FRIDAY, JANUARY 14 - Willemstad, Curacao

We had made a "note to self" yesterday to try to get to the dinning room between 8:30AM and 9AM instead of sliding in around 9:15AM. They seem to have a hard time getting the main dish out in a timely fashion close to closing at 9:30AM. Well, best laid plans and all that...we are ready to go at 8:20AM and the safe won’t lock! So, by the time security gets there takes the old safe, brings a new one and gets it installed, it is after 9AM again when we get to the dinning room. Again the oatmeal for Dick and Carolyn’s eggs take a long time. We aren’t really in a hurry, the winds and the currents have conspired to delay our docking from 11AM to 1PM.

We get finished by 10AM even with the slow service. Dick makes it to Trivia and his team wins today...Yea! The Staff improvises and puts in a talk by Terry at 11AM, "The Naughty and the Nice" which was interesting..about nautical phrases.

At 1PM Dick goes up to Deck 12 forward to get sail in pictures

and Carolyn goes to grab a bite to eat and takes pictures from the back of Deck 11.

It is a gorgeous colorful entrance We leave the ship about 1:30PM with the first of the tours. The only problem we have getting off is that the Doctor stops the line to take a sick passenger and his wife off. What a way to end a cruise...hope he is better soon.

Since the dive plan was messed up by the weather, we didn’t even try to get on another tour. Our plan is to just walk around and maybe take a taxi to a beach. The ship is docked in Otrobanda, "the other side", built in 1707 and considered the cultural side of Willemstad.

The taxis are lined up outside the gate, but they want to fill the van for a $20 pp for a two hour tour. Not our cup of tea, so we walk on across the floating bridge to Punda, meaning point, established in 1634 when the Dutch captured the island from Spain. Dick needs to find a webbed belt for his shorts and Carolyn just wants to poke around. We find the belt, walk around looking at all the neat buildings

and visit the floating market...all the vegetables and fruit come over from Venezuela 37 miles away.

They are cheap, but the boats look rather flimsy! We also walk down to the point and look around Fort Amsterdam.

It is now about 3PM. There are two guys hawking a tour so we talk to them and wind up taking their tour for $15 pp. They have a nice new air-conditioned 20 passenger bus and there are four of us on the tour. The other couple speak mostly Spanish so the guide gives the tour in both Spanish and English and tries to teach us a little of his native tongue Papamiento. He speaks English, Dutch, Spanish, Papamiento, German and French. We have a good time with him, he is funny and very personable. We visit an overlook for the beautiful Spanish Waters

and Caracas Bay and then Mambo Beach.

Then we drive through the old Jewish area. There are beautiful restored homes there.

We also stop at the local Chobolobo Liquor Factory where they make Curacao, the orange flavored liquer, for a tasting and to learn about its production. It is a good tour and are back at the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge at 5:30PM, but it is open

so we have to catch the ferry back to the ship. The sun is setting as we walk along through the square and get some last minute shots of the interesting people and the colorful architecture.

Willemstad is a UNESCO site and it is easy to see why.

Dick heads on to the ship and Carolyn makes one last shopping stop. Back on board we have a cocktail while dressing for an early dinner. We have a dive scheduled in Aruba tomorrow and we are tired. Dinner is Seafood Rendez-vous, Caesar Salad and Grilled Tournedos of Black Angus Beef with Ruby Port Wine Sauce for both of us and Dick has a side of Frog Legs a la Provencale. After all that and several glasses of the good red from last night, we sort of pour ourselves into bed!
　
　

THUSDAY, JANUARY 13 - At Sea

It is another sea day. Once again, Dick is up at 6:00AM and heads down to the coffee lounge with the computer to get on-line. The internet speed is OK both early and late but very slow during the day when everybody is trying to use it.

We go to breakfast a little late and immediately head for a talk on the upcoming shore excursions followed by the first of the on-board lecturer’s talks on South America. She is Terry Breen and has a Phd in cultural anthropologist and has worked for Regent since 1999. She is an excellent speaker and we see why she is so popular with the returning guests. She leads off with a fascinating discussion of why North and South America developed so differently.

By now it is after 12:00PM and we have not eaten in nearly two and a half hours. Carolyn discovers a huge Caesar Salad at the grill on deck, so we go back to the grill deck and get a nice serving of the salad as well as a BBQ rib. A tasty, light lunch. Maybe it will hold us until supper.

