14th February 2020 Since leaving Antigua, nestled serenely in the warm, calm Caribbean Sea, we have been making steady progress northeast through the cooler, choppier waters of the Atlantic Ocean. With each passing day, the outside temperature has dropped from a fatigue-inducing mid-30s to a far more comfortable mid-20s, at times, even lower. Heading into… Continue Reading

8th February 2020 Antigua is one of the smaller Leeward Islands, and it was here, in its capital, St. John’s, that we berthed alongside three other large cruise ships, just as we sat down to breakfast. Columbus named the island Santa María la Antigua as he sailed past in 1493, but it has been under… Continue Reading

7th February 2020 As usual, the Magellan docked at breakfast time in the port of Castries, joining two other cruise ships that had already secured their moorings. It was set to be a busy day for the inhabitants of the second-largest island in the Windward chain. St. Lucia was discovered by Juan de Cosa, who… Continue Reading

6th February 2020 The Magellan arrived early in Bridgetown, mooring at 6:00 am. Fortunately, she secured the closest berth to the port terminal, meaning passengers from the two cruise ships that arrived later faced a much longer walk into town. Interesting fact: Chicken is by far the most popular meat on the island, with hens… Continue Reading

4th February 2020 You encounter all sorts of people on a cruise, and while the Magellan is by no means the largest ship sailing the world’s seas, it certainly has its fair share of eccentric passengers. It’s no surprise that any establishment offering unlimited food and drink 24 hours a day will naturally attract those… Continue Reading

2nd February 2020 Most passengers now seem to have settled into a ship’s routine based on their interests and preferences. Plenty is happening on board to entertain those who prefer not just to sunbathe, eat, listen to music in the bars, or simply wait for the next port to provide a fresh distraction. The more… Continue Reading

1st February 2020 The night before we were due to drop anchor off the port of Icoaraci, situated on the banks of the Pará River, Sue wasn’t feeling too well; she had cold shivers and a sore throat, so she wisely opted for a bowl of warming soup in the buffet before heading for an… Continue Reading

29th January 2020 The small community of Alter do Chão lies on the banks of the River Tapajós, around twenty miles upstream of Santarém. Until the 18th century, the village was inhabited mostly by the Borari people, who lived primarily by fishing. Today, its 1,298 residents still rely on fishing but have also embraced handicrafts… Continue Reading

28th January 2020 The ship arrived off the coast of the small town of Parintins, situated on the southern bank of the Amazon, just after breakfast. From November to January, the town becomes an island, accessible only by river. We anchored midstream, requiring a 20-minute tender boat ride to the town pier. Parintins is not… Continue Reading

26th January 2020 Our one overnight stay is here in Manaus, the gateway to the Amazon. It serves as the main base for most rainforest expeditions and, in a similar fashion, offers the widest range of tour opportunities for visiting cruise ships. Last night, we could have forgone our evening meal (perish the thought!) and… Continue Reading