Recife, Salvador de Bahia, Ilheus, Parati ??? HELP!!

[cujosmom]

In addition to Rio de Janeiro, these are the four other ports in Brazil we will be visiting on our cruise to Brazil in November. There is not that much information about these cities on the internet and was hoping for some insight from others who have been to any of these ports. We like to avoid the overpriced shore excursions that are being offered whenever possible.

 

Parati - Has anyone done a schooner cruise independently at this port?

 

Any information/suggestions will be appreciated.

[Wotan758]

In addition to Rio de Janeiro, these are the four other ports in Brazil we will be visiting on our cruise to Brazil in November. There is not that much information about these cities on the internet and was hoping for some insight from others who have been to any of these ports. We like to avoid the overpriced shore excursions that are being offered whenever possible.

 

Parati - Has anyone done a schooner cruise independently at this port?

 

Any information/suggestions will be appreciated.

Recife: The ship docks in the old city. You may find taxis outside the terminal and can hire them for a private tour.Places to visit: In town: the old prision (now a shopping) and the main plaza; Olinda, with beatifull old churches; and the beachfront: Boa Viagem.

 

Salvador: Not a city for private tour! Take shore excursion with a city tour and a walking tour downtown to visit old churches (Sao Francisco, all in gold) and the Pelourinho area. Convento do Carmo (now an hotel) is also a must.

 

Ilheus: not much to see! The best is to take a taxi on the pier and go relaxing in the beach! Best place: Gabriela, with umbrellas, chairs, seafood and lots of beer. A taxi fare RT will cost about US50 and he will give you about 2/3 hours in the beach.

 

Parati: you can have several independently schooner cruises. Just check in the pier !

 

Any other questions?

Wotan

[cujosmom]

Thank Wotan for your quick response.

 

Another question. Our first city in Brazil will be Recife on a Wednesday. Should we arrange to have Brazilian R$ with us before leaving the states, or are there ATM machines or banks close by the port where we can get some local money?

 

Salvador: Not a city for private tour! Take shore excursion with a city tour and a walking tour downtown to visit old churches (Sao Francisco, all in gold) and the Pelourinho area. Convento do Carmo (now an hotel) is also a must.

 

Should we be overly cautious in Salvador? Crime?

 

Ilheus: not much to see! The best is to take a taxi on the pier and go relaxing in the beach! Best place: Gabriela, with umbrellas, chairs, seafood and lots of beer. A taxi fare RT will cost about US50 and he will give you about 2/3 hours in the beach.

 

Is Gabriela just a beach/water for relaxing or is it good for snorkeling there, too?

 

Thanks.

[barante]

We are considering a similar itinerary that starts in Buenos Aires and ends up in Santos. We have always wanted to see Brazil and Salvador (because bossa nova songs constantly sing about it!).

What do you think?

[Wotan758]

Thank Wotan for your quick response.

 

Another question. Our first city in Brazil will be Recife on a Wednesday. Should we arrange to have Brazilian R$ with us before leaving the states, or are there ATM machines or banks close by the port where we can get some local money?

 

The better deal in local money (Real R$) is at ATM (Visa).

You will find them everywhere. Not sure in the Terminal, but in most of banks, gas stations and shoppings. I am sure that any taxi driver can take you to one.

 

 

Should we be overly cautious in Salvador? Crime?

 

Very, very specially with your electronics (cell phones and cameras) Do got go out of the ship with back bags or large bags or purses.

 

 

Is Gabriela just a beach/water for relaxing or is it good for snorkeling there, too?

 

There is no snorkeling in this beach. Just sun, sand, water, food and beer (ideal for relaxing). In the small city of Ilheus, the best bar is the VESUVIO, just in the central plaza! The beer is 5*s and also the Lebaneese bits . Avoid the chocolate factory: expensive and not good.

 

Thanks.

 

For more information, just drop a note!

 

Wotan

[Wotan758]

We are considering a similar itinerary that starts in Buenos Aires and ends up in Santos. We have always wanted to see Brazil and Salvador (because bossa nova songs constantly sing about it!).

What do you think?

 

It's a very good ideal! Give more details of your cruise.

 

Wotan

[SarasMommy]

Recife: In town: the old prision (now a shopping) and the main plaza; Olinda, with beatifull old churches.

 

I really enjoyed the old prison. It is in the shape of a cross, and all the old cells are small stores. We didn't visit Olinda, but from what everyone else on our cruise said, I wish we had.

 

Our first city in Brazil will be Recife on a Wednesday. Should we arrange to have Brazilian R$ with us before leaving the states, or are there ATM machines or banks close by the port where we can get some local money?

 

Should we be overly cautious in Salvador? Crime?