The afternoon is quiet. Dick heads for his time on the treadmill and then to Trivia. His team comes in second and would have tied for first if the record keeper for the team had written down the right answer to "How Old will Diana Ross be in 2011," (67), as provided by Dick instead on insisting on her own answer of 70.

Carolyn reads and naps until about 4. The ship has been rocking all afternoon so she goes to check out the pool. Sure enough there is a "Tepeckawana" or five foot seas in the pool. It is great fun riding the waves and great exercise too. The Deck is empty except for a guy reading. After twenty minutes swimming and a few minutes warming up in the hot tub, she is good to go. Back in the room we watch a nice sunset while sipping the wine sent ot our room the other night and getting dressed for dinner.

We attend the Captain’s "Welcome Aboard Party" at 6PM. The staff is introduced and there is dancing, but the ship is rocking so we go to dinner. We are randomly seated with a couple from Friendswood, TX and a couple from El Dorado Arkansas who we have eaten with before! It is another great meal. Dick has the Menu Degustation: Smoked Salmon and Sevruga Caviar, Cream of Porcini Mushrooms with White Truffle foam, West Indian Curried Crab Cake and Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Three Pepper-Herb Crust. Carolyn has the Chilled Fruit Cocktail, Fresh Spinach with Bacon, Chopped Eggs and a Dill Mustard Dressing, a small serving of the entree Crepes Florentine (fabulous) and the Butter Poached Maine Lobster. We both have the Grand Marnier Souffle’ for desert. They serve another good red wine tonight, Valpolicella Classico, Allegrini from Veneto, Italy 2007. After a good meal, plenty of wine and good conversation, we head back to the cabin and bed where we are rocked to sleep.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12 - At Sea

Dick wakes up early and heads to the coffee lounge. Carolyn sleeps until about 8:30AM. We go to the Compass Rose for breakfast. Carolyn continues her love affair with Eggs Benedict. The burning question is can she eat then every day for the next 70 days?

After breakfast, Carolyn goes to the Destinations Desk to change one of the tours in Peru to an extra cost one, now that we can pay for them with OBC. We go to the Cruise Critic meeting in the observation lounge at 11:00AM. It is seems to be a fun group. There are about 30 of us. The organizer, Linda, worked hard to have a nice get together even though Regent doesn’t cater to the CC group like some of the other lines do.

We go back to the room and mess on the computers then go to look for lunch. Dick goes with the seafood grill on the pool deck. That doesn’t appeal to Carolyn so she goes back to the room and orders a great cheeseburger from room service. Later Dick goes to exercise and Carolyn adjourns to the balcony to read and nap...heavy on the nap. It is a pleasant sunny afternoon. We sail along the coast of Cuba and will continue to do so most of the night.

This is a busy evening. The ship throws a block party on each deck...we get out in the hall for wine and a visit with our neighbors. The Captain and head officers also do a running visit on each deck.

Then we go to a cocktail party put on by our travel group. From there we go to dinner in the Compass Rose. We both have grilled salmon and mashed potatoes, Carolyn has a plain salad and a cherry tart also. Dick has a seafood appetizer and bit of Stilton and Port. The wine that is being poured tonight is not to our liking so we ask for the red we had last night in Signatures. There was some left at the end of our meal so we have it sent to our room to enjoy later. Since we are both tired, we head to bed even though it is still early.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11 - Sail A Way

Up with the luggage out the door at 7:00AM, Dick goes in search of coffee in the ballroom where our breakfast is being served from 7:00AM to 9:00AM. Carolyn gets up about 8:00AM and we go down for breakfast. The Ritz is doing a much better job on this meal. The food is hot and fresh even though it is being served buffet style and there are plenty of staff to get coffee and tea.

We go back to the room for last minute getting things together and head down to meet our 10:30AM bus to the port. It is only about 10 minutes to the dock. The ride to the port and the good lunch are the only part of Mark’s carefully laid out plans that aren’t screwed up big time by the port people and the ship’s staff.

We get to the terminal, get in line for security, start to put our luggage on the rollers for the x-ray and security closes it down! We are told to gather our stuff and take a seat while they move that machine and set it up with another one. That is done and then we just sit, while we watch the security people stare at us as we stare at them. We are finally let through only to stand in another slow moving line to get checked in by Regent's staff. The problem seems to be the computers are not scanning the credit cards every time and the agents have to hand enter all the information, several times in some cases.

