Back from the the Amazon rainforest, was on the Iberostar!! IT WAS REALLY GRAND.

I will try to post briefly but inform you know as much as possible about the Iberostar Grand Amazon . We started a bit roughly, with a missed transfer from the Manaus airport to the docks... it was mainly due to us being nervous and not reading the sign with our name on it ... we took a taxi and got to the docks and found our guide looking for us desperately. All in all we got to the boat with lots of spare time and were allowed to board early and enjoy a couple cocktails at the bar. Since we still had some time and it was a market day (Sunday) we walked to the port entrance and just across the street visited the stalls that were open, we sat at a table and enjoyed some ice cream.

The boat was not fully booked, this was actually a pleasant surprise, there were only 60 people on board, we even got upgraded to suites. There were a few other couples and two groups, 1 from Latour and the other from Latin Trails.

It was a nice and quiet cruise. We were amongst the youngest in our early 40´s, the rest where retirees. We had a good time with the other groups, yet the tour leader from Latour was a bit cross and made us feel like we were not part of their party, but in the end things smoothed out.

The social areas are very pleasant and well kept, our suite was very spacious, we had a balcony to sit out and enjoy the views and there was a courtesy mini bar which was well stocked with beer, soft drinks and water.

Beds are maid daily and you even get candy on your pillow, towels are changed twice a day unless you hang them and wish to reuse. The room was air conditioned.

Food was ok, but actually good for a cruise ship. There were some nice snacks on the pool deck and you can enjoy drinks from the bar with nice views of the river and some amazing sunsets.The wine list was surprisingly good, not just South American wines but some really good French and Spanish selections as well. I love the lobster offered during the captains dinner, this was offered on the last night.

We were lucky with the weather, not much rain and we travelled in the we season at the end of March. Although during one excursion we got drenched, it was all part of the experience. We were able to enjoy cocktails at loungers on the sun deck a couple afternoons, which I was told to be a bit unusual.

Shore Excursions: You get around 2-to a day + 1 night outing. Usually hiking and/or small boat tours. We decided on the hiking most of the time, since we are the active type. We were not dissapointed as we did not expect any animals, yet were lucky and caught the site of a few monkees, macawas and enjoyed the magnificent plantlife.   It was very educational, and we got tons of information about the Amazon jungle and plants, trees, fish etc. Guides give daily lectures, just before lunchtime. The next excursion is in the late afternoon (4pm) mainly a tender ride. Since it is late afternoon it is a the best time to see wildlife. We saw myriads of colroful birds, a few monkeys and even sloths. These small boat rides are the best time to get your pictures, as you sit comfortably and float along the river under the canopy.  After dinner one night we went on an cayman hunt. We spotted the red eyes of one large alligator, our guide (Reinaldo, LOVED HIM!!) caught a baby cayman (He figured was over a year old). He took great care in not harming them, yet we did get to touch them.

One day trip is a visit to a local village. A bit different from what you expect, (they have electricity, satellite TV) but there is a small handcraft market where you can get some nice souvenirs. Interesting time to see how they live as a "primitive" tribe.

A highlight on our trip was when we got to feed pink dolphins, we also caght piranhas (nasty teeth on those critters), and enjoy the Rio Negro. This trip is on a tributary of the Amazon, and our part was not on the Amazon river itself, but still was called an Amazon cruise . Althiough a cruise ship, the Iberostar Grand Amazon is small enough to navigate close to the riverbank and enjoy great scenery. I will always remember the parrots and macaws flying above and painting the sky with their colors.

It met and surpassed our expectations.