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Cruise to Cape Horn (Cruising), Chile

Cape horn (cruising) shore excursions, amazing experiences coming soon., sorry, there are no excursions for this port at this moment., things to do in cape horn (cruising).

Take in Chile's Southernmost View

Enjoy the ride past Hornos Island, then marvel at the rugged coastlines that define this isolated idyll. Get the "money shot" as the captain signifies you're passing Cape Horn itself, and zoom in on the Chilean Naval Station, a humble wooden structure that's home to a picturesque lighthouse. Cruising amid these isolated straits definitely makes you feel like you're at the end of the world!

Set Your Sights on Local Wildlife

Speaking of birds, you can also see rockhopper penguins when you look down on Hornos Island's beaches, and you may see an albatross when you look up. Search for humpback whales when you look down off the dock, ideally during lulls when the water is not so rough. Then, try to spot sea lions lazing on the rocks — their mousy color often camouflages them — or consider bringing binoculars if you hope to be able to see king crabs from afar. Searching for wildlife is one of the best things to do in Cape Horn, Chile.

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Cape Horn and Drake Passage

Thanks to its location—on one of the southernmost points in South America—Cape Horn has played a major role in navigational history. The Strait of Magellan to the north was discovered first, but that route’s narrow width was challenging to navigate. Cape Horn, discovered by the Dutch in 1615, became the primary route for trade ships traveling from Europe or the east side of the Americas to the American West Coast.  Cape Horn marks the entrance to the Drake Passage, where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans meet. Until the Panama Canal opened in 1914, this was one of the planet’s major shipping routes. Strong winds, currents, waves and icebergs made the passage fairly treacherous in the days of sailing ships. Even today, “rounding the Horn” remains a challenge for the many yacht races that pass through its icy waters. Hornos, the island where Cape Horn is located, may look desolate and treeless, but it’s home to a vast number of gulls and other seabirds.

Cape Horn Expedition Cruise

Cape horn expedition cruise | in the wake of explorers and sailors, expedition cruise to patagonia, tierra del fuego and cape horn., cruise aboard the world-class m/v stella australis and m/v ventus australis cruises., 4-night cruises from punta arenas, chile or ushuaia, argentina. check out the updated tracks, dates and rates..

Cape Horn Expedition Cruise. The Straits of Magellan, Beagle Channel and Cape Horn are important and highly significant geographic and historical landmarks in the southern tip of the South American continent. Snow-capped mountains, huge glaciers and magnificent forests, all add to the peculiar beauty of this landscape of peaks, trees, fjords and remote islands sculpted by the strong westerly winds and the Pacific Ocean. During this journey we will sail through a significant part of the Straits of Magellan, learning about the fascinating history of the indigenous people and the explorers of the Fuegian fjords and channels, and following in the footsteps of Darwin aboard the HMS Beagle in the 1830s. We‘ll explore the cultural remnants of the world’s southernmost people, the Yamana, and learn how they survived and adapted to this extreme geography and climate. We’ll see active breeding colonies of penguins and sea lions, and enjoy the elegant flight of the majestic albatross. Finally, we shall reach the southernmost part of our journey at the mythical and feared Cape Horn. Sail with us in the wake of Cook, Darwin, Fitzroy and many other explorers.  cape horn expedition cruise

Mt Bove, Tierra del Fuego, Chile © Claudio F. Vidal, Far South Expeditions

M/V Ventus Australis & M/V Stella Australis

With spacious cabins, all of which overlook the exterior, both ships have been carefully decorated, offering maximum interior comfort and spectacular views from virtually all parts of the ship..

16,5 m 2 / 177 sq. ft

Double Bed Cabin

16,5 m 2 / 177 sq. ft.

Superior Cabin

20,5 m 2 / 220 sq. ft.

M/V Ventus Australis

Built: 2017

Tour Registration

To register for this tour, complete our  online registration form  and return it with a deposit of US$ 500 per person. Full payment of the tour fee (in US Dollars) is due 90 days prior to tour departure.

Cancellation Policy Notice of cancellation can only be accepted IN WRITING from the person who signed the booking form and takes effect on the day such noticed is received by us.

Refunds are made according to the following schedule: • If cancellation is made 120 days or more before departure date, the deposit less US$ 250 is refundable. • If cancellation is made between 120 and 60 days before departure, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded. • If cancellation is made fewer than 60 days before departure date, no refund is available.

This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post trip extensions, as well as any transfers from one tour to another. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself.

© 2024 • www.farsouthexp.com • Far South Expeditions

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It’s at the meeting point between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans that you enter Chilean Patagonia where you head for the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and its famous Cape Horn. From the top of its impressive 425-metre high cliff, South America’s southernmost tip has, for many centuries, seen merchant ships from the world over passing by. Because of its legendary storms and rough seas, getting round this cape has gone down in history as a challenge for all seafarers.

The best of Chilean Fjords

Wild Nature between Argentina and the Falkland Islands

Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.

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How to Prepare for a Cruise Around South America and Cape Horn

For many people, a South American Cruise around Cape Horn is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. People often plan something like this to celebrate a milestone birthday, anniversary, or another big life event. My husband and I took our South American Cruise in 2016 for our 20th Anniversary.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. These links are just one way that I support my site. By clicking on these links I may receive a small commission. But don’t worry, you will not pay more for the products. 

What is it Like to Take a Cruise Around South America and the Horn?

A South American Cruise is not all that different from any other cruise. You can expect most of the same amenities and activities found on any other cruise.

• Multiple dining options ranging from buffets to premium restaurants
• Multiple bars
• Spa with a full menu including hair and nails, body treatments, and facials
• Fitness center offering classes and fitness assessments
• Multiple pools. Some ships have adult-only pool areas
• Oodles of organized activities including, lectures, games, and demonstrations
• Activities and facilities for kids of every age too

However, since this is a longer cruise and typically more costly than a short Caribbean sailing, these cruises cater to an older clientele. Therefore, you can expect to see fewer kids sailing on a South American Cruise. As a Gen Xer, and my husband a young Boomer, we were some of the youngest folks on our cruise.

Table of Contents

The mega-ships are not traveling to South America so it is a more intimate experience. Sadly, on our Royal Caribbean South America Cruise, this didn’t translate into a more personalized encounter. (I’m not knocking Royal Caribbean but being honest about the experience. We’ve taken five delightful cruises with RC. This just wasn’t one of them in terms of dedicated service and attention to detail.)

How Many Days for a South America Cruise Around the Horn?

There isn’t a right or wrong to this but you can expect that your South America itinerary will be at least 10 days. More often though you are looking at a 14-day cruise and you will cover more than 4000 nautical miles (4600+ miles). If your cruise does not go around the Horn and through the Chilean Fjord but rather directly through the Strait of Magellan you will travel closer to 3200 nautical miles.

The duration of your cruise and the number of ports visited will dictate how many at-sea days you will have. Typically, you can expect about 50 percent of the days to be at sea. I found this to be a nice balance.

When is the Best Time to Cruise South America?

Most South American cruises run from late October to mid-March which is the best time to go to South America. This means that you will be sailing during winter in the northern hemisphere. South America’s seasons are the opposite so you will be cruising during South America’s summer. That’s just one of the things that makes a cruise around the continent a wonderful winter vacation option.

Let’s face it, who doesn’t love going someplace warm in the wintertime? But, while you will want to pack your swimsuit and sunscreen, don’t expect to sun yourself poolside throughout your entire trip.