Finally, we are headed to ship. Staff takes our carry-on luggage and guides us to the Compass Rose dinning room where the luggage is stacked by our table and we are served a wonderful four course meal. We have a perfect meal of a wonderful crab and avocado salad, pumpkin soup and a fabulous warm chocolate melting cake. We passed on the main course of tenderloin or fish which looks great. So, we are just pleasantly full instead of stuffed. Our waiter then takes us and our luggage to our room. Once again things aren’t living up to Mark’s plans as there is no luggage. Our room is made, but a few details aren’t finished and our stewardess runs in a couple of times putting things in place. Carolyn unpacks what we have in hand luggage, but there is nothing else in the room yet.

We go exploring starting at the top back on deck 12. There are a tennis court, putting green, croquet court and what looks like small batting cages on the aft deck, forward is the nice lounge and outside deck with comfortable looking loungers. Deck 11 has a nice pool and three hot tubs and several casual places to eat. Decks 10, 9 and 8 are suites. Decks 5, 6 and 7 have various lounges, the show room, card and computer rooms, the library, a coffee bar, the shops, two specialty restaurants and the main dinning room. The ship is in very good condition and decorated in a classic but modern way. I think we will be very comfortable for the next 71 days.

 It is not good news as we look at the dock though...there are carts and more carts full of luggage and a huge number of pallets of food, liquor and wine waiting to be loaded on the ship! It is about 2:00PM now and the cabins are opened for the rest of the guests. We go back to the room and find our two large bags in the room, but are still missing the two checked on the plane and two more that were shipped. Carolyn unpacks and Dick gets the computers set up and on line. Our internet will be free the whole trip.

The life boat drill is at 5:15PM...we still don’t have luggage and the ship sails in 45 minutes. They have announced several times that there is a delay due to the volume of luggage brought by the passengers on the extend voyage...hmmmm wonder if they will give free shipping for 4 bags apiece again! Our stewardess tells us she will go look for the other bags while we are at the drill. It is one where we have to go to the muster station and then go stand by the lifeboat station and it takes a long time.

We look at the dock on the way back to the room and see all entrances into the ship are closed. So, it looks like we are a go to sail on time at 6:00PM; in 15 minutes. Back in the room we now have one more piece which Carolyn unpacks. We are to meet Cruise Critic friends at 6:30PM in the specialty restaurant, Signatures, so we try to find something that matches to wear to dinner.

.Dinner is fabulous, both in taste and presentation! We both have the lamb, Dick has escargot, the mushroom soup and the cream brulee. Carolyn has the crab and asparagus salad, the bisque and the chocolate tart with chocolate raspberry ice cream. These last two meals have been very impressive. If this is a true example of the food on the cruise, we will be happy campers in deed. We have a wonderful evening meeting our CC friends!

Our luggage has finally arrived so we spend the next two hours getting the room organized. The suite is small compared to what we get on Princess or Holland America, but is well arranged with a comfortable bed, sofa and lounge chair and a well throught out bath/dressing area. We fall in bed at midnight and sleep like the dead, glad we are in our home for the next 71 days.

MONDAY, JANUARY 10 - Fort Lauderdale

Carolyn wakes up about 9:30AM to find Dick once again playing on the computer. Our oldest son got his Dad hooked on the game, Civilization V! We go to breakfast which was listed as a continental breakfast and learn that we have a credit toward the meal so we each order a full breakfast which is very good. Afterwards we go walking back along the beach with the idea of stopping at the CVS next door to pick up a few things. By now it is lunch time and the many restaurants are full of people. The food smells wonderful.

There are not as many people on the beach today. It is still sunny but the wind has kicked up a surf. It is plenty warm and the water is that beautiful blue so we go back to the room and put on our suits. We walk in the surf for a good distance...at first the water is real brisk but we get used to it. The flags are yellow for medium surf and more important purple for dangerous sea life...jelly fish,  or man-of-war or sharks???? so we pass on actually swimming though there are some people in the water today.

Dick goes back to the room and goes back to his game. Carolyn gets her book, goes down to the pool, has a sandwich and starts reading...for about 5 minutes. Next thing she knows the sun has dropped behind the building and it is a little cool. The pool really looks good and must be heated because it feels really nice.