 

We used US dollars throughout Recife, Salvador and Rio, and we didn't have a problem.

 

You should be a bit more cautious in Salvador than in Recife. The street vendors are a little more aggressive, but you just have to be firm. Personally I loved Salvador. Some sections of the town are quite hilly, though.

[barante]

Wotan -- We are considering this cruise in Feb. 2009:

 

Coastal Cruises 13 Days • Royal Caribbean Int. • Radiance of the Seas

Day Date Port Arrive Depart

1 Sat, Feb 28 Buenos Aires 9:00 P

2 Sun, Mar 1 Montevideo 10:00 A 7:00 P

3 Mon, Mar 2 Punta del Este 7:00 A 6:00 P

4 Tue, Mar 3 At Sea

5 Wed, Mar 4 Florianopolis 7:00 A 5:00 P

6 Thu, Mar 5 At Sea

7 Fri, Mar 6 Vitoria 7:00 A 5:00 P

8 Sat, Mar 7 Salvador 12:00 P 8:00 P

9 Sun, Mar 8 Ilheus

10 Mon, Mar 9 At Sea 7:00 A 5:00 P

11 Tue, Mar 10 Buzios 12:00 P 11:00 P

12 Wed, Mar 11 Rio de Janeiro 7:00 A

13 Thu, Mar 12 Rio de Janeiro 3:00 P

14 Fri, Mar 13 Santos 4:00 A

 

 

I have always been fascinated by Brazil. And even though this one is heavy on beach resorts, we'll have Rio and Salvador. We intend spend a couple of days in Buenos Aires before the cruise and then fly out pronto from Sao Paolo/Santos.

Overall, this itinerary seems like a super-relaxed, slow-paced one. Punta del Este says it all!

[Wotan758]

Wotan -- We are considering this cruise in Feb. 2009:

 

Pls visit: http://www.southamericaportreviews.com/

 

Coastal Cruises 13 Days • Royal Caribbean Int. • Radiance of the Seas

Day Date Port Arrive Depart

1 Sat, Feb 28 Buenos Aires 9:00 P

2 Sun, Mar 1 Montevideo 10:00 A 7:00 P

3 Mon, Mar 2 Punta del Este 7:00 A 6:00 P

4 Tue, Mar 3 At Sea

5 Wed, Mar 4 Florianopolis 7:00 A 5:00 P

 

Beautifull beaches,

 

 

6 Thu, Mar 5 At Sea

7 Fri, Mar 6 Vitoria 7:00 A 5:00 P

 

Beaches: Vila Velha and Guarapari

 

 

8 Sat, Mar 7 Salvador 12:00 P 8:00 P

 

City tour and walking tour in the historic district

Dinner and show at: Solar do Unhão or Senac

Tour thru the beaches

9 Sun, Mar 8 Ilheus

 

Taxi to the beach, Gabriela bar

Beer downtowm at Vesuvio Bar

 

 

10 Mon, Mar 9 At Sea 7:00 A 5:00 P

11 Tue, Mar 10 Buzios 12:00 P 11:00 P

 

Tour by the several beaches, beer a leisure time at João Fernandes beach

 

12 Wed, Mar 11 Rio de Janeiro 7:00 A

 

City tour (beaches, Corcovado, Pao de Açucar)

 

 

13 Thu, Mar 12 Rio de Janeiro 3:00 P

14 Fri, Mar 13 Santos 4:00 A

 

 

I have always been fascinated by Brazil. And even though this one is heavy on beach resorts, we'll have Rio and Salvador. We intend spend a couple of days in Buenos Aires before the cruise and then fly out pronto from Sao Paolo/Santos.

Overall, this itinerary seems like a super-relaxed, slow-paced one. Punta del Este says it all!

 

 

RCCL offers various excursions in Brazil.

If you need more inormation be fee to ask.

Wotan

[bobnsandi]

Recife: The ship docks in the old city. You may find taxis outside the terminal and can hire them for a private tour.Places to visit: In town: the old prision (now a shopping) and the main plaza; Olinda, with beatifull old churches; and the beachfront: Boa Viagem.

 

etc, etc

 

Thanks for the excellent information! We are on the Prinsendam, 2008, and will be in Brazil for several ports and much time. We also, are quite confused about just what to see in all these places. Of course, we don't mind staying on the ship, but then we might miss something of great interest that may be once-in-a-lifetime.

 

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - overnight

 

Rest are day only, unless marked:

 

Salvador, Brazil

Recife, Brazil

Fortaleza, Brazil

Belem,brazil

Santarem, Brazil

Boca Da Valeria, Brazil

Manaus, Brazil - overnight

Parintins, Brazil

 

We'll be keeping an eye on this thread, as it is very interesting to us.

