Days 827-829 South American Cruise Day 30-31

Cruise Day 30-Day 827

Dec 17, 2026

Montevideo, Uruguay

Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital, is a major city along Montevideo Bay. It revolves around the Plaza de la Independencia, once home to a Spanish citadel. This plaza leads to Ciudad Vieja (the old town), with art deco buildings, colonial homes and landmarks including the towering Palacio Salvo and neoclassical performance hall Solís Theatre. Mercado del Puerto is an old port market filled with many steakhouses.

Plaza Independencia is the most important square in Montevideo, Uruguay. Located on the border between the Old Town and the city center, it serves as the symbolic heart of the country. Its design stands out for its rich history, imposing monuments and emblematic buildings.

Monument to Artigas: In the center stands a statue of 17 meters and 30 tons in honor of the national hero, José Gervasio Artigas. Under the monument is an underground mausoleum that guards its remains.

Citadel Gate: It is located at the western end of the square and is one of the last vestiges of the ancient colonial walls that protected the city.

Salvo Palace: One of the most iconic buildings in the city, located right on the corner of the square. Inaugurated in 1928, it was at the time the tallest building in Latin America.

Solis Theatre (Spanish: Teatro Solís) is Uruguay's most important and renowned theatre. It opened in 1856 and the building was designed by the Italian architect Carlo Zucchi. It is located in Montevideo's Old Town, right next to the Plaza Independencia.

Plaza Zabala is a plaza in the Ciudad Vieja of Montevideo, Uruguay. In late 1878, during the dictatorship of Colonel Lorenzo Latorre, it was decided to demolish the old fort and build a public square in its place. 

Palacio Taranco, located in front of the Plaza Zabala, in the heart of the Old City of Montevideo, Uruguay, is a palace erected in the early 20th century during a period in which the architectural style was influenced by French architecture. It was designed by French architects Charles Louis Girault and Jules Chifflot León, who also designed the Petit Palais and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

The Museo del Gaucho y la Moneda (Gaucho and Currency Museum) is a cultural institution in Montevideo, Uruguay, showcasing the nation's rural heritage and monetary history. Housed in the opulent Palacio Jackson on Avenida 18 de Julio, the free museum features world-class Creole silverware, gaucho artifacts, and the evolution of Uruguayan currency 

Cruise Days 31-32 -Day 828 & 829

Dec 18, 2026

Dec 19, 2026

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is Argentina’s big, cosmopolitan capital city. Its center is the Plaza de Mayo, lined with stately 19th-century buildings including Casa Rosada, the iconic, balconied presidential palace. Other major attractions include Teatro Colón, a grand 1908 opera house with nearly 2,500 seats, and the modern MALBA museum, displaying Latin American art.

Last day on ship we headed off for one more experience...Wine Tasting. As we were finishing up we notice that next door was a Tango show. Tom got tickets for the next evening. 

Located in the heart of Buenos Aires’ historic quarters, El Querandí has one of the best gastronomic and tango proposals in the area. On the other hand, our restaurant in San Telmo is known for respecting with the utmost fidelity the magical atmosphere that characterized it in the early years of the 20th century, adding, of course, excellence in customer service, amazing regional dishes, and an authentic Argentinean tango show.

Our imprint, marked from beginning to end by tango –such a peerless cultural and musical expression– has a long tradition in the city. Our kitchen stands out for the quality of its ingredients and the peculiarity of its menu, which, of course, fits like a glove to this typical Mansion in San Telmo.