Read my South America and Cape Horn Cruise Packing Guide and know exactly what to pack and what to leave home.

What’s the weather like in south america and around the horn.

On an Around the Horn cruise, you will encounter all kinds of weather. Throughout your sailing, you can expect, the sun, rain, wind, and even snow. That said, you should expect the daytime South American temperature to range from the 90s in Buenos Aires to the 30s when sailing through the Strait of Magellan. You can expect the cold weather to continue as your ship heads up the west coast and through the Chilean Fjords.

In looking over my materials from our cruise it appears that the warmest day was our port stop in Puerto Madryn, Argentina when we hit a high of 92 degrees. We cruised the 3rd week of February.

Cape Horn Weather

You will need your  hat and gloves  more than you will need a swimsuit . Despite cruising during South America’s warmer months, you can expect temperatures no higher than 60 degrees. The average high is 58 degrees with average lows around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Year-round the Cape receives a fair amount of precipitation and summer is the wettest season of the year. Much of the precipitation comes in the form of snow.

During your sailing around Cape Horn, you can expect rain, snow, sleet, and wind. It can be quite nasty if you are not a cold-weather person. I am not! We had wet snow during this part of our cruise. But don’t worry. You won’t be in extreme weather for too long. Only about a day and a half of your cruise will subject you to this. Also, the scenery is so beautiful you won’t mind. The glaciers and the vast wilderness will distract and awe you.

Documents, Disease, and Sea Sickness

You will need your passport for your South American cruise. And you will need to have 6 months left on it before it expires. This is not the requirement for all countries you will visit but it is true of Brazil and since almost all South American cruises start, dock, or terminate in Brazil this is an important detail. Other countries have similar requirements but since 6 months is the longest period you will be good for, all the other countries you’ll be visiting.

Recently, Brazil dropped its requirement for US Citizens to purchase a visa. This will save you some hefty ching as a Brazilian visa came with a substantial price tag in the past. The other countries you will be visiting do not have visa requirements. But you will want to check with your cruise line to verify if any other documents are required at your ports of entry.

You should always have your routine vaccinations (measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot) up to date but that is especially true if you are traveling. Additionally, for your cruise around the Horn, you will need to have your Hepatitis A vaccine. This needs to be done no later than 2 weeks before your departure. Hepatitis B is not essential.

The Typhoid vaccine is recommended by the CDC for travel to South America. This is a food-borne illness. However, since you will likely be eating food provided on the cruise ship your risk of contracting Typhoid is minimal. This is not to say you should not get the vaccine. You need to consider how much risk you are willing to take. Keep in mind that while in port you may choose to enjoy the local cuisine.

Another consideration is all those pesky diseases spread by mosquitos; Yellow Fever, Malaria,  Dengue, and Zika. As with exposure to food-borne illnesses, your risk of contracting one of these diseases is greatly diminished by being on a cruise. However, you will not spend all your time on the ship. I highly recommend you purchase a strong insect repellent and use it. A repellent with DEET is recommended .

If you are prone to seasickness you are going to want to pack Dramamine or another motion sickness remedy.  For most of the cruise, you can expect regionally normal seas. However, what that means for your experience has a lot to do with the size of the ship you are on, where you are on the vessel, the weather, and how you respond to the motion.

All these variables make it impossible to predict your experience. However, Cape Horn waves can create some rough conditions and I mean quite rough. As your ship takes you around the Horn and through the Strait of Magellan, I assure you your ship will be rocking. In fact, you can expect that the ship’s pools and hot tubs will be drained to prevent the water from sloshing out onto the decks and creating slick, icy, and hazardous conditions.

I am not one to get seasick and this was the closest I’ve ever come to it on a cruise. So you don’t make the same mistake, let me tell you what I did which I’m certain contributed to my overwhelming nausea. We were in a balcony suite and I was putting my make-up on to get ready for dinner. I believe that looking in the mirror and having the reflection of the waves behind me played tricks on my equilibrium thus causing me to become queasy. Tip: close the curtains if you are similarly situated.

That evening I opted out of dinner. I stayed behind in the cabin and lay on the bed with my eyes closed. That worked for me. I didn’t require anything to settle my belly.

Bill went on to dinner without me that evening. Since he was dining alone, he opted for the buffet rather than the dining room. He tells me there were very few people milling around outside their stateroom that evening. And, at the buffet, he literally caught a roast as it flew from the counter.

South American Cruise Ports of Call and Excursions

The ports you visit on your South American cruise partially depend on the size of the cruise ship you are traveling on. Larger ships may not be able to dock or even tender in some of the smaller ports and will, therefore, need to bypass those. I will provide a primer for the larger ports since my voyage was on a sizable ship and these are the ports I’ve experienced.

On an Around the Horn cruise, excursions will provide you the opportunity to experience pristine natural landscapes with incredible wildlife, amazing cosmopolitan cities, indigenous cultures, colonial cities and so much more. Of course, much of your experience will depend on how you choose to spend your time in the ports you visit.

If you spend your time in the cities you will have a different experience than someone who goes to the wildlife preserves or an estancia (ranch). I recommend mixing it up. We loved seeing the penguins and the elephant seals at the Peninsula Valdes. But we also enjoyed exploring Buenos Aires which is both historic and cosmopolitan.

If you are under 55, you can expect to be one of the younger people on your cruise ship. Probably not the youngest but close. (The above picture includes probably all the people under 55 who were on our cruise). There will be lots of older people with varying degrees of ability. For this reason, don’t expect your excursions to be crazy, over-the-top, extreme activities. Even the excursions classified as strenuous are within the capabilities of most travelers.

The most demanding excursion we took was in Ushuaia, and it was categorized as “strenuous.” It included rafting and hiking. I remember being a bit winded during the hike but that probably had more to do with altitude than my physical condition. Also, I was less than a year out from a hip replacement but was able to manage my activities. Of course, if you have any physical restrictions you will want to get more information about the excursions before booking.

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is sometimes referred to as the “Paris of South America.” This wonderful cosmopolitan city has loads of history and culture. For this port of call, we opted to take a tour of the city with Context Travel rather than booking an excursion through the cruise line. This generally is not recommended but I had an established relationship with the company.

Our tour took us through the historic Puerto Madero where the Puente de la Mujer (Bridge of the Woman) connects the old port with the new city.  We visited the Presidential Palace, Casa Rosado (Pink House), and  Plaza de Mayo . Here we learned about Eva Peron and the Abuela Movement which is a tragic part of Argentina’s recent history.

When we finished our tour we ventured off on our own strolling through the San Telmo neighborhood and grabbing a bite to eat. From here we caught a cab to the vibrant La Boca neighborhood. La Boca is considered a tourist trap but I think the brightly colored buildings, Tango dancers, the smell of Asado carnitas (barbequed meat) and music pouring onto the street were worth a visit.

In Buenos Aries, you can expect excursions to include activities such as tango shows, a visit to an estancia (ranch), shopping, walking tours of the city center, and Recoleta Cemetary.

Montevideo, Uruguay

Like Buenos Aires, Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, is a city with a strong European influence.  This city marked by tree-lined streets offers a lively art and culture scene. This port city, the 18th-century home of the Spanish naval base retains its old-world charm. We did not visit the city but rather ventured outside it. However, I heard terrific things about it and wish we had time to visit during our day in port.

