Cruise of South American Highlights
– with optional excursion to Antarctica

Cruise dates February 2-14, 2009

                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

Escape the winter blues by heading south – South America that is.

Join us for a cruise of scenic treasures on the luxurious Star Princess of Princess Cruise Line. 

 We will start in Santiago, Chile,  home to the famed Concho y Toro Winery. 

 

Enjoy an optional one night pre cruise hotel stay at the 5 star Hyatt hotel in Santiago.

 

Next, we will visit Puerto Mont – Chile’s scenic lakes district, where we will witness  soaring volcanoes, towering mountains and other dramatic scenery

 

Then, its onto Punta Arenas, Chile – Gateway to Patagonia and Antarctica, (and our cruise will offer fabulous optional shore excursions to each)

 

Next, we will visit Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego), Argentina, southernmost city in the world.

Then, its onto Cape Horn, the mountainous tip of the South American continent.

 

Next, we will visit the Falkland Islands (Stanley) a tiny British outpost where the absence of traffic lights, abundance of pubs and tremendous wildlife colonies, makes this a unique place

 

Then, its onto Montevideo Uruguay, A charming city made up of 19th century Beaux Arts buildings, parks, and historic monuments

 

Lastly, we will visit Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Paris of the South, where you can visit the final resting place of Evita Peron. (with a full day of excursion opportunities before flying home)

Trip Itinerary:

 

Saturday Jan. 31^st - Passengers choosing our optional air and 1 night pre cruise hotel package will depart Miami on LAN Chile airlines nonstop flight from Miami to Santiago Chile.

 

Sunday February 1^st – Arrive Santiago.  Included transfer from the airport to our hotel, the 5 star Grand Hyatt Santiago hotel.  The balance of the day is at your leisure to enjoy one of South America’s most exciting cities.

 

Monday Feb.2^nd – We will be picked up at our hotel and transferred to the cruise ship in the nearby town of Valparaiso.

Cruise itinerary Feb. 2-14, 2009

Day
	Sail from Santiago. Monday Feb. 2nd
	Port	Arrival	Departure
Mon 2/2	Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile	12:00 AM	6:00 PM
Tue 2/3	At Sea
Wed.2/4	Puerto Montt, Chile	7:00 AM	6:00 PM
Thur 2/5	At Sea
Fri. 2/6	Pio XI Glacier	7:00 AM	8:00 AM
Sat. 2/7	Punta Arena, Chile	6:00 AM	7:00 PM
Sun. 2/8	Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego), Argentina	12:00 PM	8:00 PM
Mon. 2/9	Cape Horn (Scenic Cruising)	8:00 AM	9:00 AM
Tues. 2/10	Falkland Islands (Stanley)	8:00 AM	6:00 PM
Wed. 2/11	At Sea
Thur. 2/12	At Sea
Fri. 2/13	Montevideo, Uruguay	8:00 AM	5:00 PM
Sat. 2/14	Buenos Aires, Argentina	6:30 AM

 

Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, passengers will have the option of booking a cruise line sponsored excursion of Buenos Aires, the fascinating city dubbed the Paris of South America, or for passengers that have booked our air, you may book our own sightseeing tour of Buenos Aires .  Both excursions will end at the airport and all luggage will be transported for you.

 

Passengers booking our air will depart this evening on LAN Chile’s non stop flight back to Miami, departing at 10:30pm and arriving in Miami Sunday morning at 5:45am.

PORTS OF CALL, HIGHLIGHTS AND SELECTED SHORE EXCURSIONS OFFERED BY PRINCESS CRUISE LINE

Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile

Founded in 1536, Valparaíso is Chile's oldest city. It is also the gateway to Chile's central valley and the capital of Santiago. With a population of over five million people, Santiago sprawls at the feet of the snow-capped Andes.

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REGION:

 

Cerro Polanco Funicular

At the top of the cable car, declared a national treasure in 1976, appreciate views of the city's harbor and its surrounding 42 hills.

Viña Del Mar

For sun and relaxation, spend time on the beach at Chile's popular seaside resort and the Santiago's weekend getaway.

