Southern Caribbean

 Itinerary

 Day        Port of Call   
   
 Day 1   San Juan, Puerto Rico   8:30 PM   
 Day 2   Cruising     
 Day 3   Bridgetown, Barbados  8:00 AM  6:00 PM  Docked  
 Day 4   Castries, St. Lucia  8:00 AM  5:00 PM  Docked  
 Day 5   St. Johns, Antigua  8:00 AM  6:00 PM  Docked  
 Day 6   Philipsburg, St. Maarten  8:00 AM  6:00 PM  Docked  
 Day 7   St. Croix, U.s.v.i.  8:00 AM  5:00 PM  Docked  
 Day 8   San Juan, Puerto Rico  6:00 AM

Highlights

San Juan, Puerto Rico 
One of the largest islands in the Eastern Caribbean, Puerto Rico's landscape encompasses mountains, underground caves, coral reefs, white-sand beaches and an incredibly massive rain forest that supplies fresh water to most of the island. At the same time San Juan, the capital of the commonwealth, is a big city with a bustling business district, glitzy resorts and casinos, as well as one of the most stunning examples of colonial life in the Western world. 

Bridgetown, Barbados 
Though Barbados gained its independence from the British in 1966, the island maintains a distinctly English flavor. From British products such as chocolate and china to the national pastime, cricket, the British influence is evident throughout this gorgeous Caribbean destination. 

Castries, St. Lucia 
St. Lucia has been a part of the British Commonwealth since 1803. But prior to that, it was often occupied by the French, which is evident in much of the island's culture. Castries offers a colorful local market and great shopping. And the surrounding areas offer lush rain forests, striking waterfalls, beautiful beaches and Sulfur Springs - the world's only drive-through volcano. 

St. Johns, Antigua 
The first settlement on the island we now know as Antigua was not established until the 1600s, when English settlers arrived. Antigua remained a part of the British Commonwealth until its independence in 1981. Today, Antigua is a popular vacation destination, attracting tourists with its ideal climate, 366 beautiful beaches, amazing landscape and leisurely lifestyle.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten 
When the Spanish closed their colonial fort on St. Maarten in 1648, a few Dutch and French soldiers hid on the island and decided to share it. Soon after, the Netherlands and France signed a formal agreement to split St. Maarten in half, as it is today. Philipsburg displays its Dutch heritage in its architecture and landscaping. The island offers endless stretches of beach, beautiful landscapes and great shopping.

St. Croix, U.s.v.i. 
St. Croix, the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is a tropical dreamland complete with stunning beaches, clear aqua-blue ocean water, a small rain forest and rolling green hillsides. The Danes purchased St. Croix in the 1700s at which time the slave trade and sugar cane fields thrived. Today, the Danish influence is still apparent in the island's architecture and language. Most of the sugar mills lie in ruins. Yet you can still get a taste of the island's history in freshly squeezed sugar cane juice or Cruzan Rum.