MS Zuiderdam
December 22, 2023

Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida, offers docking at Port Everglades. Travelers explore Las Olas Boulevard and Everglades tours. Excursions include airboat rides. Local markets sell conch fritters. The peak season, December to April, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures canals and Atlantic vistas. Dining onboard includes stone crab, a Floridian favorite. Souvenirs, like seashell crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Seminole history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the subtropical climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Fort Lauderdale’s urban charm offers a vibrant American stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of scenic waterways and natural adventures, making Fort Lauderdale an engaging destination for exploration.

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island), offers docking at a private port. Travelers explore white-sand beaches and Stingray Cove. Excursions include horseback riding by the sea. Local markets sell conch fritters. The peak season, December to April, brings warm weather for island tours. Photography captures turquoise waters and Caribbean vistas. Dining onboard includes cracked conch, a Bahamian favorite. Souvenirs, like shell crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Lucayan history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the tropical climate, while water shoes enhance beach exploration. Half Moon Cay’s island allure offers a vibrant stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of serene beaches and marine activities, making Half Moon Cay an engaging destination.

Willemstad, Curaçao, offers docking at Willemstad Port. Travelers explore Queen Emma Bridge and Punda’s colorful buildings. Excursions include snorkeling at Tugboat Beach. Local markets sell keshi yena. The peak season, December to April, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures Dutch architecture and Caribbean vistas. Dining onboard includes stobá, a Curaçaoan favorite. Souvenirs, like blue curaçao crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Antillean history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the tropical climate, while water shoes enhance reef exploration. Willemstad’s vibrant charm offers a lively Curaçaoan stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of colonial heritage and marine adventures, making Willemstad an engaging destination for exploration.

Cartagena, Colombia, offers docking at Cartagena Port. Travelers explore San Felipe Castle and Old Town’s colorful streets. Excursions include Rosario Islands snorkeling. Local markets sell arepas. The peak season, December to April, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures colonial walls and Caribbean vistas. Dining onboard includes sancocho, a Colombian favorite. Souvenirs, like emerald crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Spanish colonial history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the tropical climate, while comfortable shoes enhance historic walks. Cartagena’s cultural charm offers a vibrant Colombian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of historic fortresses and scenic islands, making Cartagena an engaging destination for exploration.

Panama Canal (Cruise into Canal), Panama, offers partial transit cruising. Travelers view Miraflores Locks and Gatun Lake from the ship. Excursions include canal history tours. No facilities exist; provisions are ship-based. The peak season, December to April, brings dry weather for canal cruising. Photography captures engineering feats and Pacific vistas. Dining onboard includes arroz con pollo, a Panamanian favorite. Souvenirs, like molas, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover canal history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the tropical climate, while binoculars enhance lock viewing. Panama Canal’s industrial allure offers a vibrant stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of engineering marvels and scenic waterways, making the Panama Canal an engaging destination.

Colón, Panama, offers docking at Colón Port. Travelers explore Gatun Locks and Fort San Lorenzo. Excursions include Emberá village tours. Local markets sell sancocho. The peak season, December to April, brings dry weather for coastal tours. Photography captures canal locks and Caribbean vistas. Dining onboard includes arroz con pollo, a Panamanian favorite. Souvenirs, like molas, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Kuna history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the tropical climate, while sturdy shoes enhance jungle walks. Colón’s cultural charm offers a vibrant Panamanian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of canal engineering and indigenous heritage, making Colón an engaging destination for exploration.

Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, offers docking at Puerto Limon Port. Travelers explore Tortuguero Canals and Veragua Rainforest. Excursions include sloth sanctuary tours. Local markets sell gallo pinto. The peak season, December to April, brings dry weather for coastal tours. Photography captures jungle canals and Caribbean vistas. Dining onboard includes casado, a Costa Rican favorite. Souvenirs, like coffee crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Bribri history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the tropical climate, while sturdy shoes enhance rainforest walks. Puerto Limon’s natural charm offers a vibrant Costa Rican stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of wildlife and scenic canals, making Puerto Limon an engaging destination.

Bimini, Bahamas, anchors offshore with tenders to Alice Town, population 2,000. Travelers snorkel the SS Sapona, a 1920s shipwreck. Local markets sell conch salad. Excursions to the Bimini Road, 10 minutes by boat, explore underwater stone formations. Dolphin House Museum showcases shell art. Peak season December to April; taxis 5-10 BSD. Dining includes cracked conch at beach shacks. Souvenirs feature straw hats.

Returning to Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) — see Day 1 above for port info.