South America Cruise Reviews

Overall, my wife and I thought that this cruise was excellent, except for the customer service staff and the declining buffet. We enjoyed ourselves immensely, and took advantage of everything that the staff had to offer. The food in the MDR is still the best that we have encountered on any cruise ship, and the activities, entertainment, and ports-of-call were all acceptable.

Cruise was good. Cape Horn was to be the highlight for me but it didn't happen. Still, worse things happen at sea. Cruising is not for me (Husband of Josanne, she loved it!) It must be me :-)

An excellent trip, we learned a lot, experienced a lot. Had some adventures. We are glad we went. But I don’t think it would be a want to go back cruise. (Unlike The voyage of the Vikings, and the Svalbard cruise). We were disappointed we didn’t see more wildlife, the trip was marred by lots of smoke in the air along the Amazon. Through no fault of the cruise, the heat and humidity were intense making it difficult to enjoy the ports of call. I should say I got the ship’s cold and cough going around and that takes the edge off enjoyment as well.

This was the first Cruise my wife and I have taken since the late 90s. Of the scheduled stops on this cruise my wife and I had only been to Aruba before. We enjoyed seeing another part of the world. The staff on the Prinsendam treated us like royalty.

This was our first cruise on Regent, and while we'll sail with them again, they aren't at the top of our list of cruise lines (maybe #4), and are somewhat short of what we consider "luxury" class. We'll see if the kitchen and communications problems persist on our next cruise and see if our rating will go up or down.

If it was not for getting the flu and being quarantined to my room the cruise was awesome. Great new friends made great bed, expensive drinks and souvenirs.

Great cruise....very relaxing, excellent weather , not too rough anywhere. FIORDS were the highlight for me....glacier alley particularly.Holland america ZAandam was a very comfortable ship.

Getting off the ship at the ports was definitely our favourite part. We found the sea days were our least favourite. We as first time cruisers were not sure about what to expect on a cruise and I suppose we didn't realise about the "extras" we had to pay along the way. The ships shore excursions were just over the top expensive and were not value for money. The food was good but became quite tiresome after a while. We didn't want to try the speciality restaurants because of the extra cost so we're stuck with the choice of the buffet or two dining rooms serving the same food. Our room was good and the service was very good. All staff were particularly friendly. The ship

was clean and well maintained. The entertainment was ok but certainly not exceptional. The cost of alcohol was exorbitant and the added 18% gratuity seemed over the top! Obviously we didn't get a drinks package but we certainly wouldn't have got value for money if we had purchased one because of the high cost involved. 

We didn't hate our cruise..... just don't think cruising is our preferred type of holiday. 

Check-in was long. My DH admitted to having symptoms of a cold so had to be assessed by a doctor. Then the computer checking the reciprocity fee went down. Boarding the ship was unusual in that we entered via the luggage shoot on level 3.

We didn't pay to eat in any of the speciality restaurants. We varied eating between the various free restaurants which generally gave adequate variety and mixed quality. I wasn't overly impressed with the Garden Cafe, preferring either of the two main dining rooms. It would be nice to have had a change in the menu the second week. The pineapple crepes in the Garden Cafe were to die for. 

Prior to leaving home both my DH & I loaded the iconcierge app on our phones. The app has information about where and when activities were scheduled and information about the location of the various restaurants. My DH decided to pay the $10pp for the 2 of us to be able to communicate on the ship through the iconcierge app. A great investment as we spent a lot of time apart from each other due to our different interests. 

I utilised the gym most days and had little problem completing a workout. I also utilised the spa pools a handful of times. The water could have been hotter. I went to several of the evening shows most of which I enjoyed. I suggest you take a drink with you from one of the bars as they only had two waiters serving downstairs in the Stardust Theatre. The cruise dancers and singers were great and performed under some difficult conditions. All the entertainment staff were great. I rarely left Dazzles before midnight. I loved Blue Notes, they played a great variety of music and had a great sound. Even though the cruise tours are expensive, I booked the tour to Bluff Cove through the ship(the only way it can be booked). Several of the ports we booked private tours. we also did the free walking tour in Montevideo and hired a car in Puerto Madryn

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We couldn't have asked for better service or a nicer cabin.  Our cabin steward was the best one we have had in our seven cruise experience and the service that we got from our butler and concierge was outstanding. All of the wait staff in the dining venues were excellent also.  Our issues were with the food in the main dining rooms - this was the only ship I have been on where the buffet line had food that tasted better than the dining rooms.  We did enjoy the specialty restaurants that we ate in ( I would have enjoyed a couple of them more if I hadn't had bronchitis) especially the Teppanaky.  This particular ship had a layout that was NOT cruiser friendly with the specialty restaurants put in random corners of the ship and requiring circuitous routes to access even having to go through other bars or restaurants to get to them.  

We enjoyed our suite but our bed could have been better - it had a distinct hump in the middle forcing both my wife and myself towards the edges of the bed and, after the first night, the AC was marginal at best.  We had a very limited selection of television shows - the same movies played on a loop for the entire trip and half of them were in Spanish only.  

The excursions redeemed the shortcomings of the ship except for the lack of shopping time of most of them.  They were interesting and informative if overpriced - I would recommend getting private tours for you if going on Norwegian cruises - just make sure they know when you have to be back on board.

This was the best vacation we ever taken. First time in Eastern coast of South America. We saw a lot of different cultures and architects. Latin life style food and entertainment. The cruise was very nice (thanks to weather) and relaxing. Going to do it again, but this time from western coast. I recommend this trip to all.

This cruise was absolutely amazing, such different scenery throughout the cruise, from fiords, glaziers deserts and the different wildlife. The weather was great for us and sailing around the horn, something we will never forget.

La mejor experiencia fue el cruce del Canal de Panamá.

Recomiendo este crucero para todas las edades y familias.

Para los cruceros por el Pacífico de Sudamérica se sugiere que en los bares se utilicen recetas chilenas o peruanas del Pisco Sour, aún a costa del precio.

Como resumen general este crucero fue extraordinario, sin tiempos para el aburrimiento y con un precio total extraordinariamente conveniente

The Amazon River is one amazing feat of nature.  Unfortunately we chose Regent

Seven Seas to go on with their crowded and unimaginatively tour.  The food was

good but ship's crew were tired, passenger' were tired and cranky, probably from

having to fight each and every excursion for a place in line and a decent seat on

the excursion boat/bus.  The lousy excursions were a major damper on what

otherwise should have been a great trip.

We were disappointed in Princess as we were expecting more from them.  We have been on many cruises and this was the first time n Princess and had heard many good things about them. Visiting the cities at the port of calls and seeing the other cultures, building architecture and the different foods was great.  There was a problem at Rio getting off the ship for some reason, they never really told us why,  were were delayed several hours. Princess seems to be more interested in taking advantage of a captive audience than really showing that audience a good time. Prices for things on board are more than they need to be. Entertainment was less entertaining than we had seen on other ships, there were exceptions. Service was blah, with a few exceptions, not as friendly as on other trips we have done.

We went to Rio a few days before the cruise started and we fully experienced Rio Carnival by staying in Lapa (I highly recommend Lapa during Carnival).  Rio Carnival is one big multi-day party where the locals put on crazy costumes and get totally immersed in the party atmosphere.  We went to several block parties, the largest one predicted to have 1,300,000 people.  We had a blast.

After we left Rio on the Veendam, we talked to a number of fellow cruisers who stayed within the confines of the official cruise excursions and didn't experience the Carnival party at all.  For them it was just another cruise port, while for us it was a fantastic experience,

Cruising 1,000 miles up the Amazon River is the other main attraction on this trip.  We enjoyed every bit of it.  Where else can you fish for piranhas and hold sloths, monkeys, and alligators.

The other stops on this cruise I would consider to be "generic" cruise ports.  The highlight for us was participating as "crew members" on an America's Cup sailboat while racing two other similar sailboats.  We were "Primary Grinders".

As for the Veendam, she is showing her age.  The cruise was not full, so the crew was stripped down to a bare minimum.  Activities were few and far between as compared to our previous HAL cruises.  Food at the Lido was mediocre.

The worst thing about Americans visiting Brazil is the getting the Visa.  We sent in our passports four months ahead of time and didn't see them again until a few days before our trip began.  Very expensive too!

Celebriity did an awesome job in all phases of this vacation!  The JW Marriott in Quito was a nice land base. Good restaurants, shops, and rooms. Nice Quito tour. The trip from Quito to Baltra was well organized and Celebrity' handled everything! We left our luggage at the hotel and it showed up in our room on the Xpedition! FYI no liquids allowed in luggage to the Gallapogos it all needs to be in your carry-ons! Bought a wide brined hat for $20 at the airport in Baltra! Best investment I made! Transition to the Xpedition was easy and rooms were ready when we arrived along with lunch. Lectures on board by the naturalists were informative along with videos and constant attention on excursions. The pace was creatively set up to accommodate all agendas with different opinions available every day.  They really want everyone to be able to do what they like. Groups are small and plenty of down time is available and you really do not have to participate in excursion if you don't want to go out.  Transport back to Quito and airport departure was well organized. Bring plenty of sun screen , water shoes of some kind, sun hat, a few sun protective shirts , and be prepared to have a really fun educational vacation! The ship was amazing and so much fun! 

My wife and I were first time cruisers and wanted this to e very special for my 60th last August 2016 - obviously mid-winter in the Antarctic isn't a good idea so chose Feb 2017 for this cruise.  The Crown Princess was amazing ship and we had a terrific time, however the cruise didn't get off to the best of starts as there w sa strike at Valparaiso Cruise Terminal so it was utter mayhem when queuing for check-in and embarkation with a 2.5 hour wait in a disorderly queue before being checked in and then another queue for getting the bus to the ship.  However, having living in Asia and queuing for over 1.5 hours a number of times at HK or Bangkok airports this really wasn't going o put a dampener on our first cruise. Once on board we went to the Piazza and that 3 storey (5th to 7th floor) Atrium was awesome and we knew then we were "cruising".

The Balcony Stateroom was spacious and much bigger than we expected with ample suitcase and clothes storage space. We had 3 formal nights and the food was good everywhere we went. Princess Theatre had two shows a night so it didn't matter when you ate, you need missed a show.

As this was a "Round the Horn" cruise the weather after Valparaiso was changeable to say the least and after the 3 day the pools had to be emptied as they were sloshing about all over the deck, although the Hot Tubs were left full and hot, which was great.

It was hard to believe that 3,000+ people were on this ship as it never felt crowded and  the staff were outstanding.

Saw amazing places and met really nice people whilst on Crown Princess and it has made us realise that "Cruising" is the way forward for trips to new countries/continents as it is a great way to "sample" cities and then if good to think about a longer visit, but if not so good you simply leave the place early, go back to the paradise and sanctuary of your ship and start eating and drinking all over again :-)

Thank you Crown Princess and Crew for an amazing 14 nights cruising roof South America.

I was very disappointed in the ship, the lecture variety, and the stops. Additionally, many passengers became ill, including my husband, who is himself a physician.  The cost of the seeing the doctor on board was excessive and we had no choice, obviously, but to pay it or leave the ship.  $1450 for a doctor visit and two packets of Tamaflu which sell for $110 each at CVS is exorbitant! Although we had received our flu shots my husband contracted the flu while on board.  A number of other passengers were ill also.  I think the trip cost enough without the cruise line needing to charge so much for care. When I questioned the cruise line in a letter I was told the cost was commensurate with other cruise lines...does that mean they fix the price?

We departed from port of Ushuaia.....check in process easy and no problem...we had a suite which was spacious and very comfortable..ship was clean ...a few areas showing their age but nonetheless clean...food was acceptable...not terrific but not bad....repetitive menus...ship's crew was delightful...they were kind and always helpful...the majority of the expedition crew on the other hand were ignorant ,arrogant jerks...yes they were knowledgeable but they kept to themselves, did not interact with passengers, and were irritated when you asked a question...ship landings were executed without difficulty...the beauty of this continent was incredible...words cannot describe how magnificent this land is....the penguins were adorable...