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Focus Travel Club Presents

SUPER SAVER DELUXE CRUISE

BETTER THAN 2-1 SAVINGS!

Samba Rhythms

December 9th – December 23rd, 2009

Brazil – Uruguay – Argentina

Aboard  Oceania Cruises M/V Insignia

From Only $2229.00 PP

CAT G stateroom, air taxes, port charges and government fees extra.

• Includes R/T airfare from Denver and other major cities
• $500 shipboard credit per stateroom
• Pre-paid Gratuities
• 2 FTC Private Cocktail Parties with Canapés
• Fantastic Ports of Call
• Award winning cuisine
• Quality Entertainment
• Stunning Cabin Decor
• Lowest rates ever offered by Oceania Cruises
• Credit Cards Accepted for deposit and final payments.

Port Information:

Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil, on the South Atlantic coast. Rio is famous for its breathtaking landscape, its laidback beach culture and its annual carnival.

The harbor of Rio de Janeiro is comprised of a unique entry from the ocean that makes it appear as the mouth of a river. Additionally, the harbor is surrounded by spectacular geographic features including Sugar Loaf mountain at 395 m (1,296 feet), Corcovado Peak at 704 m (2,310 feet), and the hills of Tijuca at 1,021 m (3,350 feet). These features work together collectively making the harbor one of the ([Seven Natural Wonders of the World] [1]).

It is a common mistake to point out Rio as Brazil's capital, as in fact it was until April 21st 1960 when Brasilia became the capital. Beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema, the Christ The Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) statue, the stadium of Maracanã and Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) are all well-known sights of what the inhabitants call the "marvelous city" (cidade maravilhosa), and are also among the first images to pop up in traveler's mind, along with the Carnaval celebration.  The South Zone holds most of Rio's landmarks and world-famous beaches, in an area of only 43.87 square km (17 square miles). Many of them are walking distance from each other (for instance, the Sugar Loaf lies about 5 miles from Copacabana beach). Most hotels and hostels are located in this side of the city, which is compressed between the Tijuca Range (Maciço da Tijuca) and the sea. There are relevant places in other regions as well, such as Maracanã stadium in the North Zone.

The inhabitants of Rio, called cariocas, are known for being easy-going and friendly. Informality rules in dress codes and speech in most situations - with notable exceptions in business and religion.

Rio was founded in 1565 by the Portuguese as a fortification against French privateers who trafficked wood and goods from Brazil. Piracy played a major role in the city's history, and there are still colonial fortresses to be visited (check below). The Portuguese fought the French for nearly 10 years, both sides having rival native tribes as allies. For the next two centuries it was an unimportant outpost for Portuguese Empire, until gold, diamonds, and ore were found in Minas Gerais in 1720. Then, as the nearest port, Rio became the exit way for the mineral outcomes and replaced Salvador as the main city in the colony in 1763. When Napoleon invaded Portugal, the Royal Family moved to Brazil and made Rio capital of the Kingdom (so it was the only city outside Europe to be capital of a European country). It retained the post when Brazil became independent, in 1822, and adopted Monarchy as its government (with Emperors Pedro I and Pedro II). Many historians and Brazilians from other places say cariocas are nostalgic of the Royal and Imperial times, which is reflected in many place names and shop names.

Ilha Grande(literal translation: Big Island) is an island located off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state (not the city), Brazil, and part of the municipality of Angra dos Reis. The island is largely undeveloped and noted for its scenic beauty, which includes tropical beaches, luxuriant vegetation and a rugged landscape. The land area is 193 km² and the highest point is Pico da Pedra D'Água, at 1031 m. It once held a notorious prison, now closed.

Ilha Grande is one of the most pristine remnants of Brazil's Atlantic rainforest, one of the richest ecosystems in the world, and a hotspot for biodiversity and conservation. It holds some of the largest remaining populations of many endangered species, including the red-ruffed fruit crow (Pyroderus scutatus), the brown howler monkey (Alouatta fusca), the maned sloth (Bradypus torquatus) the red-browed Amazon parrot (Amazona rhodocorytha), and the broad-snouted cayman (Caiman latirostris). The seas around the island, which are also protected, feature a unique convergence of tropical, subtropical, and temperate-zone marine life, and may be the only waters in the world where it is possible to see corals and tropical fish along with Magellanic penguins and Southern right whales.

