Grand Voyage: Pole To Pole Cruise

Day 1 - Buenos Aires

Arrive: Thu 13 March 2025

In the early 20th century, Buenos Aires, Argentina, gained immense wealth when it began shipping its pampas-raised beef around the world. It quickly entered the club of great world cities, and a slew of attractions and architectural jewels soon arose. Since that time, the capital has experienced huge swings in economic and political fortune. But Buenos Aires continues to fascinate and entertain sightseeing visitors, both for its chaotic energy and for its sheer urban beauty. Thankfully, the Belle Époque grandeur and enormous tracts of greenery remain. Any list of things to do in Buenos Aires would begin with its many walkable neighborhoods; Palermo especially stands out, thanks to creative residents who have pushed the restaurant scene well beyond beef. Porteños—as the locals are called—may be of Spanish, Italian, Jewish or Middle Eastern descent; that mix of cultures is reflected in the city's dialect, foods and pastimes. Looking beyond the city's sights, Buenos Aires is known as the birthplace of tango, and while the music and dance never quite went away, today tango is making a resurgence. Fans come here from around the world to take part in or watch the milongas (dance events). Argentines are world leaders in polo as well, and as the sport captures the interest of more and more travelers, hunky players like Nacho are gaining global celebrity.

Day 2 - Buenos Aires

Depart: Fri 14 March 2025

In the early 20th century, Buenos Aires, Argentina, gained immense wealth when it began shipping its pampas-raised beef around the world. It quickly entered the club of great world cities, and a slew of attractions and architectural jewels soon arose. Since that time, the capital has experienced huge swings in economic and political fortune. But Buenos Aires continues to fascinate and entertain sightseeing visitors, both for its chaotic energy and for its sheer urban beauty. Thankfully, the Belle Époque grandeur and enormous tracts of greenery remain. Any list of things to do in Buenos Aires would begin with its many walkable neighborhoods; Palermo especially stands out, thanks to creative residents who have pushed the restaurant scene well beyond beef. Porteños—as the locals are called—may be of Spanish, Italian, Jewish or Middle Eastern descent; that mix of cultures is reflected in the city's dialect, foods and pastimes. Looking beyond the city's sights, Buenos Aires is known as the birthplace of tango, and while the music and dance never quite went away, today tango is making a resurgence. Fans come here from around the world to take part in or watch the milongas (dance events). Argentines are world leaders in polo as well, and as the sport captures the interest of more and more travelers, hunky players like Nacho are gaining global celebrity.

Day 3 - Punta del Este

Arrive: Sat 15 March 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 15 March 2025 at 17:00

Known as the St. Tropez of Uruguay for its miles of beautiful, pristine beaches, sports activities, shopping, and temperate climate, Punta del Este offers something for everyone. Choose a gentle bayside beach or dramatic Atlantic beach with perfect surfing waves; explore the colonial and modern architecture of downtown and shop for local treasures; and visit Casa del Pueblo – a modern art museum that was once the home of celebrated Uruguayan artist Carlos Paez Vilaro.

Day 4 - At Sea

Day 5 - At Sea

Day 6 - Rio de Janeiro

Arrive: Tue 18 March 2025 at 08:00

Some cities need no introduction, and even fewer cities live up to their reputation the way Rio de Janeiro does, in both the best sense—how visitors experience sheer exhilaration being there—and the harsh reality of its social and economic strains. Situated in arguably the world’s most dramatic urban setting, it has apartment complexes that hang on huge granite peaks which rise smack in the middle of the city, and adding to the drama, its stunning beaches seem to stretch forever. A quick course in Rio: Before arriving, listen to some bossa nova and samba music to get in the swing of things. Second lesson: Practice pronouncing Rio as Hio in order to sound like a native Carioca. After that, it’s all about stopping at corner juice bars to enjoy fresh tropical drinks named for fruit you’ve never even heard of, and indulging in people-watching along the legendary Copacabana and Ipanema boardwalks. For more insight into the city, you might take the plunge into Maracaña Stadium to watch a crazy match between crosstown rivals Flamengo and Fluminense (imagine the Yankees and the Red Sox living in the same city) or jump on a bike to discover some of Rio’s far-flung and vastly diverse districts.