Our excursion took us to the charming small town of Colonia del Sacramento. This waterfront village oozes with colonial charm. Gaslamps line narrow cobblestone streets. On the streets, you will find cars from days gone by. Take time to walk along the promenade or climb the lighthouse.

Other excursions took cruisers to the Uruguayan countryside with visits to wineries and estancias.

Puerto Madryn

For wildlife lovers, this port of call will wow you! Puerto Madryn is your gateway to Patagonia. Most of your excursions are going to involve wildlife and a visit to Peninsula Valdes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As your bus traverses through the wilderness watch for Peluda (armadillo), Guanaco (similar to a llama), Mara, Halcon Peregrino (Peregrine Falcon), grey fox, and more.

Observe Magellan Penguins at the nature reserve, plus Southern Sea Lions and Elephant Seal from the cliffs of Puerto Piramides. If you time it right you will be treated to viewing mothers and calves.

You can expect there to be many water-based excursions. As you can imagine, many of these are weather-dependent. However, they offer a chance to catch a glimpse of Orca, Right Whales, and dolphins.

Do get off the ship in Ushuaia. This was my favorite port of call. I recall waking up in port and seeing the city on the mountainside from the water. It was still dark, lights twinkled and there was something magical about it.

Ushuaia has a charming and bustling downtown (I imagine when the cruise ships are not in port it is sleepy). But this is the port for the Tierra del Fuego National Park too. The Tierra del Fuego straddles Argentina and Chile. It has some of the most pristine wilderness imaginable. You will want to have your picture taken at the “End of the World.”

Punta Arenas, Chile

Though Punta Arenas, located at the southernmost tip of Chile’s Patagonia region, was established as a penal colony in 1848, it has significant maritime importance.

The city is located on the Brunswick Peninsula north of the Strait of Magellan connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Through the 1800 Punta Arenas grew in significance due to maritime travel and commerce. During the late 1800s, the city grew as a result of waves of Croatian and Russian immigrants. These settlers were attracted by the gold rush and sheep farming. Because of its logistic importance, Punta Arenas retains geopolitical importance to this day.

Punta Arenas is the gateway to Antarctica for many voyages there.

Valparaiso, Chile

Valparaiso was the termination point for our cruise. However, we were not finished with South America yet. We stayed for 4 days in Valpo.

Valparaiso is a picturesque port city with colorful houses perched upon its hills. At street level, graffiti art adorns the cityscape.

Valparaiso is known for its prolific street art scene. That was our main reason for staying. But in addition to its plethora of street art, the city is where poet and writer Pablo Neruda called home (La Sebastiana). Outside the city, you will find beautiful beaches and several vineyards.

A South American cruise around the Horn is a wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion. It offers so much variety of places to see and a nice balance of at-sea and port days. A South American cruise is sure to please.

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22 Responses

I signed up for the packing list but haven’t received a link to it. We leave next week for a 32 day cruise from Buenos Aires to Los Angeles. Packing is a little overwhelming. Thank you for all your information

Hi Cindy, According to my records you should have recieved it. I sent you an email.

Thanks for such an informative guide. Could you send me your packing list please.

Our cruise starts with hotel stay in Buenos Aries and then 2 nights at Iguazu falls before joining the ship. Have you any info regarding Iguazu falls? I am from the UK and go in Feb.

Many thanks!

Hi Cathy, Sorry about the packing list. Sometime the automation glitches. I will make sure you get it. As for Iguazu Falls, I have not been. I have friends that have been there and it seems amazing. I probably need to move it further up my bucket list. Enjoy your time in South America.

Please send me your packing list. Thanks!

I am not sure how to sign up for the packing list. Where would I find the link? Thanks.

I just emailed you the link. Sorry for the inconvenience.

I would like your packing list for down around the horn cruise. I am leaving 2/23/23. Would like weather info for days at sea. Viking cruise specialists offer no help.

Suzanne, I went in and reviewed my email list. I see that you signed up to receive the packing list. You should have received an email with the link. I am going to send you a separate email and manually add the link. Hopefully, that gets it resolved. If not reply to that email and I will figure something else out.

Could you send me your packing list? Thank you so much!

We’re traveling around the horn in November with Viking. I hadn’t heard anything about the Hepatitis A requirement. Did you find that to be the case?

I had already been vaccinated for it years before taking my trip so it never came up for me.

Thank you so much for this post. I have been on a gazillion cruises and traveled the world (91 countries and counting), but I had no idea what to take on our upcoming January cruise. I only do carry-on and brag that I can pack for three days or three weeks in one bag. However, I just didn\’t know what kinds of clothes to pack. This was very helpful.

I\’m glad it was helpful. Enjoy your cruise!

We are sailing in Patagonia soon and this article was quite helpful. Signed up for the packing list, but the link I received didn\’t work. Says \”file not found\”. Thanks!

I\’m sorry this happened. I\’ve sent you an email with a new link. Let me know if there are any issues with that one.

Could you send me a packing list? Ill be leaving for a December cruise around the Horn. Loved your article

Sending you an email

Thank you for all the information you provided about each stop and what the voyage was like around Cape Horn. I would never have thought to bring winter clothing for the fjords. I live in AZ so I hope I have winter clothes. I also never thought about getting all the injections listed. Some I already have, but I know I don\’t have all of them. I am getting very excited about my trip, but it won\’t happen until 2023. I am still not sure when the best time is to take the trip, January or February. I was thinking perhaps the second half of Jan. since that is the middle month of their winter. Perhaps there won\’t be as much fluxuation of weather. Your info was GREAT!

Louise, Thank you for your comment. I\’m glad you found the article helpful. I think the idea that you would need winter clothes when visiting a place during (their) summer is counterintuitive. But like going to Alaska in the summer you probably wouldn\’t pack shorts and your swimsuit. If you don\’t have much in terms of winter clothes you can probably get by with several long sleeve shirts that you can layer along with a jacket or sweatshirt. Don\’t forget gloves and a hat. Enjoy your trip!!

please send me a link for the packing list. Thanks so much

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I just emailed you the packing list. I hope you find it useful.

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Cape Horn cruise port

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• Coordinates -55.969, -67.272
• Local Time 2024-04-11 00:26

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USHUAIA TO CAPE HORN AND THE END OF THE WORLD

Welcome to the Southernmost tip of the World, right where the last reminiscences of civilization sink among the Fjords, from Ushuaia to Cape Horn, to raise again after the Majestic Drake Passage, in the Antarctic continent. Both Ushuaia and Punta Arenas are strategic hubs for all kinds of tours and adventures, including the mythical cruise ship that joins both cities, from Ushuaia to Cape Horn, and then to Punta Arenas.

Cruises: Ushuaia to Cape Horn, Chilean Fjords, and Punta Arenas

Get onboard the Cruise that joins Ushuaia with Punta Arenas (and vice-versa), visiting Cape Horn and the Chilean Fjords. It takes 4 nights and includes disembarks in amazing places. Book through Beyond BA Latam and get special benefits!

Land tours: Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, and other destinations

Enjoy the best custom tours in Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. If you would also like to add other destinations in Patagonia, you may like our Patagonia Tours section. Likewise, if you like trekking, you can click in our trekking tours section.

Ushuaia & Punta Arenas

Ushuaia-Punta Arenas Cruise: Ushuaia Beagle Channel, Cape Horn & Punta Arenas

Ushuaia to Cape Horn and Punta Arenas: navigate the remote Chilean fjords from Ushuaia to Cape Horn, finishing in Punta Arenas (or viceversa), onboard a modern cruise ship and within the frame of a fulfilling activity program.

