PERU: ARIA Amazon Luxury Cruise, 7 nights

Aria Amazon — Design Suites

All 16 Design Suites on the Aria Amazon, across the first and second deck, measure 23 square meters (250 square feet), with individual air conditioning, polished timber flooring, and a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass facing the Amazon River. En suite bathrooms with rain shower and organic bath amenities incorporate the latest eco-sensitive technology.

Soft lighting, natural fibers, and neutral hues create a relaxing and luxuriously comfortable enclave where one’s only challenge may be to decide whether to gaze upon the Amazon from atop the California king size bed (which can be separated into two twin beds), made with 100% Peruvian cotton high thread count sheets, or while lounging on the cozy window-side day bed, binoculars in hand.

Interconnecting Suites

For the ultimate luxury, passengers may select a pair of interconnecting suites, either for families or with one suite configured as a private living room, the other a master bedroom, plus his-and-hers bathrooms.

Please Note

The Aria Amazon does not have internet connection on board, though guests report periodically connecting via roaming on their iPhone or other handheld devices, depending on our proximity to more developed areas.

For cellular phone contact, you may need a special telephone that can operate on a foreign signal. Keep in mind that most areas outside Iquitos are so remote that you will be unable to get a signal.

If you need to contact your home or office for any emergency, the Aria Amazon is equipped with a satellite phone. We will inform you, prior to calling, of the current price of an international call, and you may pay for these directly on board.

Suite Features

Twin beds that can be converted to a California king-sized bed
En suite sitting area
Internal communications system
Bathroom with shower, toilet, sink, cabinet, hairdryer, and a basket of toiletries
Hot water around the clock

Indoor Lounge

Floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows on both sides confer a seamless connection to the ever-changing scenery of Amazonia from this spacious living room, finished with wood flooring and soft lighting. Relax over homemade plantain chips and cocktails, or South America’s finest wines in this air-conditioned comfort among the plethora of plump couches.

Coffee table books about Peru and the Amazon are available for perusing, and most days will include an educational discussion held here. These entertaining forums are open to all and led by our English-speaking naturalist guides on relevant topics to the day’s adventures, from endangered Taricaya turtle repopulation to the secrets of mixing a perfect pisco sour.

Outdoor Lounge

Nature takes care of the lighting on our generous outdoor deck on the Aria Amazon, with plenty of sunshine for those who wish to soak it up on cushioned loungers during the day, and cooler evenings under the star-filled sky. Guests seeking fresh Amazon air without being exposed to the sun will find plenty of space and comfortable seating under the expansive awning of the outdoor lounge.

While all our Amazon luxury cruises offer a full day of activities and excursions, we also invite our guests to opt out as they wish. Relax in our outdoor lounge while examining all yesterday’s photos of Amazon wildlife living in their natural habitats, deep in the rainforest.

Observation Deck

Many guests on the Aria Amazon arrive thinking that most of their days will be spent alternating between Amazon River shore excursions and lounging in relaxation in the privacy of their spacious suites. In fact, most of our guests enjoy experiencing the social life of the Aria Amazon’s Observation Deck—observing Amazon River locals and wildlife firsthand, as we glide by the rainforest and clusters of simple wooden houses on stilts with children playing soccer at the river’s edge.

The Observation Deck on the Aria’s top level is complemented by the Indoor Lounge, with its fully stocked bar at one end and tightly edited library at the other, fresh Amazon flowers and unique artifacts in between, beckoning lounging on its well-stuffed cream sofas on polished timber floors under high ceilings.

Outside, cushioned loungers under a soaring canopy encourage the relaxing indulgence of river gazing without concern for the sun’s glare. Or ease into the Aqua Aria’s outdoor Jacuzzi to cool off after a shore excursion in the sultry rainforest.

Exercise & Fitness

The Aria Amazon’s signature walls of glass come in especially helpful here in the ship’s dedicated workout space, offering engrossing distraction for guests on the treadmill and stationary bicycle.

Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino’s Amazonia-inspired cuisine offers up plenty of reasons to take one’s eyes off the captivating landscapes showcased by the floor-to-ceiling windows which define this elegant space.

Designed to balance the stunning scenery, the refined interior of the Aria Amazon dining room has been stylishly finished with contemporary Peruvian art, fine china and crystal glassware. These aesthetic elements are matched by attentive, personalized service from long serving staff that quickly learn guest names and tastes, from Peruvian coffee in the morning to the evening’s fine South American and European wines.

Choose to dine à deux, or family style among new friends. Whatever dishes you choose among Schiaffino’s fresh, ever-changing modern Amazon jungle influenced menus, perhaps the hearts of palm soufflé followed by an Amazon bass tiradito, do save room for dessert, be it a warm banana tart or classic chocolate fondant.

Aria Amazon — Ship Specifications

Built: 2010

Port of Embarkation: Iquitos, Peru

Vessel’s Registry: Peru

Type of Vessel: River Expedition Vessel

Length: 147 feet / 45 m

Beam: 29.5 feet / 9 m

Draft: 5 feet / 1.5 m

Gross Tonnage: 500 tons

Cruising Speed: 12 knots

Electricity: 220 volts

Engines: 2 new Cummins 4000 HP Marine Engines

Generators: 2 x 135 KVA Cummins (encapsulated for noise reduction)

Water: 9,000-liter water treatment plant

Safety Equipment

Radio communication with separate battery pack

Satellite phone

Life jackets

Flares and signals

Fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in each cabin

Automatic defibrillator on board

Launch Boats

Four auxiliary aluminum launch boats equipped with four-stroke low emission engines

Constant radio communication with the main vessel

Each boat has a capacity of 8 passengers

Crew

24 crew members, including a cruise director, paramedic, and 4 English-speaking naturalist guides

Accommodation

Up to 32 passengers with private facilities

Additional accommodation for one child in each cabin