Cruise-n-Views December 16, 2003 Newsletter

Breaking News

Congratulations to President G.W. Bush, our American Troops, Coalition Troups and the current Iraqi Government on their successful capture and for the bringing to Justice and the ending of Saddam's Misery. Their persistence against all negative comments now results in "A safer and more Peaceful Cruising World for all of us" !!!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Updates From Last Issue

Captain Lou, being the perfect Captain that he is, was ever so kind as to quickly point out to me that I had FORGOTTEN to include the proper link to make the Chile flag appear last week. Actually, he knows nothing about "proper links" but he knew the flag was not there and assumed it was my mistake! OK, so it was! Since this issue includes three more ports of call in Chile, I HAVE included the "proper link" this time so you can all see the Flag of Chile.

While he (Captain Lou) was on a roll, he also told me I could add one more item for Tina's question from last week. Another way to remember Port being red is that Port Wine is Red Wine. According to the Captain, this is how true sailors keep it straight. What is the saying about drunken sailors......??? Oh well, enough for now, enjoy this issue, it is perfect!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

12 New Ships Coming In 2004

According to information released by Cruise Line International Association, there will be 12 new cruise ships entering the North American market this coming year.

Two of the most exciting will be the Queen Mary 2 of Cunard Lines, the largest and most expensive passenger ship ever constructed and the Pride of America from Norwegian Cruise Line, the first US flagged cruise vessel in over half a century.

The others include: Princess Cruises with Caribbean Princess, Diamond Princess, and Sapphire Princess; Carnival with Miracle and Valor; Costa Cruises with Magica; Holland America with Westerdam; Oceania Cruises with Insignia; MSC Italian Cruises with Opera; and Royal Caribbean International with Jewel of the Seas.

With this increased tonnage and additional berths, we are sure to see another full season of very competitive pricing as the major cruise lines battle to maintain their high occupancy rates.

As of now, Gayle and I are scheduled to cruise on the Pride of America during June 2004 as it heads to Hawaii. I will be sure to give a you a full and complete report on both the ship itself as well as its "All American" crew!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Predict The Date"
Contest
Now Awaits A Winner!

As stated above, we did indeed hit the 25,000 OPT-IN subscriber number this past week.

All entries are being reviewed and the winners will be announced in the next issue.

The three winners of this contest will receive a FREE ONE YEAR MEMBERSHIP in DYNAMIC DREAM CRUISE CLUB! (Value $74)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Let's Try This One Again,
With The Flag This Time!!!

Country Flags and Facts

Numbers presented based on 2000 available data. GDP Income/Capita is Gross Domestic Product Income divided by total population. For comparison purposes, USA GDP Income/Capita in 2000 was $30,200

Chile

Total Pop.-- 15,600,000
Total Area-- 473,094 sq. miles
Capital City-- Santiago
City Pop.-- 5,500,000
Metro Pop.-- 5,500,000
Literacy Rate-- 96.2%
Language-- Spanish
GDP Income/Capita-- $11,600
Currency-- Chilean Peso

Fact: Chile's Coast stretches for 2,650 miles.
Chile has 4,021 miles of actual coastline.

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"Off The Track Fact"
by Judy

Between Chacabuco & Punta Arenas lies a rusted hull of a sunken cargo ship of the early 1960's.

This disaster represents a major reason for the laws prepared to prevent collisions, in general, and the use of English--as the international maritime language as well as the use of Port and Starboard rather than the landlubber's left and right, in particular.

The misunderstood left and right between Captain and Pilot resulted in the ship running aground and sinking.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

RELATIVE DEFINITIONS:

Fjord: a long narrow coastal inlet with steep sides, often formed from glacial action.

Glacier: a large body of continuously accumulating ice and compacted snow, formed in mountain valleys or at the poles; that deforms under its own weight and slowly moves.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SIDEBAR: This comment is noted because of my actually hearing the following comments while aboard:

As to glaciers: "I’ll be damned if I’m getting up at 7 am to see a big chunk of ice"!

As to Panama Canal Locks: "What’s the big deal, it’s just a concrete ditch"?

As to stepping onto docks in exciting places: "Let me get back aboard..... now that I’ve been here".

As to Penguins: "What’s so special about Penguins"?

