Rio de Janeiro to Portsmouth

Vibrant Rio lies cradled in the outstretched arms of the Christ the Redeemer Statue, which stands atop Corcovado Mountain. At the feet of this magnificent landmark lies one of the world’s most magnificent bays. Golden beaches with such alluring names as Copacabana and Ipanema stretch as far as the eye can see. There are close to two dozen such bays, which serve as a playground for some of the world’s most beautiful people. All along this waterfront, which swirls with mosaic art, are five-star hotels, elegant shops, popular restaurants and a lifestyle to match. Winding its way along this magnificent mile or so is a constant parade of handsome Cariocas, as the local people are known.

Home to more than 20 magnificent beaches, this charming fishing village invites you to come drink up the sun, explore the lush landscape, shop world-class boutiques, and snap a photograph with Bridget Bardot. Not the real one, of course. The French superstar put Buzios on the map when she visited the town at the height of her fame, and now locals and travelers alike come to sit on the statue’s lap, situated on the Orla Bardot.

Salvador da Bahia, Bahia for short, is known for music, as it is here that the influences of Africa, with its drum-centered rhythms, have found an enthusiastic following. As for the architecture, it is not to be dismissed; the city was the seat of the country’s first Catholic Bishop, giving the city’s neighborhoods a historic air. Many monuments in the Pelourinho (the heart of town), have earned the district a place on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.

Maceió is the capital city of the state of Alagoas, on the east coast of Brazil. Its historic center is home to pastel-colored colonial houses, a 19th-century cathedral and the Théo Brandão Museum of Anthropology and Folklore, located in a renovated seafront mansion. Protected by an offshore reef, the coast is lined with white-sand beaches. Ponta Verde beach has a palm-lined promenade, beach kiosks and water sports.

Named for the great coral reef that lies off its shorts, Recife has been dubbed the “Venice of Brazil” by visitors and locals alike.

First settled by Jesuits in 1661, Santarem quickly became a focus of American interest during the rubber boom of the early twentieth century. Today, Santarem remains one of Brazil’s most important trading centers, and is imbued with the energy of a growing city. Be sure to view the “Wedding of the Waters,— the unique merging of the Tapajos clear water with the Amazon’s muddy water.

The “mouth of the Valeria River, the colorful Caboclo village contains a few wooden houses and an abundance of local wildlife, including monkeys, birds and several varieties of flora. As Crystal remains anchored off-shore, canoes bearing the local inhabitants will glide through the river’s waters, providing a fascinating display of the colorful culture of the Amazon region.

The capital of the State of Amazonas, the belle époque splendor of Manaus is still evident in the graceful mansions and the Teatro Amazonas opera house. This city, resting on the Rio Negro, was created by the rubber boom of the mid-19th-century, when steam navigation opened up the Amazon to entrepreneurs and the social elite. Today, stroll down the Parisian-styled boulevards and Italian piazzas, or watch the fisherman at Municipal Market unload their catch of the day on the river’s edge.

The capital of the State of Amazonas, the belle époque splendor of Manaus is still evident in the graceful mansions and the Teatro Amazonas opera house. This city, resting on the Rio Negro, was created by the rubber boom of the mid-19th-century, when steam navigation opened up the Amazon to entrepreneurs and the social elite. Today, stroll down the Parisian-styled boulevards and Italian piazzas, or watch the fisherman at Municipal Market unload their catch of the day on the river’s edge.

This small village located on Tupinambarana Island is situated in the largest river archipelago of the mid-Amazon. This two-century old village is rich in Indian culture, as celebrated with an annual “Boi Bumba” festival, an event that has been taking place in the Parintins for over 80 years – a ritual of magic, mystery, passion and faith. Enjoy the exotic appeal of the Amazon via this fascinating area.

Situated on a beautiful bay, this beach resort on the Amazon River is flanked by two hills, one of which resembles the shape of a church altar, which gives the place its name. Hike through thick forest up the other cone-shaped hill for a spectacular view of the meeting of the Amazon and Tapajós rivers. Alter do Chão is home to the Center for the Preservation of Indian Art, a spectacular collection of Amazon Indian artifacts.

Devil’s Island (Ile du Diable) is one of the three infamous penal colonies of the Iles du Salut archipelago (Islands of Salvation). The penitentiary was first opened by Emperor Napoleon III’s government in 1852, and became one of the most infamous prisons in history before closing in 1946. Very few convicts ever managed to escape the island. One prisoner who became world famous was Henri Charriére, immortalized in the movie Papillon, for supposedly being the only convict ever to have escaped.

Barbados is sun-drenched beaches, clear blue-green waters and cool trade winds. Its capital is a UNESCO treasure and inland you’ll see lovingly preserved plantation houses, lush sugar cane fields and fragrant gardens. Reminders of former British rule abound, from cricket fields to Lord Nelson’s statue and the original Trafalgar Square. Don’t miss Bridgetown’s bustling Careenage and the shops on Broad Street, which offer deals on luxury imports from Britain.

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.

