A friend is going on NCL end of Jan with Grand Circle Tours. Buenos Aires around to Valparaiso. Looking at weather today looks hot in Buenos Aires, cold in So Argentina and comfortable in Valparaiso. What kind of clothing should be needed for daytime and nitetime. Any response would be appreciated.

Hi Aimi,<BR>Just arrived from Valparaizo-Rio. Valparaizo is mild, Buenos Aires at this time is usually hot, Puerto Montt is hot, Punta Arenas is really windy and cold, Ushuaia too, but in a minor scale and Puerto Madryn is mild too.<BR>Any more questions?<BR>

Hi Simone,<BR>May have more questions, but one I can think she'll want to know. Did you take any of the optional excursions if there were any. One lady walks with sticks and the other has a bad leg. Are there trips they could do on shore.<BR>Were you on one of the dream ships and was it full. What kind of atmosphere?<BR>Mostly dressy, casual, or what?

Aimi,<BR>I cruised with Celebrity, so I can´t tell about NCL shore excursions, but I imagine they canot be much different.<BR>To see Petrohue Falls (Puerto Montt), Penguin Caves (Punta Arensa) and the seals at Valdez (Puerto Madryn) some walking is required. Best tour was Train Ride to the End of the World (Ushuaia), that yr friends won´t have any difficulty in accompaigning. They always can take a cab at the ports (Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, etc)and ask the driver to take them to the chilean lakes, which supposedely are gorgeous or ask at the tour desk on the ship to inform them about the difficulties of each tour.<BR>If you need more help, I´ll be glad to help.

We were aboard the Norwegian Dream for two consecutive cruises (24 days total) in Oct./Nov. 2001 in the Mediterranean. NCL's "freestyle" cruising is great, particularly if you are returning late (or want to) from a shore excursion - no first or second seating for dinner to be on time for. "Freestyle" cruising also means you are free to choose the dinning room and time to eat when you want to - not by a pre-planned schedule, except on formal evenings for that particular dinning room. If you are interested in attending the Captains Formal Welcome Dinner Party, you will need to wear a dark suit and tie/cocktail dress. If you are not interested in such events, you simply opt for a "resort casual" dress code dinner in one of the other dinning rooms. Of course, about 40 to 50% of all the other passengers will be wandering around the ship all evening in semi formal or formal attire in the lounges before dinner, and the showroom, casino, etc. after dinner. A dark suit and tie (semi formal) is fine as only about a third of those opting for the formal evenings are actually wearing a tux. So pack that cocktail dress and have your male partner bring a dark coat and tie if you want to go to the Captains Formal Welcome Dinner Party, I think you will be sorry if you don't. I believe there are two formal evenings on 7-day cruises and three on 12-day cruises. One of the highlights on the ship of our cruise was the photographers on formal evenings. They set up a backdrop for formal portraits of passengers. On one formal evening, we got our picture taken in front of the Grand Staircase of the Titanic - white dinner jacket and all! So picture yourself standing in front of that grand staircase, waiting for Leonardo DiCaprio to come down the stairs and your standing there in "resort casual" - I think not! Besides, dressing up for a night out is fun and if you meet other couples that you want to accompany to a formal evening, you won't be left out! Be flexible enough in your wardrobe to be prepared to enjoy the unexpected and have a memorable cruise. The South America cruise is on the Norwegian Dream and the shore excursions we went on in the Mediterranean were expensive but well worth it - most were fantastic. Please have someone say Hi to Barami in the Coffee Bar for us! Thanks and Bon Voyage!

Hi,we did this cruise last year in Dec.the weather was hot in BA and cold in Patagonia. Wear layers.Be careful about taxi's, most drivers don't speak english. Puerto Madryn has a great place to see penguins. A long ride over some rough roads, but was worth the trip. Remember this region has not become a tourist trap yet. But the views will astound you. My most enjoyable trip. Have a great time.

Thanks for the replies. Plane leaves next Wed and ship on 2nd or 3rd from BA