All-Gay Rio 2007, WOW!

[ZIPPER]

Guys:

 

I just checked the Atlantis web site and noticed that they cut their fares for the South American cruise to as low as $1799. This price actually makes it a possibility for my partner and myself. I'd like to hear some opinions from guys who took the cruise last year. Since it's a much smaller ship I would have expected it to sell out much faster.

 

We're already booked on the Mexico 2007 trip!

[amusea]

That's the first time I have been aware of Atlantis reducing the prices of a cruise. First they offered "special" air fares and now this. It must mean that the cruise is not selling and they are trying to cover their losses. It also probably means that the experiment of using Oceania small ships will not be repeated so I would urge you to try to go. I've only been on two Oceania cruises (not gay) but they are great ships with wonderful service and cuisine.

[sfgoguy]

Zipper,

 

I'm booked on the Atlantis BsAs to Rio cruise this Feb/March. I finalized the booking about 2 months ago and I don't think they've lowered their prices. When I first booked, the less expensive staterooms (inside cabins) were all marked as Sold Out. That's not the case now and I presume some early bookings for those cabins were cancelled. So, that level of cabin is back on the block. No cheaper, just now again available.

 

Of course, as January approaches, that may all change. But, you can be sure that the least expensive cabins will go quickly, so if you like the itinerary, I'd suggest you get it while you can.

 

And, if you do book let's chat again and coordinate a Roll Call. I hope to see you on board for the tango/samba workout!

 

Gary

San Francisco

[LVMediaboy]

I was on the first Atlantis Rio which cruised during Carnivale - great, intimate ship. The thing about current availability to keep in mind is that there are only 340 cabins - there may be just a few in the available categories.

[ZIPPER]

It sounds like a really cool cruise, both the itinerary and the fact the ship only holds 684 guests. However, I'm somewhat hesitant to sign up for the cruise for two reasons. Although I'm a professional and I've traveled all over the world, including to the Amazon, my interest is primarily in Atlantis's parties and the excursions. My main concern is that the crowd on the Brazil cruise might be too staid. I read somewhere that the last Brazil cruise attracted a lot of guys in the over 55 and in bed by 10 crowd. I had a similar experience in Cancun a few years back when there often were only a dozen or two of us out on the dance floor. My second concern is that Oceania's excursions look to be of the bus tour variety. There seems to be almost nothing listed that is of an active nature. Are there some more adventuresome excursions? Someone mentioned parasailing in Rio which sounds great! What opportunities are there to arrange more active side trips on your own? I'd certainly appreciate anyone's input.

 

Thanks

[rodraad]

i went last year

 

for the most part i organized my own side tours

 

hanggliding in rio was truly a highlight

 

it was a more subdued Atlantis experience (and I compare this to 2 Europe cruises) but the beauty and exotikness of the ports won me over- there was still partying

 

i liked every port

 

and it was a little more couple skewed

the food was excellent

[sfgoguy]

LVmediaboy and Rodraad,

 

I've been looking for someone on this Board who was on the 2006 BsAs/Rio cruise to get some tips about shore excursions - whether to take the ones Atlantis/Oceania offer or to try to coordinate private ones. Can you give me (us) tips?

 

Also, how was the food/entertainment/etc.? I guess the entertainment will be all Atlantis-booked (which probably means good-to-OK), but I'm hoping that Oceania doesn't "dumb down" the food for an all charter group. In addition to their itineraries and ship size, Oceania's cuisine seems to be their crown jewel.

