Somewhere Near the End of the World
A 14-day cruise through Argentina and Chile — with missed ports, rough waves, and the most unforgettable day of the trip.
#13
🌎 This story is part of a 6-month soul-led travel journey through the Americas. I’ll be heading back out again soon — and these final two blogs capture what the journey taught me most.
And so we flow and move again from Rio to Buenos Aires for two nights before boarding the Princess Sapphire for a 14-day cruise through Argentina and Chile. It’s March 5th now. We board the ship on the 7th and land in San Antonio, Chile on the 21st.
We left on October 5th. Five full months on the road.
Wow. Just wow!
The words don’t quite capture it — what an adventure this has been. From dreaming and planning to detours and figuring things out as we go… it’s a testament to what’s possible when you co-create with life.
All the inner work, the clearing, the karmic unraveling — it allows us to align with what we truly want. One of the biggest realizations for me during this journey? That what we believe we’re worthy of determines what we can actually hold. If we don’t feel worthy deep down, we sabotage. We make choices out of fear or scarcity. But when we do the work — clearing, releasing, supporting ourselves — we become a match for the life we’re here to live.
Tim had spent time in Buenos Aires before, and this was my first visit. With the exchange rate in our favor, I booked a nice hotel with a lovely breakfast buffet, solid gym, and a fridge so we could stock up on snacks and drinks. The city itself was gorgeous — stunning architecture, old-world charm — but we hit a major heat wave the exact 2 days we were here. Walking 4–5 miles a day in that kind of heat was uncomfortable, and I’m glad we had the time to explore.
Embarking on this cruise felt vastly different from the one out of Miami. The process was smooth, the people calm and polite, and there were no long lines. Since we’d both been sick during the last cruise, we had heightened awareness of staying healthy this time. We booked this one back in December, knowing we’d likely want a more grounded, two-week landing spot after so much movement.
Once again, we chose an inside cabin for budget reasons — even though this cruise cost double. The ports were what drew us in. It’s a route we’ll likely never travel again. We skipped the Wi-Fi and drinks packages, booking only one key excursion. You gotta see the penguins when you are down this way!
The ship is a little smaller than the last one, and it is fabulous because there are only a third of the people on here than the last one! Much more room to roam and not as overcrowded. The biggest difference, however, is the weather. Even though it is the tail end of summer for this region, and despite that weird heat wave in Buenos Aires, it is quite chilly for the next 2 weeks compared to the beaches and sun we’ve been following. We don’t have the heavier coats, hats and pants that many people are wearing, and our dressier outfits are of the lighter fabrics. I layer up throughout the trip, and Tim is an anomaly in shorts most of the time. He was not wanting to buy a pair of sweats/long pants, and after trying to convince him to, I had to let it go. He had his reasons and process, and I had to not step into the “mother” role. That was an edge for me, and so I had to keep leaning into myself to let it go. Funny how a pair of pants - or not - can be a relationship teacher and allow me to see where I can enjoy my partner without the need to fix anything.
Our room is similar to the other cruise with a comfortable bed, and I am again able to unpack my 3 bags, do laundry and have all clean clothes, and feel nested for the next 2 weeks. No window makes the room feel smaller, and we know we’ll be at the gym and around the ship as much as possible. The wind and weather is chilly, so there won’t be much time relaxing on deck, but we do take advantage of the inside spaces and steer clear of germs wherever we can.
We had an overnight in port in Buenos Aires, but since we’d already explored, we stayed on board. Watching the city disappear as we pulled away was a beautiful experience. I’ve now been to Cartagena, Rio, and BA — and we’re headed to Uruguay, Chile, the Falkland Islands, and the Strait of Magellan. What a gift.
Our first port, Montevideo, Uruguay, was charming — similar in feel to Buenos Aires with its grand, Parisian-style buildings. We walked the city, got a little Wi-Fi, shared a bottle of wine while watching tango in the street. A sweet, soulful stop for sure.
