Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a major seaport and emerging cruise center on the Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida. It is also a commercial, financial and manufacturing center for the region. Because of its subtropical climate, Tampa is a winter resort and retirement center; it has many beaches and parks. Sights of interest include the picturesque Latin quarter of Ybor City, the Aquarium, Tampa Bay Stadium and Busch Gardens theme park.
The site was settled in 1823, when a plantation was established and Fort Brooke built. Growth of the community was spurred by the discovery of phosphates in 1883, the arrival of the railway in 1885, and the establishment of the cigar-making industry in 1886. During the Spanish-American War the city was an army training camp and was the embarkation point for Cuba of Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders. The name Tampa is probably derived from a Caloosa Native American term meaning "sticks of fire".
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4:00 PM
Day 2
Day At Sea
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Day 3
Grand Cayman
Compared with its tiny sisters, Grand Cayman is party island. As the largest and by far the most active of the three, the big dot attracts 99 percent of the tourists, most of whom flock to hotel-stocked Seven Mile Beach. You can expect even bigger crowds as fallout from The Firm. Haven't read the book? You won't lack for companion readers - they're everywhere on the island - and almost every local has a story about the film crew or a family member who was an extra.
But mostly Grand Cayman remains unchanged. The diving is still excellent - you'll swear you've taken a plunge into a pet-shop fish tank. The gentle stingrays still cluster at Stingray City. Rum Point, a beach bar on the North Sound, still serves up cinnamony rum punches. Television personality Chef Tell still dishes up extreme romance at his oceanside restaurant. And you can still spend an entire day floating in azure waters as clear as your hotel swimming pool.
During most sunlight hours you'll be water-bound - hoisting your gear onto an early-morning dive boat or positioning yourselves for optimal tanning on the decadent stretch of Seven Mile Beach. On Grand Cayman, a hotel without a watersports shop is a rare sight, but those who want to check out the underwater sights without getting wet can descend 100 feet on the air-conditioned Atlantis Submarine; the company also offers high-ticket 800-foot descents to a shipwreck in a two-person sub.
A day of tooling around in a Rocky Jeep is a must. Head west to the town of Hell, complete with its own velour-clad devil, before zipping over to the turtle farm with its human-size terrapins. In spite of the turtle soup on sale in the snack shop, the farm really does help protect several species.
Grand Cayman's sparsely populated East End will refresh you with long streches of craggy coast. In Savannah, the oldest island structure is a castle rumored to have been built by pirates two centuries ago. Stop by the blowholes for some awesome pictures of watery spires. On the way back, harborside George Town will tempt you with its Gucci and Fendi shops.
Nights in Grand Cayman are laid-back. Those who don't have an early-morning dive gravitate to Ramada's Treasure Island nightclub and Island Rock disco. Hopping pubs include the Lone Star Bar & Grill with its 104-shot menu and Tex-Mex fare or My Bar on the shores of Sunset House, where parched dive pros head. If you crave some romantic dining head to the deck of the seaside Wharf or to Lantana's for nouvelle Southwestern cuisine. And famous Chef Tell is always ready to shake your hand at his Grand Old House. It's nice to know that fame hasn't spoiled Grand Cayman.
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4:00 PM
Day 4
Cozumel, Mexico
The Conquistadors first saw Mexico from the shores of Cozumel while searching for gold. Today, visitors to the island continue to seek out gold and silver jewelry in the shops of San Miguel. Plus, the waters around Cozumel's shelter coral reefs make this one of the best snorkeling areas in the world.
With clear sapphire-colored water and an abundance of coral reefs and exotic tropical fish, it's a snorkeler's dream, and therefore, one of the world's premier snorkeling destinations. It's simply the perfect place to see what's under the sea whether you're a novice or an expert.
Cozumel isn’t as flashy as its neighbor Cancun. And that’s part of its charm. Mexico’s largest island (33 mi/53 km long and 8 mi/13 km wide) offers a pleasant mix of activities. You can shop and dine in San Miguel, a traditional Mexican town built around a large plaza. You can head for the beach to lounge and swim, while the more adventurous can explore Maya ruins or dive around the reefs.
Most cruise-ship passengers don’t venture far outside San Miguel, the island’s only city, which has about 60,000 people. The town’s plaza, Plaza del Sol, is surrounded by dozens of shops and sidewalk cafes. You could easily spend a few hours browsing through the stores, sipping a cold drink beneath the bright orange blooms of the poinciana trees and people watching. The side streets off the plaza are closed to auto traffic and packed with more shops and eateries. To see a bit of the waterfront, stroll along San Miguel’s main street (Avenida Melgar, also known as the malecon), which runs north and south for 14 blocks. You can walk it in half an hour.
If you are interested in learning some local history, visit the Museo de la Isla de Cozumel, which has exhibits detailing the island’s natural environment, the history of the Maya and the arrival of the Spaniards. (Open daily 10 am-5 pm; admission about US$3—around US$7 during high season; on the malecon between Calle 4 and Calle 6.)
At the Parque Arqueologica, an archeological park a few blocks inland from the cruise-ship piers south of town, you can take a walk-through tour of the history of Mexico. Each region of the country is represented, with artifacts de picting the Aztec, Toltec and Maya civilizations. Weavers and potters demonstrate the crafts of ancient times under thatched-roof palapas. (Open Monday-Saturday 8 am-5 pm; admission about US$3.)
Outside of San Miguel, there’s almost no development but plenty of opportunities to experience solitude. Cozumel’s one highway is a narrow paved road that runs south from San Miguel and circles the southern tip of the island before turning north along the eastern shore. At a point opposite San Miguel, the road turns west and crosses the island back into San Miguel.
Maya Ruins—Cozumel’s ruins aren’t much to look at compared with those at Tulum, Coba and Chichen Itza on the mainland. But if archaeology is your interest or if you’re just up for a jungle adventure, you may want to see them anyway. The best-preserved ruins are at San Gervasio, which is about 7 mi/11 km northeast of San Miguel in the midst of dense jungle. You can reach this small grouping of temples by taking an unpaved side road o ff Carretera Transversal. Knowledgeable guides wait at the entrance and charge about US$12 an hour for a tour. (Open daily 9 am-5 pm; admission US$4.)
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6:00 PM
Day 5
Belize City, Belize
Belize City is the country's chief seaport, so snorkeling and diving is big here...bring a suit!
Travel to a city previously inhabited by the Mayan people at Altun Ha, ancient temple of the Sun God. Or visit the Belize Zoo or Baboon Sanctuary.
Gales Point is a great place to view manatees!
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5:00 PM
Day 6
Day At Sea
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Day 7
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a major seaport and emerging cruise center on the Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida. It is also a commercial, financial and manufacturing center for the region. Because of its subtropical climate, Tampa is a winter resort and retirement center; it has many beaches and parks. Sights of interest include the picturesque Latin quarter of Ybor City, the Aquarium, Tampa Bay Stadium and Busch Gardens theme park.
The site was settled in 1823, when a plantation was established and Fort Brooke built. Growth of the community was spurred by the discovery of phosphates in 1883, the arrival of the railway in 1885, and the establishment of the cigar-making industry in 1886. During the Spanish-American War the city was an army training camp and was the embarkation point for Cuba of Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders. The name Tampa is probably derived from a Caloosa Native American term meaning "sticks of fire".
8:00 AM
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Arrival and departure times may vary slightly by sailing date.
