Vantage celebrates its 40th anniversary this year!
CALL 1-800-322-6677
You’ll hear many people say that they have always dreamed of seeing the Amazon. Its unique location in the heart of South America makes the region unparalleled when it comes to wildlife and biodiversity. When you cruise along the Amazon River with Vantage Deluxe World Travel, you’re not just seeing one aspect of this natural wonder, you’ll also spend time in Belém and Manaus, two of Brazil’s most exciting cities. Please note that the nature of these journeys requires a certain level of physical fitness, and guests should be able to walk three miles unassisted over potentially-uneven terrain, be prepared to anchor at ports requiring the use of a tender, and possess the physical agility to embark and disembark small Zodiac crafts in unpredictable waters.
You’ll embark the luxurious Ocean Explorer for a comprehensive ascent into the Amazon. Throughout your adventure, you’ll ride Zodiac boats to get even closer to indigenous communities, thousands of wildlife species, black rivers, floating villages, and more, all alongside your knowledgeable Expedition Team of naturalists, ornithologists, wildlife experts, equipment masters, and more.
With 21 included features and Cultural Discoveries, this journey will enchant and inspire you. Get ready for pink dolphin sightings, interactions with indigenous locals, and an onboard cooking demonstration. Watch the river roll by on the Ocean Explorer’s observation deck, learn more about the Amazon during one of many onboard lectures, or get a reinvigorating massage in the spa. Join our expedition to behold one of the world’s most magnificent natural destinations filled with adventure and wonder while enjoying exclusive, 5-star amenities.
Depart home and fly overnight to Belém
Your journey begins with an overnight flight from your home city to Belém, Brazil.
Arrive in Belém
Welcome to Brazil! If you purchased your airfare or transfers from Vantage, upon arrival in Belém, a Vantage representative will meet you and arrange transfer to your centrally located hotel. You’ll have the remainder of the day to spend at your leisure.
A day at leisure to enjoy more of Belém on your own
You’ll have a day at leisure to explore Belém on your own today. Often overlooked by visitors who favor the Amazonian wonders found inland, this city is a cultural gem worthy of your time.
Head to the Ver-O-Peso market to chat with local sellers and shop for unique wares and souvenirs. Visit the Theatro da Paz, a 19th-century Neoclassical theater that provides a peek into Brazil’s belle epoque past. Or, make your way to the Complexo Feliz Lusitania, a cluster of significant historical buildings located in Belém’s old town district. The day is yours to enjoy at your pace.
Included meals:
Enjoy a boat tour of the Amazon River, where you will see canoes, fishing boats, and other river-craft making their way along the tributaries that lead in and out of the rainforest. After crossing Combu Island, you will reach the Boa Vista do Acará jungle area where you can take part in a leisurely guided walk through the jungle.
Due to high call volume, we recommend you visit MyPortfolio to book this Destination Enhancement. Don’t wait — these optional experiences are limited to a select number of guests and are selling out fast!
Explore Belém and embark the Ocean Explorer
Following breakfast at your hotel this morning, you’ll head to the pier and embark the Ocean Explorer. Along the way, you'll enjoy a tour of Belém's best sites and lunch at a local restaurant.
Following your excursion, you will continue on to the pier and board the elegant, 5-star Ocean Explorer.
Included Features:
Explore the Amazon jungle
Enjoy a wonderful week as your expedition cruise begins. The Amazon is home to thousands of wildlife species, black rivers, floating villages, and more, and you’ll encounter them all alongside your knowledgeable Expedition Team comprised of naturalists, ornithologists, wildlife experts, equipment masters, and more.
While sailing the river, be sure to head to the sundeck and observation lounge to hear the Expedition Team pointing out indigenous wildlife and offering insight on the passing terrain.
Your captain will coordinate closely with the Expedition Team to choose from a bevy of fascinating sites along this particular stretch of the Amazon River, and plot itineraries for Zodiac rides, treks, and visits with locals. Led by our highly experienced Expedition Team, you’ll encounter the world’s most biodiverse ecosystem in the most intimate and enthralling way when you step aboard a Zodiac boat and make your way to the banks of the Amazon River. Our daily shoreside landings allow you to get right into the heart of the lush Amazon rainforest, giving you a front row seat to the wildlife, nature, and cultures of the Indigenous communities that call this region home.