These comments could be considered to be comical ---if they weren’t so disgusting and pathetic.

Cruise-n-Views Newsletter For Complete Up-To-Date Information On The Cruise Industry Issue #012 December 16 , 2003
FOR OUR NEW SUBSCRIBERS Welcome to another issue of Cruise-n-Views Newsletter. If you are new to our newsletter, welcome. We are glad to have you as a subscriber and hope you enjoy the information this weekly newsletter provides you to stay up-to-date on all the exciting happenings in the cruise industry. We also hope you take part in this newsletter, by submitting questions you want answered, providing feedback to help us improve the newsletter to make it even more enjoyable, and even participating in occasional surveys and then reading the results of our readers once posted. The more participation from the readers, the better the newsletter will be. Editor: Daniel A. Hoffman, MCC This newsletter contains current news and information on the "Cruise" industry. It will also contain the "Views" of the editor on different issues within the industry. The editor owns and operates a cruise oriented travel agency located in Pennsylvania. This newsletter's main purpose IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE for the purpose of selling cruises. It will at times contain ads from different sources. All ads will be cruise or travel related. It will list cruise specials from time to time in the ad section, but as stated, this is not the primary purpose of this newsletter.
"Predict The Date" Contest is now over! We Did Exceed 25,000 OPT-IN Subscribers This Week. The Winners Will Be Announced In Next Weeks Issue. Did You Win A ONE YEAR FREE MEMBERSHIP in DYNAMIC DREAM CRUISE CLUB?
	In This Issue #1 Puerto Montt, Chile #2 Chacabuco, Chile #3 Punta Arenas, Chile PLUS -Breaking News- -Updates From Last Issue- -12 New Ships in 2004- -And Much More -	Contact Info: You can email us at the following: Feedback@Cruise-n-Views.com for input about the newsletter Editor@Cruise-n-Views.com for submitting questions to have answered Reply@Cruise-n-Views.com for general replies or responses to articles in the newsletter
***Serving Over 25,700 Opt-In Subscribers Weekly!***
#1 PUERTO MONTT, CHILE Port-Of-Call # 9 "The Sea is Closed Today"! This is the answer given to Capt. Lou’s question as to why all boats seem to be in the harbor in this land of sailors and fishermen? (see photo below) The weather is cold, the wind is fierce, and the water is rough! The Chilean Navy forbids any boat to leave "safe harbor" in these conditions. To do so might endanger the lives of a rescue team should they be called. We are told that these rules are strictly enforced and that penalties are severe. Puerto Montt was destroyed in a 1960 earthquake. The port is downtown. The Pilot and the Captain back the ship down a narrow channel and dock alongside--nice maneuver. Fishing is the major industry. Although very much interested in Puerto Montt, Capt. Lou has his mind set on Isla Grande-Chiloé and seeing some of its one-hundred and fifty wooden churches. On a mission, Capt. Lou, Judy and Gayle exit the ship, and get attacked by taxi salesmen. The offer; $250 and up to visit Chiloé. Just outside the port, several hundred feet away, we are again attacked but the price is now $100 and up for the same trip. After many a "No Thank You", we strike a deal with Martin, a well educated young man and his partner, Armando. Martin speaks several languages, has a Chilean father and a mother from Aruba. He is delighted that we want to visit Chiloé, rather than the local surroundings tour. The area surrounding the port is called the Region de Los Lagos, (Lake District) and was founded in 1843 by mostly German settlers. That culture is still prevalent today in the area… and aboard our ship! A huge number of German Tourists boarded in Valparaiso. Most headed to the Lake District while we are promised an experience of the "Real Chile" by our guide. We are not disappointed. Fortunate for us, Martin is just getting started and does not hold the union ticket that allows him inside the port fences as yet. He’s a great business-smart young man and will make it with or without the union. Since we have over 80 Kilometers each way and a ferry ride to access Chiloé, and less than 5.5 hours, we’re off! Gale force winds are with us most of the day with intermittent downpours and totally grey skies. The beautiful countryside shows through the gloom of the weather and our somewhat wind blown ride. The drive takes us past dairy farms and rustic ranches with Gauchos on horseback herding sheep and cattle. Pargua, a small village where we get the ferry to Chiloé is a little rural local jewel. Following a rough ferry ride with seal sightings we reach Puerto Chacao, the entry point to Chiloé. In Chacao, we