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​Ultimate Southern Caribbean Cruise

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Day 1: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Head downtown to Las Olas Boulevard, paralleling New River, to sip lattes in outdoor cafés, shop chic boutiques, and catch concerts at the performing arts center. Stop at Stranahan House, the city's oldest structure, built in 1901 as a trading post and preserved as a museum, or explore a whole village of historic buildings at History Fort Lauderdale. Join a Segway tour along the river or a waterborne cruise of Millionaire's Row.
During your cruise to Fort Lauderdale, head out to the Everglades and enjoy Flamingo Gardens, home to pink flamingos, snarling alligators, black bears, and Florida panthers—plus exotic trees, butterfly gardens, and native flowers.
You'll find great shopping on Fort Lauderdale cruises. Look for high fashion at Galleria Fort Lauderdale, north of the port and blocks from the ocean. Head west to Sawgrass Mills for 350 designer outlets, specialty shops, and eateries. Spend a relaxing day in downtown Hollywood, south of the port, for quaint shops, sidewalk cafés, and events in the park.
Discover Floribbean cuisine, a fusion of old Florida favorites with new Caribbean influences. Local seafood includes lobster, grouper, mahi-mahi, pompano, snapper, tuna, and stone crabs.
Florida dominates production of citrus fruits. Before you cruise from Fort Lauderdale, take advantage of anything orange—juices, sauces, marinades, marmalades, dressings, soups, and cakes. Try authentic key lime pie, which is sweet, tart, creamy, and yellow—not green—in a Graham cracker crust.

Day 2 & 3: Day-at-Sea 

While at sea, take the time to recharge before the next adventure. Lounge by the pool, be spoiled at the spa, taste the delicacies or explore the venues on-board, until we arrive at the next amazing destination. ​

Day 4: Philipsburg, St. Maarten

PicturePhilipsburg, Saint Maarten
Cruise to St. Maarten and explore the dozens of alluring beaches that ring the island. At Orient Beach, sunbathers bask and beachcombers stroll on the white sands, while divers and snorkelers
explore the sunken shipwrecks and marine life just offshore. You'll really get blown away at Jet Blast Beach (officially Maho Beach), next to the airport.
Embrace all the beauty of the island on a tour to the French capital, Marigot, where you can explore the quaint streets and cafés, open-air market, and 18th-century Fort Louis. Take a scenic cruise of Simpson Bay Lagoon, site of luxurious villas and megayachts. More tours show you charming Grand Case and Orient Bay.
Both Philipsburg and Marigot are celebrated culinary capitals, and locals do enjoy outdoor cooking. Try the barbecued ribs and chicken. Leading French chefs flock to Marigot, where they give their sophisticated cuisine a Caribbean twist.
Shoppers find electronics, rum, cigars, jewelry, and designer brands in the hundreds of duty-free and tax-free stores on Philipsburg’s mile-long Front Street.

Day 5: Fort de France, Martinique

Experience a symphony of French and Creole cultures, with a volcanic landscape as the backdrop. This largest city of the French West Indies offers narrow streets, wrought-iron balconies, and Parisian-style boutiques. Visit the museums, sample the restaurants, shop the boutiques, and explore historic Fort Saint-Louis, visible from your ship. Up the coast, visit Saint-Pierre, a town with roots in the 17th century. See the 1502 landing site of Christopher Columbus. Learn about the devastating eruption of Mount Pelée. Savor the local cuisine and do some rum tasting. Down the coast, discover coral reefs with tropical fish on a guided dive or snorkel excursion to Anse Dufour Beach and the Bat Cave. Or, enjoy a peaceful afternoon unwinding on a lovely beach. Fort-de-France, Martinique offers great shopping. Buy luxurious French products at reduced prices in the malls. Stroll Rue Victor Hugo for European-style boutiques and colorful Caribbean places. Find local art and crafts in open-air markets like Grand Marché. Martinique serves up a flavorful blend of French cuisine, Creole spice, and island rum. Admire the bountiful fruit and seafood at the covered market near the port. For lunch, try the national dish, fresh fish in a spicy tomato sauce.
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Cathédrale de Fort de France
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A newborn monkey and its mother at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve

