Southern Atlantic Crossing

Experience the diverse communities of Buenos Aires during a scenic tour and learn about the city’s early settlers. Around the Plaza de Mayo, see the city’s major public buildings such as the Cabildo, Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral and the rose-colored presidential palace. Stop to visit the El Zanjón de Granados, a museum housed in a 200-year-old mansion above a set of tunnels that date back to Buenos Aires’ early settlements. Discovered at the end of the 20th century, it took 17 years to restore the structure that can be seen today. Cap your tour with a stop in La Boca, the capital’s most colorful neighborhood. When immigrants began to pour into Argentina, many of the older houses became conventillos, tenements that housed European families. Today, La Boca’s vibrant cityscape is marked by the brightly painted houses and corrugated iron roofs of El Caminito.

Experience the passion and elegance of the tango with an evening dinner and show. During the late 19th century, Argentina experienced a wave of European immigration second only to the United States. The children of those immigrants would become the first generation of porteños, or “port dwellers,” and the tango songs that grew out of the working-class districts of Buenos Aires expressed the apprehensions, anxieties and longings of their new urban life. Tango mixes African rhythms and European music to create an expressive dance where partners maintain harmony and connection with each other and the music. During the evening, you will have an opportunity to admire all the qualities of tango in its different expressions—singers and dancers as well as a tango orchestra—while enjoying dinner. After the performance, you will be transported back to your ship.

Trace the life of Eva Perón from her humble arrival in Buenos Aires to populist first lady of Argentina. Perón was born María Eva Duarte in 1919. After moving to the nation’s capital in the mid-1930s, she had success as a stage, radio and film actress. In 1945, she married General Juan Perón, who became the president of Argentina in 1946. Affectionately called “Evita,” Perón used her position as first lady to fight for women’s suffrage and improve social conditions for the poor before her death in 1952. Travel through Buenos Aires and see its streets and landmarks through her eyes while learning the secrets behind her myth. View the famous balcony of the presidential palace, Casa Rosada, where she addressed her adoring supporters. Visit her tomb in Recoleta Cemetery and the Evita Museum, which displays many of her personal objects, then enjoy a snack at the museum cafe.

Discover the beauty of rural Argentina and the culture of its revered cowboys, the gauchos. Only a few miles outside of Buenos Aires lies the lush and fertile grasslands of the vast Pampas—the city’s pastoral lowlands, home to millions of grazing cattle. Embark on a scenic drive to a typical Pampean cattle ranch. Here, you will meet the gauchos—skilled horsemen who trace their profession back to the 18th century. Today, they are a national symbol of Argentina, celebrated in folklore and literature for their lifestyle and skills. Savor a delicious asado, or barbecue, along with empanadas and fine Argentinian wines, while enjoying a performance of folk songs and dancing. Watch the gauchos showcase their skills in exciting equestrian-based activities, such as ring races, cuadreras(horse races) and entrevero de tropillas(horse games), before returning to your ship.

Cycle amid the bucolic parks and plazas of Buenos Aires, stopping to explore many well-known areas along the way. Meet your guides and receive your beach cruiser bike, helmet and bottled water. Then, start your eco-friendly tour of Argentina’s capital, a bustling metropolis of tall buildings and wide avenues offset by many inviting green spaces. Visit places such as General San Martín Plaza, a former military barracks that is now a spacious, tree-lined park. Pause for a photo next to the Floralis Genérica sculpture in United Nations Plaza before pedaling to Palermo Woods for refreshments and a stop amid its forests and lakes. Continue to the neighborhood of Recoleta to see the statue of former First Lady Eva Perón, then visit its famous above-ground cemetery—in which many of the country’s most well-known citizens are entombed, including past presidents, literary icons and war heroes.

Sample fine Argentine vintages during a wine tasting in a classic, cantina-style setting. Argentina has a long tradition of viticulture, dating back to the 16th-century efforts of Spanish missionaries and, later, Italian immigrants. During the past two decades, the country has risen to become the fifth-largest wine producing country in the world. Learn about Argentina’s wine industry, as well as its terroir, culture and food heritage while enjoying a journey through the country’s main wine regions. You will have an opportunity to sample several varieties, such as the Mendoza region’s renowned Malbec, an aromatic and intensely flavored red wine, and Salta’s Torrontés, a fragrant and vibrant floral white wine. Your tasting will also be accompanied by a delicious selection of mouthwatering Argentine meats. Appetite sated, you will return to your ship.

Experience the generosity of Argentine hospitality during an unforgettable dinner at the home of a local. Dinner is about more than just food for Argentines—it is a social event that unfolds at a relaxed pace over several hours. Travel by motor coach on a short drive to the home of your host. Upon arrival, you will be warmly greeted and invited inside. Enjoy appetizers as you get to know each other; learn more about Argentine culture and regale each other with stories from your lives. Then, sit down to a typical three-course Argentine dinner, including beef, fish or chicken served with your choice of red or white wine and water. Finish your meal with a cup of coffee or tea before saying good night to your new friends and boarding your motor coach to return to your ship.