Back in the room Dick is still on the computer. Since we didn’t ever make it to CVS we get dressed for the Farewell Gala and go get what we need.


Mark Conroy CEO of Regent is greeting everyone at the cocktail party. Dick visits with him for a few minutes about how tomorrow morning will work. We had asked at the Regent desk, but they didn’t seem to know and kept telling us to come back later. Well, Mark knows and says we will go straight to the ship at 10:30 and board right away. They want to get us in our cabin early and get our luggage to us early before the segment people board. Mark says he wants us to have a little extra time to unpack! They are also planning a special lunch for the full circle guests in the Compass Rose. We are really glad about that, as we aren’t much into deck barbeques and we will be dealing with our carry ons. He also tells the whole group that he and his wife plan to join us later for part of the trip which makes lots of the guests happy.


Despite the fact that Regent has a very nice event for us, the Ritz doesn’t do a good job executing the plan in their banquet department! They don’t have coke for the mixed drinks, only Pepsi which is a NO GO for Carolyn. At dinner the service is terribly slow. The food is really strange combinations, bad tasting and lukewarm at best. The entertainment is way to loud for Dick so he goes back to the room. Even though it is loud, Carolyn likes the songs the male quartet is doing so she stays a while hoping the desert will be better. Unfortunately it isn’t so she calls it a night also.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9 - To Fort Lauderdale

We had a nice farewell dinner at some friends house last night. It smelled like rain on the way home. Sure enough it started raining hard sometime during night.


Dick gets up about 5:30AM as he doesn’t like to rush. Carolyn gets up about 6:30AM and we get the luggage locked up and all the last minute things done. Our driver and friend, JW, arrives right on time at 7:30AM and loads the car in the pouring rain. It rains hard all the way to the airport

.

We get checked in and through security without any problem. They are not using the new full-body scanners today. We head to the first class lounge where, fortunately, we can still use our American Express card for access.he plane waiting for us outside the window and about an hour later the flight is call. We take off on time, but have a bumpy ride for about 30 minutes after that it is smooth sailing.

Arriving in Fort Lauderdale on time, we get our luggage and hail a cab to the Ritz and are in our lovely 11^th floor room by 3:00PM. It is an ocean front room with a nice balcony. Dick checks in with our friends. They will pick us up for dinner at 6:00PM. We head out for a walk along the main drag that runs along the beach. Things are hopping this Sunday afternoon...lots of people sunbathing, but no one actually swimming. Even though it is sunny and warm, the water must be a little chilly.

Back at the hotel we meet several couples who are also on the cruise and visit for a few minutes before going back to the room. Dick gets involved with his game on the computer and Carolyn stretches out on a very comfortable bed to read and is asleep in no time! Next thing she knows is Dick is telling her we need to be downstairs in 30 minutes.

As we are dressing we watch the seven ships that were docked when we arrive sail away formation style! Our friends are right on time and we head to the Chart House and spend several hours catching up and enjoying a great seafood meal!

Day one of our 73 day trip has been great!

　

The Itinerary, January 9 to March 23, 2011, plus Port Times and Shore Adventures:

9-Jan; Sun - Fly to Fort Lauderdale. Overnight at the Ritz-Carlton. Dinner with friends from Miami.


10-Jan; Mon - Fort lauderdale. Meet with the full circle passengers for a Gala evening event at the Ritz-Carlton. Overnight at the Ritz on Regent's nickel.


11-Jan; Tue - Fort Lauderdale. Transfer to the dock. Board SS Mariner for 6 PM sail away and a web cam sail away wave. Dinner with some Cruise Critic friends in Signatures.


12-Jan; Wed - At Sea, Cruise the Caribbean Sea, International Waters
13-Jan; Thu - At Sea, Cruise the Caribbean Sea, International Waters


14-Jan: Fri -  Willemstad, Curaçao - 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Free Adventure -Discover Curacao’s Beautiful Beaches. Noon for 4 hours. Visits to Daaibooi and Cas Abou Beaches. Do a shore dive at Cas Abou.


15-Jan; Sat - Oranjestad, Aruba - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Free Adventure - Two Tank Certified Dive. 9 AM for 4 hours. Red Sails Sports will pick us up at the ship. First dive is the Antilla shipwreck at 60 feet. Second dive is on the wreck Pedernalis at 25 feet.


