The 638-foot-long ship has had something of a prescribed itinerary. She sails through the Caribbean and then the Panama Canal before calling in at such ports as Callao in Peru, Valparaiso in Chile and the scenic Straits of Magellan.  Along the Atlantic side, there are glamourous Buenos Aires and Rio de Janiero, and connections to the exotic Amazon. This year's cruise, with rates starting at $5,995 (or $115 a day for 51 days!) will include three new ports: Arica in Chile, San Luis in  Brazil and Puerto Ordaz in Venezuela.

 "The entire mood of the ship changes for these South American cruises,"  noted David Llewellyn, the ship's chief tour manager and who has been aboard each trip since 1987. "The mood changes from her normal 2- and 5-day 'party cruise' feel to a voyage of sightseeing and exploration, a true ocean-going experience. We draw a completely different clientele, 650 or so passengers (700 is the specially reduced maximum for these trips, down from 926). These passengers tend to go on cruise after cruise. They tend to be in their mid-sixties and older, and find the ship to be just the right environment:  safe, secure and comfortable. At least, 15% of our South American trip passengers are repeaters."

The classic-looking, twin-funnel 24,000-ton BRITANIS is an experience in  herself. She is a superbly maintained, well-run ocean liner in the older sense. Built  back in 1932 (she  was  Matson Line's  MONTEREY,  then MATSONIA and finally their LURLINE), she retains  much  of her  earlier  atmosphere  and style with her late Art Deco public rooms,  the enclosed promenades and her teak-lined  outer decks.  "The  BRITANIS has  her  charmingly quaint   ways," noted Llewellyn.  "Electric shavers,  for  example, must  be  recharged  in the purser's office and hairdryers can be used only  in the pantries. In fact, it all  becomes  a conversation and meeting opportunity -  'Meet you  in  the pantry at seven before  dinner for hairdrying!"

 Entertainment  is a special, very  important ingredient  to any long  cruise   and these BRITANIS cruises are no exception. Specialty performers  arrive  for  mostly  two-week  onboard  engagements  and are flown-in  at  such ports  as  Valparaiso, Buenos  Aires  and  Rio. Daytime lecturers are also important.  According to David Llewellyn, "We offer five or six talks  on each country, its history and  culture. These start out at 70% attendance, but quickly build to 100%. We also offer specialty topics, such as finance  and  fitness.  One  man,  a former purser with the old Grace Line and an expert  on all of South America, came  aboard to give 27 different talks!"

 Shore  excursions  are  also  very  popular. Most  are half-day bus tours, but then there is also  the  likes  of the  3-day,  2-night  visit  to Machu Picchu in Peru. It all starts with breakfast at 4:00 a.m. on the first day. At Recife in Brazil,  passengers  can  fly to Iquitos in the Amazonian  interior. There,  they  can  canoe down  the River, take jungle walks  and  board evening  boat  rides  just  to  see  the  fireflys. Other  ports like Puerto Madryn  in  Argentina are popular just for the visuals - to watch the whales and sea lions and penguins.

 "These  South  American cruises  are very special,  a  lifetime experience,"   concluded David Llewellyn. "And they are as popular as ever!"

The End

Reprinted from a past issue ofOcean & Cruise News.
Please note: the Britanis has since been retired from Celebrity (Chandris) Cruises, Royal Viking Line was purchased by Cunard Line who still operates the Royal Viking Sun, while Regency Cruises has sadly gone out of business

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