I set up a private tour with GV Tours for Volcano, Waterfalls, lunch and Puerto Varas and today we were joined by Andy & Nancy and Gary & Trish. http://www.gvtours.cl/
We all managed to get on the same tender despite 4 of us being elite and 2 not and meeting in separate rooms for our tender tickets. Not sure why the Captain's Circle hostess won't let us bring them along, but they aren't allowing it. We also thought maybe they forgot to give us the Captain's Circle party invite and stopped to see her about that. She said "no, there isn't one this segment, maybe next segment." Maybe??? She has not been very friendly or personable and she ignored everyone while we waited for the tender numbers to be called as she was intent on studying her split ends.
Anyway, we made our way out of the port to find someone holding a GV Tours sign, but not one with my name on it. There was an accumulated group and they got them on their way and then Victoria went to find us a guide for the day. Not off to a good start. We wasted a fair amount of time while she got that set up. I'm pretty sure she just grabbed a driver that was available and waiting to pick up a tour group for the day. His name was Chris and he did a fine job despite not knowing what we had set up with GV Tours.
I set up the tour last June and reconfirmed it right before boarding the ship in January as I do all of the tours I have scheduled. The guide went over what we were going to see and it was everything on the list except the three-course Chilean lunch with Cuneca Dancers and 2 choices of Chilean wine, Pisco Sours or beer.
I asked him about it and he said yes we stop for lunch. He kept saying there are many good choices of restaurants and he would recommend one for us. I asked again about the lunch with entertainment we were supposed to have and he said he didn't know anything about that and would call Victoria. He said it couldn't happen and they would reduce the price from $99 per person to $85. I said the main reason I booked this particular tour was for the lunch with entertainment. He called Victoria back and let me speak to her. She said they have not included that for 2 years. Why is it still on your website and why did you agree to that when I booked the tour???? No reason other than they don't do it any more. I felt bad for Chris as we were thrust upon him due to their error in the first place. He kept saying he was sorry and we all assured him it was no fault of his. I said no worries, I'll email her later and also post a negative review on Trip Advisor. (done and done)
OK, the bitching part is over, here's what we did see and do:
at the port waiting for the tour guide
in the van
The town of Puerto Varas is also known as the city of roses. Puerto Varas was colonized by German settlers and is known for its German traditions, seafood, natural scenery and luxurious hotels. The town is located on the shores of Llanquihue Lake and the perfect cone of Osorno Volcano and the snow-capped peaks of Mt Calbuco and Mt Tronador are visible from the lakefront.
At the National Park we did a short walk to see Petrohue Waterfalls. We did see a couple of interesting birds that we still need to figure out. We stopped for a wonderful hot chocolate.
White-crested Elaenia
Patagonian Sierra Finch
From there, we continued our journey to Ensenada where Chris recommended a restaurant to get empanadas. We went in and got a table in the back room for the 6 of us and we tried our best to explain the menu items to our tour mates since the menu was in Spanish. We all had empanadas and they were different than we have had in the past, but very tasty. Our time was short and we didn't have any time to explore the small town before returning to the van.
Trish & Gary and Andy & Nancy
Black-faced Ibis - adult & young one begging for food
We had 50 minutes here and we would have liked at least another half an hour. We talked to friends that took a Princess tour and they said they only had 15 minutes there. So, we didn't feel so bad.
There were a lot of small gift shops and restaurants along the street near the water. We were to meet the van at the “Theatre of the Lake” of Frutillar. We grabbed some ice cream and ate it in the van on the way back to the port.
Then we drove back to Puerto Montt and a few of us did a quick walk through Angelmo, a group of craft shops before getting on the tender back to the ship.
We returned to the ship and I called Dad while we were still in port and then I waded through all my emails to find the one where GV Tours confirmed our itinerary and sent it to Victoria and said why wasn't I informed if there were changes and why was no one there to take my group? Surely, with all the mixups she would understand her negative review on Trip Advisor. There were also little things like we were to have guided walking tours in 2 of the areas, though we didn't mind wandering on our own. OK, now I'm done ranting....
We did see a few sea lions swimming around the ship this morning and this evening when I called Dad.
We grabbed dinner upstairs and went to see the comedian Jeff Nease "Just the Right Amount of Wrong". Meh.... He told many of the same jokes as the other comedian just a few days ago.
We got news that our cruise director Martin had to leave for a family emergency. We didn't care for him, but sorry he had to leave for those reasons. We also lost Captain Bye Bye. He was so entertaining and everyone is missing him already. We haven't heard one peep from the new Captain.
Early to bed for another early morning to catch the tender to Chacabuco, Peru.
****We have had some flooding in our cabin. A pipe broke and flooded the cabin next to us (probably some flooding above or below as well) and water was seeping into our cabin. We got a call from the desk saying they knew our do not disturb sign was out, but would we mind letting them in to check for flooding. They came in and we only saw one small area, but it was just beginning. It was seeping in just about everywhere. We got everything up off the floor including the suitcases under the bed. They brought in towels and water vacs and left fans to help it dry. So, shoes must be worn at all times in the cabin as the carpet is soaked. I feel badly for June our Cabin Steward as he has a lot of extra work to do to deal with it.
Puerto Montt, Chile https://photos.app.goo.gl/CJqIdVwTS0fxv5gi2
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