The Plaza Juan Domingo Perón in the City of Buenos Aires, originally known as Plaza General Agustín P. Justo, was renamed via a legislative act to honor Argentina's three-time president. Located in the Monserrat neighborhood directly in front of the Customs building, it features a prominent monument to the Perón presidency

Colón Park (Parque Colón) is a historic public square in Buenos Aires, Argentina, located immediately behind the Casa Rosada (the presidential palace). Established in 1904, it was once the site of the city's first port. It is best known for the controversial 623-ton Christopher Columbus monument, which was gifted by the Italian community in 1910

Monserrat is the oldest neighborhood and historic heart of Buenos Aires. Tracing its roots to the city's foundation in 1580, the barrio centers around the political and cultural core of Argentina, making it the premier destination for discovering colonial history, iconic plazas, and grand European architecture

Plaza de Mayo is the beating heart of Argentina's political and historical life. Established in 1580 during the city's second founding, the square gets its name from the May 25, 1810 Revolution, which initiated Argentina's independence from Spain. It has served as the primary gathering point for the nation's most pivotal protests and celebrations

The Cabildo: A vestige of the colonial period, this former city hall was the site of the 1810 revolutionary government.

The Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral is Argentina's principal Catholic church. Located in Plaza de Mayo, it has been rebuilt seven times since 1593. Its unique neoclassical façade was inspired by the Palais Bourbon in Paris, making the cathedral look more like a Greek temple than a traditional church

The May Pyramid- Erected in the center of the plaza to commemorate the first anniversary of the 1810 Revolution, it is the city's oldest historical monument.

Casa Rosada (The Pink House): The official seat of the executive branch and the presidential office. It is famous for the balcony from which Eva "Evita" Perón addressed massive crowds of working-class supporters in the 1940s.

The Obelisco de Buenos Aires is a 67.5-meter-tall national historic monument erected in 1936 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the city's first foundation. Located in the Plaza de la República, it marks the intersection of two major avenues—Avenida 9 de Julio and Avenida Corrientes—and sits exactly where Argentina's national flag was first raised in the city in 1812

The large, iconic building in the Congressional Plaza is the Palace of the Argentine National Congress. It is the grand, neoclassical seat of Argentina's legislative branch, home to both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputie

La Bombonera Stadium- Home to the Boca Juniors. Located in the La Boca Neighborhood can hold over 58,000 spectators. Famous for its unique D-shape (built to fit limited space) and intense acoustic resonance. It is widely considered one of the most intimidating and passionate football atmospheres on earth.

Floralis Genérica is an 18-ton, 23-meter-tall metallic sculpture in Buenos Aires, Argentina, gifted to the city in 2002 by architect Eduardo Catalano. Designed as a tribute to all flowers, its hydraulic system and photoelectric sensors allow its six steel and aluminum petals to open and close depending on the time of day

Days 822-826 South American Cruise Day 25-29

Cruise Day 25 -Day 822

Dec 12, 2026

Daylight cruising Glacier Alley

Glacier Alley, or Avenida de los Glaciares, is a breathtaking 150-mile-long stretch of the Beagle Channel in Tierra del Fuego, Chile, featuring a series of hanging and tidewater glaciers flowing from the Cordillera Darwin Icefield. Key glaciers—named Italia, Holanda, Francia, Alemania, and Romanche—descend over 3,000 feet, often seen on cruises between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas

Cruise Day 25 -Day 822

Dec 12, 2026

Ushuaia, Argentina

Ushuaia is a resort town in Argentina. It's located on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, the southernmost tip of South America, nicknamed the “End of the World.” The windswept town, perched on a steep hill, is surrounded by the Martial Mountains and the Beagle Channel. It's the gateway to Antarctica cruises and tours to nearby Isla Yécapasela, known as “Penguin Island” for its penguin colonies.

The Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse, situated on a rocky islet in the Beagle Channel, is an iconic beacon guiding ships navigating the waters near Ushuaia, Argentina. Built in 1920 by the Argentine Navy, this remote, solar-powered structure is frequently photographed as the famous "Lighthouse at the End of the World

Ushuaia Argentina Dec 11, 2025 Mailed Thomas and Megan post cards from the end of the world….

Let's see how long it takes. Arrived Feb 2, 2026

Cruise Day 26 -Day 823

Dec 13, 2026

Scenic Cruising Cape Horn

Cape Horn is a rocky headland on Hornos Island, in southern Chile's Tierra del Fuego archipelago. It's surrounded by wild seas off the southern tip of South America where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet. The albatross-shaped Cape Horn Monument commemorates the lives of thousands of seafarers who perished attempting to sail around the cape. A secluded lighthouse and the tiny Stella-Maris Chapel are nearby. 

