Worst cruise

Crown Princess Cruise Review to South America

randy618

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 2

Helpful Votes: 65

Overall rating:

4.5 out of 5

14 Night Cape Horn & Strait Of Magellan (Buenos Aires To Valparaiso)

Sail date: February 01, 2017

Ship: Crown Princess

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: B305

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

Unfortunately the ports on this cruise do not seem to cater to cruise ships. Buenos Aires doesn't have a dock for large cruise ships. Ship was docked at a pier normally used for cargo container ships. Since you are in a shipping container yard shuttles are used to take passengers from the terminal to ship. Valparaiso (end of cruise) was no different. Most of the ports of calls require tenders which means less time on shore even if everything goes right, unfortunately most times things didn't go right. We were late getting off ship at almost every port. Ship tours are over priced. For example In Puerto Madryn we took a tour to Peninsula Valdes for $122/person (includes $22 entry fee to Valdes). Similar Princess tour was $239/person. There are tour operators at all ports with similar tours so we had no problem getting tours on our own. Of course taking ship tours guarantees you won't get left behind if tour returns late but we didn't have any problems. Princess also seems to give more time on shore to those taking their over priced tours. Princess would tell us the last tender back to ship was 3:00 pm but Princess tour schedule showed last tour returns at 4:30 pm which means the last tender cannot be at 3:00. Also the ship was scheduled to sail at 5:00 pm. I have never seen this on other cruise lines. We were supposed to dock at Ushuaia however water wasn't deep enough so tenders had to be used and 1st tender left 2-1/2 hours later than advertised docking time of 7:00 am. On return from town at 2:45 pm we find a 2 hour wait to get on tender back to ship which left Ushuaia about 3 hours late. This resulted in 1 hour late arrival at next port. At Valpariaso the ship docks at a shipping container yard so shuttle buses are use to take passengers from ship 2 miles away to terminal. We were scheduled to leave at 9:35 am however the bus drivers went on strike around 9:00 am and didn't get back to work until just after 1:00 pm, we finally got off the ship at 1:30 pm. If you don't like a lot of tender rides (some lasting 25 minutes) than I would not take this cruise.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

On deck 11. Balcony is private as there was no one above looking onto our balcony. Our balcony overlooked those on decks 9 and 10 which were larger than ours. Cabin attendant was great.

Ship tip

Don't go to South America

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Buenos Aires, Argentina

1 out of 5

Punta Del Este, Uruguay

1 out of 5

Ship had trouble getting clearance so we were late getting off ship and didn't have time to take a long tour. Punta Del Este is a resort town with modern hotels and apartment buildings. Not much to see. Get in line at least 45 minutes early for tender tickets if you want to be on 1st set of tenders.

Thumbs Up 0

Puerto Madryn, Argentina

5 out of 5

Tours stand located on pier as you exit the ship. Tours are good but long van/bus rides to get to sites.

Thumbs Up 0

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

5 out of 5

Nice town to walk around. Would not waste money on internet as they charge $3/10 minutes for very slow internet. Did not think much of Gypsy Cove as you must stay on a path. Any penguins or sea lions are a good distance away. Get in line 45 minutes early if you want to be on 1st set of tenders. Many tours take several hours off road so best to be there early if you want to take tours.

Thumbs Up 2

Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina

5 out of 5

Neat town. Was a penal colony. We were almost 3 hours late getting off ship and did not have time for most tours. We instead rode a double decker tour bus around town.

Thumbs Up 2

Punta Arenas, Chile

5 out of 5

No need for city tours. Everything is within walking distance. There is information office at main square. Saw everything we wanted to in a few hours and spent another few hours at hotel restaurant next to Sara Braun Palace. Drinks were strong. Service, food and internet was good. Chile also has strange rules regarding ATM withdrawals. Maximum withdrawal we found was 200000 pesos and there is 5000 peso fee.

Thumbs Up 3

Puerto Montt, Chile

5 out of 5

Tour companies just outside pier. Took tour to Petrohue Falls and Puerto Varas. Have good view of volcano Osorno on way to falls and at falls. Cost $50/person. Best to get in line 45 minutes early for tender tickets so you have ample time for tour.

Thumbs Up 4

Valparaiso (Santiago), Chile

5 out of 5

Neat town but most is in the hills. Need to be in good shape to walk around. Train or bus ride to Vina Del Mar is only a few dollars. Took private tour to fish market, Vina Del Mar, Concon, and Caleta Horcon. Cost 45000 pesos/person with English speaking driver. Stayed 2 days but should have stayed 3. Would have liked to spend a day just in Vina Del Mar.

Thumbs Up 4