Living large: Luxury line Silversea plans $39,000 cruise around South America

[mercedes]

Looking for a grand adventure in 2010? If you've got an extra $39,000 to spare -- and oodles of time --you might want to look into the Spirit of South America cruise planned by Silversea.

The ultra-luxe line's newest ship, the Silver Spirit, will kick off the 91-day voyage on Jan. 21, 2010 in Ft. Lauderdale, following a southerly course to Rio de Janiero and Buenos Aires before "rounding the horn" to the western side of South America and looping through the Panama Canal for an almost complete circumnavigation of the continent.

The voyage is timed so the new ship will be in Rio for Carnaval. The unusual itinerary also includes several stops along the Mexican Riviera and a visit to Los Angeles before the ship enters the Panama Canal and returns to the East Coast of the USA. In all, the vessel will visit 45 ports in 20 countries with overnight stays planned for Rio, Buenos Aires, Punta Arenas, Lima, Acapulco and Los Angeles.

Passengers on the cruise also will be invited to attend the naming ceremony and other special events planned for the 540-passenger vessel. Fares start at $39,187 per person, based on double occupancy.

The line's first new ship in eight years will debut on Dec. 23 with an inaugural 11-day Holiday Spirit voyage from Barcelona to Lisbon. A 16-day "Maiden Crossing" departs Jan. 3 from Lisbon to the Caribbean and Fort Lauderdale. The ship will reposition to the Mediterranean for the summer of 2010.