16-Jan; Sun - Cartagena, Colombia - 3:00 PM....overnight. Free Adventure - Bay Cruise on a Spanish Galleon. 4:15 PM for 2 ½ hours. Cruise the Bay of Cartegena on a replica of a 17^th century Spanish galleon. See the massive ramparts built to protect the city, the clock tower at the entrance to the Walled City, the dramatic modern skyline dominated by the domes of the Church of San Pedro Claver, Fort Manzanillo guarding the eastern entrance to the inner bay and loop between Tierrabomba Island and Castillogrande Peninsula for a look at the beaches of Bocagrande. Drinks will be served.  Plus there will be a folkloric dance and drumming show.
17-Jan; Mon - Cartagena, Colombia - ....until 1:00 PM. Free Adventure - La Popa Monastery and the Gold Museum. 8:45 AM for 4 hours. Visit La Popa, built in the early 17^th century has a beautiful gold leaf alter and commanding views out over the city and water from its hill top location. Do a photo stop at the Fortress San Felipe, largest Spanish fort in the new world. Then drive to the Old City visit St Peter Claver Church and Cloister. Do a five block walk through the Old City visiting Bolivar Plaza with the Cathedral on one side and the Inquisition Palace on the other. The Plaza is surrounded by history and beautiful colonial homes. Visit the gold Museum also.


18-Jan; Tue - At Sea -Transit the Panama Canal, International Waters
19-Jan; Wed - At Sea - Cruise the Gulf of Panama, International Waters


20-Jan; Thu - Manta, Ecuador - 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Free Overnight Adventure for full circle guests - ~ 8 AM Transfer to airport for 9:30 AM, 30 minute flight to Quito. Visit Old Quito for walking tour. Visit Itchimbia viewpoint. Check into Swissotel for overnight. Enjoy a buffet lunch. Afternoon at leisure. Visit the San Francisco Monastery choir and museum for cocktails then dinner in the Refectory.


21-Jan; Fri - Guayaquil, Ecuador - 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Quito Adventure continues - 8 to 9 AM Breakfast then visit the Middle of the World and Inti Nan Museum. Return to Quito airport for 2PM, 45 minute flight to Guayaquil. Transfer to Mariner.


22-Jan; Sat - At Sea - Cruise the Coast of Peru, International Waters


23-Jan; Sun - Salaverry, Peru - 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Free Adventure - Chan-chan City of Palaces. 9:30 AM for 3 hours. Amazing mud brick homes built over 8 square miles between 900AD and 1470 AD.


24-Jan; Mon - Lima (Callao), Peru - 9:00 AM...overnight. Free Adventure - Convents and Monasteries of Lima. 9:45 AM for 3 ½ hours. Visit Convento de Los Descalzos built in 1592 at the foot of San Cristobal Hill, San Domingo Convent the oldest church in lima built in 1540 and lastly the Convent of El Carmen famous for the sweets made by the nuns from 16^th century recipes.25-Jan; Tue - Lima (Callao), Peru - ...until 7:00 PM. Free Adventure - Lima Highlights. 9 AM for 4 ½ hours. Visit Lima’s main square with the Government Palace, Lima City Hall, the Archbishop’s Palace and Lima Cathedral. Enjoy tea and chamber music at Casa Aliaga, the oldest colonial house in the western hemisphere inhabited by the same family since 1534. Visit San Francisco Monastery and visit Miraflores and San Isidro districts.


26-Jan; Wed - Pisco, Peru - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Free Adventure - The Route of the Pisco. 9AM for 4 ½ hours. Visit Bodega Catador for a tour and tasting and also Vista Alegre in the Pisco Valley.


27-Jan; Thu - At Sea - Cruise the Pacific Ocean, International Waters
28-Jan; Fri - At Sea - Cruise the Pacific Ocean, International Waters


29-Jan; Sat - Coquimbo, Chile - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Free Adventure - Journey to Elqui Valley. 8:30 AM for 5 ½ hours. Visit villages of Algarrobito, El Molle and El Tambo in the narrow fertile valley in the Andes. Stop for a tour and tasting at the national drink distillery factory. Visit picturesque Vicuna for lunch and free time for the sites. Stop in La Serena for the La Recova handicraft market and a panoramic view of the city.


