MIAMI, FLORIDA
Monday, December 1
Sunny Florida skies, year-round warmth and sunshine, a buzzing nightlife and a mix of cultures define this cosmopolitan city. Celebrity drenched South Beach attracts people watchers and the Art Deco District is the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world.
SEMINARS-AT-SEA
Tuesday, December 2 - Wednesday, December 3
While onboard, along with enjoying the many amenities and countless shipboard activities aboard the ship, you’ll participate in insightful and enlightening seminars and panel discussions with your distinguished faculty.
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO
Thursday, December 4
Puerto Rico’s first inhabitants were the Taino Indians, who encountered Columbus in 1493. The Spanish quickly settled, defending their territory against the Dutch and British. This is evident by the imposing fortresses of Old San Juan, namely the El Morro Castle, dominating the old section of this capital city. In 1897, Spain declared Puerto Rico an autonomous state. Spain later ceded Puerto Rico to the US and residents were granted American citizenship in 1917.
GUSTAVIA, ST. BARTS
Friday, December 5
One of the Caribbean’s true gems, St. Barts is where Riviera chic meets Caribbean cool. Day-trippers come from nearby islands for the duty-free shopping, excellent dining and to lounge on the soft, white sands in a secluded palm-fringed cove. Tour Fort Gustav and Fort Carl, historic reminders of Sweden’s short-lived Caribbean possession. Excursions abound, inviting guests to snorkel, sail over the clear blue waters on a catamaran, or horseback ride through shaded jungle trails.
PHILIPSBURG, ST. MAARTEN
Saturday, December 6
St. Maarten is the smallest piece of land shared by two sovereign states. Legend has it that the Dutch and French boundaries of the island were determined by two men who challenged one another in a race around the island, with the Frenchman walking faster and claiming more land. Legend or not, both the Dutch and French settled here in the 1630s and despite occupancy by the British twice, the Dutch and French have lived peacefully together ever since they arrived.
FREDERIKSTED, ST. CROIX
Sunday, December 7
Located on the west end of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands is the town of Frederiksted. The town was named after Frederick V of Denmark, who purchased the Danish West Indies in 1754. The town was the site of the emancipation of slaves in the then-Danish West Indies, occurring on July 3, 1848, at Fort Frederik. Because of this, the town is often referred to as “Freedom City” by the locals.
PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Monday, December 8
Let yourself relax and experience pure Caribbean bliss in Punta Cana, where sugar-fine sands, sapphire surf, verdant green palms and the warm kiss of the tropical sun are sure to leave you in a tranquil state of mind. Visit the turquoise waters of the Hoyo Azul, a freshwater lagoon at the base of a 200-foot cliff. Explore an unspoiled nature park, or dine at one of the world-class resorts lining the sands. Discover the art of growing and harvesting sugarcane, or go for a sail and look for dolphins frolicking alongside your boat.
SEMINARS-AT-SEA
Tuesday, December 9
While onboard, along with enjoying the many amenities and countless shipboard activities aboard the ship, you’ll participate in insightful and enlightening seminars and panel discussions with your distinguished faculty.
NASSAU, BAHAMAS
Wednesday, December 10
The 700 islands of the Bahamas Islands begin 50 miles off the coast of Florida, stretching 760 miles to the southeast. The heritage of Old Nassau blends the Southern charm of British loyalists from the Carolinas, the African tribal traditions of freed slaves, and a bawdy history of blockade-running during the Civil War and rum-running in the Roaring 1920s. Over it all is a subtle layer of civility and sophistication, derived from three centuries of British rule.
MIAMI, FLORIDA
Thursday, December 11
Experience the tropical-style shopping readily available from Bal Harbor to Lincoln Road and Coconut Grove. Enjoy authentic Cuban cuisine and culture along Calle Ocho or travel back in time with a visit to the historic Venetian Pool. There is something for everyone in this city dubbed the “Gateway to the Americas.”