 

Thanks, in advance, for you advice guys. ;)

 

Gary

San Francisco

[rodraad]

ok here it goes

 

 

BA - I hired a personal tour guide

(not enough time)

 

Montevedio - i went on the Oceania wine tour .. any excuse to get drunk

 

Punta del Este - went to the beach a chill out day, just a cab

 

Rio Grande - Oceania did a beach tour to Casino beach - 25 Us

this was great (ps take cab to town if you walk)

announced on ship

 

Porto Belo - hired a personal tour guide - went to a special beach

 

 

we did not visit Florianopolis

 

Santos - took Oceania trip to Sao Paulo - bit of a drive - but realllly good restaraunt

 

Parati - went on Oceania adventure tour .. worth it 4x4

 

Buzios did not visit

 

Rio - hired cab driver at port, just go to desk

 

took me to paragliding outlying beaches helicopter ride

 

 

if you want my connections just email me

 

panderson7@cogeco.ca

 

 

food outstanding

 

entertainment -- Pam Ann and Malcolm were great, djs were great

 

I was a bit disappointed with rest admittedly (need some new blood)

 

no star which disappointed me

[COMBOY]

I just off Atlantis' Serenade of the Seas Mexico Cruise in October and they sent me a brochure to my cabin on the Rio cruise with the lowest priced cabin at $2699 which they indicated was sold out at that time. Their website is now offering the cruise at $1799 and available as of 12/14/06. Very interesting to see a price reduction from Atlantis. Hey...supply and demand economics works! Little demand and the price falls. It's a great deals; however, you need to figure in air which can be just as expensive as the cruise. You can probably can find a good airfare if you shop around. I would believe the crowd to be more mature and coupled and more sedate than the Caribbean/Mexico crowd, but the ship is really upscale and ports fabulous. It's a trade off. I'm sure there would be plenty of party fun. I wish I had the time and money and I'd jump at the deal. Jimmy

[SSNORWAY]

It sounds like a really cool cruise, both the itinerary and the fact the ship only holds 684 guests. However, I'm somewhat hesitant to sign up for the cruise for two reasons. Although I'm a professional and I've traveled all over the world, including to the Amazon, my interest is primarily in Atlantis's parties and the excursions. My main concern is that the crowd on the Brazil cruise might be too staid. I read somewhere that the last Brazil cruise attracted a lot of guys in the over 55 and in bed by 10 crowd. I had a similar experience in Cancun a few years back when there often were only a dozen or two of us out on the dance floor. My second concern is that Oceania's excursions look to be of the bus tour variety. There seems to be almost nothing listed that is of an active nature. Are there some more adventuresome excursions? Someone mentioned parasailing in Rio which sounds great! What opportunities are there to arrange more active side trips on your own? I'd certainly appreciate anyone's input.

 

Thanks

I was on the Celebrity Millenium for Rio this year, it seemed like we were following the Atlantis ship around, every port I saw lots of guys from the Oceana, they all seemed good fun, young-ish, and most of the ones I saw did not seem to be in couples. I certainly wish I was on that ship after midnight in hetro hell when most of the corpses were returned to the crypt, and I was about the only living soul in the night club. Even the FOD's were very thin on the ground a long time before 1 am. If you fancy Rio for the carnival, want to be safe, and have a gay crowd then I can't think of a better way of doing it... (I wish I had!!)

[ZIPPER]

It sounds like a really great cruise and I appreciate everybody's comments. I have both good news and bad news. The good news is that I got a great new job so I can afford the cruise, the bad news is that I've got a great new job and won't yet have enough time off to go. But alas, maybe next time. I'm still totally psyched about the cruise to Mexico in October, and maybe I'll consider the Baltic 2008 cruise. I'd like to see Rich offer a 10-day cruise that would include Gdansk (Danzig), but we all know good ol' "keep to the program" Rich, so I don't expect any changes. Have fun and I'll see you guys in Mexico!

 

Gregg

[HHBoys]

My partner and I have booked our room on this cruise. We're psyched to go... only two months away. This will be our first Atlantis cruise and are excited to meet new people. We're both in our mid-thirties and are hoping to find a range of ages on board. We normally go on straight cruises where the average age is "early-hundreds" so we're eager to have some younger fun! Does anyone out there have a perspective on this? :rolleyes: