Crystal Serenity - December 14, 2025

Once the port where the wealth of the New World flowed back to the Old, Cartagena also served as a notorious base for privateers and pirates. Today, you can stroll the tree-lined Spanish colonial artistry of old in the streets and see the works of the Gold Museum. The port is also a great place to find bargains on emeralds.

Once the port where the wealth of the New World flowed back to the Old, Cartagena also served as a notorious base for privateers and pirates. Today, you can stroll the tree-lined Spanish colonial artistry of old in the streets and see the works of the Gold Museum. The port is also a great place to find bargains on emeralds.

Old World history set to a distinctly Latin beat: this is the soul of Santo Domingo. The city is a maze of medieval palaces and boasts the first cathedral, university, and hospital in the western hemisphere. Beneath the black velvet of a signature Santo Domingo night sky, gaze upon the beauty of the Columbus Lighthouse--actually a mausoleum--as it beams a cross-shaped beacon toward the stars.

Samana Bay is the gateway to Puerto Plata, located on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Luxury resorts and casinos give way to the tourist bazaar where you can shop for straw goods and other tropical specialties, like unique amber jewelry. If shopping is not your bag, check out the 70 miles of beaches.

Nassau/Paradise Island is the capital of the Bahamas. Explore Parliament Square, the government center that dates back to the early 1800s or check out the port's vibrant night life, including more casinos, theatres, and fabulous cuisine than you could possibly fit into a short stay. During the day, there's plenty of golfing, tennis, and swimming.

Ft. Lauderdale has 23 miles of beaches, 300 miles of inland waterways and swimming pools galore, but immersing yourself in this city doesn't require a drop of water. Dive into a culture as deep as any ocean, a culture characterized by Seminoles and Broadway shows, golf and whimsical water taxis, fine cuisine and tasty jazz. And just like the horizon here, the list of attractions goes on and on.