Partying in Rio with Azamara Cruises

The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a world famous 5-day celebration, the biggest carnival in the world, with two million people per day on the streets! The official start date is on the Friday before Ash Wednesday, and it finishes on Fat Tuesday, the day before the start of Lent. If you have ever considered cruising to South America, what better time to do so than the Azamara12-night Rio Carnival voyage on February 7, 2015.

The Rio Carnival is most known for its glorious Samba Parades. Held every year in the Sambodromo, it is the focal point of the carnival. There are four Samba Parades, held on all four nights of the carnival. The two big performances are on Carnival Sunday and Monday when the premier Samba Schools of the city compete against each other for the title of Champion. It is a stupendous show full of outstanding choreography, dazzling and sexy costumes, irresistible music and unimaginable props and floats. Tickets are very hard to get, but not for you!  If you book the Azamara 12-night Rio Carnival voyage, you will have the opportunity to purchase box seats or grandstand seats in the Sambodromo and be a part of this gargantuan event!

But don’t be confused into thinking that a samba school is actually a dance school; rather, its a musical organization. A typical samba school can have thousands of members, although only the most talented get the chance to “do their thing” in the big parade. These performers include singers, musicians, and dancers.  Other members are the bearers of the flags, banners and puppets. The rest of the school participates behind the scenes and are in charge of the creation of costumes, floats, props and whatever else is needed for the extravaganza.

In Rio de Janeiro, Carnival has been around since the mid 19th century, but in the 1920’s this unique music called Samba was incorporated. It’s an urban music style that arose in the slums of Rio de Janeiro and is a mix of influences from Europe, Africa and South America. Of all Brazilian music styles, Samba is undoubtedly the best known and has become a symbol of the Brazilian nation and its people.

Aside from the days you spend in Rio, the Azamara Journey’s itinerary also includes Montevideo, Uruguay, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Punta del Este, Uruguay, and Buzios, Brazil.  Although Carnival in Rio will undoubtedly be the highlight of your vacation, this is a wonderful cruise to discover the many cultural, natural and architectural wonders of South America!