Before Your Trip

What’s included and what’s not

Just about everything is included in your fare: your cabin, meals, drinks (including most alcohol), room service (11:00 AM–11:00 PM), first visit to the onboard medical staff, gratuities to your onboard staff,  Olivia entertainment and excursions noted in your itinerary.

The following items are not included: airfare, travel insurance, personal items, telephone, laundry and pressing, telephone, internet or fax service if available, and any additional medical attention following the first visit.

NDA charges are not included in the price of the trip but have already been added to your reservation as reflected on your invoice.

Travel documentation and identification

You will need a passport that is valid for six months past the date of the trip. A Brazilian Visa is also required. Visas may be obtained from Travelvisapro.com or ZVS.com; both are reputable vendors. If you are not a US citizen, please check with your country’s consulate to make sure that you do not need an entry visa or other additional documentation.

Vaccinations

Please check with your local Public Health Department or personal physician regarding immunization requirements for all countries on your itinerary. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site at: www.cdc.gov. Just click on “Traveler’s Health” and then “Vaccinations.” Malaria exists year round in the Amazon. The following shots are recommended: diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria*, TB* tetanus, typhoid*, rabies, yellow fever for travelers to western and Amazonian areas. 

* recommended in some circumstances, travelers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in rural areas, high risk occupational groups, and backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Travel insurance

We encourage all guests to purchase travel insurance. Olivia has recently partnered with Travelex to make things easier for you; you can now add your travel insurance when you book your trip, all in one call. In order to receive the most comprehensive coverage, please purchase your insurance within 14 days of your initial invoice. If you have questions about Olivia’s travel insurance, call (800) 631-6277 to talk to one of our travel consultants, or visit the Olivia Travel Protection Plan page for more information.

Joining the Olivia.com trip group

If you’d like to chat with people who are going on the trip, sign up for the official Olivia trip group, Amazing Amazon.

About Our Destination

Currency

Dollar, Real, Euro

Languages

Portuguese dialect, English

Travel and arrival

Air travel

Where to fly into/out of

You will need to fly into and out Manaus, Brazil (MAO).

Suggested arrival/departure times

You may check into our hotel in Manaus anytime after 2:00 PM on the first day of the trip, February 20, 2010. On the last day of the trip, February 28, 2010, you can take advantage of an included day room or overnight accommodations at our Manaus hotel.

Discount airfare offer

If you would like to fly American Airlines to Miami (MIA) before connecting on another airline to Manaus, you can use our 7% American Airlines discount for the domestic portion of your trip. Please go to www.aa.com/rainbow and reference code A2820AA.

If you would like to take advantage of the discounted airfare rates that Above and Beyond Tours in Palm Springs has negotiated with TAM Airlines on our behalf, please call them directly at (800) 397-2681. There are limited spaces, so we suggest you call as soon as you can.

Luggage allowances

While there is no luggage limit on the cruise itself, airlines often restrict (or charge) for excess baggage. Because each airline is different, and the regulations change over time, please check with your airline for baggage allowances. For example, TAM airlines does not always allow more than one carry on more than 5 lbs, depending on the agent who checks you in, so be prepared to check large carry-ons or roll-ons.

Transfers and meeting up with Olivia

Getting to the hotel

Transfers are included on the first day of the trip (February 20) from the airport to the hotel, and from the hotel to ship on February 21. If you are arriving a day early, your transfer to the hotel will be on your own.

Transfers after your trip

see below

Check in

Check in at the Hotel is 2:00 PM, and on the ship is 4:00 PM.

During your trip

Amenities

Cabin amenities include hair dryers, mini-bar, safe, telephone (for calls to other cabins on the ship) and television. (Television and telephone are available when signal permits).

Ship amenities include: fitness center, swimming pools, Jacuzzi, disco, bar, library, two restaurants (one snack bar open 12:00-4:00 PM and one full restaurant), room service (11:00 AM-11:00 PM). Laundry and pressing are available for a fee.

Dining

Seating policy

Seating is open so you may sit where you wish

Times

Typically 7:00–9:00 AM for breakfast, 12:30–2:00 PM for lunch and 7:30–9:00 PM for dinner.

Restaurants

One buffet-style restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and one snack bar open from 12:00–4:00 PM are available for your dining pleasure.

Electricity

The cabins have 110 and volt electricity, which is the same as that which is used in the US.

Excursions

Amazing excursions will be offered on this trip and are included in the trip cost. They will likely include trekking the region of Lake Manacapru, speedboat rides through the igarapes and igapos to see the flora and fauna of the Amazon, piranha fishing, alligator spotting, a visit to an indigenous community and much more. An optional excursion will be available on Thursday when we arrive back to Manaus for the day, with an opportunity to visit the Scientific Amazon Museum, Japanese Museum (with tanks of fish species of the Amazon) and the Amazon Zoo operated by the military) along with some shopping opportunities at local markets.

Gratuities

Gratuities for your cabin steward and other onboard Iberostar staff are included in the cost of the cruise.

Internet/e-mail/fax

There is no internet, e-mail or fax service available onboard.

Laundry and dry cleaning

Laundry and pressing services are available onboard for a fee. No dry cleaning is available.

Medical services

There is a basic medical facility onboard. Medical services are free for the first visit, and entail an additional fee for subsequent visits.

 

Phone

Each cabin has a phone that can be used to call other cabins on the ship.

Smoking policy

For the comfort of our guests, we have designated smoking and non-smoking areas on board the ship. The non-smoking areas include all cabins, balconies, public areas and the port (left) side of all outdoor areas. Smoking is permitted on the starboard (right) side of outside decks. Please do not throw cigarettes overboard and always use the ashtrays provided.

Spa services

There is no spa onbaord.

Solo travelers

Solos are welcome on all Olivia trips!

After your Trip

Transfers

Transfers from the ship to the hotel and hotel to the airport on the day of debarkation (February 28) are included. If you are overnighting at the hotel February 28, transfers from the hotel on March 1 are on your own, and will cost approx. $25 US per taxi.

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