ITINERARY
ITINERARY
La Romana, Dominican Republic
A Caribbean and Latin-fused favourite, it’s easy to see why Columbus labelled the Dominican Republic as ‘the fairest land under heaven’. It’s got all the tropical ingredients…
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Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
This Caribbean capital is a place of firsts. It’s home to the oldest university in the western hemisphere, along with the first hospital and monastery. They’re all tucked…
Time in port: 09:00 - 18:00Show Top Things to Do
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Half beach day
Today’s destination is one of the Dominican Republic’s most popular beaches – Boca Chica. Thanks to a protective coral reef, this white-sand stretch shelves gently into the water, giving it the feel of a natural tropical pool. When you arrive, you’ll head to the Bocana restaurant for a welcome drink, and from then on it’s up to you. You’ll have three hours at the beach, where you can stretch out and relax, take to the shade under a palm tree, and grab light bites from one of the cafés which line the sand. As an added bonus, on your route from ship to sand, you’ll pass by three of the island’s historical sites – the Columbus Lighthouse, the National Aquarium and the Three Eyes Caves.
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Santo Domingo city tour by Trikke
Today will see you hop aboard a trikke – a three-wheeled scooter – and hit the open road to some of Santo Domingo’s top cultural sights. First on the agenda is a quick safety briefing and equipment hand out, and then you’re good to go. Following your tour guide, you’ll whizz past Fortaleza Ozama – a 16th-century Spanish castle – Santo Domingo cathedral, the grand Alcazar de Colon building, and the Royal Houses. Then, it’s time to roll your way to a rum museum, followed up by a chocolate museum, a cigar factory and a 4D cinema – the latter’s right by the colonial gate, and takes you on an immersive pirate adventure.
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Panoramic walking colonial zone and half beach day
There’s no need to decide between the city and the beach on this trip, which teams historic sites with white sand. You’ll start off with a tour of the Alcazar de Colon and the Plaza Espana – they’re part of the Ciudad Colonial, the oldest permanent European settlement in America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From here, stroll to the impressive Royal Houses and the National Pantheon, which both date back to the 16th century. You’ll also swing by Calle Las Damas – AKA Ladies Street – and visit the gold-tinted Cathedral de Santa Maria la Menor. With the historical part of the day wrapped up, it’s time to make tracks to Boca Chica beach for lunch, and three hours of sunbathing and swimming.
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Willemstad, Curacao
This little Dutch island is slowly beginning to creep onto the tourist radar, and for good reason. It offers up an unbeatable mix of footprint-free beaches and pretty…
Time in port: 08:00 - 20:00Show Top Things to Do
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Discover Curacao Island
You’ll get to see three of the island’s biggest attractions on this tour, starting with the Curacao Museum in Otrabanda. The upper floor of this place is kitted out like a 19th-century Curacao mansion, and it gives a really good impression of what life was like back then. The basement exhibition is all about the island’s geological history, and there’s another space dedicated to contemporary art. Afterwards, you’ll drive past the island’s salt flats and on to the Hato Caves. They were formed below sea-level millions of years ago, and today they’re full of stalagmites and stalactites. Next up, we’ll head over to the Chobolo Liqueur Factory, passing the Queen Juliana Bridge on the way. At the factory, you’ll get to see how the island’s famous Blue Curacao Liqueur is made. The drink is distilled from the dried peel of bitter oranges, and you’ll get to taste it for yourself. Lastly, you’ll head back to the ship via downtown Willemstad – you can get dropped off if you’d rather stay and have a look around.
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Curacao Country Drive
During this bus tour, you’ll explore Curaçao, a teeny island off the coast of Venezuela. Departing from the pier, you’ll first travel to the western part of the island for a tour of the Old Labor House and Museum. Discover what life was like here centuries ago during a traditional song and dance performance, try on typical island headwear, and see if you can carry a bucket on your head as well as the locals can. You’ll then continue on to the Boka Tabla National Park, where powerful ocean waves crash against dramatic rock formations. The next stop is Knip Beach. This strip of shore is known as the most beautiful on the island – the sand is powder-white and you can see the fish swimming beneath the crystal-clear waves. On the way back to the pier, there’ll be a quick photo stop at the Jan Kok salt lakes – keep your eyes peeled for the flamingos dipping their toes in the water.
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Kayak & Snorkelling
Active types will love this half-day tour. Things kick off as you paddle in a shared kayak along the coast. Look closely and you’ll see how the sun changes the colour of the water – you might even spot the red coral beneath. You’ll also pass Fort Beekenburg, which was originally built in 1703 to protect the inner bay, and Quarantine House – an old manor estate. From here, it’s on to Doctor’s Bay, where you’ll be kitted out with snorkel gear so you can head into the water. You’ll visit a shipwrecked tugboat that’s home to a long list of underwater creatures – including turtles, rays and rainbow-coloured fish. This is Curacao’s top snorkelling spot, so bring an underwater camera if you have one.
