South America Cruise, Fjords, Glaciers & Patagonia – February 19-March 6, 2013
Sail in the wake of ancient explorers and merchants as you start in Santiago, Chile and round the tip of South America. After sailing through glaciers, fjords, and incredible countries, you will end up in Buenos Aires, Argentina. What a great way to escape the cold of the USA for a couple weeks!
Itinerary:
February 19 – Depart from your home city for a flight to Santiago, Chile!
February 20 – Santiago, Chile – Arrive in Santiago and transfer to your cruise ship for an incredible cruise. The Carnival Splendor will be your floating hotel for the days ahead. (Cruise Meals)
February 21 – Enjoy a relaxing day at sea. (Cruise Meals)
February 22 - Enjoy a relaxing day at sea. (Cruise Meals)
February 23 – Puerto Montt, Chile - As far as civilization goes, Puerto Montt is about as far south as it gets. It’s also where you get to take it all in. Tour the cathedral for a spiritual experience before zen sunning; its alercewood structure is modeled on the Panthéon in Paris, and is also the city’s oldest surviving building. There’s also countryside to explore, turistas! Take a shore drive for a good view of the surrounding hills, not to mention the lovely Lake Llanquihue. Find an excellent selection of handicrafts — oh, and fish — at the best prices at Angelmó Market. Admire magnificent views of lakes, woods, waterfalls and volcanoes on an excursion to beautiful Petrohue Falls and snow-capped Osorno Volcano, or see the Lahuen Nadi Forest and nearly-extinct Alerce tree on the Alerces Eco Walk. Visit nearby Puerto Varas for a taste of — no kidding — Germany. (Cruise Meals)
February 24 – Chilean Fjords Scenic Cruising - On your Carnival cruise, you’ll see the Chilean fjords the way they were meant to be seen — from sea! Sail past this magnificent collection of lakes, snow-capped volcanoes, dense forests and thermal springs. (Cruise Meals)
February 25 – Scenic Cruising Darwin Channel – Another full day of scenic cruising awaits in the Darwin Channel. Don’t forget a camera! (Cruise Meals)
February 26 – Punta Arenas, Chile - Bordering a gentle stretch of sand kissed by Pacific breezes, the former rough-and-tumble port town of Puntarenas, Costa Rica, is now a laid-back seaside retreat. With a Puntarenas cruise, you can stroll the mile-long seafront Paseo de los Turistas boardwalk past restaurants, cafes, and colorful souvenir stands. (Cruise Meals)
February 27 – Ushuaia, Argentina - The correct response to “Ushuaia” is not “gesundheit,” but rather “I’d love to!” This adventurer’s haven is nothing to sneeze at — from penal colony to naval base, Ushuaia has worn many hats over the years. Just a hop, skip and a jump from Antarctica, Ushuaia was once graced by the presence of Charles Darwin, and welcomes fellow adventurers with a hearty slap on the back. Visit Tierra del Fuego National Park, the southernmost national park in the world, known for its beautiful waterfalls, glaciers, snow-capped mountains, lakes and forests, as well as its exotic wildlife. If you’ve ever wanted to come face-to-face with a king crab the size of a golden retriever, head to the Acuario de Ushuaia. Or if you’ve ever wanted to get up close with a penguin or sea lion, we know where you’ll find these guys: the local penguin rookery or the aptly-title Sea Lion Island. And guess what you’ll find on a Beagle Channel Cruise. Not beagles — this scenic-strait-slash-outdoors-paradise is actually named for Charles Darwin’s ship, the HSM Beagle!
February 28 – Cape Horn Scenic Cruising - When was the last time you sailed the bottom of the world? Well, we know when the next time is going to be! During your South American cruise, you’ll have a chance to check out Cape Horn, the southernmost point anywhere in the Americas, and what was once a popular clipper route for European-Asian trade, before the Panama Canal was completed, but is today mostly chosen for its scenic quality.
March 1 - Enjoy a relaxing day at sea. (Cruise Meals)
March 2 – Puerto Madryn, Argentina - Puerto Madryn is considered the entryway to the wildlife sanctuary of Peninsula Valdés. Home to not only the Universidad de la Patagonia’s marine biology campus, but the second-largest fishing community in the country, Puerto Madryn is a small coastal town teeming with life. Take an eco-excursion to Punta Tombo, home to South America’s largest penguin colony, and marvel at the Magellan penguins as they protect their eggs and prepare their offspring for migration. That’s not all the wildlife there is to see, either — get ready to be glued to the binoculars for combination whale- and dolphin-watching. Don’t miss the local paleontological museum, where fossils come alive… figuratively, of course!