Concha y Toro Winery

An internationally recognized

 

 

Puerto Mont – Chile’s scenic lakes district.  Chile’s Lake District boasts soaring volcanoes, towering mountains and other dramatic scenery

 

 

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. The Lake District was a magnet for German immigrants, and their legacy can be seen today in the manicured rose gardens of Puerto Varas, the "German Villages" like Frutillar, and the gabled homes with elaborate balconies of Puerto Montt.

Despite a population of more than 130,000, Puerto Montt retains the feel of a small town. For a simple introduction to the city, walk along the waterfront road to the fishing port of Angelmo and browse the local artisans' stalls, then tuck into a snack in one of the small cafés along the way.

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REGION:

Osorno Volcano

Owing to its near perfect symmetry, this mountain is one of Chile's most famous volcanoes.

Puerto Varas

Established in 1854, Puerto Varas is hailed as the "City of Roses."

Petrohue River

Sculpted from volcanic rock over thousands of years, the river's greenish-blue water swiftly flows to form impressive rapids and small waterfalls.

                A sampling of optional shore excursions offered in Puerto Montt

 

Osorno Volcano, Petrohu River & Puerto Varas  - Visit Petrohue Falls, Osorno Volcano, View the azure-colored rapids and waterfalls of the Petrohue River. Take in sweeping views from the slopes of Mt. Osorno. Explore Chile’s famous City of Roses and visit its Handicraft Fair.

 

Frutilla & The German Settlers - At Frutillar, half-timbered houses give the town the feel of a Black Forest village. Tour the German Settlers Museum for a look at the Lake District’s unique heritage.

 

Alerce Mountain Lodge & Forest Hike - A remote mountain lodge makes the perfect base for a shore excursion offering a nature hike through the Alerce Forest, home to silvery trees that are millennia old.  The El Condor Lookout offers vistas of a millennia-old glacial valley

 

Lake District Culinary Adventure

           Meet one of Chile’s finest chefs for a culinary adventure that travels from the Angelmo fish market to the farms of the Lake District. Your reward: a three-course lunch showcasing local ingredients and wines

 

Canopy Adventure At Osorno Volcano - Travel to Chile’s Lake Country and buckle on a state-of-the-art harness for canopy gliding. Soar at treetop level from one platform to another. Descend the slopes of a volcano, travel through a gorge laced with waterfalls and explore a forest of massive trees.

 

Petrohue River Whitewater Rafting Trip - Brave the azure waters of the Petrohue River on a rafting trip that offers Class III and IV whitewater

 

Kayaking In Chile's Lake District- .Explore Lake Llanquihue, South America’s third-largest natural lake, on a guided kayak adventure.

 

Horseback Riding At Puerto Montt  - Enthusiasts will enjoy a trail ride offering views of Chile’s’ dramatic Lake Country and, tide permitting , a trot along the beach.

Punta Arenas, Chile – Gateway to Patagonia and Antarctica

 

                                              
                                         

Punta Arenas lies atop rolling hills, looking out over the Strait of Magellan. In the days before the Panama Canal, this was a major port as ships plied the waters of Cape Horn. Punta Arenas remains a prosperous town, today, thanks to its rich natural resources.

 

The city is also the gateway to Chilean Patagonia, a maze of fjords, rivers, steppes and mountains to the north. To the south lies the great frozen mass of Antarctica. Adventure awaits at this port near the end of the earth.

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REGION:

Patagonia Institute

This outdoor museum features historical exhibits on Patagonian life.

Plaza Muñoz Gamero

Punta Arenas' central plaza boasts the Magellan monument.

Penguin Reserve

Otway Bay is home to a nesting colony of Magellanic penguins.

 

A sampling of optional shore excursions offered in Punta Arenas:

Antarctica Landing Expedition - Soar over the icy continent of Antarctica on a visit to Villa Las Estrellas Research Station ? and an unforgettable encounter with the earth’s harshest continent. Set out on a guided hike to view the area’s glaciers, landscape and wildlife.

 

Magdalena Island Penguin Reserve - A chartered ferry cruises to one of Chile’s largest penguin colonies. Located on Magdalena Island, the rookery was declared a natural monument in 1982.

 

Patagonia Trek & Andean Club  - Travel to the Andean Club, Punta Arenas’s premier ski club. Ride a chair lift 4,500 feet up the slopes and then descend the mountain with your professional guide. The mountainside offers stunning views of Patagonia and the Straits of Magellan

 

Otway Sound Penguin Colony - Visit Otway Sound, the site of a remote colony of Magellanic penguins. The largest species of warm-water penguins is named after Magellan, who in 1519 was the first European to see one.