stop at and visit our first wooden church. Following a brief stop and a few prayers for friends in need, we walk to a small garden and are exposed to two trees never seen nor heard of by Capt. Lou. First is the Araucaria, a cactus type tree with a unique shape. (See photo in top section). Next is the Chilean Palm which has fronds like all palms but its base or stem resembles a hardwood’s bark. Lastly, Martin points out the Arrayan Tree, which can grow to 130’ in height and exceed 13’ in diameter. It is becoming extinct due to slow growth and excessive use as fencing, and building framing material. It is very termite resistant. Capt. Lou, Judy, Gayle, Martin and Armando proceed to Acund. Along the way Martin points out the large flat bed trucks with the plastic bins. They are "baby salmon" from the salmon farms of the area. In Acund, a short stop at the market reveals "no fresh fish" today--remember, the sea is closed. But other items delight us-- cheese, seaweed, garlic cloves, other vegetables and most importantly the best strawberries ever eaten by Capt. Lou. We buy some for later in our trip. Martin’s local knowledge takes us to a series of artesans’ sheds with high quality and very inexpensive wool, and other hand made items available. We watch the hand knitting of items to be sold in the handicraft shops in Puerto Montt. We get them at the source! THEN; we go to El Sacho Restaurant for lunch of "Curanto", Salmon, and Crab Empanadas. Curanto includes a huge helping of clams, mussels, chicken, sausage, pork ribs, bread and Milcao--a type of pork wrapped in a potato/bread mixture. We also got to taste the consumé soup which is the white wine that the curanto is cooked in. The salmon helping is huge. All this gets washed down with Pisco Sours for the ladies and Cristal Cerveza for the men. No we did not come close to eating all we ordered--but we tried! With a Gale still blowing, we visited Forte San Antonio--beautiful, but miserable. Then the mad rush back to the ferry with fingers crossed that it was still running in these roughening conditions. It was! Our guide got us to the ship after the long return trip and Capt. Lou and the ladies checked in just three minutes past the all-aboard horn. What a day in Chiloé! The preceding article was written and contributed by: Capt. Lou Hoffman *** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * #2 CHACABUCO, CHILE Port-Of-Call # 10 Why Chacabuco??...Nearly everyone asks as the anchor drops in a serene cove surrounded by steep slopes, waterfalls, snowcapped peaks, and an unattractive community port. Normally it’s a wet, windy area. But today, we’re blessed with just the wind and bone chilling coldness. The NCL brochure says…" Nature’s majesty has never been more evident than in the Chilean archipelago. Deep fjords slice into the base of the snow capped Andes. Massive glaciers hang over a volatile landscape, while hundreds of species of birds appear oblivious to the grandeur as they flock to feed and play." And… that is an understatement. As we approach our anchorage, traveling through the Chilean Fjords, the beauty leaves me without appropriate words. …. ……… To port, we see a lone fishing vessel, a small waterfall, islands-- alone and in groups--and mountains, steep and rising to 5000-6000 feet in height. All are within 300 yards on each side of the ship at times. Waterfalls, frozen solid at the peaks, begin to flow as they reach the lower levels and splash into the fjords. After the anchor is dropped, customs is cleared and we tender ashore, it’s decision time. Again we are not signed onto any of the ships tours. We also note that there is very little to do in the port and that taxi opportunities are slim and expensive. Dan and Gayle will remain in port or onboard attached to the computer. Stopping at a small "breakfast pub", Capt. Lou exchanges $15 US for 9,000 Chilean Pesos and is off! By a local bus this time. Judy and Capt. Lou wait where a bus might stop. There are no "bus stops" designated, so just be observant and a little Spanish will help. We head to Aysen, a small village on the Patagonia Flatland at the base of magnificent mountains. The 400 Peso trip is a treat and we get a real gut feel for the area and its people during the 14 kilometer ride. In Aysen, we are impressed with the clean streets, local atmosphere and total lack of tourist traps. Shop prices are cheap to very reasonable. We decide to shop later, have some soup and a cerveza. As we exit Dyna’s Restaurant, we notice hundreds of school kids headed home. It’s 2 PM, minutes later we watch as hundreds of stores change the signs from albierto (open) to cerrado (closed), lock the doors and leave for three hours. It’s their custom to close from 2- 5 PM daily. Most will reopen at 5 PM, another lesson learned…"the restaurants