Viking Cruises, Amazon & Caribbean Adventure

Arrive in San Juan today and enjoy time to explore Puerto Rico’s capital in depth. You might take a stroll around El Viejo San Juan, or Old San Juan, with its colonial charms, easy island tempo and authentic culture. Wander its narrow lanes, literally paved with history, laid with blue adoquín stone once used to ballast Spanish galleons. As we are docked here overnight, you will have ample time to explore the city. This evening, stroll the Old Town’s azure byways romantically illuminated by streetlamps.

Today, you have another day to take in the history and architectural beauty of San Juan, from its fanciful Condado district to the magnificent 16th-century Fort San Felipe del Morro, set on a promontory at the entrance to San Juan Bay. Or visit the lush woodland of El Yunque national rainforest. Later today, you will sail away into the Caribbean’s blue waters.

Visit Antigua today, once Britain’s “Gateway to the Caribbean.” On an island tour from our berth in St. John’s, you will admire lush green beauty all around and visit English Harbour. Its restored Georgian dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is named for Admiral Horatio Nelson, who commanded the Crown’s fleet here in the 18th century. Today, yachts line the quays. But the island’s beautiful scenery has not changed since Nelson’s day, blanketed with tropical forests and punctuated by sheer cliffs dropping into blue waters.

Call on the lush and mountainous island of St. Lucia, with its sheltered harbors, quiet byways and Creole-inspired cuisine. A short drive from our berth in Castries, admire breathtaking views of azure waters and hillsides shrouded in tropical green. Witness the art of batik making here and glimpse prolific banana plantations. Or, venture across the island to view the spectacular Pitons, towering twin peaks draped in forests.

Relish the intense Caribbean beauty of Barbados today when you call on its capital, Bridgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will discover ample evidence of British rule here, from cricket matches and afternoon tea to the Commonwealth’s third-oldest parliament. Marvel at spectacular vistas from the heights of the Highland Adventure Center, descending to sea level for a tour of Bridgetown. Or, head underground to explore the stalactites and stalagmites of Harrison’s Cave.

After a morning workout at the Fitness Center, perhaps soothe your body with a hot sauna and a few minutes amid the refreshingly chilled air of the Snow Grotto. This evening, enjoy cocktails at the Viking Bar and a classic meal in The Restaurant.

Call on Île Royale (Royal Island) today, one of the three Îles du Salut that belong to mainland French Guiana. These three “Islands of Salvation” were a much-feared penal colony for the most notorious French criminals. Among the ruined prison buildings, you can learn about two of the most famous prisoners sent to Île du Diable (Devil’s Island), visible from Île Royale: the accused, and later exonerated, traitor Captain Alfred Dreyfus and Henri Charrière, whose escape was made famous by the film Papillon starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.

Begin your day with coffee and a real Norwegian waffle at Mamsen’s gourmet deli. Later, perhaps you will swim in the Infinity Pool or mingle with newfound friends over tea in the Wintergarden. This evening, enjoy soft piano music in the Living Room or lively jazz in Torshavn.

This morning, you will make a brief stop at equatorial Macapá, capital of Brazil’s Amapá state near the mouth of the Amazon. Your captain will receive clearance from Brazilian authorities, then you will set sail for the mighty Amazon River.

Visit the small city of Santarém, at the confluence of the Tapajós and Amazon Rivers. Because of poor road conditions, its people rely heavily on these waterways for transport. Most nearby villages can be reached only by river, and it is common to see families plying these waters in small boats. Visit the Cathedral of Our Lady or browse Santarém’s vibrant city market overflowing with Tapajoara handicrafts. Alternately, you might try your hand at fishing for piranha on nearby Maica Lake.

Today you will call on Parintins on the river island of Tupinambarana. Disembark to attend an extravagant folklore performance, the Boi Bumbá. This unique theatrical tradition combines costumes, drumming and Amazonian, African and European rhythms to tell the story of a resurrected bull. The performance is part of an annual folklore festival held each June, Brazil’s largest celebration after Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, and is presented to us off season.

Arrive in Manaus today, 1,000 miles upriver from the Atlantic. The most populous city in the Amazon basin, Manaus prospered greatly from the rubber trade. Admire the elegant Amazon Theater adorned with a striking tiled dome, the Rio Negro Palace and the colorful facades of the Old Town. You might also tour the confluence of the Amazon and Black rivers by small boat. An overnight stay here gives you plenty of time to explore this fascinating city.

Disembark this morning and return home, or continue your exploration of Manaus’s Old Town with our extension here.