Amazon Anyone?

Would very much welcome hearing from anyone who was on the inaugural trips to/from the Amazon on SD II. We are thinking of doing it next year and see for 2013 they have added a 7-day voyage between the two longer ones next year. Any and all information on the weather, excursions and overall experience would be most helpful!

I've been eyeing that 7 day Amazon voyage too. :)

Have seen some pictures on FB from SeaDream as well as some FB Friends who are on board right now.

Looks and sounds like it is quite an adventure as it is very hot so excursions are being done in the early morning.

DJ thanks for the relay of what you are hearing from those who were or are on board. Have been following the postings on SD's web site. We are trying to figure out if it is just hot as in hot/humid but tolerable (as it can be in the Med of course) or is it like blast furnace hot and miserable. If the latter, then as we all know from our own SD voyages, the outdoor, open spaces on SD are much better than the inside. Knowing the captain and crew they are doing their best under whatever conditions present themselves. We don't mind a fair amount of heat and such, but really just trying to gauge how hot is hot! Also, any word on bugs would be of interest. There are bugs and then are BUGS! All the best to all for safe travels wherever your plans take you in 2012 and 2013.

I also wonder about swimming. Are there places passengers can safely swim in the Amazon or are they stuck with the pool? It may seem like a silly question, but I've always heard of exotic critters in that river!

I did regularly check the captain's tweets/postings on the SD web site blog. It looked like they were able to swim at least a few times, including on some lakes that are adjacent to/flow into/out of the Amazon. Am learning "the" Amazon is really a collection of lots of bodies of water including the main river. Like you I was wondering about swimming with the "critters" as you called them, but they had local guides on board. There was even a picture of the trampoline in the lake/river with local kids playing on it. SD crew even served champagne to the local residents and at another stop gave the local kids there rides in the Zodiacs. Very smart to build such goodwill in true SeaDream style.

That Amazon cruise looks life changing... I bet the people onboard will never forget it.