Many cruises position
one or more ships in South America at the best time
for cruising the southern hemisphere – with opposite
seasons, that means late fall through winter for us
North Americans. They offer itineraries as short as
two days from ports in Brazil, to Christmas, New
Year’s or Carnival holiday voyages, to
circumnavigations of the continent in appealing
segments of two or more weeks. From yacht-sized
ships to the newest ocean liners carrying thousands
of passengers, the vessels come in all sizes,
offering shipboard lifestyles and character as
varied as the expectations of vacationers seeking to
cruise. Many South America voyages also feature
shipboard and shore side educational programs or, in
some cases, special themed itineraries showcasing
the cultural and natural wonders of the destination.
These are some of the
South America cruises offered:
AZAMARA CRUISES
Azamara Cruises
Spotlight Profile
In 2008, Azamara Journey will offer several
South American cruises, including a 12-night
roundtrip from Buenos Aires departing January 28 to
celebrate Carnival in Brazil; a 12-night voyage
between Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo departing
February 27 featuring stops in Punta del Este and
Montevideo in Uruguay and four stops in Brazil,
including Rio; a 12-night roundtrip from Sao Paulo
departing March 10 to Buenos Aires and back; and an
18-night sailing from Sao Paulo to Miami departing
March 22 with stops in Brazil and the Caribbean. On
December 18, 2008, Azamara Quest will sail
from Sao Paulo to Buenos Aires, featuring the
Falkland Islands, Cape Horn and the southern tip of
South America.
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
Carnival Cruise Line
Spotlight Profile
For the first time,
Carnival Cruise Lines will operate voyages to South
America with 14- to 18-day departures featuring
extended visits to destinations in Brazil,
Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Chile and Peru aboard
the new 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor which
arrives in January 2009. The first cruise departs
Fort Lauderdale on January 31, with the final South
American itinerary concluding in San Francisco on
March 21. The first in a new series of vessels and
the largest Carnival ship ever constructed,
Carnival Splendor will usher in a new era of
“Fun Ship” vacations with features such as a
21,000-square foot luxury spa and spa suites and
staterooms.
CELEBRITY
CRUISES
Celebrity Cruises
Spotlight Profile
Celebrity
Infinity offers several South American
itineraries in 2008, including a 14-night voyage
from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso, Chile departing
January 6. On January 20, the ship embarks on a
15-night cruise to Rio de Janeiro from Valparaiso to
celebrate Carnival, and, on February 15, sets off on
the first of four voyages between Buenos Aires and
Valparaiso (other embarkation dates are March 1 and
15 and December 21). On March 30, Infinity
leaves Valparaiso on a 14-night journey to Fort
Lauderdale, with a visit to the Panama Canal along
the way (the reverse itinerary will be offered
December 7).
COSTA CRUISES
Costa Cruises
Three ships will
spend winter in South America this year, offering a
variety of cruises from Santos, Brazil in between
transatlantic voyages in the fall and spring.
Costa Victoria will offer three- to nine-night
voyages from Santos beginning December 13, plus a
22-night Christmas/New Year voyage to the tip of
South America and the Falkland Islands.
Costa Magica will offer three- to
seven-night voyages to a number of Brazilian
destinations, including Rio de Janeiro and Salvador
da Bahia, with the first departure from Santos
scheduled for December 14. And Costa Classica
also sails from Santos beginning December 20,
offering three- to 11-night itineraries, with some
of the longer trips featuring Uruguay and Argentina
in addition to popular ports in Brazil.
CRYSTAL CRUISES
Crystal Cruises
Spotlight Profile
Crystal Symphony will circumnavigate South
America at the end of 2008. Departing from Los
Angeles on December 7, the 49-day voyage takes in
the Pacific coast of Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador,
Peru and Chile before journeying around Cape Horn.
After visiting Antarctica for New Year’s and the
Falkland Islands, the ship then visits Argentina,
Uruguay, Brazil, Barbados, Turks & Caicos before
finishing the voyage in Miami on January 25. The
cruise is available in segments of 15 days, between
Los Angeles and Valparaiso; 18 days, from Chile to
Buenos Aires, and 16 days from Argentina to Miami.
CUNARD LINE
Cunard Line
Spotlight Profile
Three
“Queens” will sail throughout the world in 2008; one
of them will visit South America. QE2’s
first leg of her 26th and last World Cruise – before
she retires from a distinguished career – features
two South America segments. Departing from New York
on January 13, a 24-night sailing will include stops
in Fort Lauderdale, Barbados, Salvador da Bahia, Rio
de Janeiro, Montevideo, the Falkland Islands, Cape
Horn, and Punta Arenas, Chile before arriving in
Santiago, or Valparaiso. Then, departing from
Santiago on February 6, QE2 offers the rare
opportunity to visit a more distant part of South
America, Chile’s mysterious Easter Island, as the
ship sails across the Pacific Ocean.
