Amazon/Barbados on Cloud...help!

We were fortunate to visit the Amazon on the Cloud as the middle cruise from Barcelona to Rio last Oct/Dec. The Amazon 17 days was the best one off itinerary we have experienced with SS. Dont miss the opera house in Manaus but try and go between 10am & noon when most days the orchestra will be playing,go upstairs and sit in a private box (no charge) and enjoy the performance. another must is the SS excursion to the village of Anavilhanas which takes you from the anchored ship to the jungle village up a very narrow creek on a very narrow boat with fantastic local guides. Take some modest gifts for the school such as pens,paper,colouring books and crayons.You will be escorted to the school by beautiful local children approx six children per couple.An amazingly humbling experience you will never forget.Book the excursion on line at first opportunity because numbers are limited.Dont bother with Meeting of the Waters excursion you will see it from the Cloud. Another highlight to do on your own is a walk round Devils Island. Hope these tips will help you enjoy a special itinerary on a special ship which was in excellent shape when we disembarked on Monday.

Appreciate so super much this great info and background from our UK friend about your Amazon background and experience. Very specific and helpful. Will copy and save to the trip file on my laptop. Keep these wonderful details coming. Excellent sharing.

Just got our airline arrangements done earlier this week. Much, much easier and shorter than what it took for us to get to Australia and New Zealand. And, back in February!! From earlier this year, it was 15 different flights, including the stops around Australia, plus the stop-overs for Hawaii, etc. Going down to Barbados from Columbus and then back from San Juan to Central Ohio is a much simpler challenge. AND, cheaper, too!!

Glad to hear that the Silver Cloud was in such good shape. Feel free to post any additional comments, ideas, suggestions.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 156,296 views. Nice to be hitting this high of a level for viewership. Appreciate the interest and follow-up questions/comments!!

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Terry, am not sure if anyone else mentioned a port called Parintins. They had a show called Boi Bumba, almost like carnival with music, dancing and spectacular 'floats'. If it's on, don't miss it. Belem is a decent sized city so you'll need to take a tour. We also did the cayman spotting tour. We wre in small boats pretty close to the water, but we loved it. The Amazon is an amazing trip and I know you will love it. It's such a small world -we were amazed to learn that the ironwork on the front of the balconies in the opera house in Manaus was manufactured in Glasgow, our home town.

Loved Paratins!

Terry, am not sure if anyone else mentioned a port called Parintins. They had a show called Boi Bumba, almost like carnival with music, dancing and spectacular 'floats'. If it's on, don't miss it. Belem is a decent sized city so you'll need to take a tour. We also did the cayman spotting tour. We wre in small boats pretty close to the water, but we loved it. The Amazon is an amazing trip and I know you will love it. It's such a small world -we were amazed to learn that the ironwork on the front of the balconies in the opera house in Manaus was manufactured in Glasgow, our home town.

duct tape: Loved Paratins!

Appreciate these great tips and details on Parintins. I had read some on this stop. Both of your strong "endorsements" really helps make sure we have good focus on this stop. Sounds like super fun!!

Keep these great tips' date=' comments and ideas rolling along. Am copying and saving all of these smarts thoughts.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio[/font']

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 183,297 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474