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I am just getting this set up for next week since I cannot sleep again.
We have a trip for an Antarctic Explorer cruise on Hurtigruten that was scheduled for March of 2021 and rescheduled for next week. This trip was planned in 2019 for March of 2021 and we know how things were in 2020/2021.
We decided to go on this because a friend of ours from high school, who is a travel agent, planned it. Originally, we had a room with a large window, but due to Hurtigruten giving everyone 125% of what we paid toward rebooking and an awesome sale last Thanksgiving, we were upgraded to a jr. suite and received $$$ back which didn't come close to covering our flights.
I am very anxious. I am used to dealing with a different travel agent who has the pre and post excursions booked well in advanced. Getting anything done with this person is like pulling teeth. We also missed out on an excursion on the ship we wanted. Unlike Viking, Hurtigruten does not let you do anything if a travel agent is involved. There are 18 people in this group and other than our friend, we don't know anyone since the one other person cancelled due to lack of communication. Right now, we finally have the pre trip tours booked and we are working on the post trip. I like having all my ducks in a row, at attention and ready to march well in advance. That is not happening with this trip and it is so frustrating. I am booking stuff on our own at this point. I am also very anxious being so far away from home.
Basically, we fly from PHL to MIA to Santiago, Chile. We spend about 24 hours there, then go to Valparisio, Chile for about 24 hours before boarding the ship. We are on the ship for 18 days with 3 stops(one for two days) in Chile then to the peninsula of Antarctica for 4 days. The rest is at sea. We end in Ushuaia, Argentina and are flown to Buenos Aires. We will spend a few days there, then fly to see the Iguazu Falls for an over night and then back to Buenos Aires for a day and then later that night fly back home. We hope to book a day trip to Uruguay.
There is a lot to do between now and when we leave. Last weekend we were away for two night for a wedding and this weekend we are away for one night for a car show(we will see friends and family, too) along with doctor's appointments(I had two this week) and a repairman coming before we leave. I have a list for each day until we leave. I am so far behind on life. It'll all get done, but my stress level is up there.
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