Bewitching Amazon & Africa/Insignia
Cruise holidays   >   Rest of the World   >   Bewitching Amazon & Africa

Insignia

Bewitching Amazon & Africa - 44 night cruise



Cruise only from €15,890

Price based on lowest available cruise only fare for double occupancy. Subject to change at any time.


Description

Gratuities

Dates and Prices

Cabins

Both designer-inspired and luxurious, the 656-guest Insignia offers entirely new suites, staterooms and bathrooms along with a sweepingly re-inspired atmosphere throughout the ship. The public spaces have been tastefully refreshed with a soft sea and sky palette of fabrics, designer furnishings and custom light fixtures that exquisitely showcase the inimitable style and comfort of Oceania Cruises. Insignia features four unique, open-seating restaurants, the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Centre, eight lounges and bars, a casino and 333 luxurious suites and stylish staterooms, nearly 70% of which feature private verandas.

The better-than-new Insignia blends sophistication with a contemporary flair to create a casually elegant ambiance that embodies the most treasured elements of our celebrated ships. Every surface of every suite and stateroom is entirely new, while in the public spaces, a refreshed colour palette of soft sea and sky tones surrounds a tasteful renewal of fabrics, furnishings and lighting fixtures that exquisitely encompasses the inimitable style and comfort of Oceania Cruises.

Cruise ID: 27696

How much you choose to tip is a personal matter and completely at your discretion. For your convenience, the following gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account.

For guests occupying staterooms, gratuities of $16.00 per guest, per day will be added.

For guests occupying Penthouse, Oceania, Vista or Owner's Suites where Butler Service is provided, gratuities of $23.00 per guest, per day will be added.

In addition, an 18% service gratuity is automatically added to all beverage purchases, spa services and dinner at La Reserve. Naturally, guests may adjust gratuities while on board the vessel at their sole discretion.

Date Time Price * Booking
05 January 2025 20:00 €15,890 Call us to book

* Price based on lowest available cruise only fare for double occupancy. Subject to change at any time.

Cabins on Insignia

Concierge Level Veranda Stateroom
1-2

Located in some of the most desirable locations on the ship, Category A Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms offer the attractive blend of both value and luxury. These sleekly redefined 216-square-foot staterooms offer coveted amenities and exclusive privileges, such as free laundry service, that make your experience that much more carefree. Fresh new decor, sumptuous Tranquility Beds and re-inspired verandas with stylish new furniture complete the Concierge experience.

Exclusive Concierge Privileges

In addition to Stateroom Amenities

  • FREE laundry service – up to 3 bags per stateroom+
  • Expanded lunch and dinner room service menu from The Grand Dining Room
  • Priority noon ship embarkation
  • Complimentary welcome bottle of Champagne
  • Priority online specialty restaurant reservations
  • Unlimited access to the Aquamar Spa Terrace
  • iPad® upon request for your enjoyment onboard++
  • Complimentary Oceania Cruises logo tote bag
  • Cashmere lap blankets, perfect for relaxing on your veranda
  • Complimentary pressing of garments upon embarkation++
  • Complimentary shoeshine service

+Up to 20 garments per laundry bag; additional restrictions apply.

++Certain limitations apply.

Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Desk
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Media/Entertainment Station
  • Telephone

Veranda Stateroom
1-2

Custom-crafted furnishings, exotic stone finishes, supple upholstered headboards and chic lighting are just a few of the enhancements within these 216-square-foot staterooms that also boast our most popular luxury – a private teak veranda for watching the ever-changing panoramas. Conveniences within each stateroom include a vanity desk, refrigerated mini-bar, breakfast table and spacious seating area.

Veranda Stateroom Amenities

  • Tranquility Bed, an Oceania Cruises exclusive, with 1,000-thread-count linens
  • Complimentary soft drinks replenished daily in your refrigerated mini-bar
  • Complimentary still & sparkling Vero Water
  • Private teak veranda
  • Bulgari amenities
  • Free room service menu 24 hours a day
  • Twice-daily maid service
  • Belgian chocolates with turndown service
  • Interactive television system with on-demand movies, weather and more
  • Wireless Internet access and cellular service
  • Writing desk and stationery
  • Plush cotton towels
  • Thick cotton robes and slippers
  • Handheld hair dryer
  • Security safe

Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Whirlpool Bath
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Desk
  • Dining Area
  • Vanity Area
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Media/Entertainment Station
  • Telephone

Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom
1-2

With entirely re-designed closets, dressers and vanities, these 165-square foot staterooms feel even more spacious. A generous seating area, vanity desk, refrigerated mini-bar and breakfast table are perfectly complemented by the soothing hues and stylish fabrics of the sleek new decor.

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom FREE Amenities:

  • FREE soft drinks replenished daily in your refrigerated mini-bar
  • FREE still & sparkling Vero Water
  • FREE room service menu 24 hours a day

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom Included Amenities:

  • Tranquility Bed, an Oceania Cruises Exclusive
  • Bulgari amenities
  • Twice-daily maid service
  • Category (C1) includes accessibility features in stateroom #4052 and #4056.
  • Interactive television system with on-demand movies, weather and more
  • Wireless Internet access and cellular service
  • Writing desk and stationery
  • Plush cotton towels, robes and slippers
  • Handheld hair dryer
  • Security safe
  • Belgian chocolates with turndown service

Deluxe Oceanview Accessibility Features:

  • Bed with hoist space
  • Large bathroom door
  • Toilet grab rails
  • Roll in bathrooms with no lip riser which has a wraparound drainage system as well as a bathtub

Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Desk
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Telephone

Ocean View Stateroom (D)
1-2

Featuring a classic porthole, these exquisitely appointed 165-square-foot staterooms showcase sophisticated new decor and a modern design that maximizes both space and convenience. Enjoy a comfortable seating area with a sofa on which to stretch out, as well as a vanity desk, breakfast table and refrigerated mini-bar.

Oceanview FREE Amenities:

  • FREE soft drinks replenished daily in your refrigerated mini-bar
  • FREE still & sparkling Vero Water
  • FREE room service menu 24 hours a day

Oceanview Included Amenities:

  • Tranquility Bed, an Oceania Cruises Exclusive
  • Bulgari amenities
  • Twice-daily maid service
  • Interactive television system with on-demand movies, weather and more
  • Wireless Internet access and cellular service
  • Writing desk and stationary
  • Plush cotton towels, robes and slippers
  • Handheld hair dryer
  • Security safe
  • Belgian chocolates with turndown service

Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Desk
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Telephone

Ocean View Stateroom (E)
1-2

Centrally located on deck 6, these 143-square-foot staterooms offer a fresh new palette and a panorama window with obstructed views. Features include a vanity desk, refrigerated mini-bar, small breakfast table and an ample closet.

Ocean View Stateroom Amenities

  • Ultra Tranquility Bed, an Oceania Cruises Exclusive
  • Bulgari amenities
  • Signature Belgian chocolates with nightly turndown service
  • Complimentary 24-hour room service
  • Flat-screen television with DVD player and extensive media library
  • Wireless Internet access and cellular service
  • Writing desk and stationary
  • Plush cotton towels
  • Thick cotton robes and slippers
  • Handheld hair dryer
  • Security safe

All Suites and Staterooms are Smoke-Free

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Shower
  • Bath
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Desk
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Telephone

Inside Staterooms
1-2

Beautifully re-designed with a modern flair, these delightful private retreats boast 160 square feet of luxury. Highlights include a comfortable seating area, vanity desk, refrigerated mini-bar and plenty of storage. The ingenious use of space is complemented by the re-inspired decor.

Inside Stateroom FREE Amenities:

  • FREE soft drinks replenished daily in your refrigerated mini-bar
  • FREE still & sparkling Vero Water
  • FREE room service menu 24 hours a day

Inside Stateroom Included Amenities:

  • Tranquility Bed, an Oceania Cruises Exclusive
  • Bulgari amenities
  • Twice-daily maid service
  • Interactive television system with on-demand movies, weather and more
  • Wireless Internet access and cellular service
  • Writing desk and stationary
  • Plush cotton towels, robes and slippers
  • Handheld hair dryer
  • Security safe
  • Belgian chocolates with turndown service

Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Desk
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Telephone

Solo Oceanview Stateroom
1

These charming 143-square-foot staterooms are the perfect retreat for the solo traveler. Amply spacious and centrally located on Deck 6, each is equipped with a sublimely plush Tranquility Bed, refrigerated mini-bar, writing desk and abundant storage space.

Facilities

  • Queen or Twin Configuration
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk
  • Air Conditioning

Penthouse Suite
1-2

Our collection of new 322-square-foot Penthouse Suites is adorned with sumptuous designer fabrics and furnishings in serene shades of the sea and sky. Spacious enough for private in-suite dining, the living area features a refrigerated mini-bar and vanity desk, and the sleekly transformed bathroom features luxury stone finishes and a shower.

Penthouse Suite Privileges

In addition to Stateroom Amenities

  • FREE laundry service – up to 3 bags per stateroom+
  • Priority 11 am ship embarkation with priority luggage delivery
  • 24-hour Butler service
  • Complimentary welcome bottle of Champagne
  • Priority online specialty restaurant reservations
  • Unlimited access to the Aquamar Spa Terrace
  • iPad® upon request for your enjoyment on board++
  • Complimentary Oceania Cruises logo tote bag and personalised stationery
  • Cashmere lap blankets, perfect for relaxing on your veranda
  • Complimentary shoeshine service
  • Complimentary pressing of garments upon embarkation++

+Up to 20 garments per laundry bag; additional restrictions apply.

++Certain limitations apply.

Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Bath
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Desk
  • Vanity Area
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Butler Service
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Media/Entertainment Station
  • Telephone

Owner's Suite
1-2

Lavish new fabrics and designer furnishings grace our six new Owner's Suites – always among the first to be reserved. Immensely spacious and exceptionally luxurious, these suites span nearly 1,000 square feet and are oases of quietude and relaxation. Every imaginable amenity is found here, further enhanced by a sumptuous re-designed bathroom with an oversized shower, a private teak veranda and two flat-screen televisions.

Owner's Suite Privileges

In addition to Stateroom Amenities

  • FREE laundry service – up to 3 bags per stateroom+
  • Priority 11 am ship embarkation with priority luggage delivery
  • 24-hour Butler service
  • Optional private in-suite embarkation day lunch from noon to 2 pm
  • Complimentary in-suite bar setup with 6 full-size bottles of premium spirits and wines from our suite beverage menu
  • Complimentary welcome bottle of Champagne
  • Fresh fruit basket replenished daily
  • Priority online specialty restaurant reservations
  • Unlimited access to the Aquamar Spa Terrace
  • iPad® upon request for your enjoyment on board++
  • Customized entertainment system
  • Bulgari gift set and variety of amenities
  • Choice of daily printed newspaper
  • Complimentary Oceania Cruises logo tote bag and personalized stationery
  • Cashmere lap blankets, perfect for relaxing on your veranda
  • Choice of pillow from a luxurious selection
  • Complimentary shoeshine service
  • Complimentary pressing of garments upon embarkation++

+Up to 20 garments per laundry bag; additional restrictions apply.

++Certain limitations apply.

Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.

Facilities

  • Pillow Menu Available
  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Bath
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • TV
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Desk
  • Dining Area
  • Vanity Area
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Butler Service
  • Media/Entertainment Station
  • Telephone

Vista Suite
1-2

Named for their sweeping views over the ship's bow, our four Vista Suites feature a calming palette echoing the serene seas and expansive skies. Each sprawls over 786 square feet and offers every imaginable comfort, including a second bathroom for guests as well as a master bathroom finished in onyx, Carrara marble and granite with a luxurious shower. Relax on your teak veranda or watch a movie on your customised entertainment system.

Vista Suite Privileges

In addition to Stateroom Amenities

  • FREE laundry service – up to 3 bags per stateroom+
  • Priority 11 am ship embarkation with priority luggage delivery
  • 24-hour Butler service
  • Complimentary in-suite bar setup with 6 full-size bottles of premium spirits and wines from our suite beverage menu
  • Complimentary welcome bottle of Champagne
  • Fresh fruit basket replenished daily
  • Priority online specialty restaurant reservations
  • Unlimited access to the Aquamar Spa Terrace
  • iPad® upon request for your enjoyment on board++
  • Bulgari gift set and variety of amenities
  • Choice of daily printed newspaper
  • Complimentary Oceania Cruises logo tote bag and personalised stationery
  • Cashmere lap blankets, perfect for relaxing on your veranda
  • Choice of pillow from a luxurious selection
  • Complimentary shoeshine service
  • Complimentary pressing of garments upon embarkation++

+Up to 20 garments per laundry bag; additional restrictions apply.

++Certain limitations apply.

Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.

Facilities

  • Dining Area
  • Pillow Menu Available
  • Queen or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • TV
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Safe
  • Desk
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Butler Service
  • Media/Entertainment Station
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone

View Itinerary By Date



Day 1 Miami, Florida, United States

Miami is one of the world's most popular holiday spots. It has so much to offer; from its countless beach areas, to culture and museums, from spa and shopping days out, to endless cuban restaurants and cafes. Miami is a multicultural city that has something to offer to everyone.

Days 2-3  Cruising

Day 4 Philipsburg, Sint Maarten (Dutch part)

The capital of Dutch St. Maarten stretches about a mile (1½ km) along an isthmus between Great Bay and the Salt Pond and has five parallel streets. Most of the village's dozens of shops and restaurants are on Front Street, narrow and cobblestone, closest to Great Bay. It's generally congested when cruise ships are in port, because of its many duty-free shops and several casinos. Little lanes called steegjes connect Front Street with Back Street, which has fewer shops and considerably less congestion. Along the beach is a ½-mile-long (1-km-long) boardwalk with restaurants and several Wi-Fi hot spots.Wathey Square (pronounced watty) is in the heart of the village. Directly across from the square are the town hall and the courthouse, in a striking white building with cupola. The structure was built in 1793 and has served as the commander's home, a fire station, a jail, and a post office. The streets surrounding the square are lined with hotels, duty-free shops, restaurants, and cafés. The Captain Hodge Pier, just off the square, is a good spot to view Great Bay and the beach that stretches alongside.

Day 5 Roseau, Dominica

Although it's one of the smallest capitals in the Caribbean, Roseau has the highest concentration of inhabitants of any town in the eastern Caribbean. Caribbean vernacular architecture and a bustling marketplace transport visitors back in time. Although you can walk the entire town in about an hour, you'll get a much better feel for the place on a leisurely stroll. For some years now, the Society for Historical Architectural Preservation and Enhancement (SHAPE) has organized programs and projects to preserve the city's architectural heritage. Several interesting buildings have already been restored. Lilac House, on Kennedy Avenue, has three types of gingerbread fretwork, latticed verandah railings, and heavy hurricane shutters. The J.W. Edwards Building, at the corner of Old and King George V sreets, has a stone base and a wooden second-floor gallery. The Old Market Plaza is the center of Roseau's historic district, which was laid out by the French on a radial plan rather than a grid, so streets such as Hanover, King George V, and Old radiate from this area. South of the marketplace is the Fort Young Hotel, built as a British fort in the 18th century; the nearby statehouse, public library, and Anglican cathedral are also worth a visit. New developments at the bay front on Dame M.E. Charles Boulevard have brightened up the waterfront.

Day 6 Bridgetown, Barbados

Located beside the island's only natural harbour, the capital of Barbados combines modern and colonial architecture with glorious palm tree-lined beaches and a number of historical attractions. Experience the relaxed culture of the city renowned for its British-style parliament buildings and vibrant beach life, and seek out the Anglican church and the 19th-century Barbados Garrison. The distance between the ship and your tour vehicle may vary. This distance is not included in the excursion grades.

Days 7-9  Cruising

Day 10 Alter do Chão, Brazil

Day 11 Parintins, Brazil

Day 12 Manaus, Brazil

A hidden metropolis inside of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, this city is both modern and exciting, yet untouched by the world beyond the jungle. Visit its historical Rubber Museums or stop by the Park of Mindu and catch glimpse of the endangered Pied Tamarin.