30-Jan; Sun - Valparaíso, Chile - 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Free Adventure - Discover Santiago. 8 AM for 7 ½ hours. Panoramic tour of both historic and modern Santiago including La Moneda, Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral and San Cristobal Hill. Free time for lunch and a visit to the Los Condes district and the Los Dominicos handicraft market.


31-Jan; Mon - At Sea - Cruise the Pacific Ocean, International Waters


1-Feb; Tue - Puerto Montt, Chile - 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Free Adventure - Petrohue Falls and Puerto Varas. 1:30 PM for 4 hours. Enjoy the stunning Lake District with visits to Llanquihue Lake and Petrohus Falls, Osoma Volcano and Puerto Varas, the City of Roses.


2-Feb; Wed - Puerto Chacabuco, Chile - Noon to 8:00 PM. Free Adventure - Coyhaique and Simpson Valley. 1 PM for 5 ½ hours. Scenic drive to the Regional National Museum of Natural Resources on the Rio Simpson then cross the Andes through the scenic narrow mountainous river valley for a visit to Coyhaique, its main square and the Museum of Patagonia.


3-Feb; Thu - Laguna San Rafael, Chile - 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Free Adventure - Laguna San Rafael by Catamaran. 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM for 3 hours. Cruise the beautiful Chilean Fjords, visit the Laguna San Rafael National Park and and the San Valentin Glacier and the massive ice fields for stunning photographic moments.


4-Feb; Fri - At Sea - Cruising the Chilean Fjords
5-Feb; Sat - At Sea - Cruising the Chilean Fjords


6-Feb; Sun - Punta Arenas, Chile - 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Free Adventure - Otway Sound and Penguin Reserve. 7:45 AM for 4 hours. Visit a penguin rookery of Magellanic Penguins.
Afternoon for 2 hours: hire a car for a tour of Punta Arenas. Stop at Cerro la Cruz for a view of the city, the Straits of Magellan, the port and the Tierra del Fuego Island. Then the Maggiorino Borgatello Museum for the areas history and the Pioneer Cemetery home of the grave of the last of the now extinct Ona Indians.


7-Feb; Mon - Ushuaia, Argentina - 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Free Adventure - Lago Escondido and Los Cotorros. 3 PM for 5 hours. Scenic drive on the Pan American Highway across the Fuegian Andes with their peat bogs and glaciers up to Garibaldi Pass and Lake Escondido including a stop at a local restaurant.


8-Feb; Tue - At Sea - Drake Passage, Antarctica
9-Feb; Wed - At Sea - Deception Island, Antarctica
10-Feb; Thu - At Sea - Paradise Bay, Antarctica, Antarctica
11-Feb; Fri - At Sea - Half Moon Island, Antarctica
12-Feb Sat - At Sea - Cruise the South Atlantic Ocean, International Waters


13-Feb; Sun - Port Stanley, Falkland Islands - 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Extra cost Adventure - Bluff Cove Lagoon Penguin Safari. 8:45 for 3 hours. Informative tour of Stanley and some of the 1982 battlefields on the way to Bluff Cove Farm. At the farm visit the Lagoon and enjoy the 1,000 breeding pair of Gentoo Penguin and a growing colony of King Penguins.
Stay in Stanley for awhile after the tour and visit the 1892 Christ Church Cathedral, the Government House, the 1982 Liberation Monument and the 1914 Battle Memorial.


14-Feb; Mon - At Sea - Cruise the South Atlantic Ocean, International Waters


15-Feb; Tue - Puerto Madryn, Argentina - 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Extra charge Adventure - Peninsula Valdes, Punta Norte and a visit to an estancia. 8 AM for 8 ½ hours. Visit the Peninsula Valdes Reserve with it collection of sea lions, sea elephant, seals, guanacos, rheas and other sea birds on the beaches and headlands. Visit Punto Norte and its mixed colony of sea lions and sea elephants. Then on to Estancia San Lorenzo on the San Matias Gulf. Visit the famous Magellan penguin colony and enjoy the scenery, flora and fauna by 4x4 vehicles. Then enjoy a lamb barbeque at the estancia.


