Day 1: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US
Ft. Lauderdale is sometimes called the Venice of America because of its many canals and waterways. It's home to the annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, one of the largest in-water boat shows in the world; one of the many reasons our Fort Lauderdale cruise guests love visiting. . Guests of Ft. Lauderdale cruises can easily get a taste of the area's nautical lifestyle by cruising the Intracoastal Waterway on an old-fashioned paddle wheeler. Other options include hopping aboard one of the popular water taxis or Venetian gondolas that glide down the historic New River that flows right through town.
While Ft. Lauderdale is often overshadowed by its flashy neighbor, Miami, the port city is expanding rapidly as major developers and high-end resorts build up the beachfront and surrounding neighborhoods. Visitors will find world-class shopping on famous Las Olas Boulevard, celebrated restaurants and a cultural explosion in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District. It's clear that the city is solidifying its place as a sophisticated destination, and one of the reasons our Fort Lauderdale cruises are a popular choice for many vacation goers.
Day 2: Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
In a region renowned for tropical wonders, one island rises to the top—ours. We’re not the only ones enamored with our slice of paradise—Half Moon Cay is the highest-rated Bahamas private island. It has won Porthole Cruise Magazine’s Best Private Island award consecutively for 20 years. We’ve spent a quarter of a century perfecting the experience. When you feel the sugar-white sand on your toes or kayak its crystal lagoon, you’ll understand why cruise travelers love Half Moon Cay, a highlight of our Bahamas cruises.
Day 3 & 4: At Sea
Day 5: Oranjestad, Aruba
Located off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia, the windswept Dutch island of Aruba feels like another world. When you take a cruise to Aruba, you can relax in the shade of a swaying Divi Divi tree on a pristine beach or explore untamed coastal cliffs in an exotic landscape filled with cacti. Just one day on an Aruba cruise can lead to a lifetime full of stories.
Day 6: At Sea
Day 7: Cartagena, Colombia
Its official name is Cartagena de Indias—or "Cartagena of the Indies"—but call it Cartagena for short. The formal name hints at this Colombian city's colonial relationship with Spain; it was founded in 1533 and named after the mother country's Cartagena. Colombia declared independence in 1810, but there's plenty about its fifth-largest city that evokes old Spain, including the impressive fort of Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, and the wall that encloses the old town, one of the few intact structures of its kind in the Americas. Both were considered important enough to inscribe on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1984. They may be historical artifacts, but the fortress and wall aren't merely tourist attractions; they are central to daily life here. Take a stroll and you'll see couples sitting atop the wall, locked in passionate embraces; parents watching their children walk it like a balance beam; and friends chatting while enjoying the Caribbean breeze. Along with history, there's cultural and culinary intrigue here, too. This colorful city was a muse of the late Nobel Prize–winning writer Gabriel García Márquez, and is increasingly being recognized outside Colombia for its cuisine, which takes many cues from Caribbean ingredients. (Don't leave without trying the coconut rice.)
Day 8: Enter Panama Canal Cristobal - Cruising Panama Canal and Gatun Lake
Think of the Panama Canal, and the image that may come to mind is of the world’s huge tankers and cruise ships passing through a series of locks. That, however, reflects only one aspect of this part of the world. As ships travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific, they also pass colonial towns, historic fortresses and manmade lakes that are today home to sanctuaries for hundreds of different animal and plant species. At the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal, Colón evokes the old Panama of yesteryear, with its historic buildings gradually being restored. Some 77 kilometers (48 miles) to the south, at the canal’s Pacific entrance, Panama City's glittering skyline of office towers and condominiums reflects the country’s dynamic present and future. Traveling between these two cities, an epic tale unfolds before you—an old-school feat of engineering, ambition and courage. As David McCullough recounts in his sweeping history The Path Between the Seas, it was a combination of sheer human might and engineering prowess that today allows ships to cross the Panama isthmus, saving sailors from making the dangerous, almost 13,000-kilometer (8,000-mile) journey around the tip of South America.
In recent years, a Panama City building boom has invited the inevitable comparison to Dubai. Miami might be more accurate in terms of the skyline, but either way a mighty impressive transformation has taken place in a city that was once known primarily for one thing, the canal. And the forward trend continues with the 2014 opening of a metro line and major new green spaces. With English widely spoken and a U.S. dollar-based economy, Panama is an easy place to visit, which helps account for the enormous number of American citizens now living there.
Dating to 1519, Panama City holds the distinction of being the Spanish Crown’s first city on the Pacific. Gold, silver and treasures plundered from all the Americas were transported across the isthmus and sent back to the Old World. Panama City prospered big time for centuries, so today’s boom is really a sequel. The great news for preservation-minded travelers is that, despite the rapid urban change, the city is actively improving the Casco Viejo, its historic colonial heart. After the pirate Henry Morgan plundered the original settlement, this walled seafront area grew to be filled with mansions and churches of great distinction. It’s all still there.
Day 9: Puerto Limon (San Jose), Costa Rica
Puerto Limón probably isn't the most bustling port you've ever visited, but don't be put off by its facade; like most coastal towns in Costa Rica, it is a perfect base from which to explore an attraction- and activity-rich region that can fulfill a variety of interests. You're never far from a rain forest or outdoor adventure in Costa Rica, and there are lots of day trips from Puerto Limón that allow you to pack in an adrenaline rush or a few more ticks on your birding list within just a few hours. There are treetops for zip lining and rushing rivers for whitewater rafting if you’re a more active traveler, and animal lovers can take sanctuary tours in and around Puerto Limón. Of course, when it comes time to eat, there's plenty of the national favorite, gallo pinto (rice and beans), and as with many port towns, there is lots of fresh seafood and even an upscale Italian restaurant. As for shopping, you can find arts and crafts that were made locally as well as edible treats like handmade chocolate.
Day 10: At Sea
Days 11: Montego Bay, Jamaica
Holland America Line's Montego Bay cruises takes you to the island of One Love. Jamaica is, after all, the home of the reggae musical genre and the Rasta religion with which it is so entwined. Along with being laid-back and "irie, mon," the western Caribbean island nation boasts plenty of natural beauty: pristine, reef-facing beaches; crystalline waters; and a lush, mountain and jungle interior. Just as internationally lauded are the island’s eco-friendly soft-adventure offerings, from snorkeling and horseback riding to zip lining and traversing waterfalls. Our cruises to Montego Bay, Jamaica are much more than just a beach destination, They also promises cultural attractions, which, along with its spicy cuisine, are as much of a draw as its powdery sand and sparkling sea. So, take a Montego Bay cruise with Holland America Line and discover the natural beauty this island has to offer.
Day 12: At Sea
Day 13: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, US - Disembark
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