Carnival Cruise Lines outlined its first South America voyages, to be operated by the 113,000gt Carnival Splendor starting in January 2009. The 14- to 18-day cruises will visit destinations in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Chile and Peru. The program is positioned between the ship’s previously announced winter 2008-09 cruises from Fort Lauderdale and prior to its launch of year-round Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach, Calif., in late March 2009.

The South America trio begins with a 17-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires on Jan. 31 that visits the Caribbean island of Dominica as well as four ports in Brazil, including Rio de Janeiro. A 14-day voyage from Buenos Aires to Valparaíso (for Santiago, Chile) follows on Feb. 17, with calls at Montevideo (Uruguay), Puerto Madryn and Ushuaia (Argentina), Punta Arenas and Puerto Montt (Chile), with scenic cruising of Cape Horn. Carnival Splendor will then operate an 18-day cruise from Valparaíso to San Francisco, Calif., on March 3. Ports are Arica (Chile), Callao (for Lima, Peru), Manta (for Quito, Ecuador), Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) and Long Beach.