Punta Arenas to Ushuaia Cruise: Cape Horn, Chilean Fjords, and Penguins

Punta Arenas to Cape Horn and Ushuaia: navigate the remote Chilean fjords from Punta Arenas to Cape Horn, finishing in Ushuaia (or viceversa), onboard a modern cruise ship and within the frame of a fulfilling activity program.

Ushuaia tour & Tierra del Fuego

Being the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia exhibits the beauty that emerges from the union be-tween mountains, glaciers, rivers, forests and sea.

From Punta Arenas to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego

Classic Ushuaia starting from Punta Arenas: plenty of travelers want to visit Ushuaia from Punta Arenas, and don´t know how to do it. Even though there are many ways to join both destinations (such as the cruise from Ushuaia to Cape Horn), an overland ride across the Pampa is an intrepid idea.

Ushuaia: Snow & Ski

Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego - Mountains, Pampas & Sea

On this custom tour you will be able to enjoy the best highlights of Ushuaia and its surroundings.

Tierra del Fuego Hiking Tour

Explore the heart of the Andes Mountains and the Southernmost point of Argentina at the shores of the Beagle Channel.

Peninsula Mitre - trekking expedition in Tierra del Fuego

Expedition to the Mitre Peninsula

Isla de los Estados: Jules Verne's inspiration

Expedition to Isla de los Estados (Lighthouse at the End of the World)

Dientes de Navarino

Dientes de Navarino trek (Teeth of Navarino)

Darwin Range Patagonia Expedition (Cordillera Darwin)

Darwin Range - navigation and trekking

CRUISE TO CAPE HORN: ACCOMPLISH THE DREAM OF THE OLD SAILORS

Where the land meets the immensity of the biggest oceans of our planet, where wildlife is at our feet and Antarctica right above the horizon…this is the place where the bravest sailors performed their most famous feats. A once in a lifetime and unique adventure awaits in the Punta Arenas to Ushuaia Cruise (or vice-versa, because it can also be done from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas).

Humans & Nature

The furthest corner of our planet intrigued explorer for centuries and defied those who thought could conquer and tame its wildlands. As told by ancient expeditionaries, it was right on this region where incredibly tall and muscular natives, the Yaganes, use to live and wander, barefooted and practically naked, surviving on whale hunting from its canoes.

In the present day, the harsh spirit of the first inhabitants of this southern part of Argentina and Chile remains, as well as its exotic landscapes and animals. Far from the struggles of wildlife, we can enjoy both the history and natural beauty of Patagonia in a cozy and modern cruise.

Exploring the Beagle Channel

Discovered in the nineteenth century by a British expedition, the Beagle Channel is where the adventure begins (if starting from Ushuaia). With an extension of 280 kilometers, the channel connects the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean. Its unique location and features make this geographical area very peculiar: depending on the area it can be surprisingly narrow (reaching less than 2 kilometers wide from coast to coast) or shallow, with only 14 meters depth water. At the same time, in other regions of the Beagle, the sea can reach 300 meters in depth.

Cape Horn, the wildest of them all

This stunning location used to be visited only by savvy and courageous sailors. Luckily, nowadays the expedition can be experienced by anyone.

Cape Horn is considered the southernmost point of the Americas and is also famous for the strong winds and huge waves that can be seen in this region. It’s also famous because Charles Darwin based part of his work The Origin Of Species here. ‘The evening was calm and bright, and we enjoyed a fine view of the surrounding isles. Cape Horn, however, demanded his tribute, and before night sent us a gale of wind directly in our teeth’, said Darwin about his encounter with the cape, back in 1832. That being said, it’s important to notice that eventually, the harsh conditions and unexpected changes in the weather forecast might force visitors to modify a thing or two in their schedules.

Continueing with the Cruise and leaving Cape Horn behind (if starting from Ushuaia), we reach Wulaia Bay. The Wulaia Bay is a very calm spot ideal for anchorage due to its protection from the winds and calm waters. This made it an ideal place for the Yaganes to eventually settle. Experts believed that the tribe migrated from the north of what today is Tierra del Fuego to this area, in fact, plenty of archaeological remains where found in Navarino Island.

The Yaganes were the most southern population of natives in the history of mankind and it believed that they never encounter other civilizations until the nineteenth century when European explorers begin to sail the waters of Patagonia.

According to numerous records, British investigators got to meet the Yaganes and some of them were taken to London as these men of science planned to teach them the language. They also tried to settle Christian missions and educate the natives in their religious faith, unsuccessfully.

Visiting a city of ice

Not as glamorous as the 5 th but still very fancy and the only of its kind, the commonly know ‘Glaciers avenue’ is also part of the itinerary. Huge walls of ice emerge from the sea only to grow into cold mountains that resemble white and blue natural buildings, creating this particularly exotic location in the south of Chile.

The Pía and Garibaldi glaciers can be not only seen but explored. Once on the Pía fjord, the panoramic view can be reached by foot. Every year and, like most glaciers, the Pía loses about 10 meters, so landslides and detachments are often witnessed.

On the other hand, the Garibaldi glacier is a natural structure of colossal proportions white as the snow. The sun reflecting on the water and on every inch of ice bathes this place with the brightest light possible and makes it mandatory to wear sunglasses.

More Fjords and Glaciers

A few kilometers ahead on the Cockburn Channel, more glaciers can be seen but now on the Agostini Sound. Onboard of zodiac boats that surf the water at high speed, crossing the sea allows adventurers to get right at the foot of the Aguila and Condor glacier.

Named after the Italian explorer, Alberto Maria de Agostini, this fjord divides the Darwin Mountain Range into two branches: the Cordón Navarro in the south, and the Monte Buckland in the north.

History, ice and wind aside, during the entire trip the guests will not only enjoy the comfort of a top of the line accommodation in a modern and safe cruise, but also have the ability to connect with raw nature. On the way from Argentina to Chile, condors can be seen while it is also possible to walk around with penguins (from october till march).

The walking with penguins experience is only on the itinerary that starts in Ushuaia and finishes in Punta Arenas. If the itinerary is the one from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia, penguins can be seen as well, but from a zodiac right in front of Tucker Islets (in this scenario, if you want to walk with penguins you can do it before the Cruise, in Punta Arenas, or after the trip, in Ushuaia).

Puerto Almanza

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Chilean Fjords

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Sailing around Cape Horn / Beagle Channel - is it rough?

By Steerpike58 , November 10, 2022 in Ask a Cruise Question

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Steerpike58

We're considering a cruise around the tip of South America (from Buenos Aries to Santiago) and I was just wondering, is that area likely to be really rough?  How do modern cruise ships handle rough seas?  

Related - where are the 'hot spots' in the cruise world when it comes to rough seas?  

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2 hours ago, Steerpike58 said: We're considering a cruise around the tip of South America (from Buenos Aries to Santiago) and I was just wondering, is that area likely to be really rough?  How do modern cruise ships handle rough seas?     Related - where are the 'hot spots' in the cruise world when it comes to rough seas?    

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLzBDhilDL0

crystalspin

3 hours ago, Steerpike58 said: We're considering a cruise around the tip of South America (from Buenos Aries to Santiago) and I was just wondering, is that area likely to be really rough?

