Southern Caribbean - V177

Fort Lauderdale is a city on the Atlantic coast of the U.S. in the state of Florida. As well as being a major yachting centre, it has a large and intricate canal system that results in its also being known as the ‘Venice of America’. While once home to a series of forts, today there are three forts named ‘Fort Lauderdale’. Read more about Fort Lauderdale, USA

The island is shared in two parts as: the northern part Saint-Martin (a French overseas collectivity) and southern part Sint Maarten (of the Kingdom of the Netherlands): hence its name St-Martin / St Maarten. It lies in the NE Caribbean, located 300 km E of Puerto Rico. This tiny island is an extremely popular holiday and duty-free shopping destination famous for its variety of 37 palm-treed beaches that include salt-water ponds. For 13 weeks in late 2017 the island was off limits to cruise ships, until facilities were rebuilt following the island’s destruction wrought by Hurricane Irma. Read more about St Martin (Philipsburg), Guadeloupe

Castries is the capital of the volcanic island country of Saint Lucia, part of the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Its popularity stems from the tropical weather (the dry season runs from December through May), scenery, and numerous beaches. Saint Lucia's population is predominantly of African and mixed African-European descent, and while the official language is English, French-Creole is spoken by 95% of the population. North of downtown and across the harbour is Vigie Peninsula, host to the island's largest duty-free complex, where many tourists spend the entire day. Read more about Castries, Saint Lucia

The city of Bridgetown is the capital and largest city of the island country of Barbados, a major tourist destination in the West Indies. The city has numerous attractions, landmarks, monuments, museums, and art galleries of an international standard. It is also a starting point for visiting many other popular cities on the island. This historic city and its nearby Garrison are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so be sure to take a virtual tour to explore the area. Read more about Bridgetown, Barbados

Pointe-a-Pitre (“Headland of Peter”; population 172,000) is the largest city of Guadeloupe, an overseas region of France, located in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean. (The capital is Basse-Terre.) The inhabitants are called "Pointois". The port is on the island of Grande-Terre, facing west to nearby Basse-Terre Island. The islands are joined by a bridge across a narrow sea channel called Salt River, and they are often referred to as a single island. Read more about Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe

Charlotte Amalie is the capital and largest city of the US Virgin Islands, located on the island of Saint Thomas. It is famous as a deep-water harbor that was once a haven for pirates. Indeed, Blackbeard's Castle, named after the notorious pirate of the same name, is one of five National Historic Landmarks in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and it is located in Charlotte Amalie at the highest point of Government Hill. Read more about Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands (U.S.)

San Juan, the capital and most populous city of Puerto Rico, is the oldest city on US territory. It is the Caribbean commercial hub, best known for its beautifully restored historic district of Old San Juan. It is situated on a rocky peninsula girded by thick walls jutting into the crashing Atlantic surf. With its 400 restored buildings from the 16th and 17th century Spanish colonial period, this area is steeped in history. Read more about San Juan, Puerto Rico

Half Moon Cay is a protected bay located on a private island about 1160 km south of Nassau, in the archipelago of the Bahamas. Visiting ships anchor in the cay and tender passengers to the pier. This exceptional cruise destination offers miles of crescent-shaped beaches dotted with coconut palms and surrounded by pristine blue waters. Visitors are offered ideal swimming conditions in the calm waters and a very comprehensive water sports program with separate areas designated for these activities. Read more about Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Fort Lauderdale is a city on the Atlantic coast of the U.S. in the state of Florida. As well as being a major yachting centre, it has a large and intricate canal system that results in its also being known as the ‘Venice of America’. While once home to a series of forts, today there are three forts named ‘Fort Lauderdale’. Read more about Fort Lauderdale, USA