Southern Caribbean - V172

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

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

Amber Cove, located near Puerto Plata (aka Silver Port), on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, is a new $85 million port purposely developed for cruise passengers by Carnival Corp. It opened in mid 2015, and it will be the first time since the 1980s that a cruise ship has stopped at what is known as the Amber Coast, so called for its abundance of the translucent, burnt-orange stone. Cruise guests experience the natural beauty and wonder what makes the Dominican Republic such an attractive tourist destination. Dozens of shore excursions are available. Read more about Amber Cove, Dominican Republic

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

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

Soufrière is a town on the SW coast of the British colonial island of Saint Lucia, in the West Indies. Soufrière's backdrop of the Pitons – a World Heritage Site comprising two giant volcanic plugs, the sea and inland rainforest provide a picture-perfect setting for a visit to this laid-back and relatively undeveloped town. Considering that its name is French for "sulfur," it should be no surprise to discover the wealth of hot springs and mineral baths. Added to this are the nearby black sand beaches of Anse Chastanet to the north and Malgretout to the south. Read more about Soufrière, 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

Martinique is a Caribbean island that is an overseas department of France. It truly is a ‘little bit of France’, and visitors quickly become aware that very little English is spoken. On the other hand, it is intriguing in that it is one of the few islands where the lush countryside reflects the growth of sugar cane and bananas. The island also has contemporary appeal, as it offers elegant restaurants and chic boutiques in the Galleria shopping mall. Read more about Martinique, Martinique

Read more about Willemstad, Curaçao, Curaçao

In the southern Caribbean, Oranjestad is the capital of the small island of Aruba, and an island territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is an attractive and historic harbour town just 27 km north of Venezuela. It can be divided into Upper and Lower Towns. There are a number of colonial era 18th C. Read more about Oranjestad, Aruba, Aruba

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