Day 7 - Rio de Janeiro

Depart: Wed 19 March 2025 at 22:00

Some cities need no introduction, and even fewer cities live up to their reputation the way Rio de Janeiro does, in both the best sense—how visitors experience sheer exhilaration being there—and the harsh reality of its social and economic strains. Situated in arguably the world’s most dramatic urban setting, it has apartment complexes that hang on huge granite peaks which rise smack in the middle of the city, and adding to the drama, its stunning beaches seem to stretch forever. A quick course in Rio: Before arriving, listen to some bossa nova and samba music to get in the swing of things. Second lesson: Practice pronouncing Rio as Hio in order to sound like a native Carioca. After that, it’s all about stopping at corner juice bars to enjoy fresh tropical drinks named for fruit you’ve never even heard of, and indulging in people-watching along the legendary Copacabana and Ipanema boardwalks. For more insight into the city, you might take the plunge into Maracaña Stadium to watch a crazy match between crosstown rivals Flamengo and Fluminense (imagine the Yankees and the Red Sox living in the same city) or jump on a bike to discover some of Rio’s far-flung and vastly diverse districts.

Day 8 - Buzios

Arrive: Thu 20 March 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 20 March 2025 at 14:00

The spindly Brazilian peninsula of Armação dos Búzios, or just Búzios, is loaded with hills and fine bays as well as coves where long ago pirates were able to stash their booty and themselves. In the state of Rio de Janeiro, and about a two-hour drive from the city of Rio, the popular resort area is made up of a handful of hamlets spread over some 30 square miles and encompassing nearly two dozen beaches. Dotted with cacti and dry tropical woods, the peninsula was a slaving station before its economic roles morphed into that of fishing villages and a whaling base (an armação was a fish drying rack, while búzios means "whelks" in Portuguese). The main town has a cool Mediterranean-on-the-Atlantic vibe that began when Brigitte Bardot famously showed up in the mid-'60s and launched its fame—the port promenade is named for the actress and a bronze statue honors her. The half-mile-long pedestrian-only Rua das Pedras, or Stone Street, is a tropical Fifth Avenue or Champs-Élysées, packed with shopping, dining and nightlife, and it's the place to see and be seen by the whole world.

Day 9 - At Sea

Day 10 - Salvador

Arrive: Sat 22 March 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 22 March 2025 at 16:00

Portugal's former New World colonial capital is storybook Brazil—a city both cinematic and gritty, its colorful cobblestoned streets lined with astonishing gilded churches and photogenic architecture dancing to its own Afro-Brazilian drum. It is a microcosm of Brazil: a kaleidoscopic mélange of African roots and culture, European tradition and indigenous pedigree, with a vivacious soul that bewitches visitors right away. Under Portuguese royal orders to establish a capital in Brazil, Tomé de Souza landed in Salvador in 1549 with 400 soldiers and 400 settlers in tow. By the late 1500s, the city was the most important in the Portuguese empire after Lisbon. Its complicated history continues to shape the city today, and nowhere is it more palpable than the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Pelourinho, the old town. Here endures a sensory kaleidoscope: colorful colonial buildings and jaw-dropping churches, a percussion-heavy local soundtrack of unique musical styles such as afoxê and samba reggae, capoeira circles that seem to break out spontaneously in the open-air plazas, and the scent of acarajé (bean and shrimp fritters) filling the air. It all merges—sights, sounds, smells and the ever-present sensation of heat—in Salvador's bewitching personality.