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Holland America Cruise Line
Spotlight Profile
A bounty of choices
is offered on five ships and more than 17 cruises to
South America. New for 2008 is an extra January
sailing on an expanded 20-day "South America
Explorer & Antarctica" cruise aboard ms
Rotterdam that features Wilhelm Archipelago,
South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Sound. Also new
are a 32- to 36-day "Panama Canal & Amazon Explorer"
sailing on ms Veendam in September; and in
November; a 13- to 26-day "Inca Discovery" on ms
Statendam; a 26-day "Amazon Explorer" on ms
Prinsendam; and a 22-day "Americas Discovery"
on ms Amsterdam with tours to Chile's Machu
Picchu and Lauca National Park. Cruises include
guest lecturers and regional experts.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Norwegian Cruise Line
Spotlight Profile
Beginning November 7
and extending through March 30, 2008, Norwegian
Dream will be positioned in South America
offering 14- and 18-day cruises featuring the
Chilean Fjords, Tierra del Fuego and the Strait of
Magellan. She will offer 14-day itineraries
roundtrip from Santiago and between Santiago and
Buenos Aires. On April 13, the ship will embark on
an 18-day repositioning voyage from Santiago to
Boston. In 2008, Norwegian Sun will offer
14-day Chilean Fjords and Strait of Magellan voyages
between Santiago and Buenos Aires departing November
23, December 7 and 21.
OCEANIA CRUISES
Oceania Cruises
Spotlight Profile
During the winter
season of 2008-2009, Oceania will offer a variety of
South America cruises ranging in length from 12 to
19 days. A 12-day itinerary between Rio de Janeiro
and Buenos Aires features Buzios, Ilhas Grandes, Sao
Paulo, Porto Belo, Itajai, Punta del Este, and
Montevideo, with departures December 8, 2008;
January 24 and February 5, 2009. A 16-day Buenos
Aires-Valparaiso trip departing December 20, 2008
includes stops in Montevideo, Puerto Madryn, Port
Stanley, Ushuaia, Cape Horn, Punta Arenas, the
Chilean fjords, Laguna San Rafael, Puerto Chacabuco,
and Puerto Montt. There will also be a 19-day
Rio-Valparaiso itinerary, with departures January 5,
February 17 and March 8, 2009.
PRINCESS CRUISES
Princess Cruises
Spotlight Profile
In 2008, Princess
will position three ships in South America during
the winter months, offering a record 21 departures
on six different itineraries. Star Princess
will return with the popular Cape Horn & Strait of
Magellan, Antarctic and Andes cruises plus a new
14-day Cape Horn itinerary. The intimate Pacific
Princess explores the Amazon rainforest
offering more voyages there than ever before. Her
sister ship Royal Princess will sail on two
new 12-day voyages between Fort Lauderdale and
Guayaquil, Ecuador that will provide optional
cruisetours to the Galapagos Islands and Machu
Picchu. For those who can’t wait until late 2008,
the line’s South America season this year gets under
way December 20, 2007 with a 21-day “Brazilian
Adventure” from Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires on
Star Princess.
REGENT SEVEN SEAS
CRUISES
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Spotlight Profile
Seven Seas
Mariner will offer several South American
cruises in early 2008. Departing from Fort
Lauderdale on January 4, the ship will make a
12-night journey to Callao, Peru through the Panama
Canal. The voyage will be highlighted by a
"Spotlight Series" on chocolate. From Callao, the
ship departs for Buenos Aires on January 16, sailing
around Cape Horn, through the Falkland Islands. The
19-night cruise will feature a Le Cordon Bleu Circle
of Interest program featuring intensive workshops,
demonstrations and culinary excursions. Departing
from Buenos Aires on February 2, Seven Seas Mariner
sails up the Amazon River to Manaus on a 17-day
voyage, then sails for Fort Lauderdale on a 12-night
trip departing February 21.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
INTERNATIONAL
Royal Caribbean
Spotlight Profile
Between December 18,
2007, and March 22, 2008, Splendour of the Seas
will make a series of South America cruises ranging
from a two-night roundtrip from Santos (Sao Paulo)
and several 8-night roundtrips from Santos to
Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro and other ports, to
15-night, one-way voyages between Sao Paulo and
Valparaiso. Radiance of the Seas will offer
longer voyages in South America – 13- to 16-night
cruises between major ports such as Santos, Buenos
Aires and Valparaiso. Scheduled for November 23
through March 13, the series will include a 13-night
roundtrip from Buenos Aires to celebrate Carnival in
Rio de Janeiro.
SEABOURN CRUISE LINE
Seabourn Cruise Line
Seabourn Pride
offers four South American itineraries in early
2008. “Treasures of the Inca Coast” is an 18-day
cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Valparaiso, Chile
departing January 5. “Patagonian Passage,” departing
January 23, takes passengers on an 18-day voyage
from Chile to Buenos Aires around the tip of South
America. On February 10, Seabourn Pride
sails from Buenos Aires to Manaus on a 20-day
itinerary visiting Uruguay, Rio de Janeiro and other
ports in Brazil; and, the “Amazon & Caribbean Isles”
16-day journey from Manaus to Fort Lauderdale
departs on March 1 and features Devil’s Island,
French Guiana, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Virgin Gorda
and San Juan.
SILVERSEA CRUISES
Silversea Cruises
In late 2007, the
296-guest Silver Wind will offer five
voyages of eight to 16 days exploring South America
from French Guiana in the north, along the east
coasts of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, through the
Strait of Magellan to Chile and its famous fjords.
For example, a 14-day cruise departing from Manaus
on the Amazon on November 13 takes in the length of
the Amazon and calls in Santarem, Belem, Natal,
Recife and Salvador before arriving in Rio de
Janeiro. International relations expert Dr. Richard
Atkins will host discussions on the region’s history
and culture. Silver Wind will return to
South America in winter, 2008 for another series of
four voyages.
The best way to learn
more about South America cruises is to seek the
counsel of a travel professional, considered the
consumer’s very best resource when planning a cruise
vacation. |