The entire island is a protected area, with most of its territory included in Ilha Grande State Park, and the rest subject to stringent development restrictions. Small-scale ecotourism, however, is encouraged, and the island, which is roadless and off-limits to cars, features over 150 km of hiking trails connecting the handful of coastal villages and hamlets where lodging is available to each other and to the many beaches, mountain peaks, waterfalls, and pristine forests.

Parati: Located on the Costa Verde (Green Coast), a lush, green corridor that runs along the coastline of the state of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil (not the city), Paraty (or Parati) [pronounced Par-a-CHEE] is a preserved Portuguese colonial and Brazilian Imperial (1822-1889) town. Paraty has become a popular tourist area in recent years, renowned for the beauty of the town and the coast and mountains in the region. The town is located on the Bay of Ilha Grande, which is dotted with many tropical islands. Rising up some 1,000 meters behind the town are the tropical forests, mountains, and waterfalls.

Paraty is surrounded by many Nature Parks including Serra da Bocaina National Park, Serra do Mar State Park, the Park Reserve of Joatinga and the Environmentally Protected Area of Cairuçu, where the village of Trindade is located.

São Paulo: is the largest city in Brazil, and along with Tokyo, Seoul, Mexico City and New York City is among the five largest metropolitan regions of the world[1]. The city is the capital of the State of São Paulo, the most populous Brazilian state. It is also the richest city of Brazil. The name means Saint Paul in Portuguese. São Paulo exerts strong regional influence in commerce and finance as well as arts and entertainment.

The city has many renowned landmarks. The Immigrant's Hostel greeted millions of immigrants as they came to Brazil in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Paulista Avenue, in Downtown, is the most important financial center of the country and South America. The city is home to the São Paulo Stock Exchange (BOVESPA). São Paulo has been home to several of the tallest buildings in Brazil, including the Mirante do Vale Building.[2]

São Paulo is a major cultural centre. The city has an ethnically diverse metropolitan area, with heavy Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, among other influences.

The city is known for its varied and sophisticated cuisine, ranging from Chinese to French, from fast food chains to five star restaurants. There are approximately 62 different types of cuisines in São Paulo, and more than 12,000 restaurants.[51] Other venues such as bars, pubs, lounges and discos cater to a variety of music tastes.

São Paulo is home to the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), dedicated by Queen Elizabeth II in the first half of the XX century and "Pinacoteca do Estado" art museums, a symphonic orchestra (São Paulo State Symphony (OSESP - based in the Sala São Paulo theatre in the gorgeous Julio Prestes train station), and a Formula OneGrand Prix racing circuit (Interlagos).

Landmarks

• Paulista Avenue (one of the most important thoroughfares of the city and the site of many cultural centers and museums, such as the MASP and Centro Cultural Itaú).
• Banespa Building (skyscraper with observation deck and museum designed after the Empire State building).
• Catedral da Sé (the metropolitan cathedral, a symbol of the city).
• Edifício Copan, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, in the Centro neighbourhood. Built between 1951 and 1966, its wavy shape gives the building an impression of movement, and the integration of small businesses and residential flats are of innovative urbanism.
• Edifício Itália (skyscraper with observation deck).
• Estação da Luz (historical railway station built 1895-1901).
• Ibirapuera Park (the second largest park of the city (Parque do Carmo is the biggest), is also home to several museums. It is known for its buildings designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, such as the Oca and the new Ibirapuera Auditorium).
• Liberdade (Asian district of São Paulo).
• Mercado Municipal (historical market place in São Paulo).
• Municipal Theatre of São Paulo (magnificent opera house built in the early 20th century.)
• Museu de Arte Sacra (museum of religious art located in a colonial convent).
• Museu do Ipiranga (museum built where the Independence of Brazil was proclaimed in 1822).
• Museum of the Portuguese Language (located inside Estação da Luz).
• Pátio do Colégio (founding site of the city, former Jesuit mission-school to convert the natives to Catholicism).
• Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo (important museum of Brazilian art).
• Praça da Sé (large square next to the São Paulo Cathedral. Official centre of the city).
• Shopping Malls Center Leste Aricanduva, Iguatemi, Ibirapuera, Morumbi, Eldorado, Pátio Higienópolis, Anália Franco, Cidade Jardim, and many others.

