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: At Sea
Day 4: Falmouth, Jamaica
As claims to fame go, this one is pretty cool: The world's fastest man ever, Usain Bolt, was raised just outside of the northern Jamaica town of Falmouth and went to school there. Centuries earlier, the coastal town was best known as one of the Caribbean's most prosperous towns, its wealth based on sugar, coffee and rum though all of those were surpassed by the slave trade. By the mid-19th century, however, economic decline was swift, and the once-bustling harbor fell into disuse. Today, its waterfront district with the stone St. Peter's Anglican Church is a National Heritage Site, and the outlying area is filled with historic buildings such as the Green Park Great House, once owned by the great-grandfather of poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Falmouth is described as one of the Caribbean's best-preserved Georgian towns, but not all is well. The humid Caribbean climate wreaks havoc on wooden homes, and many are in dire need of upkeep. Thankfully, the World Monuments Fund has helped, and the town is the perfect place to dream about picking up a fixer-upper on a heritage walking tour. Falmouth is also a great starting point for visiting any of the towns along the north coast, from Montego Bay to the west and Ocho Rios to the east.
Day 5: Georgetown, Cayman Islands
A cruise to the Cayman Islands has everything you would want from a Caribbean destination—warm breezes, clear seas and a laid-back attitude—but the archipelago also has something you might not expect: an exciting culinary scene. Between the celebrity chefs who’ve set up shop on Grand Cayman and the 135 or so resident nationalities that have helped season the island’s giant melting pot, this is, hands down, one of the best places to eat in the Caribbean. In and around George Town, the Cayman Islands' capital, you’ll find such an amazing array of culinary offerings, you’ll fear for the future of any buttons, snaps or hooks on your waistband.
And that’s where the island’s other chief pleasures come in: There’s enough walking (whether along the fabled Seven Mile Beach, around historic sites or through lush gardens) as well as stunning swimming, snorkeling and diving to be done to counter the effects of . . . So. Much. Good. Food. Or at least you can begin to. Oh, and one warning: Should you wind up at Rum Point—Grand Cayman’s castaway beach imago—there’s a good chance your ship is, by your own design, sailing without you. Regardless of what you do, our Cayman Islands cruises are sure to have something relaxing and enjoyable for you to experience and remember.
Day 6: Cozumel, Mexico
Cozumel, an island in the Caribbean off of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, draws scuba divers, snorkelers and sun seekers. The island also offers all other manner of on- and around-the-water attractions, many of which are unique, such as underwater sculpture gardens, a submarine excursion and a sailboat-racing experience.
Day 7: At Sea
Day 8: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US
Day 9: Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
Day 10: At Sea
Day 11: Amber Cove, Dominican Republic
Located on the Dominican Republic's north coast, the port of Amber Cove, near Puerto Plata, is a new phenomenon. Built in 2015, the area was fashioned as an homage to the country’s colonial architecture and features restaurants, bars and shops, as well as an activity center, a pool and cabanas. But it’s the neighboring region, known as the Amber Coast for its plethora of the semiprecious stone, that’s this port’s true draw. Along with golden-sand beaches and dramatic cliffs, there's the city of Puerto Plata, one of the Caribbean’s oldest, founded in the early 1500s. Another nearby option is Santiago de los Caballeros, known locally as simply Santiago, about an hour's drive from the port. The second-largest city in the Dominican Republic, it is home to excellent museums, historic buildings and cigar and rum makers.
Day 12: Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
Cruise to Turks and Caicos and experience the sugar-white sand, brilliant blue waters, and the kaleidoscopic sea life that is plentiful in the Caribbean paradise. Without hyperbole, this is one of the world’s most photogenic spots. T&C, as it is sometimes called, is the ultimate fantasy-island destination—the screen saver in all its glorious reality.
Grand Turk, a jewel of an isle that measures just 18 square kilometers (seven square miles), is awesomely rich in natural wonders. Ringed by translucent warm waters teeming with coral and fish, this Turks and Caicos cruise is a bonanza for divers, snorkelers and anglers. Of course you can always simply kick back and just enjoy the view from under a palm tree. Or explore the fascinating history of Turks & Caicos in its capital, Cockburn Town, lined with Bermudan-style buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Regardless, your cruise to Turks and Caicos will be relaxing, enjoyable and truly memorable.
Day 13: At Sea
Day 14: Nassau, Bahamas
New Providence may not be the largest island in the Bahamas, but it draws the lion’s share of visitors on Bahama cruises from around the world—and with good reason. For starters, it’s home to Nassau, the nation’s capital: a bustling harborfront hub whose stately colonial buildings house lively restaurants, bars, galleries and shops. Beyond the downtown area, however, you’ll find that plenty of other pleasures beckon. Just across the harbor bridge, for instance, is Paradise Island—and its dazzling Atlantis casino resort and water park (which you can access with a day pass). More aquatic adventures can be had while on a cruise to the Bahamas with snorkeling and glass-bottomed-boat excursions to nearby coral reefs. Interested in Bahamian art and culture? Check out the island’s National Art Gallery, Pirates of Nassau Museum and 18th-century colonial forts and monuments on your Bahama cruise. And if you’d rather just relax amid beautiful Caribbean scenery, try wandering through the lush botanicals at Ardastra Gardens or sunbathing on sugary Cable Beach. Whatever you choose to do while on your cruise to the Bahamas, though, make sure to sample some of the local culinary specialties like conch fritters or cracked conch. You’ll almost certainly find that—like the rest of the island—they’re vibrant and just a little exotic, and leave you wanting more.
Day 15: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US
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