The Drake Passage is known for storms and rough waters, called the Drake Shake, but can be as calm as can be -- when it is called the Drake Lake. Our reverse cruise from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires encountered Drake Lake. It was beautiful! But it is the luck of the draw.

navybankerteacher

8 hours ago, Steerpike58 said: We're considering a cruise around the tip of South America (from Buenos Aries to Santiago) and I was just wondering, is that area likely to be really rough?  How do modern cruise ships handle rough seas?     Related - where are the 'hot spots' in the cruise world when it comes to rough seas?    

There is probably a greater likelihood of rough seas there than at most other passages.  However it is possible for very calm conditions to exist.   Other "hot spots" would include the Bay of Biscay, that gulf in the Med just south of the Rhone Valley, and rounding Cape Hatteras, NC.

Modern cruise ships generally handle "rough seas" well. Of course, given modern meteorology and communications, modern cruise ships generally "handle" really rough seas in any particular area by simply being elsewhere.

Just prior to my passage through this area, a severe storm had developed.  The Captain delayed our transit to Antarctica by a half day+ by sailing the Zaandam in the lee of the land mass at the end of Cape Horn.  When the storm had passed, we began across and, it was sufficiently rough, that maintaining one's balance in the Crow's Nest without hanging on to something was wise to do.  Looking out my cabin's window at the very dark cloud masses of the storm that had passed us, trying to have made that crossing might have been the worse sea conditions that I have experienced.

Crossing the Northern Pacific in late September from Vancouver to Russia, the Volendam experienced two strong storms with waves washing over the Crow's Nest when the bow slammed down into a trough.  There were some other "not so calm" parts of days, but, nothing like those storms!  

18 hours ago, Steerpike58 said: We're considering a cruise around the tip of South America (from Buenos Aries to Santiago) and I was just wondering, is that area likely to be really rough?  How do modern cruise ships handle rough seas?     Related - where are the 'hot spots' in the cruise world when it comes to rough seas?    

Our experience in 2016:  We had a lovely sail in to Ushuaia and were to take a small boat excursion. Within an hour the winds picked up and that was canceled (replaced by a tour in the National Park that was great).  Upon return to the ship we noticed that no effort was being made to prepare for departure.  The winds were so high the ship couldn't not leave the dock!  The captain explained that if the smaller ship docked opposite us when we arrived was still there it would have shielded us enough from the wind to push away.  Our 6 pm departure ended up being a midnight to 1 am departure and the beginning of a rocking and rolling night.

Still rocking and rolling when we got up in the morning.  After my DH took a shower he told me to come look at the tub.  The water was barely draining because the bow of the ship was higher than the stern (we were far aft).  My BIL - in the next cabin - mentioned the same thing.  We finally got close to Cape Horn and the Captain came on the PA system and said "There it is.  Take a close look because we aren't going to attempt to sail around it.  Setting the new course the seas should be much better and we will get to the Falkland Islands without a problem."  I didn't hear a single person standing on deck complained and I doubt if the others self confined to their cabins did either! 

20 hours ago, Steerpike58 said: We're considering a cruise around the tip of South America (from Buenos Aries to Santiago) and I was just wondering, is that area likely to be really rough?  How do modern cruise ships handle rough seas?     Related - where are the 'hot spots' in the cruise world when it comes to rough seas?    

Unfortunately, with respect to weather and seas, what other experienced has little bearing on what you will experience. However, Cape Horn is renowned as having the potential for being some of the roughest seas in the World.

Masters manage the passage using a number of tools - first and foremost is reviewing weather routing information and the synopsis/forecasts from a recognised National Meteorological Office. In open waters the Master will endeavour to steam toward the edge of the storm, reducing speed and steering a course in accordance with the seas to ease the passage. In coastal areas the master may seek shelter to evade rough seas.

Lots of areas are known for rough seas, with the primary factors being the fetch (distance the wind blows), depth of water and local weather issues. Some of the worst areas i have experienced are:

 - North Atlantic

 - North & South Pacific

 - Indian Ocean

 - Tasman Sea

 - Bay of Biscay

 - Gulf of Tehuantepec (south of Acapulco)

 - Hecate Strait (BC Coast)

 - Approaches to san Francisco & Columbia River

 - Roaring 40's (uninterupted waters at 40S)

 - Bass Strait

The day we rounded the Horn it looked like a farm pond.  Almost disappointing.

Point is...tlhere is no telling sea conditions at any given time.  South America is a great trip!

On 11/10/2022 at 2:36 PM, capriccio said: ....  We finally got close to Cape Horn and the Captain came on the PA system and said "There it is.  Take a close look because we aren't going to attempt to sail around it .  Setting the new course the seas should be much better and we will get to the Falkland Islands without a problem."  I didn't hear a single person standing on deck complained and I doubt if the others self confined to their cabins did either!   

So did they abandon the destinations altogether? I presume, if you don't go 'around' Cape Horn, you don't get to 'the other side', which means, destinations abandoned. Or, are there some 'passages' that you can take to achieve the same purpose? Or was this just a 'sight seeing' detour around the Horn? 

On 11/10/2022 at 2:17 PM, donaldsc said:    

That's an awesome video!  Especially interesting to see the damage at the end. I presume the ship had to undergo extensive repairs after this? The deck buckling is what makes me think that. 

42 minutes ago, Steerpike58 said: So did they abandon the destinations altogether? I presume, if you don't go 'around' Cape Horn, you don't get to 'the other side', which means, destinations abandoned. Or, are there some 'passages' that you can take to achieve the same purpose? Or was this just a 'sight seeing' detour around the Horn? 

Cape Horn is actually on an island (Hornos Island, Chile).  We were never scheduled to dock there.  In fact I don't know if any cruise ships do but maybe some of the small ones stop.  On our cruise it was planned to be a sail around so we saw 1/2 of the island in the distance.

1 hour ago, capriccio said: Cape Horn is actually on an island (Hornos Island, Chile).  We were never scheduled to dock there.  In fact I don't know if any cruise ships do but maybe some of the small ones stop.  On our cruise it was planned to be a sail around so we saw 1/2 of the island in the distance.

What I meant was, if you are on a cruise from Buenos Aries (east side) to Santiago (West side), do you have any option other than to go 'around the horn'?  If you can't make it around the horn, what do you do in order to reach your destination in Santiago? 

herbanrenewal

If you look at the map you can see there are passages that dont involve rounding Cape Horn to get to the Chilean coast to Valpariso.  

Yu selected a great a great itinerary. Went around the Cape twice, landed once. Both times were calm

On 11/13/2022 at 3:06 PM, Steerpike58 said: That's an awesome video!  Especially interesting to see the damage at the end. I presume the ship had to undergo extensive repairs after this? The deck buckling is what makes me think that. 

What you might consider "extensive" repairs is probably a lot different than what the company does.  Ships are steel boxes, designed to flex with the seas.  If you stand at the back of a ship on the upper deck, and look at the bow, you will see both the bow flexing up and down in relation to the rest of the hull, as well as twisting side to side.  This is normal.  However, when you glue wood decking on to the steel, it has a different elasticity, and so will tend to break at stress points.  Those areas of wooden deck would likely be roped off, and repaired within 3-5 days by the ship's carpenters.

On 11/16/2022 at 8:05 AM, herbanrenewal said:   If you look at the map you can see there are passages that dont involve rounding Cape Horn to get to the Chilean coast to Valpariso.  

