Delfin II Review

5.0 / 5.0
4 reviews
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Editor Rating
5.0
Excellent
Overall
Emilie Harting
Contributor

Delfin II is a small cruise ship that travels on the tributaries leading out of the Amazon Basin in Peru, and it is designed so that travelers are embraced by views of the rain forest. It's owned by Delfin Amazon Cruises, which was founded by Peruvians Aldo Macchiavello and his wife and partner, Lissy Urteaga, back in 2006. Aldo runs the company, while Lissy, an interior designer, is responsible for the soothing, elegant decor inside the ship. She also plans the daily itineraries, and, along with the chef, makes long-range meal plans.

The 30-passenger luxury vessel's top deck was installed in 2014, and offers an air-conditioned lecture room with large picture windows on three sides, a massage room, an exercise room and a large open-air observation lounge with a bar and cushioned chairs for relaxing. The open-air spaces serve to bring the feeling of the rain forest -- the smell of rain, the symphony of the night creatures and the ever-changing scenery -- to the ship.

While the oceangoing ships traveling across the Brazilian Amazon offer myriad amenities, the emphasis here is on exploring the rich ecosystem of the 8,000-square-mile Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. A trip on one of Delfin II's four- or five-day cruises is a respite from the world, a time to contemplate the scenery and the rich array of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles found here. The ship has no TV, telephones, Internet, traditional nightclub entertainment nor 24-hour food and drink service.

It's not the kind of cruise where you snuggle up in a lounge chair and settle into a novel. Passengers move from activity to activity with great gusto. You're on the alert and moving fast from 5:30 a.m. when the pre-breakfast expeditions begin. From early morning to evening the schedule varies, so there's no chance to get bored. There's no rule that a passenger has to participate in every off-boat excursion, but on our trip, few of them skipped any.

About

Passengers: 30
Crew: 22
Passenger to Crew: 1.36:1
Launched: 2009
Shore Excursions: 9

Sails From

Fellow Passengers

Passengers tend to be intrepid and curious explorers, well-traveled internationally, who are always on the lookout for the next soft adventure. Except for family groups, the age range is 50 to 80, and passengers come mainly from the United States, Australia, Canada, Europe, South America and Russia. Almost all speak English.

Delfin II Dress Code

Think tropical casualwear rather than American business casual. If there is any dress code, it's that men usually do not wear T-shirts to dinner, but instead put on an informal collared shirt. In the evening, women wear cotton or jersey blouses and slacks with sandals, though sneakers are fine, too. During the day, most people wear hiking or athletic clothing. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for the off-shore excursions. Check Delfin's guidelines for recommended clothing. Jungle wear -- long-sleeve shirts and pants -- along with adequate repellant is useful for keeping away mosquitos.

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More about Delfin II

Where does Delfin II sail from?

Delfin II departs from Callao and Lima

Where does Delfin II sail to?

Delfin II cruises to Lima and Iquitos

How much does it cost to go on Delfin II?

Cruises on Delfin II start from per person.
Delfin II Cruiser Reviews

Amazing Amazon on Delfin II

My husband and I were part of Lindblad / National Geographic tour of the Upper Amazon on Delfin II for Oct. 29 - Nov. 5, 2017.Read More
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kyriecat

many10+ Cruises

Age 50s

Couldn't Have Been More Perfect

The people on board is what made the trip.But overall this was the best trip I have ever taken for a vacation.Read More
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tsuarez37075

oneFirst Time Cruiser

Age 50s

Lovely ship

We also visited villages and learned about life on the Amazon.We had daily skin explorations, swam in the Amazon, kayaked on some of the tributaries, went on several hikes in the jungle, visited a Shaman and a village where we learned about interesting enrichment project to empower women.Read More
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Pattogden

couple2-5 Cruises

Age 70s

Wonderful

Same thing on the last day but we did have the bonus of visiting the manatee centre and a tour of Iquitos!On the last day we even had breakfast on the skiffs on the Amazon with proper plates!Read More
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Organistlibrarian

few6-10 Cruises

Age 70s

Delfin Amazon Cruises Fleet
Delfin II

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