 

Kayaking The Straits Of Magellan - Follow in the wake of the great explorers on a kayak adventure along one of the world’s most fabled bodies of water: The Straits of Magellan.

 

Punta Arenas City Tour & Fort Bulnes - Take in the sights on a narrated drive. Tour the Regional Museum, housed in a 19th-century mansion. View the pioneer houses, antique cars and historic photographs at the Patagonia Institute. Visit a reconstruction of the first Chilean settlement in Patagonia.

 

Antarctica Overflight - Sip champagne as you soar over the edge of the world’s frozen continent. Your guide provides expert commentary throughout your flight. As your plane descends to 1,000 feet, great colonies of penguins and seals are often seen in the dazzling landscape.

 

Patagonia Estancia - Visit a living museum dedicated to Chile's baqueanos, the sheep ranchers who settled Patagonia. See historic farm machinery still in use today. Watch sheep shearing and sheep herding demonstrations. Other options include hiking and horseback riding

Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego), 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.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REGION:

Tierra del Fuego National Park

This protected land includes the beautiful Lakes of Fagnano and Roca, the Beagle Channel, and the southernmost sub-Antarctic forests. Explore the natural beauty -- horseback riding, rock climbing and diving.

 

A sampling of optional shore excursions offered in Ushuaia:

Beagle Channel Wildlife Cruise - Board a motorized catamaran for a voyage through the Beagle Channel. Seal and Bird Islands are home to elephant seals, sea lions and many species of marine birds. View historic Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, rugged islands and soaring mountains.

 

Canoe Adventure In Tierra Del Fuego National Park - Travel to Lake Roca in Tierra del Fuego National Park for an approximately 1 1/2-minute canoe trip down the scenic Lapataia River to Lapataia Bay.

 

Southernmost Railway & Ensenada Bay

Ride a narrow-gauge train - The southernmost railway in the world, on a trip through Tierra del Fuego National Park. The train retraces the route used by the inmates of the island’s penal colonies (the last one closed in 1947). Take in stunning views of Beagle Channel from Ensenada Bay

Tierra Mayor Natural Reserve Trek

Travel to the Tierra Mayor Natural Reserve for an approximately 2-hour guided trek through an old-growth Lenga forest. The sights range from beaver dams and peat bogs to dramatic views of the Five Cascades Mountains

 

Drive To The "End Of The World"

A drive through Tierra del Fuego National Park along Ensenada Bay and Mount Susana

 

4x4 Off-Road Safari: The Lumberjack Trail

Explore the Tierra Mayor Valley on a 4WD safari. The adventure begins when you go off road, traveling a narrow footpath once used by mountain lumberjacks. Stop at the woodcutter's small cabin. Take an approximately 40-minute guided hike through the refuge for views of Lenga forest, peat bogs and beaver dams

Cape Horn (Scenic Cruising)

 

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.

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. It was also an essential supply route for the Spanish empire. 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.

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REGION:

Albatross Monument

A large sculpture of an albatross has been erected here on the Cape, in honor of the sailors who died while attempting to round the Horn.

Chilean Station

The Cape lies within Chile's territorial waters and they man a station and maintain a lighthouse on this desolate point.

Falkland Islands (Stanley)

 

 KING PENGUINS IN STANLEY, FALKLAND ISLANDS

Stanley, capital of the Falklands, is a tiny British outpost where the absence of traffic lights and abundance of pubs in comparison to its size makes this a unique place. Indeed, armed only with hospitality, this rural community at the end of the world has no shortage of friendly locals.

Situated near Cape Horn in South America, the harbor at Stanley was 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.

The Falklands is also a bird-watchers haven, with an amazing diversity of seabirds and mammals that breed in the Falklands — black-browed albatross, giant petrels, five types of penguin, elephant seals, sea lions, striated caracara, crested caracara, night heron to name a few.

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REGION:

Stanley Harbor

Along the seven-mile harbor, you can see the hulks of some 20 ships that were tossed by Cape Horn, never to leave the Falklands.

Britannia House Museum

Learn about the tumultuous past of these islands at this fascinating museum.

