Fort Lauderdale to Cartagena

Originally a fort built by the U.S. Army in 1838, during the Second Seminole War, Ft. Lauderdale has little left of its warlike past. Instead the city welcomes visitors with broad beaches and an easy pace of life, plus convenient air and water connections that make the city a perfect place to begin or end a cruise.

Welcome to the capital city of the British Virgin Islands… its Main Street lined with colonial-era buildings painted in shades of pastel with colorful shutters and delicate wood trim. Trek through the rain-forested Mount Sage National Park for sweeping views, or play on spectacular white sand beaches with names like Smuggler’s Cove and Cane Garden Bay (immortalized in Jimmy Buffet’s “Mañana”).

Island of celebrity hideaways and posh bungalows, considered by many to be the most elite and glamorous of all the Caribbean isles, St. Barts is home to 22 incredible beaches. Anse de Flamanes presents camera-ready scenery, Baie de St-Jean serves up beachside bistros, and Anse de Grand Cul-de-Sac offers an array of watersports.

Roseau is the capital of the Caribbean island nation of Dominica. It’s on the southwest coast and known for its 18th-century Creole architecture. Its cobblestone Old Market, formerly a slave auction site, sells crafts and fruit. It’s next to the Dominica Museum, with exhibits on the country’s natural and cultural history. The Dominica Botanic Gardens showcase tropical flora and native Sisserou parrots.

British influences abound in Basse-Terre, the capital of St. Kitts. Here you’ll find the domed Treasury Building, the Circus, which was modeled after Piccadilly in London, and the St. George’s Anglican Church. Explore the traditional white-sand beaches or admire breathtaking views of verdant mountains.

Rich in history, La Fortaleza is the oldest governor’s mansion in the western hemisphere; be sure to see the mahogany clock which stopped in time when the last Spanish governor of Puerto Rico struck it with his sword on his way out, heralding the last moment of Spanish rule in the New World.

Asunny climate, easy-going hospitality and 365 superb beaches make this island a favorite for sun-seekers. Its beautiful National Park stretches for ten square miles – here you’ll find the famous English Harbor and Nelson’s Dockyard. Horatio Nelson was posted here early in his career and the harbor was the headquarters for the British fleet during the 1800s.

Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe’s largest city, is situated on a limestone plateau on the island of Grande-Terre. The city’s structures were built with shipping and the growth of that industry in mind, and locals, lovingly referred to as “Pointois,” contribute to this continued progress and economic expansion by exporting food crops, animal products and manufactured goods. Visitors enjoy strolling the narrow lanes along the waterfront or shopping the colorful market stalls of the Marché Couvert.

Stunning and dramatic, the emerald green Pitons rise from azure waters on this magical isle of quaint bays and lush landscapes and delightful strains of Creole.

Nearly 2.5 million rare Red-legged Kittiwakes spend summer amid the soaring cliffs of St. George Island, one of the largest colonies in the northern hemisphere. But it was the fur seal that put the Pribilofs on the map. Searching for a new source of furs, Gavrill Pribilof discovered St. George in 1786. Thankfully in 1984, the US ended all seal hunting here except for subsistence use.

Willemstad is the capital city of Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island. It’s known for its old town center, with pastel-colored colonial architecture. The floating Queen Emma Bridge connects the Punda and Otrobanda neighborhoods across Sint Anna Bay. By the water is the 19th-century Rif Fort, now housing a shopping center. City restaurants serve dishes influenced by the island’s mostly Dutch and Afro-Caribbean cuisines.

The long, narrow island of Aruba, located just 15 miles from Venezuela’s coast, has a dry, sunny climate year-round. Its distinctive beauty lies in the stark contrast between the sea and countryside. Next to arid deserts, which host an array of wild rock formations, curiously bent divi-divi trees and cactus jungles, are magnificent beaches that shelve into transparent blue waters. Aruba has become one of the most popular playgrounds in the Caribbean, boasting sophisticated resorts and casinos.

She is celebrated as the queen of the Caribbean coast, and given the shimmering lagoons, bays and stunning sea that surround her, it’s easy to see why. Cartagena’s beautifully preserved Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with winding alleys, vibrant displays of architecture and iconic churches. Explore islands offshore, swim in the crystalline waters, and be sure to sample the