Barbados, the Caribbean and Amazon Cruise
24days from
£5,579*per person
Overview
Get a chance to set sail from the Caribbean, Oceania have launch Tropics and Exotics for this 2026 sailing. Start your holiday with a three night hotel stay in Barbados, one of the most beautiful of the Caribbean islands, encircled by a coral reef and wonderful sandy beaches. Start your 19 night voyage discovering other Caribbean islands along with a cruise up the Amazon with an overnight stop at Manaus along with Devil's Island where the film Papillon is based on.
Itinerary
- Depart from London to Barbados, overnight at hotel
- Discover the many beautiful aspects of this island, from its rugged Atlantic coastline to its beautiful Great Houses, cane fields, exquisite gardens and glorious beaches. See the island's spectacular underwater treasures on your own snorkeling expedition.
- Embark ship
- Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
- Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
- See the bustling waterfront, the cathedral, the museum and the famed “Meeting of the Waters” at the confluence of the Tapajos and Amazon rivers. Or see the rivers converge from a boat on the way to Maica Lake, while looking for rare Amazon pink dolphins. Travel into the nearby countryside and take a walk along a fascinating Amazon jungle trail.
- Visit this isolated island town, steeped in Indian culture, in the middle of the Amazon River. Its stadium has become the focus of the Boi Bumba Festival, an annual event similar to Carnival. Witness an exclusive performance of this Amazonian folklore story.
- Visit the famed Manaus Opera House. See the old mansions and the Indian Museum, featuring artifacts that chronicle the heritage of the region's tribes. Journey into the jungle and trek along a rainforest trail. Take a riverboat to the “Meeting of the Waters,” where the dark, clear Rio Negro and the muddy, yellow Rio Solimões join to form the mighty Amazon.
- Go ashore and wander on your own through this tiny settlement at the mouth of the Valeria River. Listen to the screeching of parrots and watch the riots of color they display as they take to the air. Observe Amazonian life up close.
- Home to Ilha do Amor, one of the most photographed white sand islands in the entire world, Alter do Chão is a charming riverside village. Explore Lago Verde, a grand lagoon that can be viewed from rented canoes, or take a boat tour along the Rio Tapajós or the Amazon. You'll see a number of bird species and might even spot a crocodile or a sloth. Try Serra Pelada if you seek the perfect place for a short but breathtaking hike.
- Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
- Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
- Go ashore to Ile Royale, the site of the infamous French prison, now a historic site slowly returning to nature. Enjoy the ocean breezes and the natural beauty of wild gardens, and watch for the wild macaws that are among the species that have repopulated the islands. Look for the ocean-fed pools where leatherback turtles reside.
- Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
- Explore the wonderful Buccoo Reef by glass-bottom boat and gasp at its colorful fish and coral. Enjoy the thrill of sailing on a catamaran to the sounds of calypso music and then snorkel in a beautiful bay. Discover the island and its Fort King George, famed botanical garden, market and Tobago Museum. Or take a walk through the island's tropical rainforest and see the breathtaking cascading Gold and Silver Falls.
- Wander through the bustling streets of this cosmopolitan city, enjoy the vibrant ambiance; this is, after all, the birthplace of Calypso. Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens or hike into the rain forest at Maraca Bay for stunning views and waterfalls.
- You can smell the cinnamon and nutmeg well before you dock in St. George's; a tour of the spice estates on Grenada is almost mandatory. You can also take in a visit to a distillery to see how the island's sugarcane juice is first turned into syrup and then into rum. A ferry trip to sister island Carriacou offers fantastic diving opportunities, and romantics can climb the waterfalls or just relax on the sun-kissed beaches.
- Known as the "City of Arches," this town is filled with old world charm and accented with rich, rolling green hills. Kingstown's cenotaph is a beautiful monument atop a granite pedestal that honors soldiers who died in the first and second world wars. Built in 1820, St. George's Cathedral houses exquisite galleries, and the city's botanical garden is the oldest in the Western Hemisphere.
- Explore this lush, beautiful island and its bustling capital. Visit the historic La Toc Battery, see banana plantations, and watch silk screening at Bagshaws. Venture south to Soufriere at the base of the Piton peaks and see the unique gingerbread architecture of the marketplace. Take a bike ride through the rain forest to a lovely waterfall, kayak in the deep blue Caribbean, snorkel or dive to spectacular reefs.
- Disembark ship for overnight flight to London
- Arrive back into London
What's Included
Holiday Highlights
- Barbados
- Manaus
- Devil's Island
- Port of Spain
- Castries
Our Price Includes
- Return flights from the UK and all transfers
- Three nights' three-star bed-and-breakfast accommodation in Barbados (in featured hotel or similar standard)
- 19 nights' full-board cruise accommodation on board Insignia
- Pre Paid Gratuities
- Barbados Full-day Coast to Coast Tour
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Dates and Prices
Accommodation
Butterfly Beach Hotel -
Surrounded by palm trees, the Butterfly features a unique separate terrace with 3 whirlpool baths, tables and chairs. There are also extensive sun terraces with loungers and sunshades. Butterfly Beach Hotel has a sea-side restaurant-bar that serves Caribbean cuisine. There is also a common lounge area with a large-screen TV, daily entertainment and happy hours. This hotel offers self-catering apartments and studios with a private bathroom, cable TV and free Wi-Fi. Main shops and nightclubs are located on the town of Oistins, which is a 3-minute drive, while Barbados Golf Course is 5 minutes' drive. Grantley Addams International Airport is 8.5 km away.