Samaná (Santa Bárbara de Samaná) is a town on the Samaná Peninsula, in the Dominican Republic. It overlooks Samaná Bay, which plays host to thousands of humpback whales during winter’s mating season. Nearby, the Whale Museum’s prime attraction is a huge whale skeleton. The town’s waterfront promenade, the Malecón, has restaurants and bars. In the bay, Cayo Levantado is a tiny island known for its palm-lined beaches

Dive into the waters with one of the largest networks of coral reef in the world. Turks & Caicos has plenty of on-shore activities and places to relax, but the water is where you want to be to get enjoy some of the best diving and snorkeling around.

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.

HMD Bermuda was the principal base of the Royal Navy in the Western Atlantic between American independence and the Cold War. The Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda had occupied a useful position astride the homeward leg taken by many European vessels from the New World since before its settlement by England in 1609.

HMD Bermuda was the principal base of the Royal Navy in the Western Atlantic between American independence and the Cold War. The Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda had occupied a useful position astride the homeward leg taken by many European vessels from the New World since before its settlement by England in 1609.

New York City. Global nexus of art and architecture, fashion and finance, cuisine and culture. Each of its five boroughs has a distinct personality, with family-friendly Brooklyn renowned for its trend-setting artisan shops, hipster vibe, museums and micro-breweries. The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is located in the borough’s Red Hook area – an up-and-coming hotspot with a recent influx of restaurants, retailers and art houses – putting guests within easy rich of the city’s legendary attractions.

Astylish, world-famous yachting center with a long tradition of elegance, the colonial sections of Newport boast many authentic historic buildings, some dating back to the 1600s. Most impressive are the opulent summer “cottages” built by industrial-age tycoons. Fashioned after palaces of Europe, their interiors boast lavish use of marble, alabaster, gilt, mosaics and stained glass complemented by magnificent furnishings and fine tapestries.

Relive nearly four hundred years of history as you explore the Freedom Trail, the Old North Church and the Boston Common. A few miles away lie Lexington and Concord where the momentous events that began in 1775 come alive. Boston has not been content to rest on the laurels of its glorious past. Progress is everywhere. Glazed high-rises soar skyward and the colorful waterfront area has been artfully renovated.

Bagpipers bid a warm welcome to Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia and the most Scottish of all Canada’s great cities. The Citadel Fortress, which dates to the city’s founding in 1749, stands over the thriving downtown area, where modern buildings nestle alongside the exquisitely restored Historic Properties waterfront. Here you can shop for authentic Scottish tartans and superb hand-knit woolens. Nova Scotians claim they have the freshest air and warmest smiles in Canada.

Sydney is a former city and current community located in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. Situated on Cape Breton Island’s east coast, it belongs administratively to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Just south of Newfoundland, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are not Canadian, but instead belong to the French Republic. In fact, they are the last vestiges of France’s colonization of the continent. As such, they are true French towns, making them a unique destination unlike anyplace else in North America. The more urban of the two is Saint-Pierre, with its landmark Pointe aux Canons Lighthouse greeting visitors who enter the harbor. Miquelon, on the other hand, is smaller, with just 600 inhabitants. Every year, the island hosts a Basque Festival, reflecting the Basque ancestry of many of the residents.

St. John’s is the capital of Newfoundland and the largest city in the province. Surrounded by a narrow landlocked harbor on the east coast of the Avalon Peninsula it is the most easterly city in North America. This remarkable port city has experienced a long and colorful history. Europeans arrived in the 16th century to exploit nearby fishing grounds and have left an indelible print on the city. As such, St. John’s is known as the oldest city founded by Europeans in North America and much of its history is steeped in legend. Although the most popular theory regarding the origin of the city’s name dates back to John Cabot’s 1497 arrival, the most likely source stems from Portuguese explorer Gaspar Corte-Real, who first visited the harbor in 1500 and named the distant Waterford River St. John’s River. St. John’s retains an Old World charm with its narrow winding streets similar to those in London and much of its architecture resembles that found in small Irish towns. The city boasts an impressive array of churches and parkland while spectacular vistas abound from Signal Hill and Cape Spear.

Cobh is a town in Ireland, on an island in Cork city’s harbour. It’s known as the Titanic’s last port of call in 1912. Titanic Experience Cobh is a themed attraction in the former White Star Line ticket office. More displays on the liner are in the Cobh Heritage Centre, which also explores how Cobh became an embarkation point during Ireland’s mass emigrations. North of town, huge Fota Wildlife Park is on Fota Island.

Perhaps most famous as the last port that the Mayflower touched before setting sail to America in 1620, this busy seaside city in Devon on the Plymouth Sound is now home to major manufacturing of machinery and precision tools, and is home to both the British Navy and the Devonport naval dockyard. Chartered in 1439, Plymouth is also the port from which the English fleet sailed against the Spanish Armada in 1588. The historically rich seaport was badly damaged during German airraids in World War II, but has been completely rebuilt and is now one of England’s most prosperous and active port cities.

Portsmouth is a port city and naval base on England’s south coast, mostly spread across Portsea Island. It’s known for its maritime heritage and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The dockyard is home to the interactive National Museum of the Royal Navy, the wooden warship HMS Victory, where Nelson died in the Battle of Trafalgar, and HMS Warrior 1860. The Tudor ship Mary Rose is also conserved in a dockyard museum.