Departs from Ft. Lauderdale, FL visiting St. Thomas, USVI; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia and Philipsburg, St. Maarteen.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Ft. Lauderdale lies along the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the New River, 25 miles north of Miami. Its warm tropical weather attracts many people throughout the year. For sun-worshippers, the city has 6 miles of beaches. There are also many recreational waterways with extensive boating facilities, access to every conceivable watersport, and a variety of fascinating museums.
Ft. Lauderdale sits in the middle of the burgeoning megalopolis known as South Florida, which hugs the Atlantic coast from Miami in the south (a 35-minute car ride away) to Palm Beach in the north. It is the principal city in huge Broward County, two-thirds of which is swampland in the Everglades. What isn’t swampy includes 23 miles of beaches and 28 municipalities. And plenty of water—within the Ft. Lauderdale city limits alone there are more than 165 miles of navigable waterways (and more than 42,000 registered yachts).
Downtown Ft. Lauderdale is peppered with high-rise buildings; sidewalk cafes and shops line the New River; the Arts and Science District, anchored by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, lures the culturally minded. Las Olas Boulevard is best known for its relaxed alfresco shopping and its people watching in the heart of downtown Ft. Lauderdale. The street is lined with boutiques, bars and a shaded walkway for strolling. And getting around the city is part of the sport: Water taxis now ply the maze of waterways that link residential neighborhoods to sights, restaurants, shops and Port Everglades.
The Tequesta Indians were the city’s original inhabitants. After the Spanish took Florida as their own, the Seminole Indians, who lived in the northern reaches of the state, started moving southward. In 1837, during the Seminole Wars, the city’s namesake, Major William Lauderdale, built a fort at the mouth of the New River, which now snakes through the city center.
Cruise ships dock at Port Everglades, which is about 3 miles southeast of downtown Ft. Lauderdale. The port is convenient to downtown Ft. Lauderdale, the beaches are about 3 miles north, and the airport is just 2 miles southwest of the port.
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4:30 PM
Day 2
Day At Sea
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Day 3
Day At Sea
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Day 4
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
St. Thomas is one of the premier shopping spots in the Caribbean. The Danes declared it a free port in 1724, and it’s been a magnet for bargain hunters ever since. Good deals are to be had on designer clothes, gold jewelry, gemstones (set or unset), china and glassware, cameras, watches, leather goods, perfume, porcelain and liquor. But don’t assume everything is a bargain—check sale prices at home beforehand so you’ll know a deal when you see one. The best prices are on electronics, cameras, and watches—if you know what you are looking for (down to the exact model). If the price seems too high at one store, try bargaining. If it still seems too high, leave and visit another store.
St. Thomas has a number of attractions other than shopping. Many of them center around the island's views. Popular sites for viewing the sights include Mountain Top, Drake's Seat, the Estate St. Peter Greathouse Botanical Garden, and the Paradise Point Tramway. On a clear day, one can see islands, a top-down view of Charlotte Amalie, sailboats, and the deep-blue water of the Caribbean.
St. Thomas has some nice beaches. One should avoid deserted stretches, however, because crime is a concern. The more populated and safer beaches will satisfy visitors. Magens Bay is the island's most famous beach. Sapphire Beach faces the neighboring island of St. John. The beach is beautiful and the views are great. Coki Beach is both attractive and a good spot for snorkeling.
7:00 AM
6:00 PM
Day 5
Basseterre, St. Kitts
Discover a peaceful setting virtually untouched by tourism on the island of St. Kitts. Visit Brimstone Hill Fort, an impressive construction atop Mt. Liamuiga that is one of the wonders of the Caribbean.
8:00 AM
3:00 PM
Day 6
Bridgetown, Barbados
This laid-back English colony of Barbados combines beach life with great music, a hopping night scene, delicious food and a strong sense of history and culture.
The handsome colonial buildings of the capital, Bridgetown date mainly from the eighteenth century, while the later buildings of the suburbs sprawl inland. Many of the island's mixed race population are descendants of the African slaves, brought over to work the colonial sugar plantations. Back at the beach, warm Caribbean waters are teeming with colourful fish swimming in vibrant coral reefs. Sailing, waterskiing, windsurfing, snorkelling and scuba diving are just some of the watersports available. Hire a car, scooter, bicycle or moke (open-air jeep) to venture further afield, and visit underwater caves, lush tropical gardens, sugar-cane factories, rum distilleries or plantation houses.
The island has a lively nightlife with floorshows of limbo dancers and pulsing reggae music a perfect accompaniment to the Bajun cuisine of spicy seafood, tropical fruits and vegetables, washed down with rum cocktails and fresh fruit juices. It may all sound too good to be true - but this is Barbados.
8:00 AM
6:00 PM
Day 7
Castries, St. Lucia
The second largest of the Caribbean's Windward Islands, St. Lucia has drawn more and more tourists each year to enjoy its lush natural resources. The island's sandy white beaches sit beside dense emerald forests, while tropical jungle flowers adorn the banks of breathtaking waterfalls. St. Lucia offers not only dramatic countryside and pristine beaches, but also world-class diving, all-inclusive resorts and international cuisine. For vacationing shoppers, Castries has everything from great duty-free stores to a bustling 100-year-old market.
7:00 AM
4:00 PM
Day 8
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
An island under two flags, St. Martin/St. Maarten is French and Dutch. Philipsburg is on the Dutch side and famous for its duty-free emporia and casinos.
A short drive will bring you to Marigot, a charming French Colonial outpost featuring shops filled with French fashions and imported Gallic goodies, as well as beautiful beaches.
8:00 AM
5:00 PM
Day 9
Day At Sea
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Day 10
Day At Sea
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Day 11
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Ft. Lauderdale lies along the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the New River, 25 miles north of Miami. Its warm tropical weather attracts many people throughout the year. For sun-worshippers, the city has 6 miles of beaches. There are also many recreational waterways with extensive boating facilities, access to every conceivable watersport, and a variety of fascinating museums.
Ft. Lauderdale sits in the middle of the burgeoning megalopolis known as South Florida, which hugs the Atlantic coast from Miami in the south (a 35-minute car ride away) to Palm Beach in the north. It is the principal city in huge Broward County, two-thirds of which is swampland in the Everglades. What isn’t swampy includes 23 miles of beaches and 28 municipalities. And plenty of water—within the Ft. Lauderdale city limits alone there are more than 165 miles of navigable waterways (and more than 42,000 registered yachts).
Downtown Ft. Lauderdale is peppered with high-rise buildings; sidewalk cafes and shops line the New River; the Arts and Science District, anchored by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, lures the culturally minded. Las Olas Boulevard is best known for its relaxed alfresco shopping and its people watching in the heart of downtown Ft. Lauderdale. The street is lined with boutiques, bars and a shaded walkway for strolling. And getting around the city is part of the sport: Water taxis now ply the maze of waterways that link residential neighborhoods to sights, restaurants, shops and Port Everglades.
The Tequesta Indians were the city’s original inhabitants. After the Spanish took Florida as their own, the Seminole Indians, who lived in the northern reaches of the state, started moving southward. In 1837, during the Seminole Wars, the city’s namesake, Major William Lauderdale, built a fort at the mouth of the New River, which now snakes through the city center.
Cruise ships dock at Port Everglades, which is about 3 miles southeast of downtown Ft. Lauderdale. The port is convenient to downtown Ft. Lauderdale, the beaches are about 3 miles north, and the airport is just 2 miles southwest of the port.
7:00 AM
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Arrival and departure times may vary slightly by sailing date.