Day 11 - Maceio

Arrive: Sun 23 March 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 23 March 2025 at 17:00

Maceió is the capital city of the state of Alagoas, on the east coast of Brazil. Its historic center is home to pastel-colored colonial houses, a 19th-century cathedral and the Théo Brandão Museum of Anthropology and Folklore, located in a renovated seafront mansion.

Day 12 - Recife

Arrive: Mon 24 March 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 24 March 2025 at 23:00

With Recife's receding tide comes a most unusual bathing beach, dotted with a myriad of inviting pools and a surreal seascape of reef rocks. Hence the name Recife, which means reef. Discover nearby Olinda, a colonial gem beautifully preserved in pastel shades of stucco

Day 13 - At Sea

Day 14 - Fortaleza

Arrive: Wed 26 March 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 26 March 2025 at 17:00

Jangadeiros (fishermen aboard log rafts with triangular sails) skim this port's green waters as they have for centuries; in the city, artisans hand-craft gossamer pieces of heirloom lace. Sample shore excursion: Highlights of Fortaleza.

Day 15 - At Sea

Day 16 - Crossing the Equator

Day 17 - Barra Norte Sea, Brazil

Day 17 - Crossing the Amazon River Bar, Brazil

Day 17 - Barra Norte Sea, Brazil

Day 17 - Crossing the Amazon River Bar, Brazil

Day 18 - Santarem

Arrive: Sun 30 March 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 30 March 2025 at 17:00

A lively trading center on the Amazon (Henry Ford invested millions in rubber here in the 1920s). Here, see rubber and Brazil nut trees; learn how the locals make tapioca, staple of the Amazon; swim in the clear blue waters of the Rio Tapajos. Sample shore excursion: City Tour of Santarém; Tapajos National Forest.

Day 19 - Boca De Valeira

Arrive: Mon 31 March 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 31 March 2025 at 14:00

Surrounded by the Amazonian rain forest, Boca da Valeria, a small Brazilian settlement of fewer than 100 people, boasts no tourism infrastructure. Yet the destination lures travelers by offering an authentic glimpse of the simple river life that the Amerindians have followed for centuries. Meaning "Mouth of the Valeria River," the remote fishing and trading village sits at the convergence of the Amazon and the Rio da Valeria. The local children guide visitors along a dirt footpath and pose for pictures in their native costumes, often with exotic animals in tow. Boca da Valeria, which is located between the towns of Parintins and Santarém, stands in stark contrast to nearby urban centers such as Manaus, where residents live with all the comforts, and complications, of contemporary life—but therein lies the appeal to the world adventurer.

Day 20 - Manaus

Arrive: Tue 01 April 2025 at 08:00

If ever a city were a model for boom and bust, it would be Manaus, which lies at the confluence of Brazil’s Amazon River and Rio Negro, more than 1,450 kilometers (900 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean. Like in America’s Old West, great fortunes were amassed in no time here and vanished just as quickly during the boom years of rubber production in the late 19th century. The most enduring memorial of that time is the great opera house and theater that are still in use today, and whose existence in the Amazon helped inspire the 1982 movie Fitzcarraldo, about one man’s maniacal obsession with bringing opera to the jungle. These days, Manaus is downright huge—perhaps surprisingly, it’s Brazil’s seventh-largest city. A swank new soccer stadium was added for the 2014 World Cup, and a three-kilometer-long (two-mile-long), cable-stayed bridge opened in 2011 across the Rio Negro. The Ponta Negra suburb has modern high-rises, buzzing restaurants and beaches that rival those of any town on the sea. But within minutes, visitors can find themselves in the watery jungle, the source of the Amazonian specialties like pirarucu fish and acai berries on the menus of Manaus’s restaurants.