Itajaí: The port of Itajaí (founded 1824), 92km/57mi south of Joinville and 100km/63mi north of Florianópolis, was the base from which thousands of settlers from Germany, Italy and elsewhere in Europe settled the valleys in north-eastern Santa Catarina

from 1851 onwards. It is now an important fishing center. Within easy reach are some of the most fashionable bathing resorts in Santa Catarina.

In the valleys of the Rio Itajaí and its tributaries there are 46 towns and villages which seem to have been transplanted to Brazil from Europe. Hermann Blumenau, who promoted the settlement of this area by German immigrants, chose it because it seemed to him so similar to the Rhineland. The similarity is even greater today - in the division of the land into small family holdings, the way of life and customs of the inhabitants and the half-timbered houses with their pointed gables and balconies. The German settlers who came first were followed by Italians, Czechs, Russians, Austrians, Poles and Ukrainians, all contributing to the European mosaic of this region.

Punta del Este, is internationally known, among other things as the most important and exclusive resort of South America, apart from being one of the most famous cities for the so many famous people from the international jet set who visit it. Summer resort, natural and sophisticated, Punta del Este is one of those places that is difficult to find and of course, difficult to forget, because there is no one who visit it and leave it completely delighted by it. The peninsula is an invitation to pleasure and fun. Nowadays, has a beautiful Rambla (shore), wonderful houses typical from the resorts, modern buildings, a great port with structure and mooring capacity, shops of well-known trade marks, restaurants, pubs, etc.Honestly, the whole peninsula is a tour, where ever you go, you will also see big and sumptuous houses, and its beautiful and cared gardens done with plants which were brought from every part of the world, wide avenues, boulevards, and a quality that is difficulty to find in other South American cities.  Gorlero Avenue, the main av. of Punta del Este is where you will find commercial galleries, restaurants, cinemas, casinos, shops and many more attractions. Artigas square, over Gorlero av. is the place where the popular handcraft market takes places. Throughout its many stands you can find handicrafts of an excellent quality and materials such as leather, stone, metal, glass, etc.

Montevideo is the largest city, the capital and chief port of Uruguay. Montevideo is the only city in the country with a population over 1,000,000. According to Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Montevideo provides the highest quality of life in Latin America. The Portuguese founded Colonia del Sacramento in the 17th century despite Spanish claims to the area due to the Treaty of Tordesillas. The Spanish drove the Portuguese out of a fort in the area in 1724. Bruno Mauricio de Zabala  – Governor of Buenos Aires  – founded a military base there on December 24, 1726, to prevent further incursions. The first settlers arrived from the Canary Islands, brought by Francisco de Alzáibar. By 1730, the population had increased, and the military base was granted the right to have its own cabildo (town council), establishing the settlement as a proper city.[citation needed]

The city's first economic boom occurred when the Spanish Crown gave Montevideo the right to be the only slave port in the Viceroyalty of la Plata, infuriating the Viceroyalty's capital, Buenos Aires. In 1776, the Crown further made Montevideo the main naval base (Real Apostadero de Marina) for the South Atlantic, with authority over the Argentine coast, Fernando Po, and the Falklands. In 1828, the town became the capital of Uruguay. The city fell under heavy British influence from the early 19th century until the early 20th century as a way to circumvent Argentine and Brazilian commercial control. It was repeatedly besieged by Blanco leader Manuel Oribe and Argentine dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas between 1838 and 1851. Between 1878 and 1911, British-owned railway companies built an extensive railway network linking the city and its port to the countryside. During World War II, a famous incident involving the Germanpocket battleshipAdmiral Graf Spee took place in Punta del Este, 200 kilometres (120 mi) from Montevideo. After the Battle of the River Plate with the Royal Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy on December 13, 1939, the Graf Spee retreated to Montevideo's port, which was considered neutral at the time. To avoid risking the crew in what he thought would be a losing battle, Captain Hans Langsdorff scuttled the ship on December 17. Langsdorff committed suicide two days later. On 10 February2006, the eagle figurehead of the Admiral Graf Spee was salvaged.[5] To protect the feelings of those still sensitive to Nazi Germany, the swastika on the figurehead was covered as it was pulled from the water.

Buenos Aires (official name Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, also called Capital Federal ) is the capital of the Argentine Republic. The name means fair winds in Spanish. It is one of the largest cities in Latin America, with a lot of cultural offerings, and is the point of departure for travelling to the rest of the country. Inhabitants of Buenos Aires are called porteños, "people from the port". Buenos Aires is a singular, open and integrating destination that allows the visitor not only to view the city but also to live an exceptional urban adventure.

