Travel Agent - November 12, 2007 - (Page 29)

Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style, but at feet. The two suites, which are on the second a nurse on duty 24/7; and a large lounge dinner passengers have a choice of either buffet deck, encompass almost 500 square feet, with with a bar that does triple duty as the boat’s or a sit-down menu with two selections for a living/dining room and separate bedroom, a lecture room, show lounge and disco. On the each of four courses—or they can choose from large bathroom with a bathtub, and a narrow open-air top deck, there’s a swimming pool both options. The tasty and varied cuisine is veranda that extends around both rooms. surrounded by comfortable wooden lounge Brazilian and international, making use of fresh All cabins are furnished with a queen or chairs and a hot tub (with warm water only). fruits and vegetables and featuring outstanding two twin beds, a dressing table that can douInternet service is planned. local fish from the Amazon, along with excelble as a desk, a leather easy chair, night tables, Hot Spots: Most of guests’ time is spent off the lent lamb, pork and beef. During meals, the a minibar, a TV that plays movies, a safe, and boat, which employs an expedition staff of five to affable chef, who hails from Mexico and has generous closet space and drawers. A delicious eight men, depending on the number of passencooked at leading restaurants in the U.S., tours chocolate-covered Brazil nut is left on the pilgers. All come from the Manaus region and are the dining room to visit with guests and ensure low during turn-down service. The bathroom caboclo (the local term for native Indians of mixed they are pleased and well-attended. has a countertop of Brazilian marble, large blood), and very knowledgeable about the flora A bar and a second dining venue for light glass-enclosed shower, hair dryer and a sensor and fauna of the Amazon. They, along with all the breakfast and lunch are in the covered area of that turns the lights on and off. boat’s staff and crew, take English lessons three the top open-air deck. If a couple requests an The decor throughout the boat is lowtimes weekly. The boat’s personnel were trained intimate dinner or a special-occasion meal under key and pleasant and makes generous use of by Iberostar hotel members. the stars, general manager Andre Penna and Brazilian hardwoods and crafts. In the cabins, Excursions of two to three hours are his chef will use this location. For a birthday for example, some walls are faced with golden scheduled for 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily; special or anniversary, members of the expedition staff blond Brazilian hardwood and display artwork ones for birding are offered at 6 a.m. at least who play instruments (and can often be found reflecting Amazonian traditions. Several public twice during the week. The boat carries four jamming on the top deck in the evening) will rooms have lovely parquet floors. launches, each holding up to 22 people (more provide some celebratory tunes. Penna also The boat has a small exercise room with launches are added as needed), to take pasprovides honeymooners and VIPs with fruit and equipment; a shopping boutique; a clinic with sengers into small streams that weave their champagne in their cabin. paths through the jungle. Cabins are unusually large for a riverboat, and most contain a queen-size bed, golden blond Rating the Digs: Built Normally, passengers are Brazilian hardwood walls and Amazonian art in Manaus at a cost of grouped for the excursions $12 million and styled by language—Portuguese, like Nile River boats after Spanish, English, French, the owner and architects German and Italian, as made several trips to necessary. At least two Egypt to see them, the guides accompany every Iberostar Grand Amazon expedition, and on jungle lives up to its advanced treks one leads and the billing as the most deluxe other brings up the rear cruise boat on the Amabehind the hikers. zon sailing from Manaus. A typical day will It has 72 spacious, airinclude an early-morning conditioned cabins and excursion up one of the two suites, all with veransmall tributaries to a landas that, while small, still ding, where the group will hold a couple of chairs set off on a hike. The pace where guests can enjoy is easy because the guides the peaceful views in stop often to describe the early morning, at sunset flora and their traditional or in the cool of evening. uses, to discuss skills for Cabins on the third deck surviving in the jungle are perhaps the most and to look for animals, desirable, because of the birds and unusual insects. better view. It’s common to see many Staterooms—unusudifferent bird species in ally large for a riverone outing, but spotting boat—are identical in monkeys, sloths, iguana size and layout, each or anaconda is much more measuring 240 square CONTINUED ON PAGE 30 November 12, 2007 TravelAgent | 29

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Travel Agent - November 12, 2007 Online Now Contents From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Europe: Berlin Has a Vibrant Arts Scene Central & South America: Iberostar Grand Amazon: Adventure, but with Upscale Cruise Comforts Culinary Tours in Argentina and Peru Belize Eco-Lodge Packages Pacific/Asia: Bali Awaits Discovery by U.S. Tourists Las Vegas: Three Days in Vegas for Baby Boomers Caribbean & Bahamas: CTO’s Chairman Sees Growth in the Market Dominica’s New Tourism Director Discusses Challenges and Opportunities for His Island St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Where Less is More St. Maarten as a Destination for Foodies Tours: Sunshine and Disney are Just Two of Florida’s Options Cruises: Theme Cruises Generate Demand and Revenue Oceania’s Sales and Fleet are Growing Cruise Deals Cover Story: The New Wave Supplier Profile: Viking River Cruises Launches Land-Only Tour Operation Air Lift: Sabre Takes UpSell to the Skies A Tough Season Ahead: Rising Rates and Demand Give Hotels Edge in Price Negotiating Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Caribbean Tourism Conference Cruise and Hotel News Trends In U.S. Travel to France Disneyland Upgrade Travel Week In the Spotlight Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - November 12, 2007

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