Fly Fishing

The fly-fishing is excellent for sea trout, with recorded catches in excess of 20 pounds.

A sampling of optional shore excursions offered in Stanley

Sparrow Cove Penguin Adventure

Board a motor launch and cruise to Sparrow Cove, where you transfer to a 4WD vehicle. Your destination is a protected rookery that is home to both Gentoo penguins and a small number of breeding King penguins

Bluff Cove Penguin Rookery

Approximately 1,000 pairs of Gentoo penguins nest by the beautiful beach at Bluff Cove, while Magellanic penguins burrow in the sand nearby. Occasionally King penguins are spotted at the rookery.

Rockhopper Penguin Colony

Travel by 4WD safari to Berkeley Sound, home to a colony of over 400 Rockhopper penguins. Enjoy approximately 1 1/3 hours observing and photographing these small crested penguins with elaborately curled eyebrows.   A knowledgeable guide is on hand to answer your questions.

Volunteer Point & King Penguin Colony

Travel by 4WD vehicle to Volunteer Point, which lies between a sandy beach and a saltwater lagoon. The point is home to a colony of over 1,300 King penguins. Standing 3 feet tall, these penguins sport a beautiful plumage that is colored black, yellow and gold.

Falkland Battlefields

A local battlefield expert leads a tour that visits major battle sites from the 1982 Falkland War. Visit Fitzroy and Port Pleasant, where Argentine planes attacked a British landing force. View the memorials to the fallen as you survey three important mountain battlefields, sites of bitter combat.

 

 

Montevideo, Uruguay

Uruguay is nestled between the continent's two giants, Brazil and Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay's capital city, is located at Uruguay's southernmost point on the Rio de la Plata.  Montevideo is the very lively capital of Uruguay. It is a stylish city with a strong European feel to it.

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 envied by her larger neighbors, and she is one of the most literate nations in the world, with a tradition of humanism and social justice.

Highlights of the region:

Estancia La Rabida

Try your hand at some of the daily ranch chores or take in the scenery of this 2,470-acre ranch.

Establecimiento Juanico

Tour this internationally acclaimed winery, its vineyards and stone buildings that date back to 1849.

Plaza Independencia

Montevideo's oldest city square and site of an enormous monument to Uruguayan hero Jose Artigas

A sampling of optional shore excursions offered in Montevideo

A Taste Of Montevideo & The Wine Trail

Experience South America’s most cosmopolitan capital on a narrated drive about town. Tour a winery headquartered in the city. A tasting of sparkling and still wines is followed by lunch in the cellar along with music, song and dance (including tango!).

Montevideo Jewish Heritage Tour

Montevideo’s Jewish community was founded toward the end of the 19th century. Visit the Jewish Community Center and tour the Gurvich Museum. The Lithuanian-born painter Jos Gurvich made frequent use of Jewish symbolism in his Constructivist paintings.

Historic Steam Train & Juanico Winery Tour

Board an historic steam train and travel in style to Establacimiento Juanico. The soils and microclimates at Juanico first attracted winemakers over a century ago. Tour the winery, take part in a wine tasting and enjoy a barbeque lunch.

Historical Walking Tour Of Montevideo

Explore the heart of Montevideo’s old city on a guided walking tour. View one of the most impressive collections of urban architecture in the world, from the neo-Classical Legislative Palace to the Plaza de Independencia, the city’s oldest public square.

 

Buenos Aires, Argentina

It's called 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. Enjoy a romantic walk through one of the city's many pristine parks or along its wide boulevards.

 

Highlights of the region:

Recoleta Cemetery

The giant walled cemetery with many ornate crypts is also the final resting place of Evita Peron. Her black marble crypt is usually graced daily with fresh flowers from admirers.

Colon Theater

Recognized as one of the world's great opera houses, this impressive theater features six gilded tiers and gallery boxes.

La Boca

This area of Buenos Aires is embellished with colorful houses and is known for being the birthplace of the tango dance.

Packed with amenities, The Star Princess offers its passengers the opportunity to relax at your choice of four pools as well as the Lotus Spa.  Dine on some of the finest food at sea in the Amalfi, Portofino and Capri dining rooms, or go casual with pizza and burgers, or specialty in a fabulous steakhouse or Italian restaurants.