16-Feb; Wed - At Sea - Cruise the Coast of Argentina, International Water


17-Feb; Thu - Montevideo, Uruguay - 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Free Adventure - Old Town Walking Tour. 10:30 AM for 3 ½ hours. See the splendid 19^th and 20^th century architecture and historic sites of Old Town. (May want to change to the photo stop motor couch tour)


18-Feb; Fri - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 8:00 AM....overnight. Free Adventure - Tigre Delta and River Cruise. 9 AM for 4 hours. Enjoy a cruise through a labyrinth of streams and channels by islands beautiful riverside villas, English garden and rowing and boating clubs. See a world that has changed little since the 1920's.Free Adventure - Tango Show. 7:30 PM for 2 ½ hours. 
19-Feb; Sat - Buenos Aires, Argentina - ...overnight... Take taxi for visits to Recoleta Cemetery, San Telmo and La Boca areas during the day for some photos.
20-Feb Sun - Buenos Aires, Argentina - ...until 6:00 PM. Take a taxi to the Hotel Alvear Palace for their outstanding Sunday Champagne Brunch then visit one of the Sunday Markets.


21-Feb; Mon - Montevideo, Uruguay - 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Extra charge Adventure - Colonia Del Sacramento Choice of the UNESCO. 9 AM for 9 hours. Drive through the Uruguay countryside to historic Colonia founded by the Portuguese in 1680. Visit the picturesque, unusual and quaint Barrio Historico section jutting out into the Rio de la Plata. See the colonial buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, the lighthouse and the beautiful cathedral. Enjoy lunch at a typical restaurant.


22-Feb; Tue - Punta Del Este, Uruguay - 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Free Adventure - Punta Del Este and The Casapueblo Museum. 9 AM for 3 ½ hours. Drive the Rambla General Artigas and visit many of the beaches. Visit the hanging bridges of Barra de Maldonado and the Ralli Museum with works of famous Latin American artists. Drive to Punta Ballena for a visit to the famous Casa Pueblo home of Carlos Paez Vilaro. Stop for some window shopping at Gorlero Avenue.


23-Feb; Wed - Rio Grande, Brazil - 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Free Adventure - Sights of Rio Grande. 10 AM for 3 hours. Visit Alfandega, the 1879 neo-classical customs house, the 1775 Baroque style Cathedral Sao Pedro, Praca Tamandare, Oceanographic Museum and the Molhes da Barra, an early 20^th century rock and cement defense structure. Wait listed, No big deal if the waitlist doesn’t clear.


24-Feb; Thu - At Sea - Cruise the Coast of Brazil, International Waters


25-Feb; Fri - São Paulo (Santos), Brazil - 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Free Adventure - Highlights of Santos. 9 AM for 4 hours. Drive through the historic city center to the Coffee Museum, a former palace built in 1922 and the Museum of Santos Football Museum then visit Santos Aquarium.


26-Feb; Sat - Paraty, Brazil - 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Free Adventure - Parati Islands by Schooner. 9 AM & 1:30 PM for 2 ½ hours. Cruise among the islands and along the beautiful white sand beaches with blue and green clear water. Stop for a swim at Vermelha Beach. Stop in Paraty and visit the quaint streets at the end of the tour.


27-Feb; Sun - Ilha Grande, Brazil - 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. No tours offered.


28-Feb; Mon - Búzios, Brazil - 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Free Adventure - Beach and Swimming by Schooner. 9 AM & 1:30 PM for 2 ½ hours. Cruise by the many small, beautiful, isolated beach coves and islands with calm clean water aboard a Bahian style saverio. Stops off shore of Ilha do Feia and Praia da Tartaruga will be made for swimming and snorkeling. Refreshments will be served.


1-Mar; Tue - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 8:00 AM -....overnight.... Free Adventure - Highlights of Rio. 9 AM for 4 hours. Visit to Corcovado and the Statue. Drive through Tijuca Forrest.
Free Adventure - Samba Sounds and Glitter. 9 PM for 3 hours. Visit to the Plataforma for a glimpse of Rio at Carnival time.
2-Mar; Wed - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -....until 5:00 PM. Free Adventure - SugarLoaf and Copacabana. 8 AM for 4 hours. Ride to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain and visit the crescent beach of Copacabana.

3-Mar; Thu - At Sea - Cruise the Coast of Brazil, International Waters


4-Mar; Fri - Salvador de Bahia, Brazil - 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Free Adventure - Highlights of Salvador and Walking Tour. 2 PM for 4 hours. Visit the Barra district for the fortress of San Antonio where Amerigo Vespucci supposedly landed in 1501. Visit Pra a Municipal and the colonial center including the Cathedral and the Church of Francisco with its gold leaf carvings. Walk downhill and visit one of the oldest squares, formally the slave market. Then drive through the Victorian district to the Mercado Modelo for some shopping for things of both Brazilian and African origin.