The next day is a sea day where we are staying healthy and decompressing, and day 5 is to land us in Puerto Madryn, Argentina, where we booked a penguin excursion to the most populated island of penguins known to humans. However, the seas are having an excellent time showing their strength, and the rough waters slow us down considerably. We arrive too late into port to be able to take the excursion, and so we have a few hours to walk around town before needing to be back on board. We are able to check in with wifi and the world again, and it’s amazing how little is going on for us back home. We live in a culture obsessed with doing — but here, living simply feels revolutionary. With the less is more mentality, we do the must-haves to be an adult, but otherwise, we have the space and freedom to just BE. There’s something so peaceful about doing only what’s necessary… and letting the rest go.
Day 6 was another sea day, and then came Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. It’s a tiny, British-influenced town. The weather and waves again delayed our arrival, and we only had a few hours on land. I attempted to use Wi-Fi (bought a card… it didn’t work). I’m still in an ongoing saga with unemployment — technical issues not of my doing — and while I have savings and am far from desperate, it’s been a spiritual teacher. This situation keeps inviting me to notice old beliefs around money and step into energetic abundance, no matter what’s happening externally.
We cruised Cape Horn on Day 8 — but once again, the seas and timing made it mostly invisible. Still… we did it.
The next day lands us in Ushuaia, Argentina (Tierra del Fuego), and here it is pure magic. We booked an excursion here to see penguins since we were not able to do so in Puerto Madryn. (our redemption!) I am excited to spend some time on a smaller vessel, be on the water and have a day of it. The day is absolutely stunning! Clear, blue skies and warm-ish weather, and the sea is calm. It is here on this day that is the highlight of my entire 6 month adventure. There was an energy and vibration that I can still feel today, and it was the most glorious peace on the land and water. Ushuaia is the farthest town south of the equator and considered the “end of the world,” and I was smiling all day long. The excursion was fantastic, we saw a smattering of penguins on a tiny island, and we had about an hour to walk around the town after the tour before needing to board the ship. Then, we had over two hours of pulling out of port with the most incredible views of the land, sky and sea that spoke to our souls. We were on the top deck, Tim sat in the hot tub, I had music in my ears, and we took in the energy and beauty of this incredible place. I was very aware to be present with all that was here for me, and all of this seeped into my cells to be carried with me forever.
Punta Arenas was skipped due to record-breaking swells — waves crashing as high as Deck 5! Even the crew was filming it. Then, the Amalia Glacier came after dark, so again, not much to see. Another reminder that travel humbles you. You can’t control nature. You can’t force timelines. And there’s something liberating about that.
By now, many on board were sick, but fortunately not us. We took all the lessons from our last cruise and stayed vigilant: few buffets, limited crowds, lots of water, vitamins, rest. It paid off!
Puerto Montt, Chile, was our final port. We took a tender to land, had a delicious lunch, wandered the town. Another country touched! The people here — like so many we’ve met across Latin America — were warm and welcoming.
The next day: sea. Then, San Antonio.
This cruise, despite the rough seas and chillier weather, was a definite highlight for me. I can’t say I love cruising, but it allowed us to be in one spot for a time while being able to see many different cities and countries. It held the most special town of Ushuaia, we saw penguins, had clean clothes, fresh water on demand, we were able to unplug once again from technology, worked out almost every day, and had all our meals prepared for us. We stayed healthy despite being around many people, and the staff were lovely.
I was given the opportunity to not mother others and let them be, continue to work on my limiting beliefs around money, realize the world will go on if I don’t check in with it every day, and in turn, I have more peace of mind and balance. Tim is ready to be home, and I am happy being out on the road. We worked really well on this cruise together, had some solo time despite the small room, and 5 months in full time is remarkable especially when we had never even lived together before.
As we disembark and head to Santiago, I’m beginning to shift — to feel into what’s next. Will I move in with Tim full-time? Keep my own place in town? Float between? I don’t have answers yet, but I know space will help us both integrate.
Sometimes the waves don’t let you see the glacier, or the penguins show up on a different day. And still, it’s all part of the journey. Letting go of our timelines doesn’t mean giving up. It means making space for what’s actually here — and finding grace in the unfolding.
Next stop: Santiago, Chile.
And after that… we head in different directions.
To your highest and best,
Dianna
💌 Love this story? Want more like it — straight to your inbox?
Join the Travels With Spirit newsletter for soulful travel, personal growth, and freedom-filled inspiration.
Something stirred in you while reading?
This is your invitation to explore what’s next — with clarity, courage, and one aligned step forward.