Crossing the Equator: Barbados to Brazil

Boasting UNESCO World Heritage listing, and streets alive with vibrant energy, Bridgetown was shaped by a unique melding of African, British and American culture to become the cosmopolitan capital city it is today. Browse upmarket boutiques and dine on hyper-local regional specialties while taking in the sights and sounds of this island, the beating heart of Barbados. Upon your arrival to the yacht, enjoy a warm greeting from the crew as you step aboard, and raise your flute of champagne to toast to your voyage of wonder. The unrivalled view from the Sky Deck on Deck 10 is just the place to wave farewell to Bridgetown as you set sail on the sapphire-hued sea. Please book your flight to arrive into Bridgetown prior to 02:00 PM.

Located beside the island’s only natural harbour, the capital of Barbados combines modern and colonial architecture with glorious palm tree-lined beaches and a number of historical attractions. Experience the relaxed culture of the city renowned for its British-style parliament buildings and vibrant beach life, and seek out the Anglican church and the 19th-century Barbados Garrison. The distance between the ship and your tour vehicle may vary. This distance is not included in the excursion grades.

Despite its storied history of hosting the worst criminals in this French nation, the area is a paradise of tropical warmth and welcome. The mingling of Dutch and Creole cultures blend to perfection in architecture and cuisine, while the view from the Île Royale jetty provides views of the island that will leave you breathless. The barracks and restored chapel are intriguing for visitors who have an interest in history and how it shaped the future, while the renovated Director's House now hosts guests high on the hill. Visit the museum for ancient relics that tell the stories of the exiled, the escaped and finally, the aftermath. Once back on board Scenic Eclipse, consider venturing beyond the horizon or beneath the surface^. There's nothing quite like seeing the surrounds from above or underneath. Scenic Eclipse, The World's First Discovery Yachts™ have two state-of-the-art Airbus helicopters to take you soaring for a bird's eye view^ of lush landscapes and geographical landmarks. If you prefer explore beneath the waters surface, Scenic Neptune submersible could take you up to 300 metres into the depths of the inky blue sea^

Discarded off the coast of French Guiana, lies an ominous, key-shaped island of sharp rocks and swaying palm trees - Devil's Island. As the site of one of history’s most infamous and feared prisons, the island's reputation as hell on earth was well earned, having been used to brutally imprison, torture and punish the French Empire's most notorious criminals. Closed down in 1953, it now lies in an eerie purgatory, and the sense of unease as you approach it is hard to avoid, with its laden-coconut trees duplicitously waving you ashore.

One of Brazil's most interesting hamlets, this spirited port city is known as the Venice of Brazil, with its slivering canals, islets and peninsulas. More than 50 bridges are found in the city centre which is absurdly picturesque and packed with colourful buildings and marketplaces. Keep your camera handy. Visitors are instantly charmed by the sights and sounds of blonde beaches and swaying palms, while westwardly trade winds ensure the humidity is kept somewhat at bay. But with calm and clear waters beckoning, we recommend you take dip in the inviting waters before returning to the yacht. Toast the experience with a flute of bubbles at the Champagne bar, Lumière, and stay for dinner - the finest in contemporary French cuisine.

This vibrant metropolis has a spirit that's halfway between that of the modern cities of Brazil's South and of the traditional northeastern centers. It offers both insight on the past and a window to the future.It was in Pernambuco State, formerly a captaincy, that the most violent battles between the Dutch and the Portuguese took place. Under the Portuguese, the capital city was the nearby community of Olinda. But beginning in 1637 and during the Dutch turn at the reins (under the powerful count Maurício de Nassau), both Olinda and Recife were greatly developed.The city has beautiful buildings alongside the rivers that remind many visitors of Europe. Unfortunately, huge swathes of 19th-century buildings were razed to make way for modern structures. As a result, the center of the city has pockets of neocolonial splendor surrounded by gap-toothed modern giants. Today Recife is a leader in health care and has benefited from significant government investment in recent years, resulting in a boom in infrastructure and construction industries. It's also Brazil's third-largest gastronomic center—it's almost impossible to get a bad meal here.Recife is built around three rivers and connected by 49 bridges. Its name comes from the recifes (reefs) that line the coast. Because of this unique location, water and light often lend the city interesting textures. In the morning, when the tide recedes from Boa Viagem Beach, the rocks of the reefs slowly reappear. Pools of water are formed, fish flap around beachgoers, and the rock formations dry into odd colors. And if the light is just right on the Rio Capibaribe, the ancient buildings of Recife Antigo (Old Recife) are reflected off the river's surface in a watercolor display.

After your last sumptuous breakfast with us, disembark to the thrilling thrum of all that is Rio de Janeiro. A cosmopolitan city with breathtaking landscapes, well-loved beaches, first-rate shopping and world renowned landmarks, your time in Rio will certainly be impressive. With a last look back, and memories to last a lifetime, bid farewell to your new friends and your crew. Please book your flight to depart out of Rio de Janeiro after 12:00 PM. The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the cruise will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.

Welcome to the Cidade Maravilhosa, or the Marvelous City, as Rio is known in Brazil. Synonymous with the girl from Ipanema, the dramatic views from Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado mountain, and fabulously flamboyant Carnival celebrations, Rio is a city of stunning architecture, abundant museums, and marvelous food. Rio is also home to 23 beaches, an almost continuous 73-km (45-mile) ribbon of sand.As you leave the airport and head to Rio's beautiful Zona Sul (the touristic South Zone), you'll drive for about 40 minutes on a highway from where you'll begin to get a sense of the dramatic contrast between beautiful landscape and devastating poverty. In this teeming metropolis of 12 million people (6.2 million of whom live in Rio proper), the very rich and the very poor live in uneasy proximity. You'll drive past seemingly endless cinder-block favela, but by the time you reach Copacabana's breezy, sunny Avenida Atlântica—flanked on one side by white beach and azure sea and on the other by condominiums and hotels—your heart will leap with expectation as you begin to recognize the postcard-famous sights. Now you're truly in Rio, where cariocas (Rio residents) and tourists live life to its fullest.Enthusiasm is contagious in Rio. Prepare to have your senses engaged and your inhibitions untied. Rio seduces with a host of images: the joyous bustle of vendors at Sunday's Feira Hippie (Hippie Fair); the tipsy babble at sidewalk cafés as patrons sip their last glass of icy beer under the stars; the blanket of lights beneath the Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain); the bikers, joggers, strollers, and power walkers who parade along the beach each morning. Borrow the carioca spirit for your stay; you may find yourself reluctant to give it back.