The Cape Horn Monument is a steel sculpture on Hornos Island in Chile. Designed by José Balcells Eyquem and erected in 1992, it features the silhouette of an albatross to honor the thousands of mariners who perished attempting to sail around the treacherous waters of Cape Horn.

The Albatross: The wandering albatross is a maritime symbol for the souls of sailors lost at sea. The sculpture was specifically designed using abstract, angular shapes so it can withstand the legendary, hurricane-force winds of the Southern Ocean.

The Poem: The monument includes a plaque featuring a poem by Sara Vial, which translates to: "I am the albatross that awaits you at the end of the earth... I am the forgotten sailor who died in the raging, untamed sea of the Southern ocean.

Cruise Day 27 -Day 824

Dec 14, 2026

Stanley/Falkland Is/Islas Malvinas

The Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) are a remote South Atlantic archipelago. With rugged terrain and cliff-lined coasts, its hundreds of islands and islets are home to sheep farms and abundant birdlife. The capital, Stanley, sits on East Falkland, the largest island. The town's Falkland Islands Museum has themed galleries devoted to maritime exploration, natural history, the 1982 Falklands War and other subjects.

The Whalebone Arch (Stanley)

Located in the grounds of the Anglican Christ Church Cathedral in Stanley, this famous monument is made from four massive jawbones of two blue whales. Constructed in 1933 to commemorate the centenary of British administration on the islands.The bones were brought over from the South Shetland Islands in 1922 by the Hector Whaling Company.

The Victory Bar, located on Philomel Street in Stanley, Falkland Islands, is a historic, traditional British pub established on October 14, 1946. It holds deep significance for both locals and veterans of the 1982 Falklands War, acting as a celebrated gathering spot for those who liberated the islands

Port Stanley s the capital of the Falkland Islands and was the focal point of the 1982 Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina. 

On April 1, 1982, following weeks of rising diplomatic and territorial tensions, the Argentine military launched an amphibious invasion of the islands. By the morning of April 2, approximately 90 Argentine commandos had landed and engaged in a brief firefight with a small, heavily outnumbered garrison of British Royal Marines defending the capital and Government House. Facing overwhelming force and ordered to prevent unnecessary loss of life, the British governor agreed to a ceasefire, leading to the Argentine occupation of Stanley. 

Following the invasion, the UK dispatched a massive naval task force to reclaim the islands. British troops landed in East Falkland in late May 1982 and began a grueling march toward the capital. By June, they had established strategic positions on the high ground encircling Stanley, setting the stage for a series of bloody nighttime battles.

On June 14, 1982, following the collapse of their defensive ring around Stanley, Argentine commanders realized their positions were untenable and surrendered to British forces. This effectively ended the 74-day war and returned the capital and the archipelago to British control

Margaret Thatcher is deeply revered in Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands, for her decisive leadership in dispatching a British task force to liberate the territory following the 1982 Argentine invasion

The Cape Pembroke Lighthouse is a historic 60-foot cast-iron tower situated on the most easterly point of the Falkland Islands, just 7 miles east of the capital city of Stanley

Cruise Days 28-29 -Day 825 & Day 826

Dec 15, 2026

Dec 16, 2026

Days At Sea

The staff on Holland America were the best we have ever experienced. We made lifelong friends with our waiters, whose kindness and dedication made our trip so special.

Saur was expecting a baby girl any day during our cruise, and it became a daily joy to ask if she had arrived yet. We were so happy to hear that after we left the ship, his healthy and strong baby girl was finally born.

Oka was heading home the week after us, and now he is expecting as well. These gentlemen were not only hardworking, but incredibly caring and thoughtful. They spend so much time away from their families in hopes of creating better lives for them. Both shared dreams of working for a few years before returning home to pursue trades and opportunities there.

Meeting people like them reminds us how fortunate we are and gave us an even deeper appreciation for the hardworking people who make these journeys so memorable.

Front row-John, Monica, Buffy, Tom, Backrow-Saur, Oka, Taking picture- Eka