Tropical Charms of the Caribbean & Beyond

From the Caribbean to Bahamas: 10 night cutural expedition cruise
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04.30.24-05.10.24
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Set off from the enchanting coastal city of Santa Marta, and sail through the heart of the Caribbean on this captivating voyage. Discover the vibrant culture and white-sand beaches of the Dominican Republic’s capital, Santo Domingo. Explore Saona Island’s coastal lagoons and tropical rainforest. And lose yourself in Samaná’s palm-filled forests, scenic bay, and wild, hidden beaches. Your journey ends in Nassau, the Bahamas’ bustling capital city.

Itinerary

Cartagena
Day 1
Within the walled Old City of Cartagena, a historic coastal city in Colombia, 16th- to 18th-century military architecture, unmatched in the Americas, stands tall. Vibrant streets host museums like the Gold Museum, overlooked by the hilltop Castillo San Felipe fortress. Along the picturesque coast, La Boquilla fishing village is known for folkloric drumming and dancing and is the gateway to one of Colombia's largest mangrove forests.
Santa Marta
Day 2
The first Spanish settlement in the Americas, Santa Marta preserves colonial landmarks like the Cathedral, Santo Domingo Convent and the Gold Museum showcasing pre-Columbian history. The Sierra Nevada mountains, the world’s highest coastal range and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, tower over. Nearby Tayrona National Park is famed for rainforests and ancient Pueblito ruins, built by the Tayrona people and accessed via forest trails.
Day at sea
Day 3
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Santo Domingo
Day 4
The oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, Santo Domingo, established in the 15th century, is also the first city in the Americas with a paved road. The town's Colonial Zone is UNESCO-listed with cobblestoned streets and coral rock buildings dating to the 1500s like the first cathedral in the Americas. Plaza de España contains the Alcázar de Colón palace, now a museum displaying medieval and Renaissance art.
Saona Island
Day 5
Famed for its mangroves, palm-fringed beaches and crystal-clear, shallow seas teeming with starfish, Saona Island is a tropical paradise nestled within the Dominican Republic's Cotubanamá National Park. A highlight is the fishing village of Mano Juan, where visitors can immerse themselves in the local culture while exploring the colourful shacks and a turtle sanctuary. To the west, the Cave of Cotubanamá reveals ancient rock art.
Samana, Cayo Levantado
Day 6
Thousands of humpback whales during mating season come to Samaná, a picturesque peninsula in the Dominican Republic. Samaná town showcases the Whale Museum, while the Malecón waterfront promenade offers colourful colonial houses, bars and seafood eateries. Nearby, the El Limon Waterfall cascades into a swimming hole, and Los Haitises National Park harbours subtropical forests, mangroves and vibrant coral reefs.
Providenciales
Day 7
Affectionately known as Provo, Providenciales stands out as the third largest isle in the Turks and Caicos archipelago. Grace Bay Beach is its vibrant watersports hub, lined with resorts and seaside dining along its pristine, sandy shores. Chalk Sound National Park features a picturesque turquoise lagoon dotted with tiny cays, home to Turks and Caicos Rock Iguanas, barracudas, stingrays and lemon sharks. The area's premier snorkelling destinations, Smith's and Bight Reefs, offer encounters with starfish, turtles, conch and a myriad of colourful marine life.
Long Island, Clarence Town
Day 8
The small Clarence Town is the gateway to Long Island. Aside from a harbour and a couple of restaurants, the town's attractions include Gun Hill and St. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church. Nearby, the remarkable Hamilton’s Cave, the largest cave system in the Bahamas, showcases exquisite stalactites and stalagmites, while Dean’s Blue Hole, the world's second-deepest saltwater sinkhole, adds to the natural wonders of the area.
San Salvador Island, Grahams Harbour
Day 9
Graham's Harbour on San Salvador Island is home to the unique Graham's Harbour Iguana and Seabird National Park, protecting endangered iguanas and seabird colonies with more species than any other Bahamian isle: frigate birds, diverse booby species, terns and tropic birds. The island showcases history at Landfall National Park where Columbus first landed in 1492. With over 50 dive sites and coral reefs, San Salvador is a natural wonder.
Exuma Island, Compass Bay
Day 10
Compass Cay, in the Exumas, stands out for exhilarating shark encounters where visitors can swim with docile nurse sharks. The Exumas are a stunning archipelago of 365 islands, known for their enchanting sapphire-blue waters visible even from space. Divided into Great Exuma, Little Exuma, and the Exuma Cays, must-visit spots include Big Major Cay, home to the famous swimming pigs.
Nassau
Day 11
Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas, is a sunny and lively destination famous for beaches, such as Cable Beach and Nirvana Beach. Its rich history dating back to 1670 is told at The Pirates of Nassau Museum with tales of Blackbeard and Edward Teach, and the Pompey Museum of slavery. The pastel-coloured buildings are home to shops, restaurants, bars alongside the Fish Market and the Straw Market, thick with straw crafts and tourist trinkets.
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