10-Night Eastern Caribbean with Bahamas

Day 1

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

According to the popular 1960 beach movie, Fort Lauderdale is "where the boys are." The city's reputation as America's Spring Break capital, however, has been replaced with the more favorable image of a prime family tourist destination, attracting more than 10 million visitors annually. The most popular beach resort in Florida is even more rightly famed as the "Yachting Capital of the World," with more than 40,000 registered crafts calling its waters home. The city also prides itself on being the "Venice of America" with more than 300 miles of navigable waterways. Fort Lauderdale boasts world-class theaters, museums, sightseeing, and shopping. The city sits 24 miles north of Miami and is named after a series of forts built by the United States during the second Seminole War. The forts took their name from Major William Lauderdale, who was the commander of the detachment of soldiers who built the first fort. Look hard and you might find remnants of three of them today. More people seem to be interested in taking a water tour aboard the "Carrie B." Note: upon disembarkation, please collect your bag, go through customs and hand your bag to your tour driver who will stow and lock it underneath your bus. Disembarkation tours end at the airports; therefore guests who have post-cruise packages at local hotels must disembark at Fort Lauderdale International Airport. Guests will then be responsible for their transportation to the hotel.

Day 2

Celebration Key, Grand Bahama Island

On the south side of Grand Bahama Island, Celebration Key has so much to offer. Consisting of five portals, including an adults-only area, there is something to do for everyone. Whether you want to lounge, swim, shop, eat or explore, the choice is yours. You can eat and drink a variety of island flavors. The menus feature lobster, conch fritters, coconut shrimp and other fresh, local seafood.

Day 3

At Sea

Day 4

Amber Cove, Dominican Republic

Tucked on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, Amber Cove, named for the translucent gemstone found on its shores, sits just seven miles from the town Puerto Plata, a cinematic locale used as the backdrop for the first Jurassic Park film. Just steps from the dock take in the sparkling beach, which offers a plethora of water activities, and the serene, natural beauty from the comfort of a private bungalow. Or venture off the property to take to the high seas on a luxury catamaran snorkeling expedition or explore the 450-year-old San Felipe Fortress. For high-flying adventure, swing through the trees on a zip line or ride a cable car 2,500 feet to the top of Mount Isabel de Torres for a look at its massive statue of Christ the Redeemer. And for those with a forward-thinking approach to social activism, delve into the culture and traditions of the friendly Dominican people while giving back to the community and making an impact on their lives. The experience will leave you feeling as warm as the glow from the amber sun.

Day 5

San Juan, Puerto Rico

The oldest city under the American flag, San Juan vibrates to a lively salsa beat. There's an unmistakable zest in the air here. Perhaps it's the stunning natural setting: the verdant peaks, tropical forests, and gleaming white-sand beaches. Or maybe it's Puerto Rico's mix of cultures, the blend and occasional clash of four centuries of Spanish heritage overlaid with a century spent as America's only Commonwealth. Whatever the reason, San Juan is one of the most enticing ports in the Caribbean, and it only gets lovelier with age

Day 6

Antigua

The largest of the British Leeward Islands, Antigua (pronounced an-tee-ga) boasts one of the Caribbean's most spectacular coastlines with secluded coves and sun drenched beaches. The island's rolling hills are dotted with stone sugar mills, relics from the bygone era when sugar was king. Historic Nelson's Dockyard, where Admiral Horatio Nelson quartered his fleet in 1784, attests to Antigua's long and colorful nautical history during colonial times. And St. John's, the island's bustling capital, offers visitors a wealth of boutiques, restaurants and pubs.

Day 7

St. Maarten

St. Maarten offers a delightful case of split personality. Legend has it that a Frenchman and a Dutchman divided ownership of the island through a walk-off: Standing back to back, the two headed in opposite directions, walking around the island until they met. Perhaps the Dutchman paused for a refreshing brew. At any rate, the French ended up claiming 21 square miles of the island to 16 square miles for the Dutch. This lively tale says much about St. Maarten's easygoing ways. No formal boundary exists between the Dutch and French sides of the island; a simple welcome sign tells you when you cross from one country to the other. But the differences are as noticeable as the spelling of the island's name. The French spell it St. Martin. And it's this split personality that lends so much to the island's charms, including an international reputation for the finest cuisine in the Caribbean

Day 8

St. Kitts

Jagged volcanoes soaring above azure and turquoise seas, dense rainforests in myriad shades of green, rolling fields of sugarcane--welcome to St. Kitts. Along with its neighbor, Nevis, St. Kitts presents an exotic landscape more common to Polynesia than the Caribbean. The islands' terrain, rich soil, and climate made them ideal locations for raising sugarcane. In fact, St. Kitts and Nevis were once the crown jewels of the Caribbean. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Spain, France and England vied for control of the islands, with the English finally winning out in 1787. Today, British and French heritage is evident on both islands. Basseterre, the capital of St. Kitts, boasts fine, restored colonial buildings. Impressive Brimstone Hill Fortress, called the "Gibraltar of the West Indies," is one of the most impressive fortresses in the Caribbean.

Day 9

At Sea

Day 10

At Sea

Day 11

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida