cruising: south america 56 FEATURE
Sailing the BEAUTIFUL SOUTH
South America is the unsung hero of the cruise world, trumping the Mediterranean when it comes to diversity.
Yet it rarely makes it onto most cruise passengers’ must-see lists. Read on to see why it should do, says Jane Archer
lies with the long – and expensive – fl ights from Britain, but mostly it is also because many Britons do not realise what an incredible array of attractions it offers. On a single cruise they can enjoy everything from premier league cities such as tango-loving Buenos Aires and sexy Rio de Janeiro to giant glaciers and exotic wildlife. They can get soaked on side-trips to the impressive Iguaçu Falls, go piranha fi shing or search for caiman (small alligators) on a night-time expedition up the Amazon River. Ocean-going ships can sail up the Amazon as far as Manaus, a once prosperous city built on the proceeds of rubber (and the venue of England’s fi rst World Cup game this year). Clients who don’t like to fl y can even sail there
W
hy isn’t South America on the cruise tick list as regularly as some other destinations? Well, part of the blame
from the UK next January with Cruise and Maritime Voyages. And there are also companies like Aqua Expeditions which have small river boats that sail the Amazon from Iquitos and can explore deeper into the rainforest. Other popular voyages are from Ushuaia, at the end of the continent, onto Antarctica; sailing through the Panama Canal; and island- hopping around the Galapagos, some 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. Galapagos cruises, offered by Silversea, Celebrity Cruises and Sanctuary Retreats, usually visit a couple of islands each day that allow passengers to go ashore and get up close to the wildlife. Holland America Line Executive Vice-President
of Sales, Marketing and Guest Programmes Richard Meadows said: “South America is the most diverse continent in the world, with extreme climates, dramatic landscapes and fantastic touring opportunities.”
The number of UK passengers cruising in South America is too small to even register on the CLIA UK and Ireland annual stats, but the tide does seem to be turning in the continent’s favour. In response to demand, cruise lines plan to position more ships in the region between November and March (2015) when the weather is at its best and the ice has retreated in Antarctica. Norwegian Cruise Lines will be back in the
region this 2015-16 for the fi rst time in fi ve years, while Compagnie du Ponant’s Le Boréal will cruise the west coast of South America either side of a winter season in Antarctica. Holland America has four ships in South America this winter, offering itineraries that will call in at Rio for the carnival and traverse around Cape Horn. Meadows said: “The itineraries will take our guests to places best visited on a cruise ship, such as Antarctica and the Amazon River.” Meanwhile, P&O Cruises has 14- and 28-night
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