PORTS
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
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$)
COCOCAY, BAHAMAS
Exclusive to Royal Caribbean, the secluded island of CocoCay is located between the ports of Freeport and Nassau. Perfect Day at CocoCay is a beach day experience packed with exciting attractions for the whole family. Thrill Waterpark is home to a wave pool and Daredevil's Peak, the tallest waterslide in North America at an astounding 135 feet. Relax at the Coco Beach Club's infinity pool and enjoy upgraded cuisine, or take a ride on Up, Up and Away, a tethered helium balloon offering stunning Caribbean views from 400 feet above the island. Oasis Lagoon, the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean, boasts a swim-up bar and various coves and islands to explore. Enjoy live music and a drink at Captain Jack’s or discover Splash-away Bay with its playful drench buckets and five waterslides.
Language: English
Currency: Bahamian Dollar (BSD)
FALMOUTH, JAMAICA
Falmouth is considered by many to be like the Colonial Williamsburg of the Caribbean. Take a stroll through Falmouth's Historic District and explore an impressive collection of nineteenth-century Georgian architecture. Visit the Greenwood Great House museum, and you'll find yourself in the middle of the 19th century. Take a romantic ride down the Martha Brae River on a 30-foot bamboo raft. Hunt for bargains in Water Square, where you'll discover the Albert George Shopping and Historical center. And a trip to Falmouth wouldn't be complete without sampling one of the over 300 different Jerk recipes.
Language: English
Currency: Jamaican Dollar (JMD), US Dollar (US$)
GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS
Grand Cayman is the largest of the Cayman Islands, an overseas U.K. territory in the Caribbean Sea. Though overfishing virtually eliminated the native turtle population in the 18th century, today the Cayman Turtle Centre on Grand Cayman teaches visitors about conservation efforts as well as offers the chance to see some species of the reptile up close. Wildlife encounters are popular and plentiful on this island; they include snorkeling with stingrays, swimming with dolphins and spying the brightly colored residents of the aptly named Starfish Point beach. A unique photo opportunity can be found on an excursion to Hell, a rock formation comprising a stretch of jagged black limestone peaks. While the idyllic Seven Mile Beach is the place to be for sunbathing and relaxing strolls, adventurous types can discover the island's scenery on horseback, Jet Skis, and helicopter tours as well as submarine and glass-bottom boat rides.
Language: English
Currency: Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD), US Dollar (US$)