may stay open; the grocer, hardware, pharmacy and shops will not". Back in port, we check out the hotel on the hill. Hotel Loberias de Sur is a contradiction to the whole area. It is a 4 maybe 5 star hotel located atop a carved out hillside, on an unpaved road with a spectacular view of the harbor. The first rate modern interior design of wood and glass is supported by its’ fine linen tablecloths, excellent food, and impeccable service, (in Spanish). Two meals of Salmon, Tortilla Soup, Bread, Butter, cerveza and a small bottle of vino for under $21 US. Puerto Chacabuco today has 2 cruise ships at anchor, and 2 cargo ships alongside. The port has no cranes, so all loading is done using the cranes of each ship that calls here. The "Nordnorge" is the first cruise ship we have seen in 5 days since leaving Valparaiso. That’s a good thing! As Capt. Lou and the crew exit Chacabuco, a rainbow appears over the port, between us and the snow capped mountain backdrop. Views are stunning--as the setting sun strikes the snow caps, heavy vegetation and waterfalls creating deep shadows on the landscape. Abundant bird activity is everywhere. THAT’S WHY CHACABUCO!!! "The Crown" heads south for 2 days at sea and more Chilean Fjord beauty. The preceding article was written and contributed by: Capt. Lou Hoffman * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *** #3 PUNTA ARENAS, CHILE Port-Of-Call # 11 Early this morning--one of the two days at sea--the Captain maneuvers the ship to within several football fields of a massive glacier. What a treat…as the "CROWN" floats alongside ice flows or small icebergs on both sides while all passengers "capable of intelligent thought are on deck to partake of this awesome sight. (See sidebar). Yes, we are on the sun deck freezing our buns, but what an experience! After sailing past miles of desolate, uninhabited beauty, we approach Punta Arenas and dock at 0600. This settlement was the first Patagonian settlement made by Chile over 150 years earlier. At that time it was a critical shipping port on all major trade routes. Its importance was severely affected by the opening of the Panama Canal. The port is now an important stepping-off point for Antarctic Expeditions. It’s our last Chilean Port, so we attempt to enjoy it. The flyover of Antarctica from here was enticing--except for the cost of $1400. The city’s past grandeur and wealth is obvious in its architecture. This port is also downtown; really enjoyable . We decide to go to Otway, a Penguin Rookery, 31 miles out of the city. Our first mistake, although quickly overcome by the destination, was negotiating with transportation services inside the port. It is easier but less satisfying and more expensive. The 31 mile ride and one and a half mile walk once there was quickly forgotten because of the enjoyable scenery along the way and because of the unique Penguin Walk and actions of these characters. A wooden walkway and roped off area is laid off to protect the Penguins and the tourists. It should be stated that several visitors, obviously the ones with the smaller brains had a difficult time determining which side of the ropes they should waddle on. It is no wonder tourists get such a bad rap in some areas. Let us all follow the basic common sense rules that protect our wildlife environments. On this trip we saw; condors, ostrich, rheas, horses, llamas, jack rabbits, sheep, penguins, and numerous unidentified species. The Patagonia vegetation is a study unto itself. Thirty one miles and we are back downtown. Following a brief tour around the hillside for an overview we look for Capt. Lou’s target, Cabo de Hornos, a PanAmerican Hotel. For $12 US we have the Menú del Chef--a tremendous value meal with, soup, salad, appetizer, entree, desert and a glass of wine. Again, we have impeccable service. In front of the Cabo de Hornos is a large well landscaped Plaza with a monument to Hernando Magellan. The Plaza is filled with local artisans selling and making on site their wares. We watch sweaters, caps and scarves being knitted and woven, animal horns being carved, jewelry being shaped, and wooden items being carved. It’s all cash but very inexpensive and super quality items. Punta Arenas is not what I expected, but it is quite nice. Traffic is light to moderate. The people are friendly and patient. The buildings have seen better days but are receiving attention as is appropriate. This once wealthy area is doing its best to attract business and deserves a spot on your trip list. As is frequently said in the Caribbean, "we go to come back"!! The preceding article was written and contributed by: Capt. Lou Hoffman			Breaking News Congratulations to President G.W. Bush, our American Troops, Coalition Troups and the current Iraqi Government on their successful capture and