 

Thanks again.

[barante]

Wotan -- Will we be able to get some flavor of Brazil on the Radiance of the Seas, or will be just see some jetsetters with Brazilian accents?

[barante]

Wotan -- We are still looking at various options- We find this itinerary on Oceania Insignia quite intriguing:

Fri, Mar 27 Rio de Janeiro 4:00 P

2 Sat, Mar 28 Cruising Atlantic Ocean

3 Sun, Mar 29 Salvador 2:00 P

4 Mon, Mar 30 Salvador

5 Tue, Mar 31 Recife 4:00 P

6 Wed, Apr 1 Cruising Atlantic Ocean

7 Thu, Apr 2 Cruising Atlantic Ocean

8 Fri, Apr 3 Cruising Atlantic Ocean

9 Sat, Apr 4 Porto Grande 7:00 P

10 Sun, Apr 5 Porto Grande 2:00 P

11 Mon, Apr 6 Cruising Atlantic Ocean

12 Tue, Apr 7 Cruising Atlantic Ocean

13 Wed, Apr 8 Agadir 8:00 A 4:00 P

14 Thu, Apr 9 Cruising Atlantic Ocean

15 Fri, Apr 10 Cruise Mediterranean Sea

16 Sat, Apr 11 Barcelona

[Wotan758]

Wotan -- Will we be able to get some flavor of Brazil on the Radiance of the Seas, or will be just see some jetsetters with Brazilian accents?

 

Sure, in this cruise you will get some flavour of Brazil!

[Wotan758]

Wotan -- We are still looking at various options- We find this itinerary on Oceania Insignia quite intriguing:

Fri, Mar 27 Rio de Janeiro 4:00 P

2 Sat, Mar 28 Cruising Atlantic Ocean

3 Sun, Mar 29 Salvador 2:00 P

4 Mon, Mar 30 Salvador

5 Tue, Mar 31 Recife 4:00 P

6 Wed, Apr 1 Cruising Atlantic Ocean

7 Thu, Apr 2 Cruising Atlantic Ocean

8 Fri, Apr 3 Cruising Atlantic Ocean

9 Sat, Apr 4 Porto Grande 7:00 P

10 Sun, Apr 5 Porto Grande 2:00 P

11 Mon, Apr 6 Cruising Atlantic Ocean

12 Tue, Apr 7 Cruising Atlantic Ocean

13 Wed, Apr 8 Agadir 8:00 A 4:00 P

14 Thu, Apr 9 Cruising Atlantic Ocean

15 Fri, Apr 10 Cruise Mediterranean Sea

16 Sat, Apr 11 Barcelona

 

In this cruise you will very little of Brazil:

Consider 2/3 days pre-cruise in Rio

Salvador 2 days is OK

Recife 1 day is OK.

[barante]

Wotan -- Thanks for your comments. I guess we are back to the Radiance of the Seas itinerary. The only thing that scares me are the high costs of open-jaws tickets. In that respect, Oceania had an excellent price, but as you pointed out it really does not expose us that much to Brazil.

An added benefit of the ROS itinerary is that as an CVRD stockholder I could get a free tour of its installations in Vitoria.

We'll meet with a couple tonight who live in Argentina half a year and used to live in Rio.

[bigmjh]

" The only thing that scares me are the high costs of open-jaws tickets."

 

Have you checked open jaw prices? We have frequently flown on open jaw tickets and pricing generally has been 1/2 of the round-trip fare to each city ... + / - a couple dollars.

[barante]

Thanks for your insights. This is what we did for January, 2009. It gives us the biggest bang. We'll do a post-cruise stay in Buenos Aires. The ship is Carnival's brand-new Splendor.

 

Sat, Jan 31 Port Everglades 4:00 P

2 Sun, Feb 1 At Sea

3 Mon, Feb 2 At Sea

4 Tue, Feb 3 Dominica 12:00 P 7:00 P

5 Wed, Feb 4 Barbados 7:00 A 4:00 P

6 Thu, Feb 5 At Sea

7 Fri, Feb 6 At Sea

8 Sat, Feb 7 Crossing the Equator

9 Sun, Feb 8 Fortaleza 7:00 A 6:00 P

10 Mon, Feb 9 At Sea

11 Tue, Feb 10 Recife 7:00 A 6:00 P

12 Wed, Feb 11 At Sea

13 Thu, Feb 12 Salvador 7:00 A 4:00 P

14 Fri, Feb 13 At Sea

15 Sat, Feb 14 Rio de Janeiro 8:00 A 5:00 P

16 Sun, Feb 15 At Sea

17 Mon, Feb 16 At Sea

18 Tue, Feb 17 Buenos Aires 9:00