Back on board, your Expedition Team will guide informative and engaging lectures about the Amazon and the places you’ll visit throughout your small ship journey.
Please note: Our daily itinerary will be dependent on weather conditions, and we will make every effort to provide safe shoreside excursions if conditions allow.
Included Meals:
Our onboard wine tastings are a guest favorite while sailing and have become a staple of both our ocean journeys and river cruises. Savor rich global flavors from varietals that span the best wine regions on earth, as our onboard expert explains the notes and flavors of each one. Whether you are a connoisseur or a novice, wine tastings offer the perfect balance of indulgence and fun, and are a fantastic way to expand your palate.
The optional activity is available on board your vessel.
Join our onboard expert as they guide you on a journey for the palate as you sample delicious, full-bodied whiskeys from all over the world. Taste the intricate barrel-aged flavors of your favorite small-batch Kentucky bourbon, try a classic 25-year-old Scotch, and enjoy local whiskeys from many of the regions we cruise to, all hand-selected from our private collection
Our exclusive, onboard Chef’s Table Dinner is must-do for any traveler looking for an indulgent dining experience. Hosted by our highly-trained Master Chef, you’ll savor an expertly-prepared, multicourse meal that is sure to be a feast for the senses. This memorable, highly sought-after experience is only available on a limited basis, and you certainly won’t want to miss out.
A wine pairing dinner involves the delicate process of combining a meal with select wines with the purpose of elevating the flavors of each dish and providing a wholly unforgettable dining experience. Our skilled onboard chefs will create an exceptional multicourse dinner, with each course designed to pair perfectly with a chosen wine from our private collection. This incredible dining experience is available on a limited basis on every journey.
Disembark the Ocean Explorer and browse the Municipal Market in Manaus
Following breakfast on board, you’ll disembark the Ocean Explorer and make your way to your hotel in Manaus. On the way, you’ll enjoy a visit to the Mercado Municipal Adolpho Lisboa.
Fashioned after the Les Halles market of Paris in 1882, it is the city’s oldest market and a scintillating way to immerse yourself in the culture. Produce from the surrounding countryside and fish from the river are delivered every morning. Cross the street to see how all these goods arrived — aboard the armada of fishing and cargo boats bobbing on the Amazon’s waters.
After time to absorb it all, and an included lunch, you’ll continue to your hotel. You’ll have the remainder of the day at your leisure to do as you wish.
Cultural Discovery:
Discover Manaus, gateway to the Amazon
Manaus has a fascinating contradictory feel; it is a city in the middle of a jungle, and despite its size, it is only accessible in a practical sense by boat or plane. And though seafaring vessels dock here, the ocean is 900 miles away. It’s all part of the intrigue of the Amazon! After a free morning and lunch on your own, get acquainted with the largest city in the Amazon basin during a tour that features the Teatro Amazonas, or Amazon Theatre. This stunning vision in pink opened in 1896 at the height of the rubber barons’ prosperity and was built with European bricks, French glass, and Italian marble.
Included Feature:
Return home
Today, you will board your return flight to the U.S.
Over the course of three days, get to know the spectacular city of Rio de Janeiro. Take an afternoon tour of Sugarloaf Mountain, then savor a unique local dinner, trying various kinds of churrascaria. Visit Corcovado to witness one of the wonders of the world: Christ the Redeemer. Experience the local dance of samba behind the scenes, then head to downtown Rio for lunch at the iconic Confeitaria Colombo. This compact extension is just the ticket for a comprehensive exploration of Rio, at the best value and in true Vantage style!
Please Note: Ocean cruising is not the same experience as river cruising; as such, you may experience fluctuating tides and weather patterns that may involve some rocking of your vessel. Itineraries will include all activities as planned except in extreme cases that can’t be controlled by your shipboard crew. Day-by-day itineraries are preliminary and therefore subject to change. If changes occur while on tour, you will be notified by your Cruise Director or regional expert.