Day 13 Manaus, Brazil

A hidden metropolis inside of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, this city is both modern and exciting, yet untouched by the world beyond the jungle. Visit its historical Rubber Museums or stop by the Park of Mindu and catch glimpse of the endangered Pied Tamarin.

Day 14 Boca de Valeria, Brazil

Day 15 Santarém, Brazil

Days 16-19  Cruising

Day 20 Salvador de Bahia, Brazil

According to Salvador's adopted son Jorge Amado, "In Salvador, magic becomes part of the every-day." From the shimmering golden light of sunset over the Baía do Todos os Santos, to the rhythmic beats that race along the streets, Salvador, while no longer Brazil's capital, remains one of its most captivating cities. A large dose of its exoticism comes down to its African heritage—at least 70% of its 2,675,000 population is classified as Afro-Brazilian—and how it has blended into Brazil's different strands, from the native Indians to the Christian colonizers. Salvadorans may tell you that you can visit a different church every day of the year, which is almost true—the city has about 300. Churches whose interiors are covered with gold leaf were financed by the riches of the Portuguese colonial era, when slaves masked their traditional religious beliefs under a thin Catholic veneer. And partly thanks to modern-day acceptance of those beliefs, Salvador has become the fount of Candomblé, a religion based on personal dialogue with the orixás, a family of African deities closely linked to nature and the Catholic saints. The influence of Salvador's African heritage on Brazilian music has also turned the city into one of the musical capitals of Brazil, resulting in a myriad of venues to enjoy live music across the city, along with international acclaim for exponents like Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, and Daniela Mercury. Salvador's economy today is focused on telecommunications and tourism. The still-prevalent African culture draws many tourists—this is the best place in Brazil to hear African music, learn or watch African dance, and see capoeira, a martial art developed by slaves. In the district of Pelourinho, many colorful 18th- and 19th-century houses remain, part of the reason why this is the center of the tourist trade. Salvador sprawls across a peninsula surrounded by the Baía de Todos os Santos on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. The city has about 50 km (31 miles) of coastline. The original city, referred to as the Centro Histórica (Historical Center), is divided into the Cidade Alta (Upper City), also called Pelourinho, and Cidade Baixa (Lower City). The Cidade Baixa is a commercial area—known as Comércio—that runs along the port and is the site of Salvador's indoor market, Mercado Modelo. You can move between the upper and lower cities on foot, via the landmark Elevador Lacerda, behind the market, or on the Plano Inclinado, a funicular lift, which connects Rua Guindaste dos Padres on Comércio with the alley behind Cathedral Basílica. From the Cidade Histórica you can travel north along the bay to the hilltop Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim. You can also head south to the point, guarded by the Forte Santo Antônio da Barra, where the bay waters meet those of the Atlantic. This area on Salvador's southern tip is home to the trendy neighborhoods of Barra, Ondina, and Rio Vermelho, with many museums, theaters, shops, and restaurants. Beaches along the Atlantic coast and north of Forte Santo Antônio da Barra are among the city's cleanest. Many are illuminated at night and have bars and restaurants that stay open late.

Day 21  Cruising

Day 22 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Welcome to the Cidade Maravilhosa, or the Marvelous City, as Rio is known in Brazil. Synonymous with the girl from Ipanema, the dramatic views from Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado mountain, and fabulously flamboyant Carnival celebrations, Rio is a city of stunning architecture, abundant museums, and marvelous food. Rio is also home to 23 beaches, an almost continuous 73-km (45-mile) ribbon of sand.As you leave the airport and head to Rio's beautiful Zona Sul (the touristic South Zone), you'll drive for about 40 minutes on a highway from where you'll begin to get a sense of the dramatic contrast between beautiful landscape and devastating poverty. In this teeming metropolis of 12 million people (6.2 million of whom live in Rio proper), the very rich and the very poor live in uneasy proximity. You'll drive past seemingly endless cinder-block favela, but by the time you reach Copacabana's breezy, sunny Avenida Atlântica—flanked on one side by white beach and azure sea and on the other by condominiums and hotels—your heart will leap with expectation as you begin to recognize the postcard-famous sights. Now you're truly in Rio, where cariocas (Rio residents) and tourists live life to its fullest.Enthusiasm is contagious in Rio. Prepare to have your senses engaged and your inhibitions untied. Rio seduces with a host of images: the joyous bustle of vendors at Sunday's Feira Hippie (Hippie Fair); the tipsy babble at sidewalk cafés as patrons sip their last glass of icy beer under the stars; the blanket of lights beneath the Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain); the bikers, joggers, strollers, and power walkers who parade along the beach each morning. Borrow the carioca spirit for your stay; you may find yourself reluctant to give it back.

Day 23 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Welcome to the Cidade Maravilhosa, or the Marvelous City, as Rio is known in Brazil. Synonymous with the girl from Ipanema, the dramatic views from Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado mountain, and fabulously flamboyant Carnival celebrations, Rio is a city of stunning architecture, abundant museums, and marvelous food. Rio is also home to 23 beaches, an almost continuous 73-km (45-mile) ribbon of sand.As you leave the airport and head to Rio's beautiful Zona Sul (the touristic South Zone), you'll drive for about 40 minutes on a highway from where you'll begin to get a sense of the dramatic contrast between beautiful landscape and devastating poverty. In this teeming metropolis of 12 million people (6.2 million of whom live in Rio proper), the very rich and the very poor live in uneasy proximity. You'll drive past seemingly endless cinder-block favela, but by the time you reach Copacabana's breezy, sunny Avenida Atlântica—flanked on one side by white beach and azure sea and on the other by condominiums and hotels—your heart will leap with expectation as you begin to recognize the postcard-famous sights. Now you're truly in Rio, where cariocas (Rio residents) and tourists live life to its fullest.Enthusiasm is contagious in Rio. Prepare to have your senses engaged and your inhibitions untied. Rio seduces with a host of images: the joyous bustle of vendors at Sunday's Feira Hippie (Hippie Fair); the tipsy babble at sidewalk cafés as patrons sip their last glass of icy beer under the stars; the blanket of lights beneath the Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain); the bikers, joggers, strollers, and power walkers who parade along the beach each morning. Borrow the carioca spirit for your stay; you may find yourself reluctant to give it back.

Days 24-25  Cruising

Day 26 Montevideo, Uruguay

Uruguay's capital city hugs the eastern bank of the Río de la Plata. A massive coastal promenade (malecón) that passes fine beaches, restaurants, and numerous parks recalls the sunny sophistications of the Mediterranean and is always dotted with Montevideans strolling, exercising, and lounging along the water. Montevideo has its share of glitzy shopping avenues and modern office buildings, balanced with its historic old city and sumptuous colonial architecture, as well as numerous leafy plazas and parks. It is hard not to draw comparisons to its sister city Buenos Aires across the river, and indeed Montevideo strikes many as a calmer, more manageable incarnation of Argentina's capital.When the weather's good, La Rambla, a 22-km (14-mile) waterfront avenue that links the Old City with the eastern suburbs and changes names about a dozen times, gets packed with fishermen, ice-cream vendors, and joggers. Around sunset, volleyball and soccer games wind down as couples begin to appear for evening strolls. Polls consistently rate Montevideo as having the highest quality of life of any city in Latin America. After one visit here, especially on a lovely summer evening, you probably will agree.

Day 27 Buenos Aires, Argentina

Glamorous and gritty, Buenos Aires is two cities in one. What makes Argentina's capital so fascinating is its dual heritage—part European, part Latin American. Plaza de Mayo resembles a grand square in Madrid, and the ornate Teatro Colón would not be out of place in Vienna. But you'll know you're in South America by the leather shoes for sale on cobbled streets and impromptu parades of triumphant soccer fans. Limited-production wines, juicy steaks, and ice cream in countless flavors are among the old-world imports the city has perfected.

