Ultimate Tropical Escape: Mexico & Bahamas

Welcome to Orlando. You have 3 nights to explore the city.

For Australian families, three nights in Orlando is rarely enough. Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld and LEGOLAND are all within 30 minutes of the city centre, and the sheer scale of the theme park precinct means a full day at any one of them barely scratches the surface. Beyond the parks, the restaurant and entertainment district of Disney Springs and Universal’s CityWalk offer good options for evenings. On Day 4 the transfer to Port Canaveral takes around an hour — allow plenty of time if you’re travelling with kids.

Puerto Costa Maya sits on the southern tip of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, close to the border with Belize. The port itself has a purpose-built marina village with shops and restaurants, but the main draw is inland: the Chacchoben Mayan ruins, approximately 90 minutes by road, are among the best-preserved ceremonial sites on the peninsula and far less visited than the more famous Tulum. The surrounding Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve — a UNESCO World Heritage site covering over half a million hectares of jungle, wetlands and coastal reef — is accessible by boat tour from the port for those who prefer to stay closer to the water.

Roatan is the largest of Honduras’s Bay Islands and one of the most biodiverse marine environments in the Caribbean. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef runs directly along its northern shore — the second longest barrier reef in the world — making it a first-rate destination for snorkelling and diving at any experience level. West Bay Beach is the island’s most popular stretch, with calm, clear water and reef access directly from the shore. For those who want to go deeper, dive operators at the port offer half-day reef trips to sites that regularly feature whale sharks, eagle rays and sea turtles. Inland, the island’s jungle interior is home to wildlife sanctuaries and zip-line tours through the forest canopy.

Cozumel is one of the most visited cruise ports in the Caribbean and it has earned the reputation. The island sits at the northern end of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and the water clarity here is exceptional — visibility of 30 metres or more is common, which is why Jacques Cousteau first brought the world’s attention to Cozumel’s reef system in the 1960s. The Columbia and Palancar reef systems are among the most celebrated dive sites in the Western Hemisphere. For non-divers, the beach clubs along the western shore offer a straightforward and satisfying afternoon: sun loungers, cocktails, snorkelling gear and the kind of turquoise water that makes the flight worthwhile. The town of San Miguel has decent shopping and dining within easy walking distance of the pier.

Perfect Day at CocoCay is Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas and the most-visited cruise destination in the Caribbean. The island has been extensively developed: Thrill Waterpark holds the tallest waterslide in North America, the Up, Up & Away helium balloon offers aerial views of the island, and the Chill Island beach area is reserved for those who want nothing more than a sun lounger and calm water. The floating bar at Coco Beach Club sits directly over the lagoon. For a more exclusive experience, the Coco Beach Club (additional fee) offers reserved seating, premium food and an infinity pool overlooking the ocean. It’s a purpose-built experience rather than an authentic island destination, but as a finale to a Caribbean cruise it delivers exactly what it promises.

Your holiday comes to an end today. Interested in extending you stay? Ask us about our amazing range of packages available or speak with a Cruise Travel Advisor who will be able to customise your holiday with you.