The City of Buenos Aires has 48 districts called barrios. The most important and visited are:

Microcentro Downtown, an ideal location for visitors to be near to the main historical spots of the Argentinean capital. In there, Florida Street is the most famous pedestrian street of the city, where visitors can do window shopping and buy typical goods.

San Telmo This district preserves colonial-style houses along narrow cobblestone lanes, illuminated with pretty wrought iron lanterns. In San Telmo , one breathes the history of Buenos Aires.

La Boca Considered Buenos Aires's most controversial neighborhood with an explosive personality. Tourists favor this picturesque district for its rich history and vibrant colors: greens, yellows, reds and purples highlight the urban scenery.

Palermo Hip residential neighborhood of tree-lined streets and intersections packed with restaurants and bars.

Recoleta One of the finest and most expensive areas of the city. It boasts many French style buildings, large green spaces and first class restaurants.

Belgrano A residential and peaceful neighborhood with silent streets that lead to different shops, restaurants, architectural relics and large green spaces. Belgrano's one of the most distinguished districts, and it's ideal for day walks along the wooded tile sidewalks.

Almagro An original middle-class neighborhood, unspoiled by tourists, Almagro is a calm barrio located in the very center of the capital, with cheap empanadas, chinese supermarkets, and greengrocer's, the smell of grilled meat from plentiful parillas, and a very big circular park that transforms into a market on sundays.

Boedo One of the main Tango and historical spots in the city, the streets of Boedo offer to native and tourist public a huge variety of cafes in the best “porteño” style, cultural centers , Tango houses, libraries, theaters and nice pubs and restaurants. Places that please people from all ages and tastes.

Caballito An average, middle-class neighborhood, the barrio has both plentiful amenities, spacious parks and choice shopping. On the other hand, there are dirty, noisy and unsafe areas of Caballito that should be avoided. Overall, it is a pleasant residential and commercial hub.

Congresso A dense downtown area that houses the legislative branch of government at the opposite end of Avenida de Mayo from the "pink house" seat of the executive branch.

San Cristobal

Puerto Madero Just like the London docklands, the antique port of Buenos Aires have been renewed and represent the latest architectural tendency of the city.

The city is geographically contained inside the province of Buenos Aires, but it is politically autonomous. Its coordinates are 34º 36' S, 58º 26' W.

The city extends on a plain covering 19.4 kilometers (12 miles) from north to south and 17.9 kilometers (11 miles) from east to west.

Approximately three million people live in the City of Buenos Aires (the Federal Capital of Argentina with 202 square kilometers equivalent to 78.3 sq miles). The City is divided into 48 districts or barrios. Together with its metropolitan area or Great Buenos Aires (Gran Buenos Aires) this is one of the ten most populated urban centers in the world with over 14 million people. Most of the country's activity is highly concentrated in this single city and its surroundings.

Buenos Aires constantly receives tourists from all over the world and offers a large choice cultural events, nightlife, restaurants and pubs, so you can expect good services and a wide range of options.

 
Rates and Cabin Categories

Cabin Cat.     List Price                Promotional rate

Offer expires March 31, 2009. All fares listed are in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy and include Non-Discountable Fares. Government Fees and Taxes of up to $26 per guest per day for 2009 sailings and Government Fees and Taxes of up to $8 per guest per day for Winter 2009-2010 sailings are additional. Fares do not include Cruise Ship Fuel Surcharge, handling and security charges. Air Taxes, Air Fuel surcharges, and Fuel surcharges are estimated by Oceania Cruises at the time of sale; Air Taxes and Air Fuel surcharges are based on previous taxes and fuel surcharges levied by air carriers traveling to your destinations.

OS       Owners Suite

VS       Vista Suite

PH1      Penthouse

PH2      Penthouse

PH3      Penthouse

A1       Concierge Level Veranda Stateroom

A2       Concierge Level Veranda Stateroom

A3       Concierge Level Veranda Stateroom

B1        Veranda Stateroom

B2        Veranda Stateroom

C1        Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom

C2        Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom

D          Ocean View Stateroom

E          Ocean View Stateroom

F          Inside Stateroom

G         Inside Stateroom

Deposit of $750.00 PP, which is fully refundable until 91 days prior to departure .

Final Payment is due 90 Days prior to departure.

For more information, contact Ellie Leinaweaver.