Ports & Excursions

From Miami’s glitzy waterfront skyline to the elegant splendor of Miami Beach’s pastel-coloured art deco extravaganza, from the subtropical wetlands of the Everglades to a choice of stunning beaches giving onto the azure blue of the Atlantic Ocean, this all-American resort is a holidaymaker’s dream. Miami’s year-round sunshine, its cosmopolitan ambience, dramatic glass-and-steel architecture and fascinating hinterland have made it popular as a holiday destination in the United States for people all over the world – regardless of the season.

Rightly famous for its beaches and music, beautiful, brash Jamaica is much more besides. There’s certainly plenty of white sand, turquoise Caribbean sea and swaying palm trees, but there are also spectacular mountains and rivers, tumbling waterfalls and cactus-strewn savannah plains.

From shopping to nature adventures, Ocho Rios offers something for everybody. On Main Street, you will be able to shop or eat local cuisine. Many outdoor activities are offered on the rivers, such as kayaking and tubing. We recommend you visit the Cobaya Gardens and Museum: an explosion of tropical plant and animal life with exotics flowers and colorful parrots at every corner. Another must-see attraction are the waterfalls along the Dunn River: almost 650 feet of natural steps over which the water flows to then fall about 200 feet directly into the sea. To enjoy this spectacle to the fullest, these enchanting waterfalls can be climbed via stairs set on either side.

Established in the late 1700s, Oranjestad is an eclectic mix of history, shopping, and nature. The capital of Aruba, it serves as a base for exploring the island, which has remained in a semi-wild state. Amidst the white dunes of the Arikok National Park, around Yamanota, if you look carefully you will see goats, donkeys and iguanas living in the wild; the cunucu, Aruba’s stretch of desert country, is dotted by the divi divi, the national tree. Between Bushiribana and Balashi instead you can fund poignant abandoned gold-diggers’ towns, where mines were discovered at the beginning of the 19th century and gold extracted for over a century.

Cobbled streets, balconies overflowing with blooming bougainvillea and pastel-coloured buildings lining the elegant plazas, make Cartagena one of Latin America’s most photogenic cities. Founded in 1533, this Spanish colonial city is steeped in history. Its location made it a popular port for plunderers and pirates but today the city is quick to give up its treasures to modern visitors.

Signs of the city’s pirating past can be seen on every corner. The best example is Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas – built to fend off pillagers, it is the city’s largest fortress and one of the strongest forts ever created by the Spaniards during their colonial period. Nature lovers, meanwhile, can leave the swashbuckling to others and take in a Mangroves Ecological Tour, where the natural treasures of the region are available for all to enjoy.

Colon is known as the northern gateway to the Panama Canal, and is not far from Panama City. Aside from the canal and natural delights, the shopping is by far the largest attraction. Colon 2000 is a port area dedicated to duty-free shops and enticing restaurants. There’s also the Colon Free Zone, which caters to wholesalers and is the largest commercial shopping area outside of Hong Kong!

Costa Maya is, unsurprisingly, a coast flush with Mayan temples and pyramids. Dating back to 100AD, the once ornately adorned architecture reveals the ancient beliefs of the Maya. Unleash your inner Indiana Jones as you explore Mayan ruins, or work on your tan the easier way – by soaking up the sun at an all-inclusive beach getaway. If shopping is more your speed, the locals provide many opportunities for purchasing souvenirs. A more active option is to rent jetskis and speed along the turquoise water.

Bustling with the vibrant energy of a favorite cruise port, the island of Cozumel provides every aspect of a tropical vacation. Shop for jewelry or souvenirs, choose from one of the many restaurants, or lounge with a margarita on the beach. There is a museum and the ruins of a Mayan plaza. Alternatively, there is Xcaret – a Yucatan theme adventure park, that melds typical theme park adventures with natural wonders and cultural flair.

From Miami’s glitzy waterfront skyline to the elegant splendor of Miami Beach’s pastel-coloured art deco extravaganza, from the subtropical wetlands of the Everglades to a choice of stunning beaches giving onto the azure blue of the Atlantic Ocean, this all-American resort is a holidaymaker’s dream. Miami’s year-round sunshine, its cosmopolitan ambience, dramatic glass-and-steel architecture and fascinating hinterland have made it popular as a holiday destination in the United States for people all over the world – regardless of the season.