for the bringing to Justice and the ending of Saddam's Misery. Their persistence against all negative comments now results in "A safer and more Peaceful Cruising World for all of us" !!! *** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Updates From Last Issue Captain Lou, being the perfect Captain that he is, was ever so kind as to quickly point out to me that I had FORGOTTEN to include the proper link to make the Chile flag appear last week. Actually, he knows nothing about "proper links" but he knew the flag was not there and assumed it was my mistake! OK, so it was! Since this issue includes three more ports of call in Chile, I HAVE included the "proper link" this time so you can all see the Flag of Chile. While he (Captain Lou) was on a roll, he also told me I could add one more item for Tina's question from last week. Another way to remember Port being red is that Port Wine is Red Wine. According to the Captain, this is how true sailors keep it straight. What is the saying about drunken sailors......??? Oh well, enough for now, enjoy this issue, it is perfect! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 12 New Ships Coming In 2004 According to information released by Cruise Line International Association, there will be 12 new cruise ships entering the North American market this coming year. Two of the most exciting will be the Queen Mary 2 of Cunard Lines, the largest and most expensive passenger ship ever constructed and the Pride of America from Norwegian Cruise Line, the first US flagged cruise vessel in over half a century. The others include: Princess Cruises with Caribbean Princess, Diamond Princess, and Sapphire Princess; Carnival with Miracle and Valor; Costa Cruises with Magica; Holland America with Westerdam; Oceania Cruises with Insignia; MSC Italian Cruises with Opera; and Royal Caribbean International with Jewel of the Seas. With this increased tonnage and additional berths, we are sure to see another full season of very competitive pricing as the major cruise lines battle to maintain their high occupancy rates. As of now, Gayle and I are scheduled to cruise on the Pride of America during June 2004 as it heads to Hawaii. I will be sure to give a you a full and complete report on both the ship itself as well as its "All American" crew! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Predict The Date" Contest Now Awaits A Winner! As stated above, we did indeed hit the 25,000 OPT-IN subscriber number this past week. All entries are being reviewed and the winners will be announced in the next issue. The three winners of this contest will receive a FREE ONE YEAR MEMBERSHIP in DYNAMIC DREAM CRUISE CLUB! (Value $74) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Let's Try This One Again, With The Flag This Time!!! Country Flags and Facts Numbers presented based on 2000 available data. GDP Income/Capita is Gross Domestic Product Income divided by total population. For comparison purposes, USA GDP Income/Capita in 2000 was $30,200 Chile Total Pop.-- 15,600,000 Total Area-- 473,094 sq. miles Capital City-- Santiago City Pop.-- 5,500,000 Metro Pop.-- 5,500,000 Literacy Rate-- 96.2% Language-- Spanish GDP Income/Capita-- $11,600 Currency-- Chilean Peso Fact: Chile's Coast stretches for 2,650 miles. Chile has 4,021 miles of actual coastline. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Off The Track Fact" by Judy Between Chacabuco & Punta Arenas lies a rusted hull of a sunken cargo ship of the early 1960's. This disaster represents a major reason for the laws prepared to prevent collisions, in general, and the use of English--as the international maritime language as well as the use of Port and Starboard rather than the landlubber's left and right, in particular. The misunderstood left and right between Captain and Pilot resulted in the ship running aground and sinking. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * RELATIVE DEFINITIONS: Fjord: a long narrow coastal inlet with steep sides, often formed from glacial action. Glacier: a large body of continuously accumulating ice and compacted snow, formed in mountain valleys or at the poles; that deforms under its own weight and slowly moves. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SIDEBAR: This comment is noted because of my actually hearing the following comments while aboard: As to glaciers: "I’ll be damned if I’m getting up at 7 am to see a big chunk of ice"! As to Panama Canal Locks: "What’s the big deal, it’s just a concrete ditch"? As to stepping onto docks in exciting places: "Let me get back aboard..... now that I’ve been here". As to Penguins: "What’s so special about Penguins"?** These comments could be considered to be comical ---if they weren’t so disgusting and pathetic.

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