river cruising | cover story The Amazon River.


Below: Ponytail Falls, Columbia River Gorge


Adventure


n WE SUGGEST: Aqua Expeditions’ Amazon cruise n WHY: Tis luxury cruise on the 32-passenger Aria transports guests in exceptional comfort deep into the Amazon rainforest along the Ucayali River. Te 16 suites have floor-to-ceiling windows; there’s an outdoor deck with Jacuzzi, and with a 1:3 guest to staff ratio, guests may be


tempted to stay on board if not for naturalists leading daily expeditions to discover the diverse Amazon wildlife. Go piranha fishing or trek into the dense jungle in search of Amazon monkeys, three-toed sloths and crown headed hoatzin birds — or cruise in the comfort of skiffs to view Taricaya turtles and pink dolphins. n THE DETAILS: Te four-night Explorer cruise costs from $4,000 per person, including all excursions, on-board meals, transfers, drinks (non-alcoholic, beer and wine) and Pacaya Samiria


National Reserve entrance fee. It departs every Monday from Iquitos, Peru. aquaexpeditions.com n WHERE ELSE: Take a safari cruise on the 28-passenger Zambezi Queen down the Chobe River in southern Africa to spot big game, including elephants, lions and zebras. Te four- night cruise has introduced enhanced land options, including two nights on the Rovos Rail luxury train plus a hotel stay in Cape Town. Te 12-night Rivers & Rails of Africa itinerary costs from $11,895 in March 2015. amawaterways.com


Home Waters


n WE SUGGEST: Un-Cruise Adventures’ seven- night America West Columbia & Snake River cruise n WHY: Board the 88-guest SS Legacy, a replica coastal steamer, and a team of heritage guides will bring history to life via lively presentations in period costume. On a round trip from Portland, Oregon, the focus is on history and the cruise charts Lewis and Clark’s expedition to find a river route to the Pacific in the early 1800s; you can learn about Native American tribes and the Northwest’s natural resources. To break from history lessons, guests can head to the ship’s


saloon for a whisky and game of cards, join a yoga class or simply drink in the dramatic vistas on the Columbia River Gorge. While most excursions spin a historical angle, other activities include a thrilling jetboat ride into Hells Canyon and tastings in a Washington winery. n THE DETAILS: A week’s all-inclusive cruise (spring or fall) is priced from $3,195 per person, excluding flights. un-cruise.com n WHERE ELSE: Head to America’s Deep South and cruise down the Mississippi on a renovated paddlewheel steamer with the American Queen Steamboat Company. Discover the legendary jazz of Bourbon Street, the battlefields of Vicksburg, and the antebellum charms of famous plantations like Oak Alley. Tere are various itineraries and durations, with five days from $949 per person. americanqueensteamboatcompany.com u


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IMAGES: GETTY; AQUA EXPEDITIONS


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