Day 21 - Manaus

Depart: Wed 02 April 2025 at 15:00

If ever a city were a model for boom and bust, it would be Manaus, which lies at the confluence of Brazil’s Amazon River and Rio Negro, more than 1,450 kilometers (900 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean. Like in America’s Old West, great fortunes were amassed in no time here and vanished just as quickly during the boom years of rubber production in the late 19th century. The most enduring memorial of that time is the great opera house and theater that are still in use today, and whose existence in the Amazon helped inspire the 1982 movie Fitzcarraldo, about one man’s maniacal obsession with bringing opera to the jungle. These days, Manaus is downright huge—perhaps surprisingly, it’s Brazil’s seventh-largest city. A swank new soccer stadium was added for the 2014 World Cup, and a three-kilometer-long (two-mile-long), cable-stayed bridge opened in 2011 across the Rio Negro. The Ponta Negra suburb has modern high-rises, buzzing restaurants and beaches that rival those of any town on the sea. But within minutes, visitors can find themselves in the watery jungle, the source of the Amazonian specialties like pirarucu fish and acai berries on the menus of Manaus’s restaurants.

Day 22 - Parintins

Arrive: Thu 03 April 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 03 April 2025 at 17:00

Steeped in tradition, Parintins celebrates its centuries-old Indian culture each June at the Boi-Bumba Festival, a lavish event that rivals Rio's Carnivale, re-enacted for visitors at a local club. Sample shore excursions: Parintins by Tricycle; Boi-Bumba Festival Show.

Day 23 - Alter Do Chao, Brazil

Arrive: Fri 04 April 2025 / Depart: Fri 04 April 2025

Not for nothing is Alter do Chão known as the Caribbean of the Amazon. Taken as a whole, the village's white powdery beaches, transparent blue-green waters and hang-loose vibe would make a perfectly convincing addition to the Lesser Antilles. Of course, there are tip-offs that you're still in the midst of South America's River Sea, not least the neighboring rain forest and the pink dolphins—those local mascots—that periodically surface in the water. This uncommon tropical charm lies at the heart of Alter do Chão's appeal—but the place becomes outright irresistible when you factor in the curiously cosmopolitan inhabitants (expat hippies, herbalists and nature lovers in addition to Brazilians) and the cute little shops, cafés and businesses they've created. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more relaxing or beautiful stop in which to enjoy a drink by the water (or even sometimes in the water, seated in a slightly submerged chair—a local tradition) before doing a little exploring by boat or on foot.

Day 24 - Cruising the Amazon River

Day 24 - Crossing the Equator

Day 24 - Barra Norte Sea, Brazil

Day 24 - Crossing the Amazon River Bar, Brazil

Day 24 - Barra Norte Sea, Brazil

Day 25 - At Sea

Day 26 - French Guiana

Arrive: Mon 07 April 2025 / Depart: Mon 07 April 2025

Devil's Island, part of a three-island chain called Îles du Salut, in French Guiana, was home to one of the most infamous—and impregnable—prisons of the 19th and 20th centuries. Opened in 1852, it received worldwide renown in the mid-1890s when French military captain Alfred Dreyfus was sentenced to life imprisonment after being wrongly convicted of selling military secrets to Germany. Although Dreyfus's sentence was commuted after five years, more than 80,000 political prisoners and hardened criminals endured years of mistreatment and abuse among disease-ridden conditions. Few were able to escape, though Henri Charrière, author of the book Papillon, allegedly succeeded by filling sacks with coconuts in order to float to the mainland. The prison was officially closed in 1953. In 1965, the French government transferred responsibility of the island to the Guiana Space Centre, and in recent years, tourism facilities have been added. Devil's Island and its two smaller neighboring islands receive more than 50,000 visitors each year.

