Seven Seas Splendor - February 9, 2024

Explore all that Miami has to offer, from the magnificent Port of Miami, to the world famous Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, historic Coconut Grove, and trendy South Beach. Other attractions include the Miami Seaquarium , Miami MetroZoo, and sports teams the Dolphins, Heat and Marlins. No wonder so many celebrities, such as Gloria Estefan, Madonna and Ricky Martin, call Miami home.

Join Norwegian Cruiselines on the private island of Great Stirrup Cay. Four square miles of white beaches and coconut palm trees. Great Stirrup Cay features great swimming and snorkeling. Enjoy a barbecue Bahamas-style or do some shopping at the straw market to make your island experience complete.

Puerto Plata is located on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. It is known as the Amber Coast because of its rich deposits of the fossil resin. The province sprawls out over 70 miles of coast, white sand beaches, protected coral reefs, coconut groves, coastal lagoons, and crystalline waters. In the city, you can visit Mt. Isabel de Torres, a national park and botanical garden.

Charlotte Amalie, is the capital of the United States Virgin Islands and the most popular cruise port in the Caribbean. Named for a Danish Queen, the city features pastel houses that are heavily sprinkled against a background of emerald hills. Colorful sloops dock along the waterfront, and a few steps back, down alleyways lined with old Danish warehouse buildings, is a world-famous shopping center.

Originally established as a British settlement in the 17th century, Antigua certified its independence in 1981. Today, it is a vastly popular oasis, famed for its spectacular climate and 366 pristine beaches. St. John's is a splendid jewel on this tropical crown, boasting lush greenery and limitless recreation options. Take a hiking safari and be dazzled by the sights of the island at 1200 feet.

In Gustavia, the capital, there are branches of several well-known French shops (such as Cartier). The small crowd of habitues is mostly young, chic, and French. The food, wine, and aromas are equally Gallic. The harbour or Carenage was renamed Gustavia after the 18th-century Swedish king, Gustavus III, and became a free port, marking the beginning of the island's greatest prosperity.

The fortress of El Morro guards the harbor against long-gone Sir Francis Drake and his British privateers. The colorful streets of Old San Juan retain the Latin flavor of its seafaring past, when this was the heart of the Spanish Main. Sample the fiery rum made here, or indulge in an icy treat made from fresh tropical fruit and enjoy the Caribbean atmosphere.

Blessed with a non-stop breeze, neat little Oranjestad reflects the Dutch passion for cleanliness. Stroll the town's chic shops, venture out to see the wind-formed divi-divi trees, or visit an undersea garden of brilliant corals on a semi-submersible craft.

Hospitable and always sunny, Curacao bids you a warm welcome. The friendly inhabitants, first class hotels, wonderful climate, crystal clear seawater, fascinating architecture, floating market, pontoon bridge, secluded bays, rich fauna and flora, and the many possibilities for excursions and entertainment make Curacao the tourist's paradise.

Kralendijk is the chief town of Bonaire in the Netherlands Antilles. Tourism is the economic mainstay, though salt mining is also a significant industry. The island is known for its fine beaches, skin diving, and pink flamingos.

This picturesque city, wrapped around the perimeter of the island's finest natural harbour, is perhaps the most appealing capital city in the entire Caribbean. Founded in the early 18th century by the French, St. George's still possesses something of the character of a French town, particularly in the red tile roofs and pastel colors of its traditional architecture.

Scuba divers and snorkelers will appreciate the magnificence of the tropical fish and coral reefs in the waters surrounding Tobago. History fans take note: the battle between French, British, Spanish, and Dutch for the control of Tobago led to the construction of Fort King George, which overlooks Port of Spain.

Kingstown is best appreciated for its West Indian feel rather than for any grand attractions. It's a good place to relax and stroll the cobblestone streets. The town gets its unique atmosphere from the produce vendors along Bay and Bedford streets, the crowds at the fish market and rum shops, and it stone-block colonial buildings.

Expect to be immediately immersed in the French Caribbean way of life. Vendors hawk everything from hairpins to bouquets of anthuriums on the congested narrow streets, and the markets are some of the Caribbean's most colorful. The largest, Marche St. Antoine, at the corner of Rues Frebault and Peynier, teems with activity all day long, with tropical produce and spices in madras bags sold by very vocal market women.

St. Lucia is one of the most scenic volcanic islands in the Caribbean. By helicopter, fly over beautiful Castries Harbor and Les Pitons, St. Lucia's dramatic twin volcanic peaks.

Bridgetown is the southernmost port on the island of Barbados and its capital. The beaches are plentiful, as is the seafood. Enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and diving in the beautiful blue waters of the Caribbean or try your hand at a local cricket match.