Day 28 Buenos Aires, Argentina

Glamorous and gritty, Buenos Aires is two cities in one. What makes Argentina's capital so fascinating is its dual heritage—part European, part Latin American. Plaza de Mayo resembles a grand square in Madrid, and the ornate Teatro Colón would not be out of place in Vienna. But you'll know you're in South America by the leather shoes for sale on cobbled streets and impromptu parades of triumphant soccer fans. Limited-production wines, juicy steaks, and ice cream in countless flavors are among the old-world imports the city has perfected.

Day 29 Punta del Este, Uruguay

Often likened to the Hamptons or St-Tropez, Punta del Este is a flashy destination where parties run nonstop in peak season. But it is also a destination that draws a range of beachgoers to its shores, from summering families to the celebrity jet-set. There's a bustling city on the beach downtown, as well as quiet countryside populated solely with upscale ranches called chacras or estancias, and creative, buzzing hamlets like La Barra and José Ignacio. Though it's pricey and at times a logistical challenge to get around, everyone finds something about Punta to love.The resort takes its name from the "east point" marking the division of the Río de la Plata on the west from the Atlantic Ocean to the east. It also lends its name to the broader region encompassing the nearby communities of Punta Ballena and La Barra de Maldonado. These days even José Ignacio, some 20 miles away, is grouped in. It's usually a given that Argentina's upper class spends at least part of the summer in Punta, soaking in the ample rays.

Days 30-34  Cruising

Day 35 Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is to London as poetry is to prose, as Charlotte Brontë once wrote. One of the world's stateliest cities and proudest capitals, it's built—like Rome—on seven hills, making it a striking backdrop for the ancient pageant of history. In a skyline of sheer drama, Edinburgh Castle watches over the capital city, frowning down on Princes Street's glamour and glitz. But despite its rich past, the city's famous festivals, excellent museums and galleries, as well as the modern Scottish Parliament, are reminders that Edinburgh has its feet firmly in the 21st century.Nearly everywhere in Edinburgh (the burgh is always pronounced burra in Scotland) there are spectacular buildings, whose Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian pillars add touches of neoclassical grandeur to the largely Presbyterian backdrop. Large gardens are a strong feature of central Edinburgh, where the city council is one of the most stridently conservationist in Europe. Arthur's Seat, a mountain of bright green and yellow furze, rears up behind the spires of the Old Town. This child-size mountain jutting 822 feet above its surroundings has steep slopes and little crags, like a miniature Highlands set down in the middle of the busy city. Appropriately, these theatrical elements match Edinburgh's character—after all, the city has been a stage that has seen its fair share of romance, violence, tragedy, and triumph.Modern Edinburgh has become a cultural capital, staging the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe Festival in every possible venue each August. The stunning Museum of Scotland complements the city's wealth of galleries and artsy hangouts. Add Edinburgh's growing reputation for food and nightlife and you have one of the world's most beguiling cities.Today the city is the second most important financial center in the United Kingdom, and the fifth most important in Europe. The city regularly is ranked near the top in quality-of-life surveys. Accordingly, New Town apartments on fashionable streets sell for considerable sums. In some senses the city is showy and materialistic, but Edinburgh still supports learned societies, some of which have their roots in the Scottish Enlightenment. The Royal Society of Edinburgh, for example, established in 1783 "for the advancement of learning and useful knowledge," remains an important forum for interdisciplinary activities.Even as Edinburgh moves through the 21st century, its tall guardian castle remains the focal point of the city and its venerable history. Take time to explore the streets—peopled by the spirits of Mary, Queen of Scots; Sir Walter Scott; and Robert Louis Stevenson—and pay your respects to the world's best-loved terrier, Greyfriars Bobby. In the evenings you can enjoy candlelit restaurants or a folk ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee, a traditional Scottish dance with music), though you should remember that you haven't earned your porridge until you've climbed Arthur's Seat. Should you wander around a corner, say, on George Street, you might see not an endless cityscape, but blue sea and a patchwork of fields. This is the county of Fife, beyond the inlet of the North Sea called the Firth of Forth—a reminder, like the mountains to the northwest that can be glimpsed from Edinburgh's highest points, that the rest of Scotland lies within easy reach.