This got me doing a review of my old history lessons!  Voyages of discovery, and all that.  According to this article , "The Beagle Channel, the Straits of Magellan to the north, and the open-ocean Drake Passage to the south are the three navigable passages around South America between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Most commercial shipping uses the open-ocean Drake Passage ."

It goes on to say "(Although it (Beagle Channel) is navigable by large ships, there are safer waters to the south (Drake Passage) and to the north (Strait of Magellan)."

Apparently the Strait of Magellan was discovered first - 1520, followed by the rounding of Cape Horn (Drake Passage) in 1616. The Beagle Channel wasn't discovered till 1831. 

Why does most commercial shipping use the open-ocean Drake Passage around Cape Horn, anyone know? It would seem like the Strait of Magellan would be preferable!  Is it due to the narrowness of the channel and the need for pilots? 

14 minutes ago, Steerpike58 said: This got me doing a review of my old history lessons!  Voyages of discovery, and all that.  According to this article , "The Beagle Channel, the Straits of Magellan to the north, and the open-ocean Drake Passage to the south are the three navigable passages around South America between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Most commercial shipping uses the open-ocean Drake Passage ."   It goes on to say "Although it is navigable by large ships, there are safer waters to the south (Drake Passage) and to the north (Strait of Magellan)."   Apparently the Strait of Magellan was discovered first - 1520, followed by the rounding of Cape Horn (Drake Passage) in 1616. The Beagle Channel wasn't discovered till 1831.    Why does most commercial shipping use the open-ocean Drake Passage around Cape Horn, anyone know? It would seem like the Strait of Magellan would be preferable!  Is it due to the narrowness of the channel and the need for pilots?     

Thanks for posting this.  I knew where it was but had not idea what the Strait of Magellan actually looked like.   I should have paid more attention in class. 

Good question about commercial shipping.  I wonder if it also has to do with being in international vs territorial waters.   

So ... having refreshed my geography of Cape Horn (Drakes Passage), the Beagle Channel, and the Strait of Magellan, do cruise lines going from Argentina to Chile (Santiago) typically opt for 'Cape Horn' or another option? 

Looking again at the specifics of the Viking cruise I was interested in ... makes more sense now ... looks like they sail close to Cape Horn just for grins (but not 'around' it), then sail into the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia for a port-stop, through the Beagle Channel and then up to Punta Arenas at the western end of the Strait of Magellan for another port stop, then back out to the Pacific and on up to Santiago.  So technically they are traversing the Beagle Channel in its entirety, touching on the other passages partially.  

Viking's 'map', along with a real map from Google ... 

This is a Holland America 'map' ...

4 hours ago, Steerpike58 said: Why does most commercial shipping use the open-ocean Drake Passage around Cape Horn, anyone know? It would seem like the Strait of Magellan would be preferable!  Is it due to the narrowness of the channel and the need for pilots?   

Most deep sea Masters prefer open water, so will avoid narrow channels, which are most likely compulsory pilotage waters.

9 hours ago, Heidi13 said:   Most deep sea Masters prefer open water, so will avoid narrow channels, which are most likely compulsory pilotage waters.

I think Andy will agree that most Masters will also prefer not to have rocks on both sides.  Open ocean gives you the option to steer various courses to minimize pitch/roll, and still not bounce of the "curbs".

4 hours ago, chengkp75 said: I think Andy will agree that most Masters will also prefer not to have rocks on both sides.  Open ocean gives you the option to steer various courses to minimize pitch/roll, and still not bounce of the "curbs".

You bet Chief, especially when the ship is only single screw and doesn't have high lift rudders and multiple thrusters.

Having spent 30 years navigating through narrow channels, in addition to the ship needing better manoeuvering characteristics than your average deep sea ship, it also takes an experienced coastal Master, even if they have a Pilot onboard. Over the years, I had a number of very experienced deep sea Masters try out and very few survived. I recall one ULCC Master couldn't handle the 90 degree turns in big tides, doing 20 kts about 480' off the rocks and every time he saw a ship/boat wanted to slow down. He just couldn't comprehend we could be dead in the water in 3 cables from 20 kts, since his last ship took 10 miles to stop. Prior to arrival, I made the initial speed reduction at 1 mile.

When using narrow channels you will escape the mountainous seas, but you don't always escape the winds. Storm force winds in confined channels are no fun, so yet another reason most deep sea Masters will opt for open water, where they can easily ride out the storm.

2 hours ago, Heidi13 said: Storm force winds in confined channels are no fun, so yet another reason most deep sea Masters will opt for open water, where they can easily ride out the storm.

I've always personally detested the North Sea, where the relatively enclosed nature, and relatively shallow water prevents the long rollers, but you get shorter period, higher sided seas.

February, 2022, it was the Drake Lake for us on the Veendam as the captain circled Cape Horn. In 2020 the we delayed crossing the Drake Passage to Antarctica until 24 foot swells abated. The roughest seas I have encountered were in the Irish Sea, of all places.

7 hours ago, chengkp75 said: I've always personally detested the North Sea, where the relatively enclosed nature, and relatively shallow water prevents the long rollers, but you get shorter period, higher sided seas.

Same with Hecate Strait, which is what most of the Alaska cruise ships use these days, once they clear Vancouver Island. On the west side it is really shallow, so the seas were significant. We used to cross 3 times per week in the winter, so have had some interesting experiences.

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How these cruise passengers missed boarding, got stranded in Africa

Both Americans and Australians were left at port after an excursion ran long.

After what seemed like a dream trip, several American travelers were left stranded at port in West Africa mid-cruise while traveling from Cape Town, South Africa, to Barcelona, Spain.

Jay and Jill Campbell told ABC News Myrtle Beach affiliate WPDE that they were in the first week of a three week voyage aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines when they stopped just off the coast of West Africa.

The couple and others opted to tour the nearby island of São Tomé and Príncipe on the afternoon of March 27, and when the excursion ran late, they said they brought it to the guides' attention.

"We were like, 'our time is getting short,'" Jay Campbell recalled, at which point he said the guide let them know, "'No problem we can get you back in an hour.'"

Upon their return, the passengers said cruise officials refused to let them aboard the ship, even as the local Coast Guard had ferried the group to the anchored vessel.

"The harbormaster tried to call the ship. The captain refused the call. We sent emails to NCL the customer service emergency number," Jay Campbell said. "They said the only way for us to get in touch with the ship is via email. They're not responding to our emails."

The Campbells say they were left stranded along with four other Americans and two Australians -- of whom one is a paraplegic, one has a heart condition and one is pregnant. Some did not have credit cards or medication that was left on board.

Cruise expert Stewart Chiron, known as The Cruise Guy, told ABC News that "the bottom line was, they were hours late, the ship was ready to go."

MORE: Norwegian Cruise Line passengers claim Antarctica voyage was rerouted mid-trip

"More than likely that the anchor was already up, and the ship was already possibly moving," he said.

He continued, "Any operation at that point to get these passengers back on the ship would have caused tremendous delays, and safety would have been a major concern."

In a statement to ABC News, a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Lines said, "On the afternoon of March 27, 2024, while the ship was in São Tomé and Príncipe, an African island nation, eight guests who were on the island on a private tour not organized through us missed the last tender back to the vessel, therefore not meeting the all aboard time of 3 p.m. local time."

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They continued, "While this is a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time, which is communicated broadly over the ship's intercom, in the daily communication and posted just before exiting the vessel."

The spokesperson added that the passports for the passengers who did not return at the all aboard time "were delivered to the local port agents to retrieve when they returned to the port, as per the regular protocol."

"Our team has been working closely with the local authorities to understand the requirements and necessary visas needed for the guests to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call," they said.

The Campbells said that their eight person group spent 15 hours traveling through six countries in an attempt to rejoin the Norwegian Dawn ship in Banjul, Gambia, on April 1. However, the ship couldn't dock due to low tide, so they are now trying to get to Senegal where the ship is meant to dock on Tuesday.

The Norwegian spokesperson said, "Unfortunately the ship was unable to safely dock in the destination due to adverse weather conditions, as well as tidal restrictions that require specific timing for safe passage. While we share in our guests' disappointment, this modification was made with great consideration for their safety and that of our crew, which is our top priority."

The cruise line contacted the guests "regarding this itinerary adjustment and provided them with authorization to rejoin the ship at Dakar, Senegal on April 2, 2024."

In light of the "series of unfortunate events outside of our control," the spokesperson said Norwegian Cruise Lines "will be reimbursing these eight guests for their travel costs from Banjur, Gambia to Dakar, Senegal" and are still in communication with the guests to provide additional information as it becomes available.

MORE: Meet the cruise couple who have spent over 450 days at sea so far

In a separate, unrelated situation that took place coincidentally on the same day of the voyage, the spokesperson said, "An 80-year-old woman was medically disembarked after being evaluated by our onboard medical team, who thought it best that she receive further assessment and treatment as needed from a local hospital."

"In instances such as these, as the guest was released from the hospital and in a coherent state, our protocol is to contact the guest directly, as we would not have the authority to share any medical details with anyone else without their expressed consent," the spokesperson added, saying they worked with the port agent to receive updates.

"The guest has since been escorted on a flight to Lisbon, Portugal, and then put in the care of airport staff to continue her journey to the United States, where she has now made a safe return," they said.

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Cruises through Cape Horn, Chile (Cruising)

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Cape Horn Cruising Guide

Experience what it’s like to journey to the end of the world as you cruise past Cape Horn. Located on the southernmost tip of South America in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, Cape Horn is the place where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet. For centuries, adventurous explorers and daring sailors, including Ferdinand Magellan and Charles Darwin, navigated its famous choppy waters on their way from Europe to the East.

With the creation of the Panama Canal, the lengthy route was no longer a necessity. Instead, visitors flock to Cape Horn on a South America cruise to witness its stunning natural beauty and endemic wildlife. Discover this remote area of the world while on a cruise that sails around South America’s breathtaking Patagonia and marvel at snow-capped mountains, sparkling lakes, towering glaciers, and unrivaled landscapes during an unforgettable journey to one of the far corners of the planet.

Things to Do During a Cape Horn Cruise

See where two oceans meet.

When you sail to Cape Horn, you get to visit the exact spot where the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean meet. Due to patterns of water currents, this mingling between the oceans can create rocky waves at certain times of the year and surprisingly calm waters at other times.

Look for Whales

When you cruise around Cape Horn, you’ll be sailing around one of the best places to view sea mammals, including sea lions, penguins, and whales. In the Patagonia region, you can expect to see a few different kinds of whales in the water, like orcas, humpback, and blue whales. Bring your camera along and snap photos of these majestic animals as they swim with their calves, feed in groups, and perform riveting breaching displays in the water.

Spot Penguins

Another animal you can’t miss seeing during a cruise around Cape Horn is the Magellanic penguin. Named after Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, these penguins are some of the largest of their kind and typically have two black stripes running down their stomachs. Over one million Magellanic penguins live in Patagonia, making it more than likely that you’ll see some of these flightless birds during your journey.

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Culture & history of cape horn.

Cape Horn is named after the city of Hoorn, the birthplace of explorer Willem Corneliszoon Schouten, who was the first man to sail through Cape Horn in 1616. During the ensuing centuries, the passageway became a popular shipping route, since it was the only way ships were able to travel from Europe to the Far East and back, until the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914. Cape Horn was once considered one of the most treacherous stretches of water in the world, and it is believed that over 10,000 seafarers lost their lives attempting to cross it. The Cape Horn Monument shaped like an albatross on Isla Hornos is dedicated to those who lost their lives off the coast of Cape Horn. 

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Eight passengers stranded on African island after Norwegian cruise ship left without them

A dream cruise vacation has turned into a nightmare for eight passengers left stranded on the African island of São Tomé and Príncipe after their ship left without them because they were late to return from a private tour.

The tourists — six from the U.S. and two from Australia — were aboard the Norwegian Dawn, a Norwegian cruise line ship , which departed from Cape Town, South Africa, on March 20 for a 21-day voyage up the coast of Africa set to end in Barcelona, Spain, on April 10.

But on Wednesday, the group of eight tourists was late to return to the ship by more than an hour for the all-aboard time of 3 p.m. from a private excursion on the island, which was not organized by the cruise line.

Jay and Jill Campbell of South Carolina were part of the group that was left behind.

They said that their tour’s operator notified the cruise captain that they were going to be late to rejoin the ship and that the local Coast Guard tried to get them on the vessel but that they weren’t allowed to board.

As a result, the couple and the rest of the group have been stranded for days on the island off Nigeria, grappling with language, currency issues and complicated travel to catch up with the ship.

“The lovely people of São Tomé were very gracious, very hospitable. They had reached out as much as they could to help us find hotels,” Jay Campbell said on NBC's "TODAY" show Tuesday morning.

“We were able to get to a tour agency there to arrange flights to the next port of call. ... Very difficult process — you’re dealing with multiple languages, language barriers, you’re dealing with different currencies ... finding someone that even has dollars ... trying to get an agent to understand where we need to get to.

"It’s one of those ‘You can’t get there from here,’" he added.

A Norwegian spokesperson called the incident a “very unfortunate situation” and said, “Guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time.”

The cruise line said that after the guests failed to return, their passports were delivered to local port agents, in line with protocol. The company said it was working with local authorities to understand “the requirements and visas needed for the guests to reboard the ship at the next available port of call.”

On Monday, the guests had made arrangements to rejoin the ship in Banjul, Gambia, but the ship was unable to safely dock there because of “adverse weather conditions” and “tidal restrictions,” Norwegian said. The guests were then contacted and provided with information to rejoin the ship at Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday. 

Jill Campbell said they traveled through seven countries in 48 hours to arrive in Senegal on Monday night.

But the couple was reconsidering whether they even wanted to return to the cruise.

"We are considering whether or not we are going to board the ship. It is in dock here in Senegal," she said. "We believe there was a basic duty of care that they had forgotten about, so it does concern us."

"After what we witnessed, we truly believe that although there’s a set of rules or policies that the ship may have followed, they followed those rules too rigidly. I believe that they really forgot that they are people working in the hospitality industry and really the safety and well-being of the customers should be their first priority," she added.

Ultimately, the eight passengers did rejoin the cruise before 8:30 a.m. ET Tuesday in Dakar, Senegal, Norwegian told NBC News in an e-mail Tuesday evening, after this story originally published.

Norwegian said the passengers were responsible for making their own travel arrangements to rejoin the ship.

"Despite the series of unfortunate events outside of our control, we will be reimbursing these eight guests for their travel costs from Banjur, Gambia to Dakar, Senegal," a cruise line spokesperson said in a statement. "We remain in communication with the guests and are providing additional information as it becomes available."