 

Enjoy a myriad of entertainment options such as dancing at Skywalkers Nightclub or relaxing at several other lounges, or testing your luck in the ship’s casino.

 

 

Pools & Spas

Sometimes floating serenely just isn't enough - splash around, ride the waves, swim against the current or take a dip in one of this ship's bubbling hot tubs.

 

Relax on deck in our pools including

• Calypso Reef and Pool (plus 2 hot tubs)
• Neptune's Reef and Pool (plus 2 hot tubs)
• Riviera pool and hot tubs
• Terrace Pool
• Oasis pool & hot tub

 

Sports

Our ship will keep you on the run, literally, with basketball, paddle tennis, jogging tracks and state-of-the-art gyms equipped with machines that'll keep your heart rate pumping.

• Lotus Spa®, gym and fitness area
• Swim-against-the-current lap pool
• Nine-hole putting course (Princess Links)
• Virtual golf simulators
• Jogging track
• Shuffleboard
• Center Court

Boutiques

Deals on designer clothing and gifts, including Lladro, Swarovski, Calvin Klein, Tommy Bahama, Lancome, Clinique, Estee Lauder, and Fossil - all up to 30% off.

Star Princess Personal Choice Features

Like her sister ship Grand Princess, Star Princess passengers will enjoy the many services and features of Personal Choice Cruising -- enabling passengers to customize their cruise experience with a myriad of dining, entertainment and activity options. Below are some of the features Star Princess has to offer:

 

• Sports bar
• Art gallery
• Nine-hole putting course and golf simulator
• Wrap-around promenade deck
• Four pools - including one swim-against-the current pool
• Sports court and jogging track
• Full-service Japanese-themed spa with ocean-view gym
• Three dining rooms two specialty restaurants - Sabatini's Italian restaurant and Sterling Steakhouse
• Outdoor hamburger grill, pizzeria and ice cream bar
• 24-hour buffet/bistro, plus round-the-clock room service
• A wide variety of bars and lounges, including a wine and caviar bar
• Three unique show lounges
• Largest casino afloat
• 24-hour Internet Cafe
• Skywalkers nightclub and observation lounge suspended 150 feet above the water

 

Anytime Dining

Anytime Dining means you aren't limited to eating at a fixed time or place on the ship. Instead, the choice of when and where you want to eat is flexible, based only on your stomach's whim.  Of course, we will designate a time for our group to eat each evening, allowing all those wishing the fun and comradery of eating together to do so, while anyone wishing to eat at another time can choose the time they wish to dine.

 

Specialty restaurants – looking for a unique dining experience for a change of pace?  Make a reservation at one of three specialty restaurants on board (nominal fee charged by princess)

• Sabatini's (Italian restaurant)
• Sterling Steakhouse at Tequila's
• Ultimate Balcony Dining

 

Casual

Want to maximize your pool time and minimize your mealtime? Get a quick and satisfying bite whenever you like at our Casual Dining eateries, or get take-out and dine by the pool.

• 24-hour dining in the Horizon Court
• Wine bar
• Lobby bar & patisserie
• Scoops ice cream bar
• Prego Pizzeria
• Trident Grill (burgers & hot dogs)
• Afternoon tea
• 24-hour room service

 

 

ONLY $1289 + TAX FOR 12 DAYS AND NIGHTS (BASED ON INSIDE CABIN ACCOMMODATIONS) , ALL MEALS AND NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT.

OCEAN VIEW CABIN ACCOMMODATIONS WITH PRIVATE BALCONY: $2069 PER PERSON + TAXES

 

Total of all Taxes and fuel surcharges on all passengers: $538 per person

 

All prices include free roommate matching

 

Optional single supplement available at 200% of above listed prices.

Optional round trip air and 1 night pre cruise hotel in Santiago package: $1099 + $114 tax  per person (air taxes subject to change by the airline)  

 

Air and 1 night pre cruise hotel package includes:

 

 Nonstop air round trip from Miami to Santiago Chile and returning from Buenos Aires Argentina to Miami on LAN Chile airlines,p>

·         1 night pre cruise hotel accommodations at the 5 star Grand Hyatt Santiago hotel

·         Transfers from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the cruise ship

A deposit of $600 is due within 7 days of making your reservation. Deposits are refundable if cancelled by September 5th.

 

final payment due Oct. 28 and is non refundable when paid.