If you like seeing other peoples' trips up close, you can click on the photo and it should enlarge (although testing now, I've found the first few don't enlarge, but just before you get to the grand staircase they do). We wanted to share some of the good times we had on our eight day cruise with our son Aaron and his wife Rachel going down to Uruguay and Argentina over Christmas.
It was a hassel checking in, but once we got on board it was great!
It was beautiful heading out to sea from Santos in Brazil.
We settled into our cabins, but didn't spend much time there as there were lots of activities during the day and of course the pools! 
From her kids, Sue got a Kindle with several books in it to read. 
Of course Aaron had to give her some lessons in how to use it to start. It was kind of like Kindlegarten! 
But the classroom area was very nice. 
We took some time to relax because the nights were busy too.
The grand staircase was beautiful!
We had the early dinner hour - eight o'clock.
The second night at sea was Captain's night which was dress-up.
After dinner and before the evening show, they offered dance classes. Aaron and Rachel learned some new steps while Dad snapped some pictures.
At ten-thirty it was show time
with impressive show each night
singers, dancers, acrobats and the list went on.
After a couple days at sea we arrived in Punta del Leste, Uruguay. Their way of boarding was crazy, but finally we got a "tender" (boat) in to land.
Worth the wait and a beautiful trip to shore.
Once on shore it was a great view looking back across the Plata river.
And we thought totem poles were only in the north.
On the Atlantic coast beach, is the hand sculpture. "Talk to the hand!"
Aaron and the finger.
There's a boardwalk along the beaches on the river side.
We learned on our last cruise that the best time to enjoy the ship facilities is to go back early from the land stops. So instead of a trip to Montivideo we enjoyed the empty pool.
Next day and next stop up the Rio del Plata - Silver River - was Buenos Aires, Argentina
In a park beside the University of Engineering was a cool aluminium sculpture of a flower that opens each morning and closes each night based on solar energy.
The city was very European with wide avenues, fancy stores, lots of monuments and beautiful buildings.
The president lives in a pink house instead of a white house.
We made a quick stop in at Tortoni's Coffee House (est. 1858) with a tango school above it.
It was fun and the espresso and hot chocolate were really tasty.
The decor and especially the ceilings with stained glass were cool.
La Boca area of town was colorful and interesting to shop around in.
The main street Caminito was made into a famous tango song.
This is as close as we got to tangoing! It looked dangerous!
But lots of Argentines were tangoing.
That night we went to the late show of tango at Señor Tango.
We weren't sure what we were getting into, but it was a spectacular highlight of our time in Buenos Aires.
It started with live horses coming on stage just feet from where we sat.
All kinds of singing and tangoing.
And an orchestra with guys that seemed to beat their accordians as they played.
And of course a grand finale!
It was a fun night that ended early the next morning.
Soon we were at sea again, enjoying sunny days by the pool.
Mornings on board, there were cooking classes and fruit sculpturing - amazing! 
That night at the Christmas eve midnight dinner, there were all kinds of those sculptures
as well as ice sculptures
Each evening we had the same waiters who gave us fine service.
No tree in our cabin, but plenty around the ship.
Even without the tree, Christmas morning was still fun with presents
for Rachel
for Mom
for Aaron
and for Dad
After presents, we got a tender to the island, Ilhabela, back in Brazil.
Santa was just dropping in when we got there.
A pretty little town with nice views.
Aaron and Rachel under the bougenvilha bush/tree.
Soon it was time to head back to the ship and back to Santos.
But what a great get-away!
Of course Aaron had to give her some lessons in how to use it to start. It was kind of like Kindlegarten! But the classroom area was very nice. We took some time to relax because the nights were busy too.
The grand staircase was beautiful!
We had the early dinner hour - eight o'clock.
The second night at sea was Captain's night which was dress-up.
After dinner and before the evening show, they offered dance classes. Aaron and Rachel learned some new steps while Dad snapped some pictures.
At ten-thirty it was show time
with impressive show each night
singers, dancers, acrobats and the list went on.
After a couple days at sea we arrived in Punta del Leste, Uruguay. Their way of boarding was crazy, but finally we got a "tender" (boat) in to land.
Worth the wait and a beautiful trip to shore.
Once on shore it was a great view looking back across the Plata river.
And we thought totem poles were only in the north.
On the Atlantic coast beach, is the hand sculpture. "Talk to the hand!"
Aaron and the finger.
There's a boardwalk along the beaches on the river side.
We learned on our last cruise that the best time to enjoy the ship facilities is to go back early from the land stops. So instead of a trip to Montivideo we enjoyed the empty pool.
Next day and next stop up the Rio del Plata - Silver River - was Buenos Aires, Argentina
In a park beside the University of Engineering was a cool aluminium sculpture of a flower that opens each morning and closes each night based on solar energy.
The city was very European with wide avenues, fancy stores, lots of monuments and beautiful buildings.
The president lives in a pink house instead of a white house.
We made a quick stop in at Tortoni's Coffee House (est. 1858) with a tango school above it.
It was fun and the espresso and hot chocolate were really tasty.
The decor and especially the ceilings with stained glass were cool.
La Boca area of town was colorful and interesting to shop around in.
The main street Caminito was made into a famous tango song.
This is as close as we got to tangoing! It looked dangerous!
But lots of Argentines were tangoing.
That night we went to the late show of tango at Señor Tango.
We weren't sure what we were getting into, but it was a spectacular highlight of our time in Buenos Aires.
It started with live horses coming on stage just feet from where we sat.
All kinds of singing and tangoing.
And an orchestra with guys that seemed to beat their accordians as they played.
And of course a grand finale!
It was a fun night that ended early the next morning.
Soon we were at sea again, enjoying sunny days by the pool.
Mornings on board, there were cooking classes and fruit sculpturing - amazing! 
That night at the Christmas eve midnight dinner, there were all kinds of those sculptures
as well as ice sculptures
Each evening we had the same waiters who gave us fine service.
No tree in our cabin, but plenty around the ship.
Even without the tree, Christmas morning was still fun with presents
for Rachel
for Mom
for Aaron
and for Dad
After presents, we got a tender to the island, Ilhabela, back in Brazil.
Santa was just dropping in when we got there.
A pretty little town with nice views.
Aaron and Rachel under the bougenvilha bush/tree.
Soon it was time to head back to the ship and back to Santos.
But what a great get-away!
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