A silver lining of the catastrophe was that the Campbells were able to connect with another Norwegian Dawn passenger — Julia Lenkoff, 80 — who was also left on the island, but for a medical reason.

Lenkoff was on a different day tour Wednesday. She had "medically disembarked" from the cruise to seek local treatment on that day, Norwegian said.

Norwegian said that its care team tried to call Lenkoff several times and was unable to reach her and that it worked with its port agent in São Tomé and Príncipe for updates on her health.

The Campbells met Lenkoff and were able to put her in contact with her family in California, who flew her home — a move Lenkoff's daughter said "saved her life."

"She's a world traveler. She travels all the time. So this was going to be one of her bucket list trips, because she's been to 120 countries so far, and she wanted to get to 130," her daughter, Lana Lenkoff Geis, said in an interview that aired Tuesday on "TODAY."

Norwegian said Lenkoff was escorted on a flight to Lisbon, Portugal, then put in the care of airport staff members to continue her journey back to the U.S., where she has safely returned.

Breaking News Reporter

Italy's 94-Year-Old Naval Ship Navigates Around Cape Horn

Posted: April 8, 2024 | Last updated: April 8, 2024

Italy’s 94-year-old Amerigo Vespucci naval training ship successfully navigated around Cape Horn, considered one of the most challenging navigational points on the planet, footage posted on April 5 shows. The ship, one of the world’s largest and oldest active tall ships, was built in 1930 and is still used by the Italian Navy for training purposes.

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A group of cruise passengers stranded off the coast of Africa spent 6 days chasing the ship to get back on

• Eight passengers chased their cruise ship around Africa for six days.
• Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed the passengers re-embarked in Senegal on Tuesday.
• They were stranded in São Tomé and Príncipe and missed a chance to re-embark in Gambia.

A group of passengers left stranded on a small African island after missing a boarding deadline finally managed to rejoin their cruise ship on Tuesday after chasing it for almost a week.

On March 27 a private tour overran, causing eight passengers to miss the Norwegian Dawn's 3 p.m. all-aboard time by over an hour, a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed via email to Business Insider.

The passengers found themselves stuck on São Tomé and Príncipe , an island nation of some 220,000 people off West Africa, in what the cruise line called a "very unfortunate situation."

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Despite the efforts of São Tomé and Príncipe Coast Guard to ferry the passengers to the ship in tender boats, the group was unable to reboard and had to turn back to land, according to the ABC affiliate WPDE.

The first attempt to get the guests back on the ship occurred on Monday, when they hoped to re-embark at a port in Banjul, Gambia, some 1,800 miles from São Tomé and Príncipe.

However, "adverse weather conditions, as well as tidal restrictions" meant that the ship could not dock safely, a spokesperson for the cruise line said.

As a result, the guests had to chase the ship to Dakar, Senegal — a distance of some 100 miles further — for another attempt to re-embark on Tuesday.

Norwegian said it helped the passengers by facilitating their visas, and would pay them back for the trip from Gambia to Senegal.

Jill Campbell, one of the passengers, told NBC News that she and her husband traveled through seven countries in 48 hours to catch up with the ship.

It wasn't clear exactly what route they took.

The couple had considered not rejoining the ship, believing that Norwegian Cruise Line had fallen short in a '"basic duty of care," Campbell told NBC News.

But, six days after being left behind in São Tomé and Príncipe, the cruise line confirmed the eight passengers, including the Campbells, finally re-embarked in Senegal on Tuesday.

Watch: Stowaways survive 14 days at sea clinging to a ship rudder

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Jersey Shore day cruises: Your guide to scenic adventures and delicious meals

If you are looking to set sail and escape for a day, the Jersey Shore and nearby locales have got you covered with different cruises that can be done in a day. Here are some of the most popular one-day cruises at the Shore.

Cape May Sunset Buffet Dinner Cruise

• Where: 1218 Wilson Drive, Cape May
• Duration: 2 hours
• Price: $55 for adults, $30 for child 12 and under, $20 for wine tasting

Step aboard The Spirit of Cape May for a dinner cruise that promises breathtaking sunset views of the Delaware Bay and Cape May Lighthouse. There's a chance you also spot some dolphins swimming along the ship as the captain or naturalists on board provide you with some educational facts. Guests are guaranteed memorable mammal sightings.

Cornucopia Cruise Lunch Buffet

• Where: 401 Riverview Drive, Perth Amboy
• Price: $67.95 for adults, $50.96 for kids 3-12

The Cornucopia’s Princess sets sail from Perth Amboy-Raritan Bay for a lunch or dinner cruise, offering stunning views of the Raritan Bay and New Jersey's inland waterways. Enjoy a meal and craft cocktails during this 2 ½ to 3-hour experience

Cape May Whale and Dolphin Cruise

• Where: 1213 Wilson Drive, Cape May
• Departure Time: 1 p.m.
• Duration: 3 hours
• Price: $55 for adults, $40 for children 7-12

Experience the thrill of whale and dolphin watching aboard the Cetacean Spectacular, a three-hour cruise offered by The Cape May Whale Watcher. Led by Captain Jeff Stewart, this cruise ventures into the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean for some marine life sightings. Throughout the journey, the captain will share some local history with passengers.

Gambler Fishing Cruise

• Where: 59 Inlet Drive, Point Pleasant Beach
• Duration: varies
• Price: from $90 to $395 per person

Based in Point Beach, The Gambler is a family-owned business operating since 1949. It offers popular fishing trips with a variety of lengths in the spring, winter, and summer.

Fluke trips are 12 hours from July to Labor Day and 6 hours from Labor Day through mid-September. The golden and blueline tilefish are 24 hours and depart at 11 p.m. Trips includes bait; fish tackles are available for purchase or rent. Staff on board offers assistance and instruction on filleting fish at the end of the trip.

Jersey Shore Pirate Adventure for kids

• Where: 281 Princeton Ave., Brick
• Departure: multiple throughout the day
• Duration: 75 minutes

Embark on a 75-minute pirate adventure departing from the marina near Windward Beach in Brick. Designed for pirates aged 3 to 10, this cruise is enjoyable for the entire family.

The young will get the opportunity to dress up like pirates, get their faces painted and get some pirate tattoos. On the ship, they'll take part in an interactive treasure hunt, following the Sea Gypsy's rules, reading maps, finding a secret message in a bottle, and working together to defeat a rival pirate using water cannons.

Atlantic City booze cruise

• Where: 800 North New Hampshire Ave., Atlantic City
• Departure: 12 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
• Price: $45 per person. Drinks are not included

It's always party time in the Atlantic City Tiki boat. Enjoy a ride along Atlantic City coastline while you sip drinks from the bar. Guests cannot bring their own booze, and the bar onboard only takes cash payments.

BBQ and steel drums with Classic Boat Rides

• Where: 8 Simon Lake Drive, Atlantic Highlands
• Departure: Some Sundays around 5 p.m.
• Price: $68 for adults, $58 for kids 12 and under

Experience a getaway with live steel drum music aboard the Navesink Queen. Enjoy a laid-back atmosphere on this family-friendly cruise along calm waters in Atlantic Highland. You can eat BBQ chicken, pulled pork and all the typical fixings. Alcoholic beverages are available.

Brewster students get a behind the scenes tour of Hy-Line ferry Vineyard Lady