Sambadrome in Rio

We will be in Rio for Carnaval and are considering going to the Sambadrome for the Carnaval show, but the $895 price that SS offers is a bit steep. If anyone has done this excursion, do you think it is worth that high price? I know that is a very subjective question, but I ask it none the less.

We did this a few years ago. Suggest Google and you will get loads of information from the ticket issuers. If you want to do this properly, please do your homework.

We were in a box located in section 8 or 9. Purchased tickets same day from a hotel concierge. I have never told anyone what was paid. Totally ripped off, and totally worth it. Silversea had a section reserved that was opposite our air conditioned, catered box. Collectively, that group looked miserable. Their entry was part of the world cruise package and SS scored a big F from the few

that described their experience.

Feel free to ask specific questions.

I have done a google search and have found the prices for the various types of seats. Do you remember if you had Grandstand seats, reserved seats or a box? Was there any problem getting to the stadium? I am considering doing a private tour that would get us tickets and transportation to the event.

Any additional information you could provide would be helpful. You may e-mail me at emtbsam at yahoo dot com.

Thanks.

Hopefully SS recognizes that their supplier didn't provide the experience they would want for their guests and have changed suppliers.

The reason we bought direct from the line. Bottom Line: Rio is not necessarily a safe city and add to that the numbers of people attending, I would prefer to

be hand held and escorted every step of the way.

I've had great seats at Super Bowls and on some occasions, not such great seats, paying relatively the same each time. It's truly a crap shoot.

All I know is, I'm going to enjoy it either way. It's all about the experience :)

Hopefully SS recognizes that their supplier didn't provide the experience they would want for their guests and have changed suppliers.

 

The reason we bought direct from the line. Bottom Line: Rio is not necessarily a safe city and add to that the numbers of people attending, I would prefer to

be hand held and escorted every step of the way.

 

I've had great seats at Super Bowls and on some occasions, not such great seats, paying relatively the same each time. It's truly a crap shoot.

 

All I know is, I'm going to enjoy it either way. It's all about the experience :)

I agree with everything you said, and we may very well go ahead and bite the bullet, but I will do my homework and see if I can come up with an alternative that makes me more comfortable.

We did the Rio carnival on a SS cruise approx 10 years ago.We took a SS excursion on a tour of Rio which ended up at a theatre for a Carnival Show.The theatre was not the Sambadrome.The show was fantastic.The price was not outrageous otherwise we would have remembered it.The best advice we can offer is do the SS excursion for safety and piece of mind as we have found recent visits To Rio that law and order is not one of Rio's best assets,but a great place to visit and an iconic sail in/out.The Carnival atmosphere is special.Go for it but put safety on the list of priorities and enjoy your cruise Emtbsam.

Thanks for all of your answers. We have decided not to go with Silversea and sit on the concrete grandstand seats. I have contacted Amex Platinum concierge services to see what they can offer that includes round trip transportation in addition to seats at the Sambadrome. If that is not successful, we will probably opt out. I was at the Carnaval ball at the Opera House in 1967 and have fond memories of the parades down Av. Rio Branco. If we have to live on those memories, so be it.

Did those of you who went on the SS tour sit on the concrete benches in the grandstand area?

Yup. In the rain. Climbed 4 flights of concrete stairs. Crushed by the mob. Got pushed thru the turnstile by the not well behaved hoard. Wouldn't have missed it! One and done.

Emtbsam...I also have incredibly special memories of Carnival ... in 1979! (way before Sambadrome)! We had, what at the time seemed expensive tickets and navigated our way there and back on public transportation! It was absolutely thrilling, hot, a bit gritty....and I was way younger! I'd do it again in a heartbeat, but I'd also now want some hand holding! The crowds then were beyond belief, so I can't even imagine negotiating that on my own today.

Yup. In the rain. Climbed 4 flights of concrete stairs. Crushed by the mob. Got pushed thru the turnstile by the not well behaved hoard. Wouldn't have missed it! One and done.

You make it sound compelling. I'm still up in the air about it.

I too sat on the concrete with Duct Tape. It was very rainy, and no shelter. The previous time I went, no rain, but very hot; the concrete bakes in the sun all day, and is still radiating heat late (in my case 1:30) into the night.

I loved Carnaval without the rain. Either way, getting in shelter is well worth the extra cost. Definitely try to go.