AMAZON CRUISE
(on the Oceania Regatta)
Nov. 28 - Dec. 23, 2009
a party on the Regatta
This will be a pictorial blog of our 24 day trip with 8 days cruising the Amazon River. We had a very good trip with good weather and no sea sickness. We tried to find as many birds as possible while sightseeing at the numerous stops, but this was difficult as we had lots to see. Our only shore excursion was to the Asa Wright Nature Centre in Trinidad and it was cut short by a refueling problem in Trinidad and we were late arriving in port.
Our major criticism was with the Brazilian Visa. It was outrageously expensive because of an extreme overbilling by the cruise line. If any of you are travelling to Brazil be sure to get your own Visa and not allow the Cruise Co. to bill you for it.
The Oceania Cruise Company overcharged us for the Visa and we are pursuing a refund. We were charged the USA price and our Canadian charge is 50% of that which would be about a $300 overcharge. We have contacted the Cruise Co. many times and they do not even reply. There were numerous people on the cruise that had similar complaints about Oceania.
The Brazilian also took their time in clearing the ship and this had to be done in every port in Brazil.
The trip was enjoyable and we certainly went to destinations that were much easier to reach by ship. All in all we had a great trip!
Our Cruise Itinerary (in nautical miles):
FROM THE SHIP'S LOG:
From MIAMI, U.S.A. to
FREDERIKSTED (St. Croix) U.S. Virgin Islands 1,050 nautical miles
GUSTAVIA, (St. Barts) 125
CASTRIES, St. Lucia 272
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad 236
SANTAREM, Brazil 1,397
BOCA da VALERIA 139
MANAUS, Brazil 270
PARINTINS, Brazil 249
DEVIL'S ISLAND, French Guyana 961
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados 633
ROSEAU, Dominica 173
SPANISH TOWN, British Virgin Islands 260
CAYO LEVENTADO, Dominican Republic 281
GRAND TURK, Turk & Caicos 225
MIAMI, U.S.A. 669
TOTAL 6,940 nautical miles
or 12,500 km
Miami, USA
Frederiksted, St. Croix
Frederiksted, St. Croix
Gustavia, St. Barts
Island of Saba, Netherlands Antilles
Castries, St. Lucia
Pitons, St. Lucia
Port of Spain, Trinidad
Port of Spain, Trinidad
The Meeting of the Waters, Brazil
Santarem, Brazil
Santarem, Brazil
Boca da Valeria, Brazil
Ships visitor (many different moths landed on our ship)
Manaus, Brazil
Manaus, Brazil
Opera House, Manaus. Brazil
Sunset Manaus, Brazil
Parintins, Brazil
Sunset on the Amazon
I'ile Royale, Devil's Island, French Guyana
Devil's Island, French Guyana
Roseau, Dominica
Roseau, Dominica
Roseau, Dominica
The Baths, Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda
Irene relaxing on deck
Chris relaxing on the top deck
Cayo Leventado, Dominican Republic
Christmas Decorations on board the Ship
Grand Turk, Turk and Caicos
Return to Miami, USA
In conclusion - we had a great time, met very nice people, very good food and excellent service. We are very pleased we took this trip.
