10 nights · Puerto Rico · Departs San Juan · Visiting Montserrat Island UK, Bridgetown, Iles du Salut, Macapa, Santarem, Boca da Valeria, Manaus · Aboard MSC Explora Journeys on the MSC Explora 2
Image courtesy of MSC Explora Journeys ©
| Cruise line | MSC Explora Journeys |
|---|---|
| Ship | MSC Explora 2 |
| Duration | 10 nights |
| Port calls | 8 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $8,120 per person |
| Year built | 2024 |
| Guests | 1473 |
| Cabins | 461 |
| Crew | 640 |
| Length | 248 m |
| Beam | 32 m |
| Cruising speed | 18.0 kn |
San Juan puts a remarkable piece of Caribbean history within easy reach of your ship. Founded in 1521, Old San Juan is a compact district of blue cobbles, pastel façades and Spanish colonial landmarks. Walk its steep lanes to El Morro, the 16th-century fortress that guards the harbor. From its ramparts, the Atlantic comes into view. Beyond the old walls, cafés, galleries and contemporary restaurants show a city still shaped by its maritime past.
Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory in the eastern Caribbean, known for its volcanic landscape and quiet, uncrowded shores. The Soufrière Hills volcano reshaped the island after its 1995 eruption; Plymouth, the former capital, remains within the exclusion zone. Visit the Montserrat Volcano Observatory for context, then explore northern settlements, black-sand beaches and trails through lush hills. This is an island for curious travellers, not hurried sightseeing.
Bridgetown rewards travelers who leave the ship and walk into Barbados’ compact capital. Its UNESCO-listed Historic Bridgetown and Garrison trace the island’s colonial history; Broad Street offers a lively glimpse of daily life. Pause beside the Careenage, where boats thread the old harbour, then browse shops for local rum and Bajan crafts. Carlisle Bay’s pale sand and clear water lie just beyond the city.
Twenty kilometres off French Guiana, the Îles du Salut rise from the Atlantic, edged with palms and shadowed by history. France sent prisoners here from 1852 until 1953. Île du Diable held Captain Alfred Dreyfus; Île Royale preserves the penal colony’s administrative ruins. Most visits land on Île Royale and Île Saint-Joseph; Devil’s Island is viewed from the water. Come for history, sea air and a strikingly remote shore.
Santana is the Amazon gateway to Macapá and the remote state of Amapá. The capital lies about 20 kilometres away by road. At Marco Zero, a monument marks the Equator’s passage through the city. On the waterfront, the 18th-century Fortress of São José recalls Portugal’s colonial presence. Expect a working river port, broad Amazon views and a capital whose character is inseparable from the water.
At Santarém, the Tapajós meets the Amazon in a striking convergence visible from the riverfront. The city rewards a stroll through its lively market and around the Cathedral of Our Lady of Conception. For a change of pace, travel about 35 kilometres to Alter do Chão, where clear water and white-sand beaches await. These shores are most expansive when falling river levels reveal the Tapajós’ sandy banks.
Boca da Valeria is a small Amazon settlement reached only by river. It stands at the mouth of the Valeria River, on the Amazon’s great waterway. Expect no grand sights or polished attractions. The visit is about meeting local families, seeing wooden homes and observing river life at close range. Look beyond the landing to the forest and passing boats, which define this remote corner of Brazil.
Manaus rises from the rainforest, far inland from Brazil’s Atlantic coast, where the Negro and Solimões rivers meet. Visit the Teatro Amazonas, the city’s opera house, opened in 1896 during the rubber boom. Explore the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, a riverfront market inspired by Paris’s Les Halles. Boat trips reveal the Meeting of the Waters, where dark and sandy-colored currents run side by side. Manaus rewards travelers who look beyond its role as an Amazon gateway.
Published August 15, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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