Day 27 - At Sea

Day 28 - At Sea

Day 29 - At Sea

Day 30 - At Sea

Day 31 - Porto Grande (Mindelo), Cape Verde

Arrive: Sat 12 April 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 12 April 2025 at 17:00

Nearly 400 miles off the coast of Africa, lies a handful of islands known as Cape Verde. The islands of Cape Verde range from steep and rocky, to flat and sandy. Enjoy harbor-side bars and shops of Mindelo. Although traces of the Portuguese culture are woven throughout, Mindelo's unique atmosphere is all its own

Day 32 - Praia da Rocha

Arrive: Sun 13 April 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 13 April 2025 at 17:00

Praia da Rocha is a beach and built up area on the Atlantic Ocean in the southern section of the concelho of Portimão, Algarve, southern Portugal. Nearby Praia dos Três Castelos beach is well known for the bizarre and dramatic limestone rock formations that stand along the water.

Day 33 - At Sea

Day 34 - Banjul

Arrive: Tue 15 April 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 15 April 2025 at 17:00

The Gambia is defined by a river, the one that gives the nation its name. The long, narrow country stretches from the Atlantic into Africa for some 475 kilometers (295 miles), and consists of the Gambia River and its banks—spanning only 48 kilometers (30 miles) at its widest point. This smallest country on the African mainland is also home to the continent’s smallest capital, Banjul, with fewer than 35,000 residents. Sitting on an island where the river enters the ocean, Banjul is decidedly laid-back, without the bustling city center—or traffic jams—of Africa’s larger metropolises.The Gambia also has the distinction of having enjoyed a relatively stable government since independence. That, combined with a warm tropical climate and miles of beautiful beaches along its Atlantic coastline, has attracted a thriving expat community. For most visitors to Banjul, the nearby beaches and quiet pace of life here are its main draws. Among the popular sights are The Gambia National Museum, which recounts the history of the country as well as daily life for the nation’s residents, and the Abuko Nature Reserve, the country's first national park, which provides an excellent introduction to Africa’s flora and fauna.

Day 35 - Dakar

Arrive: Wed 16 April 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 16 April 2025 at 17:00

Alluring and frenetic, Senegal’s capital, Dakar, was long a tiny settlement on the southern part of the Cape Verde peninsula. It now encompasses former colonial towns (it was once a French commune) and a handful of other villages. The hub is the Place de l’Indépendance, a buzzing square lined with both concrete-block and colonial buildings and from which streets with restaurants, shops and theaters radiate. Roads are often congested with buses, taxis and horse-drawn carriages, and the Medina quarter, home to the Grand Mosque and markets, is an explosion of color and commotion. The food scene has a lot of flavor, too, with influences from Senegal’s many ethnic groups, European past, and a large Lebanese expat community. Alongside trendy restaurants, you’ll find beachside night markets and traditional spots serving thieboudienne (seasoned fish served with rice and vegetables). Music makes up much of the pulse of Dakar—you'll hear the drumbeats of the local mbalax music emanating from the city's dance clubs—but there are more serene parts of Dakar, too. The streets of Île de Gorée, once a depot for the slave trade, can be hauntingly quiet, and an hour away, the pink-tinted Lake Retba offers a respite from Dakar’s never-ending sights and sounds.

Day 36 - At Sea

Day 37 - At Sea

Day 38 - Lanzarote

Arrive: Sat 19 April 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 19 April 2025 at 17:00

Rugged, volcanic Lanzarote—the northeasternmost island of the Canary Islands, which are part of Spain yet lie less than 200 kilometers off the coast of Morocco—is small enough that you can travel its whole length in less than an hour. Driving between the small towns on the island, dotted with some 300 volcanic cones, visitors pass wineries around La Geria valley; its vast estates are covered by odd little lava stone pits designed to protect individual vines from the wind. (Viticulture has a long history here—El Grifo winery was founded in 1775.) All over the island, the works of celebrated local sculptor, painter and architect César Manrique can be seen in the most unexpected places. A former fishing village, the port of Arrecife (meaning “reef" in Spanish and named after the offshore reefs that long provided protection from pirates) is now a medium-sized city. Despite its location in the Atlantic, Arrecife has a decidedly Mediterranean feel with seafront promenades lined with palms. El Charco tidal lagoon is a popular venue for strolling and photographing traditional fishing boats at anchor. On Saturdays, a food and crafts market pops up around the lagoon and the Church of San Ginés; every day of the week, small tapas bars are always welcoming.