March 3 - Enjoy a relaxing day at sea. (Cruise Meals)
March 4 – Montevideo, Uruguay - If you thought Montevideo was impossible to forget on a geography test, wait until you actually see the place. With vast swaths of business, residential and industrial “boroughs,” Montevideo is a city’s city, with more to do and see in its little pinky than an entire fair grounds. A push to beautify the city has transformed many of the old and vacant buildings into vibrantly painted cafés and galleries. There’s also a thriving theater scene, which always pleases those tourists looking for more drama — the scripted kind. Don’t miss Punta del Este — there’s a reason 150,000 tourists take this advice yearly. Taranco Palace is not only a palace (well, you could have guessed), but also a museum of decorative arts, featuring all manners of Uruguayan handiwork, while the town of Colonia del Sacramento is so steeped in history that it’s practically a giant museum itself! Montevideo’s Palacio Salvo was once the tallest building in South America… but only stands 26 stories tall. The capital boasts many embassies and foreign cultural centers, which give it that extra international flavor. Two words: tango bar. Montevideo is full of ’em, and you do not want to miss out on experiencing one.
March 5 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Your cruise ends early this morning. A transfer to the airport is included today for your night flight home. (Cruise Breakfast)
March 6 – Arrive back in the USA! Welcome home!
**Optional Iguazu Falls extension available. Call for details!
*We will have our own private group shore excursions that will be available. You are free to explore on your own during the days at port or join our group shore excursions.
Your Ship: Carnival Splendor
For a ship so far from ordinary, it’s only fitting that this one visits some amazing, out-of-the-way destinations. In 2013, Carnival Splendor will be cruising on down to South America, to get you up-close with ports like Barbados, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.
It’s hard to tell which onboard space best represents Carnival Splendor — they all seem to hint at the amazing time you’re going to have. El Morocco Lounge hosts comedy shows, musical performances, karaoke and more… and wears its 1930s namesake clearly on its nameplate. The words “Royal Flush Casino” incite visions of winning, while our onboard jazz club’s moniker — The Cool — simply says it all without saying a word. And the Pinnacle Steakhouse can be found not only at the height of elegant dining, but at the apex of the ship.
If you like your fun to flow, there are options aplenty. If you list “splish” and “splash” among your favorite terms, there’s the Splash Park. Those into sitting and sliding are invited to try the signature Carnival Twister Waterslide. How about floating or swimming around? Carnival Splendor has pools all over the place, including the midship pool featuring a retractable roof that makes any day a pool day. So whether you splish or splash, you’ll find hydro-excitement galore.
If relaxation is more your thing, Serenity Adult-Only Retreat is more your place. Or if you’re looking to take relaxation to the extreme, direct your attention to the Cloud 9 Spa, featuring more (and better) ways to kick back than just about anywhere else, on land or at sea. You haven’t lived until you’ve relaxed in a Thalassotherapy pool, or chilled — so to speak — in a dry heat chamber.
Your Host: Val and Diane Petersen
With an addiction to traveling, Val and Diane have traveled to central and south America many times to participate in humanitarian projects and archeological tours. Val is currently employed as the CFO of Prime Alliance Bank between trips abroad. A former member of the South Weber city council, he also serves on the board of Youthlinc having led and participated in international service trips to Peru and Kenya. His service also extents to currently serving as President of the Kaysville Rotary Club. Diane is a soon-to-be retired Registered Nurse and committed Grandmother who can shop with anyone and anywhere. Recent trips covering Central America, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Italy, Turkey, Greece, and China have only increased their love of travel and service. Cruising is one of their favorite activities taking them to the Caribbean, Honduras, Panama, Costa Maya, Alaska, Costa Rica, Mazatlan, the Mediterranean, and this May to Norway, England, Scotland Denmark, and Ireland.
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Inside Cabin Cruise, Cruise Transfers, and Airfare from Salt Lake City -Double Occupancy - $3114 (includes cruise and air for $2249 and taxes of $865)
Outside Cabin Cruise Upgrade -Double Occupancy – additional $250
Balcony Cabin Cruise Upgrade -Double Occupancy – additional $650
Optional Iguazu Falls Extension (1 night Buenos Aires, 2 nights Iguazu) – $799 (Call for details)
Group Shore Excursions – Prices coming soon
Chile Entry Fee – $140 – payable upon arrival
Credit Card Fee – 3.5% (only applies to final payment-pay by check to avoid it)
Deposit - $800
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*Trip cancellation and emergency insurance available *Passports are required *Full payment due 90 days before departure. *Cancellation charges: non-refundable after deposit and final payment is made Click Here for Current Airline Baggage Fees Click Here For Terms and Conditions