37 days | Valparaíso - Chilean Fjords - Ushuaia - Falkland Islands - Montevideo - Porto Alegre - Ilha Grande - Paraty - Rio de Janeiro

Unlike the "big ones", on this cruise we head precisely to where you can experience new terrain at close quarters - for example in the fascinating fjord world of Chile. Pass through the Strait of Magellan, explore Tierra del Fuego and cruise off Cape Horn: Walk in the footsteps of the great explorers! Then experience at close quarters how diverse and unique Brazil is. Following in German footsteps at the end of the world? Drinking caipirinha in the home of cachaça? Or discover the breathtaking flora and fauna on paradisiacal beaches? Don't worry: you don't have to choose. You can simply take your pick from the full range of wonderful destinations we visit. Including Rio de Janeiro, of course!

Highlights:
- Experience the legendary Patagonian fjord landscape around Puerto Natales not from a distance, but up close and with all your senses.
- Experience the sheer size of the "Torres del Paine", the three needle-like granite mountains in the middle of the national park near Puerto Natales.
- The Pio XI glacier comes within reach. Tip your ears! Can you hear it growing?
- Pass the Strait of Magellan and become part of the centuries-old maritime history of South America.
- Discover the diversity in Paraty: stroll through the UNESCO-listed old town, snorkel in the sea or hike in the rainforest
- Sugarloaf Mountain, the Christ the Redeemer statue and Copacabana: three sights that people around the world want to see at least once in their lives.

In its own unique way, VASCO DA GAMA combines the Portuguese explorer tradition with the demands of today’s cruise guests: a wide range of different bars and restaurants in an exclusive setting, lots of public space with a modern interior and tasteful design elements. On board, you'll find a full range of equipment for spa, fitness and your personal leisure activities. You won’t find any other comparable cruise ship of this size on the market offering such good value for money. The personal atmosphere on board due to the manageable number of guests is key to the sense of well-being. In the very spirit of Portuguese hospitality, our friendly crew remains committed to your welfare.

In today's cruise ship market, our ship is regarded as small due to the fact that we have limited passenger capacity. The beautiful teak-wood decks exude classic charm, working in perfect harmony with the ship’s elegant and modern appearance. At 219 metres long and with a volume of 55,820 GRT, the ship provides its guests with all the space they need to thrive, spread across nine passenger decks. On board, you'll feel this spaciousness, for example, in the cabins and suites (16 to 102 sqm in size), five bars and lounges in different designs, five restaurants, an elegant spa area with sauna and steam bath, a large fitness centre, sports areas on the outside decks as well as two pools, one of which has a sliding glass roof. And in our “Hollywood's” show theatre over two decks, our on-board theatre company provides you with top-class evening entertainment. Bom espetáculo!

Our total of 550 crew members have just one goal: to make you feel comfortable! On top of the generous room-to-passenger ratio and our range of on-board facilities, the ample crew-to-guest ratio means you can find your own personal way to relax on board the ship. Whether you prefer to read a good book with a cool drink under the glass dome in our viewing lounge, the “Dome”, or would like to expend some of your energy in the outdoor sports areas, VASCO DA GAMA has the full range of options to choose from. For families, our children's area over two decks and our special family cabins provide the ideal basis for an enjoyable holiday together – on family-friendly terms. We also have an attractive programme for singles: we have a cabin allocation for all dates with a single supplement of just 15%. Our chefs are, of course, able to meet all common dietary requirements. The ship also has some cabins for disabled guests and has a dialysis unit.

nicko cruises Schiffsreisen GmbH is one of the most dynamic cruise providers in Germany. In recent years, the company has evolved from a leading river cruise provider with more than 30 years of experience into a well-known provider of small ships with destination-oriented ocean routes. With its fleet, which is as modern as it is comfortable, nicko cruises travels the world’s oceans as well as all domestic waterways and coastal sections that are in demand for tourists. In 2023, the programme includes not only 22 river ships, but also the classic ocean-going vessel VASCO DA GAMA.

With its "time to discover" philosophy, nicko cruises focuses on cruise schedules that are rich in discovery and on intensive travel experiences in the product fields river and ocean. The product features of so-called “slow cruising”, such as small ships and long anchorage times, are combined with emotional moments at nicko cruises. During the cruises, guests always have plenty of time for exploring. Thanks to the large variety of products, everyone will find just the right trip at nicko cruises, individually tailored to their needs. The ships in the fleet are all in the 4 to 5-star category according to German land hotel trade standards. Attractive inland excursions and the varied culinary offers on board round off the travel experience. nicko cruises Schiffsreisen GmbH has its company headquarters in Stuttgart, where it employs roughly 110 highly motivated members of staff.