Cruise Itinerary

Barbadians, or Bajans in local parlance, consider their island nation the most British of the Caribbean: Queen Elizabeth II is still head of state, and English products are stocked in many of its stores and restaurants. Barbados is known as the birthplace of international pop star Rihanna, but it has also produced some of the biggest Caribbean calypso and soca music stars. The summer Crop Over festival is a huge carnival event. With live music and crafts for sale, the popular Friday fish fry at Oistins Bay is a fun place to mingle with the locals. Centered around a waterway called the Careenage and its handsome Chamberlain Bridge, the historic center of Bridgetown, the country's capital, was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 2011 for its wealth of British colonial architecture dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Among the famous figures who visited Bridgetown when it was at its peak was none other than George Washington, who spent two months in 1751 in a house that still stands today, on his only trip abroad. Barbados is only 34 kilometers (21 miles) long, and even if your time is limited, you can explore much of the island using Bridgetown as your base. The less populated, rugged east coast of this coral island is strikingly beautiful and home to a number of different turtle species. The west coast, often nicknamed the "Platinum Coast," is where you'll find some of the island's most popular beaches and biggest mansions. The interior, with its 340-meter-high (1,115-foot-high) Mount Hillaby, historic sugar plantations and lush gardens, will lure you away from the beach for a few hours.

Stunning mountain peaks, lush rainforest, and perfectly turquoise water. Discover this Caribbean gem on a Cruise to St. Lucia. This Caribbean island offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the raw power of Mother Nature at her finest. On a Cruise to St. Lucia, visit the only drive-in volcano in the world, explore the natural wonders of the wild or simply relax with a good book on an even better beach. St Lucia truly has it all. Book a Caribbean cruise and discover St. Lucia's sandy white beaches, vibrant tropical foliage, and authentic island food.

Summon your inner Robinson Crusoe on remote Bequia. Secret lagoons. Castaway picnics. Warm waters in shades of blue that beg to be snorkelled through. Stake your flag in the sweet Bequia breeze just as the Union Jack did for almost 200 years. Usher in deep tranquillity on lovely Princess Margaret Beach. Ascend Mount Peggy with sunny views of St. Vincent. Stoll Belmont Boardwalk to Margret Beach for hand-whittled mahogany boat models then prowl the concrete catwalk that runs along Port Elizabeth for home-churned nutmeg ice cream. Support a sterling turtle sanctuary protecting the rare hawksbill or ferry to nearby Mustique, the favourite holiday romp for Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Birthplace of calypso and the steel band. Where the national bird, the ibis, is vibrant red and so is the stately House of Parliament. Sample shore excursions: Port-of-Spain City & Mount St. Benedict Monastery; Asa Wright Nature Center.

Nestled in the horseshoe of the caldera, with candy-coloured houses spilling down the hillsides to the water, this deep natural harbour is often considered the prettiest in the Caribbean. Wander the Georgian buildings of the Carenage, elegant masts swaying in the breeze, to market stalls brimming with tropical fruit and island spices, the colonial-era Fort George, the Catholic cathedral and Anglican church – painstakingly rebuilt after the 2004 hurricane – and the House of Chocolate, a shop, café and micro museum deliciously devoted to Grenada’s cacao trade. From here, head to the mountainous and lush, jungly green interior, hike to the island’s famed falls and cool off beneath the cascade, or travel to the quieter north on a spice journey, nutmeg scenting the air.

Ponce de Leon never did find the Fountain of Youth, but he did find stumble upon this lovely island, which had to be a close second. Just move to the rhythm of the ever-present salsa beat and you’ll be in the spirit in no time (secret – it’s all in the hips). Old Town San Juan is still partially enclosed by the original fortress walls dating back to the early 1500s. Attractively restored buildings with filigree cast iron balconies line its narrow cobbled streets, and cafés in shaded squares provide an ideal spot to linger. Outside the city the island offers an appealing array of golf courses, rainforests, and beaches galore.