PORTS
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
Located 30 miles north of Miami, Fort Lauderdale is home to 165 miles of navigable waterways, lending credence to its description on the official city seal: "Venice of America." Among these waterways is the New River, whose banks feature a popular linear park known as Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale. More aquatic recreation awaits along the area's nearly two dozen miles of beaches. Fort Lauderdale Beach's palm tree-lined brick promenade attracts strollers, joggers, and cyclists. Las Olas Boulevard, the downtown thoroughfare, brims with boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries. The Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum, Bonnet House Museum and Gardens, African-American Research Library and Cultural Center and many more delight history buffs and culture seekers. Shore excursions include daytrips south to Key West and west to the Everglades, where airboat rides reward keen observers with glimpses of alligators and other wildlife
Language: English
Currency: US Dollar (US$)
PRINCESS CAYS, BAHAMAS
An exclusive port of call for Princess and Carnival cruise lines, Princess Cays is situated on 40-plus acres on the island of Eleuthera. Visitors of this private paradise can sunbathe along more than a half-mile of shoreline, snorkel in pristine waters, kayak through a lagoon or try their hand at windsurfing and paddleboarding. Banana boat rides get the adrenaline flowing, while glass-bottom boat cruises reveal a look at the region's colorful marine life. Other excursions include sailing expeditions, tours of the town of Rock Sound for a look at local life, dune buggy outings to a pink-sand beach and a supervised stingray encounter, during which you can feed the fish. A complimentary barbecue lunch along the surf is the perfect way to fuel up for your next adventure. For those looking for a quiet, comfortable retreat, air-conditioned bungalows are available for rent.
Language: English
Currency: US Dollar (US$)
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO
Old San Juan is rich in Spanish tradition, with iconic blue cobblestone streets and colonial architecture. This historic section of the Puerto Rican city is easily seen on foot, and cruise passengers can shop for handcrafted works, relax in a shaded park, or tour El Morro, a 16th-century Spanish fortress overlooking the sea. New San Juan is distinctly elegant with lavish resorts, great restaurants, and grand casinos. Visitors can enjoy an outing to El Yunque, the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. national forest system or join in on shore excursions that include the likes of deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, diving and even kayaking on a bioluminescent bay.
Language: English/Spanish
Currency: US Dollar (US$)
GRAND TURK, TURKS, AND CAICOS ISLANDS
Turquoise waters and white-sand shorefronts welcome you to Grand Turk, the largest island in the Turks and Caicos archipelago. Beach excursions abound, allowing you escape to a secluded resort, indulge on a lobster lunch, challenge the waves on a paddleboard and sip beer in a lounger as palm trees sway overhead. The snorkeling here is outstanding, whether you're swimming among nurse sharks, barracudas, Nassau groupers and other fish at Coral Gardens Reef, or exploring the "Amazing Wall," a collection of coral shelves that attracts manta rays and sea turtles. For additional marine life encounters, wade into shallow waters for a guided interaction with stingrays, keep your camera poised during a winter whale-watching expedition or cast your reel off a catamaran on a private fishing cruise. After visiting the island's lighthouse, built in 1852, take a stroll on the nearby coastal path that meanders along limestone cliffs.
Language: English
Currency: US Dollar (US$)
AMBER COVE, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Amber Cove is located in the province of Puerto Plata on the Bay of Maimon. The cove combines historical colonial architecture with the contemporary amenities of the greatest ports in the modern world. With over 30 acres of waterfront property, Amber Cove provides a great variety of shopping and entertainment for visitors to enjoy. The port is also a huge transportation hub for surrounding areas such as Sosua and Cabarete. Spend the afternoon at one of the beautiful beaches where you can windsurf, kiteboard, or simply sunbathe and relax. After some time in the sand, head over to explore the coastal villages and shopping centers or take a 30-minute ride out to Damajagua Falls. For a different kind of adventure, visitors can go to the outskirts of the city and enjoy the entertainment of the popular Ocean World Adventure Park.
Language: Spanish, English
Currency: Dominican Peso (DOP)