Days 36-39  Cruising

Day 40 Walvis Bay, Namibia

Once a whaling station, Walvis Bay provides a gateway to the extraordinary desert landscapes of Namibia and is itself an area of unusual natural beauty. The showpiece of the Walvis Bay area is the natural lagoon where you can see flamingos in their thousands at certain times of the year, along with a variety of other wading birds such as the white pelican. Further inland you will find the stunning Namib Desert, which provides an unlikely home for a diverse array of wildlife. Alternatively, you could venture into the desert of Sossusvlei, whose mountainous ochre sand dunes are said to be the highest in the world, or visit the colonial town of Swakopmund.

Day 41 Walvis Bay, Namibia

Once a whaling station, Walvis Bay provides a gateway to the extraordinary desert landscapes of Namibia and is itself an area of unusual natural beauty. The showpiece of the Walvis Bay area is the natural lagoon where you can see flamingos in their thousands at certain times of the year, along with a variety of other wading birds such as the white pelican. Further inland you will find the stunning Namib Desert, which provides an unlikely home for a diverse array of wildlife. Alternatively, you could venture into the desert of Sossusvlei, whose mountainous ochre sand dunes are said to be the highest in the world, or visit the colonial town of Swakopmund.

Day 42 Lüderitz, Namibia

The reopening of the diamond mine at Elizabeth Bay 20 years ago has brought the development of tourism and fishing back to this small 19th century village on the barren, windswept Namib Desert coast. One of Namibias oddities, it has everything you'd expect from a small German town - delicatessens, coffee shops and a Lutheran church. Here, the icy but clean South Atlantic is home to seals, penguins and other marine life and the desolate beaches support flamingoes. It was founded in 1883 when Heinrich Vogelsang purchased Angra Pequena and some of the surrounding land on behalf of Adolf Lüderitz, a Hanseat from Germany, from the local Nama chief. Lüderitz began its life as a trading post, with other activities in fishing and guano-harvesting. As a sign of Luderitz's revival, 1996 staged the first traditional German Karneval since 1960.

Day 43  Cruising

Day 44 Cape Town, South Africa

Sometimes referred to as the Mother City, Cape Town is the most famous port in South Africa and is influenced by many different cultures, including Dutch, British and Malay. The port was founded in 1652 by Dutch explorer Jan Van Riebeeck, and evidence of Dutch colonial rule remains throughout the region. The port is located on one of the world's most important trade routes, and is mainly a container port and handler of fresh fruit. Fishing is another vital industry, with large Asian fishing fleets using Cape Town as a logistical repair base for much of the year. The region is famous for its natural beauty, with the imposing Table Mountain and Lions Head, as well as the many nature reserves and botanical gardens such as Kirstenbosch which boasts an extensive range of indigenous plant life, including proteas and ferns. Cape Town's weather is mercurial, and can change from beautiful sunshine to dramatic thunderstorms within a short period. A local adage is that in Cape Town you can experience four seasons in one day.

Day 45 Cape Town, South Africa

Sometimes referred to as the Mother City, Cape Town is the most famous port in South Africa and is influenced by many different cultures, including Dutch, British and Malay. The port was founded in 1652 by Dutch explorer Jan Van Riebeeck, and evidence of Dutch colonial rule remains throughout the region. The port is located on one of the world's most important trade routes, and is mainly a container port and handler of fresh fruit. Fishing is another vital industry, with large Asian fishing fleets using Cape Town as a logistical repair base for much of the year. The region is famous for its natural beauty, with the imposing Table Mountain and Lions Head, as well as the many nature reserves and botanical gardens such as Kirstenbosch which boasts an extensive range of indigenous plant life, including proteas and ferns. Cape Town's weather is mercurial, and can change from beautiful sunshine to dramatic thunderstorms within a short period. A local adage is that in Cape Town you can experience four seasons in one day.

Call our experts now

Dublin (01) 2311868

Cruise Finder

All the best cruise deals in one place



TRAVEL AWARE - STAYING SAFE AND HEALTHY ABROAD

The Department of Foreign Affairs has up-to-date advice for Irish citizens on staying safe and healthy abroad. For more security, local laws, health, passport and visa information see https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/ and follow dfatravelwise