Be captivated by an elaborate Rojo Tango performance that celebrates the artistry of Argentina’s classical dance. During the late 19th century, Argentina experienced a wave of European immigration second only to the United States. The children of those immigrants would become the first generation of porteños, or “port dwellers,” and the tango songs that grew out of the working-class districts of Buenos Aires expressed the apprehensions, anxieties and longings of their new urban life. Rojo Tango is an upscale performance, with professional dancers, glamorous costumes, dramatic lighting and a more theatrical experience. During the evening, you will have an opportunity to admire the elegant, choreographed routines, as well as a tango orchestra—while enjoying dinner. After the performance, you will be transported back to your ship.

Observe various species of birds in their natural habitat, including some endemic to the Pampas region. Meet your guide at the pier and embark on a scenic drive to the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve that runs the length of the Puerto Madero dockland district. Upon arrival, enjoy an informative presentation on the conservation efforts of the park and its purpose as a green space for residents to enjoy. You will then set out on a walk to discover the hidden trails surrounded by vegetation that are home to several species of birds, including woodpeckers, hummingbirds, cardinals, and hornero, among many others. The park also features three lagoons providing the perfect habitat for other wildlife; keep your eyes peeled for turtles, swans and kingfishers. After your tour, return to your ship.

Experience the passion and elegance of the tango over a three-course lunch and show. During the late 19th century, Argentina experienced a wave of European immigration second only to the United States. The children of those immigrants would become the first generation of porteños, or “port dwellers,” and the tango songs that grew out of the working-class districts of Buenos Aires expressed the apprehensions, anxieties and longings of their new urban life. Tango mixes African rhythms and European music to create an expressive dance where partners maintain harmony and connection with each other and the music. You will have an opportunity to admire all the qualities of tango in its different expressions—singers and dancers as well as a tango orchestra—while enjoying a delicious meal. After the performance, you will be transported back to your ship.

Enjoy a night to remember as you mingle with locals and enjoy an evening of dance. The tango is synonymous with Buenos Aires; the dance was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists in 2009. Meet your guide and head to a local club, where the porteños, or “port dwellers” gather together to dance the night away. Each venue, or milonga, carries its own style of tango, and celebrates its own customs and traditions. Your host will explain the rules and provide some tips on making the most of your evening. You will then have the opportunity to take to the floor with a partner, who will show you the steps while a live tango orchestra provides the music. No previous experience is necessary, just a desire to participate and have fun. After your evening, return to your motor coach and your awaiting ship.

Discover Buenos Aires after dark during a panoramic evening drive through this vibrant city. Board your motor coach and begin your journey, passing by the famed Obelisk beside the Colón Theatre—constructed in 1936, it is considered the ultimate symbol of Buenos Aires. Take in the sight of Belle Époque architecture as you continue along May Avenue to the National Congress and the Art Deco Del Molino building. Visit May Square to view the Casa Rosada and the Metropolitan Cathedral, then continue onward to Puerto Madero. Pause for photographs at the Puente de la Mujer, a rotating pedestrian bridge designed by architect Santiago Calatrava. Conclude at a downtown rooftop bar, where you may sip on a refreshing drink as you take in sweeping views of the city, before rejoining your coach for the return to port and your awaiting ship.

Discover the natural beauty of El Descanso Island, a private garden island just outside Buenos Aires. Set out by motor coach toward the town of Tigre, gateway to the Paraná Delta, one of the largest wetlands in South America. On arrival, you will board a motorboat and journey to El Descanso Island. This privately developed retreat is known for its carefully curated landscaping, native vegetation and outdoor sculptures by prominent Argentine artists including Julio Le Parc, Pablo Reinoso, Carlos Gallardo and more. During your visit, you may choose to stroll the landscaped paths with a guide to learn about the delta’s ecology. Alternatively, relax and soak up the island atmosphere while listening to the sounds of local birdlife. At the end of your excursion, enjoy a light snack before returning to your vessel and beginning the journey back to your awaiting ship.

Discover an enduring tradition, the Argentine asado, during an authentic experience at the home of a local. Asado refers both to the method of slow-grilling meat over fire or hot embers and the social gathering centered around the resulting meal. Drive by motor coach to a private home, where you will meet your hosts and begin your experience with a glass of wine and a grilled starter. Your host will outline the history of this tradition as the asador builds and controls a wood fire nearby, carefully tending embers while preparing classic cuts of beef, sausages and seasonal vegetables. Learn about the art of wood fire grilling and the asado’s cultural significance while the meat slowly cooks. The completed meal is served family‑style on the patio, accompanied by wine, fresh salads, bread and traditional sides. After, enjoy dessert with coffee or wine before returning to your ship.