5-Mar; Sat - At Sea - Cruise the Coast of Brazil, International Waters


6-Mar; Sun - Fortaleza, Brazil - 7:00 PM....overnight.....
7-Mar; Mon - Fortaleza, Brazil - ....until 3:00 PM. Free Adventure - Ride the Dunes of Cumbuco Beach. 8 AM for 4 ½ hours. Drive to Ceara, originally a primitive fishing village now a popular attraction. Enjoy a 4x4 ride on the Cumbuco Beach dunes along with exploring the beach and swimming. Visit the Metallic or English Bridge and the Emcetur Tourist Center for local handicrafts.


8-Mar; Tue - At Sea - Cruise the Coast of Brazil, International Waters


9-Mar; Wed - Macapa (Amazon River), Brazil - 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. No tours offered


10-Mar; Thu - Alter do Chão (Amazon River), Brazil - 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. No tours offered


11-Mar; Fri - Boca Da Valeria (Amazon River), Brazil - 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. No tours offered.


12-Mar; Sat - Manaus (Amazon River), Brazil - 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Free Adventure - Meeting of the Waters. 9 AM for 4 ½ hours. Scenic riverboat ride on the Rio Negro, transfer to a motorized canoe for a visit to Lake January to see the Victoria Regia, giant water lilies. Then back to the riverboats and down river to see the natural phenomenon where the clear deep green waters of the Rio Negro meet the muddy yellow waters of Solimoes River ("the Meeting of the Waters") and flow side by side for several miles before merging. The meeting of the two rivers is the official starting point of the Amazon River.


13-Mar; Sun - Parintins (Amazon River), Brazil - Noon to 6:00 PM. Free Adventure - Boi Bumba Folk Show. 1 PM for 1 ½ hours. Experience the Amazonian folklore and festivities in this celebration of life with song, dance and costumes.


14-Mar; Mon - Santarém (Amazon River), Brazil - 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Free Adventure - Santarem City Highlights. 8 AM for 3 hours. Drive from busy dock for a visit to Santarem’s Cathedral, the Town Hall Museum and the handcraft shop where the local tribes display their wares. Drive to a native village to visit the Casa da Farinha to see rubber extraction for the trees and learn about other native plants.


15-Mar; Tue - At Sea - Cruise the Caribbean Sea, International Waters


16-Mar; Wed - Devil's Island, French Guiana - 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. No tours offered.


17-Mar; Thu - At Sea - Cruise the Atlantic Ocean, International Waters


18-Mar; Fri - Bridgetown, Barbados - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Free Adventure - Luxury 4x4 Safari. 10 AM for 3 hours. Ride in a 4x4 vehicle to San George Parish to see the Gun Hill Signal Station, then on to St Joseph for a visit to Joe’s River Forrest. In Bathsheba see the rugged hillsides and the pounding surf. Stop in Castlehill for refreshments and continue through quaint villages and the famous West Coast upscale area.


19-Mar; Sat - St. John's, Antigua - Noon to 7:00 PM. Free Adventure - Spectacular Antigua. 1PM for 3 ½ hours. Visit Antigua National Park for English Harbor and Nelson’s Dockyard and a visit to Dow’s Hall Visitor’s Center. Next visit the Blockhouse Ruins built in 1787 over looking the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Creek. Then on to Shirley Heights for the cliff top views. Finish at Nelson’s Dockyard Village for free time and refreshments at an 18th century inn.


20-Mar; Sun - Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas - 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Free Adventure - Kayak, Hike and Snorkel on Cas Cay. 8:30 for 4 ½ hours. Visit St Thomas Mangrove Wildlife Refuge and Marinelife Sanctuary. Learn to use two man Kayaks in tranquil lagoons with stingrays, octopus, starfish, conch and puffer fish. See coral and shell beaches, tidal pools and a blowhole on 16 acre uninhabited island.
22-Mar; Tue - At Sea - Cruise the Atlantic Ocean, International Waters


23-Mar; Wed - Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - 7:00 AM. Transfer to the airport. Fly Home