Celebrity Cruises Announces 2010/11 South America Season

April 30, 2009 – In December of 2010, when Celebrity Infinity makes its way from the Panama Canal to South America, the voyage will mark the line’s 11th year of sailing guests through the spectacular scenery of the region. The season will include visits to 13 countries via stops at a total of 30 ports. Rounding out the cruise offerings are a variety of available in-port shore excursions and in-depth, fully escorted land tour programs that can be combined with a cruise to create a cruisetour vacation for even richer exploration of this region. Celebrity opened its winter 2010-11 Panama Canal and South America cruises and cruisetours for sale today.

On September 24, Celebrity Infinity will begin her Canal/South America season with a 16-night repositioning cruise from Seattle, Washington to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, by way of the Panama Canal. She will then sail four 14-night Panama Canal cruises between Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles, creating easy access ports for residents of both US coasts. The Panama Canal cruises in the 2010-11 season also include two 14-night “South America and Canal” voyages, two 14-night Canal cruises between Fort Lauderdale and San Diego, and a 16-night repositioning cruise back to Seattle on April 24.

Between the Panama Canal portions of the season, Celebrity Infinity will sail six 14-night cruises throughout South America. These voyages, taking place from mid-December 2010 through February 2011, include sailings “around the Horn” through the Straits of Magellan, between Buenos Aires, Argentina and Valparaiso, Chile, most of which feature an in-port overnight stay in Buenos Aires. For the second consecutive year, there will also be two roundtrip-from-Buenos Aires “Antarctica” cruises, named for the fact that they sail through the region, past several Antarctica islands. Each of these cruises feature a visit to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, as well as panoramic cruising by Elephant Island, Paradise Bay, and Gerlache Strait in Antarctica.

While onboard, guests may choose to purchase in-port excursions that can give them a richer sense of the region. In Puerto Montt, Chile, the “Petrohue Falls and the Chilean Lake District” excursion is a city tour that includes views of Puerto Varas and Lake Llanquihue, as well as a drive to Todos Los Santos Lake for views of the Osorno Volcano, and a walk along the Petrohue River to view the falls. Chile’s Punta Arenas is the site of the “Magdalena Island Natural Penguin Reserve” excursion, where guests can visit one of the largest Magellan penguin colonies in southern Chile. In Buenos Aires, “Tango Show and Dinner” allows guests to immerse themselves in the spirit of Argentine Tango, with a visit to a tango house for dinner followed by a live tango show on the main stage. In Montevideo, Uruguay, “Day at the Estancia” takes participating guests to Estancia La Rábida, where they can experience the daily chores of the Uruguayan gaucho and learn about the agriculture, horse breeding, cattle raising and other activities at the ranch. A barbeque lunch, or “asado,” is included, complete with Uruguayan wines and traditional songs and dance. Select voyages offer a “Cuzco and Machu Picchu Adventure,” a three-day, two-night overland tour encompassing the city of Cuzco, Peru, and its famed archaeological relics as well as a day at Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas." The package includes overnight stays in Cuzco and train travel to Machu Picchu.

Travelers wishing to extend their time in South America can choose from several fully escorted land tours offered in combination with cruises departing from or arriving in Buenos Aires and Valparaiso. Celebrity offers two land tour packages in South America, each as a pre- or post-cruise option. Premium hotel accommodations, ground transfers, some meals, and ample time for independent shopping, dining and sightseeing are included in the cruisetour packages.
The five-day, four-night “Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls” land tour package includes visits to a gaucho “estancia,” Buenos Aires’ old-city San Telmo region, and the city’s trendy Puerto Madero neighborhood. The package also includes a short inland flight to Iguazu Falls, one of the continent’s most stunning natural wonders, where guests spend two days exploring the massive waterfalls during included tours encompassing Devil’s Throat, the lower and upper circuits of the Argentinean side of the falls, and a Zodiak ride along the lower Iguazu River.

The six-day, five-night “Machu Picchu Adventure” land tour package gives guests the opportunity to experience the Sacred Valley of the Incas in and around the Cuzco region, as well as the capital city of Lima. The package is highlighted by train travel to and from Machu Picchu, and over four hours of exploration time at the famed archaeological site. The tour also includes a tour of Cuzco and its walled Sacsayhuaman Inca area and the Cuzco Cathedral, as well as a city tour of Lima and several other activities that will enhance guests’ South America vacation experience. Several inland flights are included.