Departs January 28, 2009.
12 nights, "Around the Horn" cruise on Star Princess and 5 nights, first class, pre cruise land package to Machu Picchu, Lost City of the Incas
Join single and solo travelers as we explore Cuzco and Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas,” and then board the Star Princess for a 12-night cruise around Cape Horn. Ports of call include Valparaiso, Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt, Ushuaia, Port Stanley, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires. We’ll sail around Cape Horn – the southern most point of the Americas, traverse the Straits of Magellan, view awe-inspiring glaciers, laugh at penguins - up close and personal, and marvel at the scenery of Patagonia. Prior to this fascinating cruise we’ll explore Machu Picchu - arguably the most famous site of the ancient Incan Empire, Cuzco and the Sacred Valley.
This extraordinary journey is for solo travelers – including single, attached with a “travel phobic” spouse or partner, or friends who want to explore together. Meet like-minded travelers and make new friends. Avoid single supplement charges with our roommate match program, or if you prefer, single rooms are available.
Itinerary:
Wednesday, January 28. Arrive Lima, transfer to hotel. Overnight at new Ramada airport hotel
Thursday, January 29. Transfer hotel to airport for early flight to Cuzco. This afternoon we will tour Cuzco and Sacred Valley. Welcome dinner tonight and meet your fellow solos! Hotel Novotel Cuzco. (B,L,D)
Friday, January 30. Transfer hotel to train station in Cuzco. VistaDome train to Aguas Calientes. Shuttle to Machu Picchu. We will enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu with lunch. Return to Aguas Calientes via shuttle and walk to hotel. Hotel El Pueblo. (B,L,D)
Saturday, January 31. This morning is free to do as we please. Optional – re-entry to Machu Picchu before the day crowds arrive. This afternoon we will return to Cuzco via the VistaDome train. Hotel Novotel Cuzco. (B)
Sunday, February 1. Transfer to airport and fly to Santiago. Sheraton Santiago for overnight. (B)
Monday, February 2. Santiago city tour and transfer to pier. Afternoon embark Star Princess. (B,D)
Tuesday, February 3. At Sea. Enjoy our first full day at sea. Private party this evening for Seven Wonders Club Solos. (B,L,D)
Wednesday, February 4. Puerto Montt. Puerto Montt is your gateway to Chile's magnificent Lake District. Here, snow-capped volcanoes gaze down on alpine valleys nestled among low hills. Glaciers carved out this terrain, leaving the jewel-like lakes in their wake. (B,L,D)
Thursday, February 5. At Sea (B,L,D)
Friday, February 6. Pio XI Glacier. Scenic cruising. The Southern Patagonian Ice Fields are an amazing place to view towering, crystalized glaciers as well as a myriad of marine birds. The photo opportunities are abundant and their beauty is often compared to Alaska's Inside Passage. All shades of blues, greens and silvery ice are showcased within these amazing glacial fjords. (B,L,D)
Saturday, February 7. Punta Arenas, Chile. Punta Arenas lies atop rolling hills, looking out over the Straits of Magellan. In the days before the Panama Canal, this was a major port as ships plied the waters of Cape Horn. The city is also the gateway to Chilean Patagonia, a maze of fjords, rivers, steppes and mountains to the north. (B,L,D)
Sunday, February 8. Ushuaia, Argentina. Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world and one of two main cities on the island territory of Tierra del Fuego. Shared by Argentina and Chile, "The Land of Fire" features unforgettable scenery and trails of discovery framed by the sea, forests, lakes and mountains. (B,L,D)
Monday, February 9. Cape Horn. Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America, is where sailors on epic journeys are tested. The rough waters and prevailing winds make this region a place of great beauty and danger. Many attempts to "round the Horn" have failed and it has been reported that some 800 ships and 10,000 sailors have gone down trying. (B,L,D)
The route around Cape Horn, prior to the Panama Canal and the transcontinental railroad, was important for trade and passenger ships taking goods and people from either coasts of the United States. Sailing ships had to battle the elements for extended periods, some never being able to round the Horn and forced to turn back or perish. The waters were so treacherous that ships passed this way for centuries before discovering Antarctica, a mere 90 miles to the south. It's a breathtaking journey to round the Horn.
Tuesday, February 10. Stanley, Falkland Islands. Situated near Cape Horn in South America, the harbor at Stanley is one of the world's largest shipping graveyards of the 19th century. Many of the ships that set out for faraway ports met their destiny here, battered by Cape Horn's treacherous waters. One of the best ports to see penguins! (B,L,D)
Wednesday, February 11. At Sea (B,L,D)
Thursday, February 12. At Sea (B,L,D)
Friday, February 13. Montevideo, Uruguay. A charming city made up of 19th century Beaux Arts buildings, parks, and historic monuments, Montevideo is home to more than half of the nation's three million citizens. Small in size, but large in status, Montevideo is an example of stability and democracy and she is one of the most literate nations in the world. (B,L,D)
Saturday, February 14. Buenos Aires, Argentina. We end our journey in the "Paris of the South," and Buenos Aires does flaunt its European heritage. One of the pleasures of this cosmopolitan city is simply absorbing its charm and flavor, from Parisian-style confiterias cafés, to the popular tango clubs. Transfer to the airport for return home, or stay a while and enjoy the many sights. (B)
Price:
The price of the package is: $4,995 per person for inside stateroom; $5,695 per person for outside stateroom; $5,855 per person for balcony stateroom. Fares are based on double occupancy. Single supplement is available. Single supplement cost is based on stateroom category. Seven Wonders Club roommate match is available. Please submit roommate match form with registration.