Day 6: Bridgetown, Barbados

When Bajans say, "Life's a beach," they mean 80 pristine beaches, some long and straight, some hidden among cliffs, many among the world's most beautiful. Cruise to Barbados for water sports include jet skiing at lively Mullins Beach, paddle boarding at Pebbles Beach, and surfing at Atlantic Shores. Small boats will take you swimming with the turtles, or you can skipper your own Hobie Cat, try spearfishing, or lounge aboard a luxurious catamaran with drinks. Launch a 4x4 safari into the Barbados Wildlife Reserve in search of green monkeys, a rare sight outside Africa. Explore Harrison's Cave from a tram, viewing stalactites, stalagmites, and underground streams. People have come here to trade since the English in 1627. Today, you'll find designer fashion, fine jewelry, fragrances, electronics, and leather in this tax haven. Talented islanders produce exquisite art and collectables. Foodies love this “culinary capital of the Caribbean,” fusing the flavors of Africa, the West Indies, and Europe. The Atlantic provides a delicious array of fish including shark, salmon, cod, red snapper, and flying fish, a symbol of Barbados, as well as shrimp, lobster, and crabs. Chicken, beef, pork, turkey, and duck are served fried, grilled, baked, roasted, and pickled. On the side, look for cou-cou, rice and peas, pelau, and macaroni pie, along with tropical fruits.

Day 7: Castries, St. Lucia

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Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Castries, St. Lucia
Fan out from Castries to find escapes for every taste. Near the port, browse Pointe Seraphine, for duty-free goods, or colorful Castries Central Market, for native spices and hand-made crafts. Sample the best of St. Lucia on a highlights tour to the Castries Market, historic Catholic church, and city square, and don't miss breathtaking views from Caribelle Batik, offering artisanal goods. Or, join a leisurely coastal cruise past Marigot Bay. Novelist James A. Michener described it as "the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean." ​

Day 8: L St. Johns, Antigua

PictureGismary Art Gallery in Redcliffe Quay
Cruise to Antigua, named by Christopher Columbus in 1493, and discover 365 Caribbean beaches—one for every day, every type of beach—hidden among the countless cliffs and bays. The lush rainforest, dramatic landscapes, and turquoise waters tempt eco-adventurers from swimmers to hikers to zip-line flyers
Swim and snorkel with gentle stingrays—even feed and pet them—and snorkel the coral reefs that ring the island and teem with life. Take a scenic catamaran sail. Stop at Paradise Reef and peer below the surface of the clear Antiguan waters. Lie on a golden beach and sip a rum punch or enjoy some lobster on your St. John’s cruise.
Antigua and neighboring Barbuda form an independent country in the British Commonwealth. The English settled here in 1632 and imported slaves to build sugar plantations. They became independent in 1981. The capital and largest city, St. John's, is one of the more developed and cosmopolitan municipalities in the Lesser Antilles.
Antigua’s hotels and resorts serve excellent European cuisine, featuring the fresh catch of the day. Go native and try the local fungi (like polenta, paired with salt fish), callaloo (a popular West African / Caribbean dish), and hearty pepper pot.
When it's time to go shopping, find Caribbean fashions, local crafts, and designer fashions in the duty-free shops of St. John’s. Browse luxurious Heritage Quay or quaint seaside Redcliffe Quay.

Day 9 & 10: Day-at-Sea

While at sea, take the time to recharge before the next adventure. Lounge by the pool, be spoiled at the spa, taste the delicacies or explore the venues on-board, until we arrive at the next amazing destination. ​

Day 11: Fort Lauderdale, FL 

​Return to the Fort Lauderdale cruise port, and explore the city or head home refreshed and rejuvenated.

Like what you see?

Contact a travel advisor and mention the Ultimate Southern Caribbean itinerary for booking information.
Columbus Travel
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