Atlantic Sands & Sunsets

Rome, the capital, and largest city of Italy, is full of unending possibilities. It can be reached from the port of Civitavecchia in approximately ninety minutes either by train or coach. Rome greets visitors with a multitude of faces, such as the Ancient City with ruins like: the Colosseum; the seven hills; the Roman Forum; and the Sacred Way, the path used for triumphal processions. Read more about Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

Valencia city, the administrative capital of the Valencian community and the centre of the region of L’Horta, is situated in the centre of the Spanish Mediterranean coastline. The Old City of Valencia, with its monuments, museums, and gardens, is a major tourist attraction. Here one finds the Gothic building of La Lonja that has been declared by UNESCO as a universal heritage monument. Read more about Valencia, Spain

Santa Cruz de Tenerife (commonly known as Santa Cruz) is the capital the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. The port is of great importance and is the communications hub between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, with cruise ships arriving from many nations. Not surprisingly, the city has a real cosmopolitan mix due to immigrants from Latin America, Africa and Western Europe. Read more about Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

St John’s, the capital of the nation of Antigua and Barbuda (two islands) in the Caribbean, sits on the NW coast of the tropical island of Antigua that is home to magnificent beaches. St John's was hit significantly by Hurricane Irma (Sep 2017) but tourist infrastructure remained intact. St John’s reflects its British heritage with such edifices as Fort Barrington overlooking the shoreline, and 17th C Fort James. Read more about St John's, Antigua and Barbuda

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. Read more about San Juan, Puerto Rico

Miami, located on the Atlantic coast at the southern tip of Florida, where outdoor sports are open all seasons and dress is casual, is a melting pot of cultures. Miami and Miami Beach are in effect two distinctly different cities, as Miami Beach is almost exclusively tourist orientated, while Miami is a cosmopolitan city with a distinctly Latin American flavour. Don’t miss the South Beach section where fashion designer Gianni Versace lived and died that is one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in the world. Read more about Miami, USA

Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatan Peninsula in SE Mexico. It has grown steadily over the years since Jacques Cousteau first put the island on the map as a sea turtle sanctuary. While it has great beaches, friendly people and safe streets, with prices comparable to other Mexican tourist destinations, most visitors travel to Cozumel to see what is under the water. Read more about Cozumel, Mexico

With acres of unspoiled coastal land, vast natural resources and rich historic and cultural influences, Costa Maya offers visitors true insight into the essence of Mayan culture and the heritage of the Mexican Caribbean. While the port itself is home to: a modern tourist shopping mall; a central plaza with saltwater pools and swim-up style bars; as well as stores selling a mixture of souvenir items, most visitors enjoy going further afield. Costa Maya has the highest concentration of Mayan archeological sites and the largest existing Mayan population in Mexico. Read more about Costa Maya, Mexico

Santo Tomas de Castilla lies at Amatique Bay off the Gulf of Honduras, making it one of Guatemala’s few coastal towns. The city makes a convenient base for exploring Guatemala's Caribbean coast, and as the country's entire eastern coastline only spans 118 km, plenty of beach destinations are within easy access of the port. Visitors wishing to relax, take the resort's shuttle from the cruise-ship terminal to use the beach at Amatique Bay Resort and Marina as a day visitor. Read more about Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala

Harvest Caye, on an island 800m off the coast of Belize in the Caribbean, is Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest island development. Ships berth directly at the 75 acre resort. Features include: bars, 3 ziplines running from the ‘lighthouse’ over a giant pool, waterfall, private beachfront cabanas (pay), a nature centre, food outlets, and a variety of ship-sponsored shore excursions. Read more about Harvest Caye, Belize

Roatan (aka Ruatan, Rattan) is the largest of the Bay Islands, which are a part of Honduras, lying just over 48 km from the northern coast of the Honduran mainland. It is known around the world for its scuba diving. The reef surrounding the island attracts beautiful tropical fish and snorkellers alike. Read more about Roatan, Honduras

George Town is located on the island of Grand Cayman, the largest of the three islands in the Cayman Islands of the British West Indies. It is the largest city and capital of the Cayman Islands. All three - Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman - are coral outcrops surrounded by healthy coral reefs and dramatic walls close to shore, creating ideal conditions for the best diving and snorkelling found in the Caribbean. Read more about George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Montego Bay is Jamaica’s second city, and is known for its duty-free shopping. Its cruise line terminal at Free Port is situated on a beautiful peninsula jutting into a bay surrounded by picturesque low mountains. City streets are crowded, colourful and lively. Read more about Montego Bay, Jamaica

Great Stirrup Cay is a small island that is part of the Berry Islands in the Bahamas, about 90 km NNW of the capital Nassau. The narrow island stretches E-W in a 3km arc. (A smaller island to its west, Coco Cay, is a resort for Royal Caribbean guests.) Norwegian Cruise Line purchased the island from Belcher Oil Company in 1977 and developed it into the cruise industry’s first private island for their passengers. Read more about Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Miami, located on the Atlantic coast at the southern tip of Florida, where outdoor sports are open all seasons and dress is casual, is a melting pot of cultures. Miami and Miami Beach are in effect two distinctly different cities, as Miami Beach is almost exclusively tourist orientated, while Miami is a cosmopolitan city with a distinctly Latin American flavour. Don’t miss the South Beach section where fashion designer Gianni Versace lived and died that is one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in the world. Read more about Miami, USA