Woe is me. Less than two weeks from departure and the company operating our Antarctica trip tells us that there is a problem with the boat. No trip. Oh yes, they have known there was a problem for a long time but decided to hold onto the news until the last minute.

Anyway, we had planned follow-on travel to El Calafate, El Chalten, and the Lake District. Now we have several weeks - almost three - at our disposal. We have been to Iguazu, Valdes Peninsula, and Ibera Marshlands on previous trips.

Any ideas? No penguins, icebergs, etc. for us this February.

That stinks!! Any chance you can book with another company?

For what it's worth: at least they discovered the problem before you got there, just to be turned away. I know that's a small consolation but I hope it helps. Good luck with your new plans.

Yes, it stinks. I just learned the boat had its incident in Antarctica on 26 December 2009 and they subsequently cancelled two cruises. In all this time they never bothered to tell us there might be an issue. I am looking at options but there are very few at this point.

Suppose you had not planned additional time and only wanted to go to Antarctica? What about your flights? Can you tell us what boat this was?

Sorry about your situation and I don't have any suggestions for you.

Boat was the Clelia II operated by Travel Dynamics International.

How about time in Buenos Aires for 1 week, and the Northwest for 1 week: Salta, Cafayate, Cachi, Permamarca/Tilcara, Tucuman etc. and 1 week in Bariloche or Mendoza or Uraguay ?

Actually, this is a great opportunity to do a quick read of guide books/fora and choose what appeals - and just go for it. You will have avoided the overpreparation that so many of us are prone to - and that does not really add pleasure to the trip.

I wish you a great, short planning time and a wonderful trip.

~Marnie

Totally sucks has happened to me

Shame on Travel Dynamics but have had good experience

with them also.

www.wowargentina.com

Lots of other GREAT options

Salta Bolivia Brazil Chile Peru

Titicaca Cusco/MP www.manuexplorers.com

is awesome if you have not been.

Or maybe an Amazon cruise if you want to cruise

www.cruisecritic.com

Have fun,

make lemonaide out of lemons

Lindblad has been me emails about discounts on all itstrips. www.expeditions.com. Maybe y ucan get on one of their Antarctica expeditions.