Day 39 - Agadir

Arrive: Sun 20 April 2025 / Depart: Sun 20 April 2025

Regardless of when you visit Agadir, on Morocco’s Atlantic Coast, your chances of arriving on a sunny day are pretty high. That selling point has made it a popular seaside resort for Europeans, who stroll along the promenade and surf, wet bike and ride camels on the seemingly endless crescent-shaped beach. Here, you can sip a cup of Berber tea at a café, grab a pint at a pub or dine and dance at one of the beach clubs. Beyond the beach, much of the area’s history has been erased, and all that can be seen today are modern whitewashed buildings and palm-lined boulevards. (Though it was the site of an ancient Roman port and occupied by both the French and the Portuguese, Agadir was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1960 and little of its past survived.) You can still explore the region’s heritage at the Amazigh Museum, which provides an introduction to Berber culture, and the hilltop casbah, built in the 16th century. Don’t miss the souks, with local products like saffron, olive oil, dates and Berber handicrafts, including silver jewelry, handmade slippers, carpets and pottery. Outside Agadir, red-walled towns and valleys with limestone canyons and waterfalls await.

Day 40 - Casablanca

Arrive: Mon 21 April 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 21 April 2025 at 22:00

Casablanca is Morocco's largest city and its most important port. While Rabat is the country's official capital, Casablanca is its economic and cultural hub, the place where Moroccans go to make it big. There has been a settlement here since before the Romans, and although the Barbary pirates and Portuguese also left their marks, it wasn't until the French colonial period that Casablanca truly came into its own. The modern city was the first in the world to be laid out by aerial survey, and was barely 20 years old when its name was framed forever in the Hollywood classic of the same name. But Casablanca isn't just a place for movie nostalgia—its tremendous Hassan II Mosque puts Moroccan tradition on a distinctly modern trajectory, while its trams whisk you past Art Deco architecture to Dubai-inspired malls and city beaches. Casablanca's central location on the Atlantic coast also means that day trips to the historic imperial cities of Marrakech and Rabat are an easy option. We suggest you gulp down a shot of Moroccan espresso at a street café and dive right in.

Day 41 - Cruising the Strait of Gibraltar

Day 41 - Gibraltar

Arrive: Tue 22 April 2025 / Depart: Tue 22 April 2025

This strategic link between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean has been ruled by the Spanish, British and Moors. As long as the Barbary Apes remain, the British will rule Gibraltar this is the tradition that has held for 350 years. These pesky primates are a favorite with visitors despite their incessant chatter and light-fingered ways. Ride to the top of the Rock for great views over the Strait of Gibraltar-on a clear day you'll see Africa.

Day 42 - At Sea

Day 43 - Barcelona

Arrive: Thu 24 April 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 24 April 2025

On the northeast coast of Spain, overlooking the Mediterranean, Barcelona is a vibrant port city, packed with centuries of iconic art and architecture—Gaudí and Picasso both called it home—and lined with sunny white-sand beaches. Explore the Catalan capital's tourist attractions and historic neighborhoods, Modernisme and world-renowned art museums, galleries and local crafts shops—some of which are centuries old and stock traditional Catalan wares. After you see the sights, there are lively tapas bars around every corner where you can stop for a drink, a café amb llet (Catalan for espresso with steamed milk) or a snack, no matter the hour. Green spaces for picnics, long walks and respite from the hustle and bustle are scattered throughout Barcelona's attractions: There's Gaudí's mosaic-decorated park, a neoclassical maze at the Laberint d'Horta, as well as plenty of high places (mountains, monuments and edifices) where sightseeing visitors can take in the view. A short trip from Barcelona by car or train, luxury outlets, cava wineries, a mountaintop abbey and the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean coast await.