Ship Information
Cruise Overview
On Oceania's Insignia, size matters. At 684 passengers, the ship is large enough to have most of the familiar attributes of a cruise ship, but onboard the environment is intimate -- and quiet. A few hundred passengers smaller than fleetmates Marina and Riviera, Insignia carries an elegant yet contemporary atmosphere, perfect for a mature crowd looking to travel unique itineraries -- Insignia is used as Oceania's ship for six-month World Cruises -- in comfort. Food is a main event, and Insignia's culinary offerings are a true highlight of the sailing. The chandelier in the Grand Dining Room makes the space sparkle, literally, and Versace plates lend an aura of high-end restaurant gravitas to your meals. Oceania consistently invests in its food and wine, most recently adding a full plant-based menu that spans all dining areas.Cabin Details
Cabins feature light colours and modern furnishings, which go a long way in making the rooms seem larger than they actually are. Lighter shades of blue and taupe dominate, with sea green accents. Modern outlets with USB ports can be found near the deluxe beds, which have padded headboards. While the bathrooms are small, they appear larger, thanks to glass shower doors and new fixtures. In every cabin onboard Insignia, you will find a safe, hair dryer, shaver, flat-screen TV with live satellite news and programming, cotton robe and slippers, Bulgari amenities, mini-fridge stocked with soda and water (replenished daily), Belgian chocolates at turn-down and an exclusive-to-Oceania bed with 1,000-thread count sheets. Beds can be converted from two twins to a queen. Insignia offers a range of cabin types, including windowless inside cabins and ocean-view rooms with no balcony. The variety of cabins does widen the passenger mix of those who can afford to buy into the line -- or a World Cruise -- through an interior cabin, which wouldn't be the same story on an all-suite ship.Dining Details
Dining on Insignia is impressive. Quality standards are high and consistent; paired with variety and invention -- plus both specialty restaurants included in the fare -- it's a formula ensuring you'll always be looking forward to your next meal onboard.Oceania has invested in developing healthy menu choices;its plant-based menu is expansive and delicious. All restaurants serve vegetarian or plant-based items at all meals. Other food considerations are marked on the menu, and gluten-free pastries and breads are always available. The Grand Dining Room feels just that, with an elegant ambiance and Versace tablescapes perfect for a leisurely sea day breakfast or lingering dinner. The Terrace buffet offers many of the same dishes, so there's no compromise on quality just because you don't want to dress up. Two specialty restaurants -- Polo Grill steakhouse and Toscana, an Italian venue--are both hits. Reservation cards line cabin hallways nightly; only one specialty reservation per restaurant is guaranteed for most passengers, but many repeat customers are accommodated. Suite passengers can dine anywhere at any time.Activities Details
There is generally something happening at any given time onboard Insignia, but it's never so much that you feel as if you are missing out. For some, this might mean more time to relax without hassle by the pool, but to others it might feel a little sluggish. To give you an idea, the primary daytime activities onboard -- even during sea days -- are shuffleboard, golf putting, baggo and some late-afternoon trivia. To be fair, a variety of wine, martini and cognac tastings were held during our sailing, but they do cost you extra. The added lure of lawn games and daily quizzes is the chance to win Big O Points, a clever tactic to draw passenger participation. You receive cards for one, two or three points for winning or participating in daily activities, and at the end of your cruise, these can be redeemed for prizes like a tote bag, golf balls or a sweatshirt. An Officers Challenge was held one sea day, which pitted passengers against entertainment staff and other crew in a friendly competition to win points playing games around the pool deck. Evening entertainment is pleasant yet formulaic. A string quartet (which plays during tea) performs at about the same time every night, as does the pianist and the live band for dancing before or after the show.The main show is held in the Insignia Lounge each night at 9:30 p.m. sharp. The acts switch between the main production cast, who perform song-and-dance routines, and guest entertainers. Special guests onboard our sailing included an Irish comedian and a magician/ventriloquist. The resident production cast had heart, performing Broadway songs and popular music. The cruise director Carson performed an afternoon showcase one day that was personal and heartwarming.Late-night music, dancing and, occasionally, a featured performance or karaoke, are held in Horizons beginning around 10:30 p.m. While there were usually a handful of after-hours revelers, the party seemed to die down around midnight on most nights.Other Information
Hotel Info
Advertised hotel is subject to change and other same standard hotels may be offered as an alternative
Holiday code
J687Holiday provided by Jetline Cruise
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE: This holiday is sold and operated by Jetline Cruise (ATOL 6153). This ATOL bond means that, when you book a Jetline holiday, you can be 100% sure that your money is safe.