Showtime on the Amazon
Ed Asner, Patricia Neal and Eli Wallach are among headliners on the Theatre at Sea’s “Grand Amazon Adventure” Feb. 21-March 4 aboard the Regent Seven Seas Mariner.
The trip begins far upriver in Manaus, Brazil, with a show at the opera house. The ship then stops at Parintins and Santarem on the Amazon, and later at ports such as Bridgetown, Barbados; Roseau, Dominica; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, ending in Ft. Lauderdale.
Fares currently start at $5,750, including gratuities. Port and handling fees add $350; a one-way flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Manaus costs $713. Shore excursions and transportation between home and Ft. Lauderdale are additional. 800-752-9732; www.theatreatsea.com
St. Thomas tip-off
Men’s and women’s college basketball teams will compete at the 8th annual U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. Among the eight teams playing in the Nov. 16-19 men’s competition are Illinois-Chicago, Notre Dame and Wichita State, while the Nov. 22-25 women’s Paradise Jam features Purdue, Indiana and Wichita State, among others.
NCAA Division I fans can cheer on their teams — and work on their tans — with Bolongo Bay Beach Resort’s “Paradise Jam” package, covering five nights’ lodging and tournament passes to either the men’s or women’s competition on St. Thomas, for $1,361-$1,533 for two, depending on the room selected. Hotel taxes and fees are included. The package is valid Nov. 15-26. (800-524-4746; www.bolongobay.com/paradisejam.htm)
Tin Pan galley
Described as “Jimmy Buffet meets Blue Man Group,” the steel-drum band OD TAPO IMI blends percussion, guitar and vocals with pop music. The group takes a sojourn from its Chicago-area home to sail the western Caribbean Feb. 23-March 1 aboard the Carnival Glory. There will be poolside shows and karaoke sessions, and a drum circle using pans and containers from the ship’s galley.
Cruise prices, including band activities, taxes, port fees and gratuities, start at $736 for an interior cabin, $866 for an ocean-view and $1,036 for accommodations with balcony. The cruise runs round trip from Port Canaveral with four ports of call. Shore excursions and round-trip transportation between home and Port Canaveral are extra. (800-636-2469; www.funconcert.com/Cruise.html)
Belize is for the birds
Located in the hills near San Ignacio, Belize, Casa del Caballo Blanco is a family-owned hacienda that shares space with an avian rehabilitation and release center called Casa Avian Support Alliance. Though guests who book the lodge’s “Toucan Tour” enjoy a visit to the Mayan ceremonial site at Tikal in Guatemala, they also spend time hard at work on an avian project such as nest-box building or habitat restoration.
“Toucan Tour” is priced at $815 per person, covering casita accommodations, most meals, outings and volunteer work. Taxes and service charges are additional.
The package is valid through Nov. 30. (707-974-4942; www.casacaballoblanco.com, click on Packages)
Mickey pre-holiday
For a pre-Christmas family getaway that gets you home in time for the holidays, Orlando’s two Staybridge Suites suggest the “Holiday Splendor” package. Included are four nights’ accommodations in a one-bedroom suite at either the Lake Buena Vista Staybridge or the International Drive property, plus five-day “Magic Your Way” Base Tickets for two adults and two children ages 3 through 9.
Also covered are daily buffet breakfast, scheduled transportation to the Disney Theme Parks and sales tax, for rates starting at $1,298, valid Nov. 25-Dec. 22. Staybridge also offers packages that can be customized with other options. (800-866-4549; www.sborlando.com/holidays)
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Prices generally are per person double and based on availability.
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