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Kralendijk, Bonaire
If you’re in any doubt concerning what Bonaire’s all about, just look at an island number plate – above every registration number you’ll find the words ‘Divers’ Paradise’.…
Time in port: 08:00 - 20:00Show Top Things to Do
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Bonaire Highlights & Culture Explorer
Bonaire is best known as a diving destination. Even the license plates of the island’s cars are tagged with the line Divers’ Paradise. On this trip, though, you’ll see there are more sides to the island. Its history, for example, is just as deep as its waters. Arawak Indians were the first to live on the island, before the Spanish colonisers arrived in 1499. Then the Dutch took over in 1634. The first place you’ll see on this trip will give you an insight into industry on the island. You’ll drive past a plantation in the Karpata area, where they once produced aloe, charcoal and dyewood for shipping to Curacao. Your first stop of the day will be in the village of Rincon, which was settled by the Spanish in the 16th century. From here, you’ll visit the popular outdoor venue Rose Inn where you sample locally produced Cadushy liqueur made out of cactus and lime. Pressing on, you’ll head to the Mangazina di Rei Culture Park, where The King’s Warehouse is the second-oldest building on the island. While you’re here, you’ll get to hear people playing traditional Creole music. Finally, you’ll head south to see the salt flats and salt mountains that were mined by slaves in the 19th century. The old slave huts are still standing here in lest-we-forget fashion.
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Mangrove ECO Cruise by RIB at Lac Bay
Lac Bay National Park is like a small-scale Eden, measuring up at just two-and-a-half miles long and two miles wide. On this trip, you’ll take a boat tour past the mangrove forests, barrier reefs and unspoilt beaches that make up the area. Your vessel for the day is an electric-powered boat. It’s eco-friendly and quiet, so you’ll be able to listen to the sounds of your surrounds, rather than an engine, as you explore the area. Keep an eye out for the brown pelicans, blue herons, and pink flamingos that flock to breed among the mangroves. Later, we’ll moor up on the beach, where you’ll have some free time to take a dip in the warm Caribbean Sea or relax on the sands.
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Catamaran Sailing on the Mushi Mushi
This trip will give you a taste of the high life. You’ll begin by boarding the Mushi Mushi catamaran, a luxury boat that’s 40 feet long. Then, the crew will set the sails, and you’ll ride the waves out to the Bonaire Marine Park. This 7,000-acre site is one of the oldest protected areas of sea in the world and scientific studies have shown the fish population to be the most diverse in the Caribbean. You’ll get to judge this for yourself when the captain stops at a Marine Park mooring buoy. Pull on a snorkel and you can explore the coral reefs. There’s a good chance you’ll find yourself swimming with the likes of parrot, butterfly and angel fish. Drinks will be served on board and you won’t have to queue up at the bar, because they’ll be served by waiters. After a few hours in the sun, you’ll head back to port.
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Oranjestad, Aruba
Nowhere showcases Aruba’s Dutch roots quite like Oranjestad. With its gable-topped houses and colonial clock towers, the island’s capital is like a little slice of Amsterdam.…
Time in port: 08:00 - 20:00Show Top Things to Do
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De Palm Island - Full Day
When it comes to snorkelling, De Palm Island has got it all. Set adrift off the Aruban coastline, this private reef offers up pristine waters and a huge variety of exotic marine life, it’s a first-class spot for an underwater exploration. Your day will start off with a short boat trip over to the island, where the friendly staff will be waiting to meet you. After a short safety briefing, you’re ready to slip on your mask and wade into the warm, clear waters. Expect to meet friendly blue parrotfish and angelfish. Back on dry land, there’ll be time to sprawl out on the sand, take your seat for a banana boat ride or visit the island’s small waterpark before heading back to the ship. Don't forget that a full buffet lunch and refreshments throughout the day will be included.
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Panoramic Aruba
This panoramic coach tour does exactly what it says on the tin, ticking off all the highlights of Aruba in one easy go. Your day starts with a drive to the lively Schooner Harbour. Look out for the marble statue of Queen Wilhelmina, the historical battlefield of Frenchman’s Pass and the 19th-century Gold Mill Ruins. Turning inland, you’ll head to Casibari Rock – a spectacular natural rock formation that’s a result of strong trade winds – before travelling along the rugged windward side of the island to the Natural Bridge Ruins. Formed by years of pounding surf, this coral limestone bridge counts as the number one must-see in Aruba. We'll then take you to the island's famous California Lighthouse and the small Alto Vista Chapel. Before stopping at the port, if you fancy a spot of shopping, you can choose to get off the bus in Oranjestad, rather than heading back. And if you’re treating yourself, try the Renaissance Mall – it’s crammed with designer stores like Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren.
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See & Sea
This full-circle tour lets you get to know Aruba from both dry land and under the sea. The day starts with a scenic boat ride to the Seaworld Explorer – a state-of-the-art semi-submarine that used to glide through the waters surrounding Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The vessel doesn’t completely submerge, but its glass-fronted hull stretches five feet below the surface of the water, offering up great views of the area’s marine life. But the piece de resistance of the trip is manoeuvring over the wreck of Antilla, a 440-foot German freighter that was destroyed in the Second World War. Listen in as your guide gives you the lowdown on its violent past. After returning to shore, you’ll take a coach trip to the iconic California Lighthouse and the breathtaking Casibari Rock Formations for a photo stop. Next on the agenda is the ocean-carved Natural Bridge, Aruba’s top must-see. Lastly, you’ll drive past the Gold Mill Ruins before returning to Oranjestad.
La Romana, Dominican Republic
A Caribbean and Latin-fused favourite, it’s easy to see why Columbus labelled the Dominican Republic as ‘the fairest land under heaven’. It’s got all the tropical ingredients…
Arrives: 09:00
