the first bus of the morning, leaving at 6.40 am and a 9 am flight. Some of the other passengers were on a 9 am bus for an 11.30 am flight - guess Ponant booked flights based on the post cruise information we had to supply. We were flying from EZE to SCL later in the day so needed the earlier flight. Check in was fine for us but there were lots of passengers who had to do a quick repack as they were over the 23kg allowed and the airline did not allow payment for excess luggage. Ushuaia airport was fairly spartan and the onboard 'snack' for the 3 hour flight was a chocolate biscuit and a soft drink/tea/coffee, somewhat underwhelming


Our chariot awaits

 

[love_the_life]

LA 532 was our flight from EZE to SCL where we had to spend a couple of nights to pick up QF 28 back to SYD. This was Y as well but I was interested to see what the scheduled 787 was like. I'm glad I went onto the LATAM site to choose seats as they had originally allocated us seats nowhere near each other. This seemed to be a common thing with LATAM as the person next to me had his partner in another area and we saw quite a few people in the same situation. We wondered why they were using such a large plane for a 2 hr flight and then it all became clear. This bird was going to New York via SCL and was packed! I must admit I wouldn't want to be going to New York in the LA economy seat, hard and narrow. Refreshment was an inedible cheese and ham roll so I hope the dinner service was better.
Knee space


Looking down the plane - that was the exit row in front and see the passenger is hanging over the edge of the seat it was so narrow.

 

[love_the_life]

Best get this thing finished off! We had a couple of days in Santiago, staying at the Hyatt Centric Las Condes, pleasant enough. Then QF 28 SCL to SYD. Spent a bit of time in the lounge LATAM lounge then moseyed down to the gate. Boarding was to be delayed for 15 minutes, following South American custom we thought . Assisted passengers were boarded then it was announced a further 30 minute delay though in the end it was a little less. Luckily our upgrade request came through and we were in the last row of J, not actually ideal but certainly better than the back of the bus, given what followed. Right, out we go to taxi then the dreaded announcement that we were returning to the terminal. We pulled up on the pad and steps were wheeled out for the engineers. While we were sitting, the FAs came round and set up the mattresses for us and also took our meal orders, plus providing extra drinks. We overheard a comment that passengers at the back of the plane were complaining about heat stress. Eventually we took off, 4 hours late! Lunch was good, think I had the chicken, then it was bed down and lights out. I woke up with 2 hours to go, the best sleep I've ever had on a flight. I managed to beat the 'pyjama brigade' to the loo which was also a bonus! The snafu then came at SYD. We were three and a half hours late into SYD so we had missed the 7.30 Murrays coach (remember MrLtL hates Dash 8s so we were bussing it). No worries, we think, we'll just get on the next (last) one at 10.15pm. Nope, fully booked. . The upshot was we booked a room at the Marriott Sydney Harbour which was about the cheapest hotel we could get (at $550 pn) and then rebooked to come home on the Thursday. These things happen and we got home half a day later than originally planned.

So a few final thoughts. Visiting South Georgia was fabulous as this is where the majority of animal life was to be found. I suppose though if it wasn't an option, you would be mad not to go to Antarctica. The other thing we liked was that we were the first expedition of the season - still lots of snow and ice and in some places, ours were the first footprints. Again though, there are advantages in going later. I guess what I am saying is that this place is so fabulous and so special, if you have the chance, just do it, don't quibble, just go.

And as they say, 'That's all folks.' Thanks to those who came along for the ride.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Best get this thing finished off! We had a couple of days in Santiago, staying at the Hyatt Centric Las Condes, pleasant enough. Then QF 28 SCL to SYD. Spent a bit of time in the lounge LATAM lounge then moseyed down to the gate. Boarding was to be delayed for 15 minutes, following South American custom we thought . Assisted passengers were boarded then it was announced a further 30 minute delay though in the end it was a little less. Luckily our upgrade request came through and we were in the last row of J, not actually ideal but certainly better than the back of the bus, given what followed. Right, out we go to taxi then the dreaded announcement that we were returning to the terminal. We pulled up on the pad and steps were wheeled out for the engineers. While we were sitting, the FAs came round and set up the mattresses for us and also took our meal orders, plus providing extra drinks. We overheard a comment that passengers at the back of the plane were complaining about heat stress. Eventually we took off, 4 hours late! Lunch was good, think I had the chicken, then it was bed down and lights out. I woke up with 2 hours to go, the best sleep I've ever had on a flight. I managed to beat the 'pyjama brigade' to the loo which was also a bonus! The snafu then came at SYD. We were three and a half hours late into SYD so we had missed the 7.30 Murrays coach (remember MrLtL hates Dash 8s so we were bussing it). No worries, we think, we'll just get on the next (last) one at 10.15pm. Nope, fully booked. . The upshot was we booked a room at the Marriott Sydney Harbour which was about the cheapest hotel we could get (at $550 pn) and then rebooked to come home on the Thursday. These things happen and we got home half a day later than originally planned.

So a few final thoughts. Visiting South Georgia was fabulous as this is where the majority of animal life was to be found. I suppose though if it wasn't an option, you would be mad not to go to Antarctica. The other thing we liked was that we were the first expedition of the season - still lots of snow and ice and in some places, ours were the first footprints. Again though, there are advantages in going later. I guess what I am saying is that this place is so fabulous and so special, if you have the chance, just do it, don't quibble, just go.

And as they say, 'That's all folks.' Thanks to those who came along for the ride.

that all sounds quite painful, but I guess you have to play the % and hope you will get there in time. I might be following in your footsteps in January - except I will need to find two rooms and on a Saturday night .

Thanks for the report - gives us a good idea of what it will be like - looks stunning!

 

[OZDUCK]

Thanks very much for your efforts, and especially for the great photos.

 

[love_the_life]

that all sounds quite painful, but I guess you have to play the % and hope you will get there in time. I might be following in your footsteps in January - except I will need to find two rooms and on a Saturday night .

Thanks for the report - gives us a good idea of what it will be like - looks stunning!

Are you flying in and out of CBR? QF arranged accommodation and rescheduled the flights for those who were. It’s only that our flights were in and out of SYD as MrLtL doesn’t do Dash and that’s what our connecting flight would’ve been on, so we were bussing it home. What’s the last flight back to CBR on a Sat night?

 

[kermatu]

Are you flying in and out of CBR? QF arranged accommodation and rescheduled the flights for those who were. It’s only that our flights were in and out of SYD as MrLtL doesn’t do Dash and that’s what our connecting flight would’ve been on, so we were bussing it home. What’s the last flight back to CBR on a Sat night?

Quite early. Usually about 19:30 in my experience. Sundays and weekdays usually have later flights but even then only to around 20:00 to 20:30.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Are you flying in and out of CBR? QF arranged accommodation and rescheduled the flights for those who were. It’s only that our flights were in and out of SYD as MrLtL doesn’t do Dash and that’s what our connecting flight would’ve been on, so we were bussing it home. What’s the last flight back to CBR on a Sat night?

Ms FM’s husband couldn’t make up his mind whether he wanted to fly down on the Saturday morning or the Friday night and I didn’t want to miss the cheap J fares, so I just booked them. I then booked separate award flights to and from Canberra, so different PNRs. I know it is Qantas to Qantas, but not totally sure whether they will do anything if the incoming flight is delayed?

We are on 19:35 flight to Canberra which is the last one on a Saturday. We are flying down on the Friday evening and overnighting at the Rydges, but like you I didn’t want another night in Sydney coming back .

 

[love_the_life]

Ms FM’s husband couldn’t make up his mind whether he wanted to fly down on the Saturday morning or the Friday night and I didn’t want to miss the cheap J fares, so I just booked them. I then booked separate award flights to and from Canberra, so different PNRs. I know it is Qantas to Qantas, but not totally sure whether they will do anything if the incoming flight is delayed?

We are on 19:35 flight to Canberra which is the last one on a Saturday. We are flying down on the Friday evening and overnighting at the Rydges, but like you I didn’t want another night in Sydney coming back .

Can you link the two bookings?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Can you link the two bookings?

that would require me making a phone call....As I understand it Qantas to Qantas should work and they should be able to check through in Santiago, but I am not holding my breath. I might ask the question in the appropriate thread.

 

[VPS]

Great TR and photos thanks- there may be more questions later as I think about my plans to visit Antarctica

 

[love_the_life]

Great TR and photos thanks- there may be more questions later as I think about my plans to visit Antarctica

No worries. Feel free to PM me if you want specific info.