7 Nights - Western Caribbean Cruise - Our 23rd Anniversary

Miami, Florida

Miami is a sparkler of a city set against the water. It was originally settled at the mouth of the Miami River by the Tequesta Indians, and the downtown area still hugs the junction of the river and Biscayne Bay. To the south along the water, Coconut Grove is 3 mi/5 km away. The cities of Coral Gables and South Miami are approximately 6 mi/10 km to the west and south. Beyond that to the west is Kendall—a vast stretch of condos, homes, shopping malls and restaurants that reaches the edge of the Everglades. To the south is Homestead and, beyond that, the Florida Keys. Miami Beach is a finger of land separating Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic, connected by five causeways to the mainland. At its southern tip is South Beach, now known as the Art Deco District or SoBe.

Miami is a right now kind of city. Its history is short, so there isn’t much in the way of antiquities. What’s interesting about Miami is its neighborhoods: Little Havana, Miami Beach, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, among others.

You’ll probably need a car—or a series of taxis—to get around in spread-out Miami. If your time is limited, we suggest you concentrate on a few sights. But if you have a day or more, you’ll have time to tour downtown and then branch out to the delightful diversities of Greater Miami.

At Sea

Enjoy the whole day at sea.

Roatan (Isla Roatan), Bay Islands, Honduras

Located approximately 35 miles north of Honduras in the Caribbean, Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands group.

Plenty of great snorkeling and diving is found at the coral reefs off Roatan's coast.

Harvest Caye, Belize

Belize is ideal for eco-tourism. With diverse ecology consisting of jungles, rainforests, swamps, coral reefs and so on, you will find solace and adventure in Harvest Caye's stunning landscape.

Costa Maya, Mexico

This unspoiled treasure boasts a pristine coastline, newly discovered Mayan ruins and the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve.

Cozumel, Mexico

The Conquistadors first saw Mexico from the shores of Cozumel while searching for gold. Today, visitors to the island continue to seek out gold and silver jewelry in the shops of San Miguel. Plus, the waters around Cozumel's shelter coral reefs make this one of the best snorkeling areas in the world.

With clear sapphire-colored water and an abundance of coral reefs and exotic tropical fish, it's a snorkeler's dream, and therefore, one of the world's premier snorkeling destinations. It's simply the perfect place to see what's under the sea whether you're a novice or an expert.

Cozumel isn’t as flashy as its neighbor Cancun. And that’s part of its charm. Mexico’s largest island (33 mi/53 km long and 8 mi/13 km wide) offers a pleasant mix of activities. You can shop and dine in San Miguel, a traditional Mexican town built around a large plaza. You can head for the beach to lounge and swim, while the more adventurous can explore Maya ruins or dive around the reefs.

Most cruise-ship passengers don’t venture far outside San Miguel, the island’s only city, which has about 60,000 people. The town’s plaza, Plaza del Sol, is surrounded by dozens of shops and sidewalk cafes. You could easily spend a few hours browsing through the stores, sipping a cold drink beneath the bright orange blooms of the poinciana trees and people watching. The side streets off the plaza are closed to auto traffic and packed with more shops and eateries. To see a bit of the waterfront, stroll along San Miguel’s main street (Avenida Melgar, also known as the malecon), which runs north and south for 14 blocks. You can walk it in half an hour.

If you are interested in learning some local history, visit the Museo de la Isla de Cozumel, which has exhibits detailing the island’s natural environment, the history of the Maya and the arrival of the Spaniards. (Open daily 10 am-5 pm; admission about US$3—around US$7 during high season; on the malecon between Calle 4 and Calle 6.)

At the Parque Arqueologica, an archeological park a few blocks inland from the cruise-ship piers south of town, you can take a walk-through tour of the history of Mexico. Each region of the country is represented, with artifacts de picting the Aztec, Toltec and Maya civilizations. Weavers and potters demonstrate the crafts of ancient times under thatched-roof palapas. (Open Monday-Saturday 8 am-5 pm; admission about US$3.)

Outside of San Miguel, there’s almost no development but plenty of opportunities to experience solitude. Cozumel’s one highway is a narrow paved road that runs south from San Miguel and circles the southern tip of the island before turning north along the eastern shore. At a point opposite San Miguel, the road turns west and crosses the island back into San Miguel.

Maya Ruins—Cozumel’s ruins aren’t much to look at compared with those at Tulum, Coba and Chichen Itza on the mainland. But if archaeology is your interest or if you’re just up for a jungle adventure, you may want to see them anyway. The best-preserved ruins are at San Gervasio, which is about 7 mi/11 km northeast of San Miguel in the midst of dense jungle. You can reach this small grouping of temples by taking an unpaved side road o ff Carretera Transversal. Knowledgeable guides wait at the entrance and charge about US$12 an hour for a tour. (Open daily 9 am-5 pm; admission US$4.)

At Sea

Enjoy the whole day at sea.

Miami, Florida

Miami is a sparkler of a city set against the water. It was originally settled at the mouth of the Miami River by the Tequesta Indians, and the downtown area still hugs the junction of the river and Biscayne Bay. To the south along the water, Coconut Grove is 3 mi/5 km away. The cities of Coral Gables and South Miami are approximately 6 mi/10 km to the west and south. Beyond that to the west is Kendall—a vast stretch of condos, homes, shopping malls and restaurants that reaches the edge of the Everglades. To the south is Homestead and, beyond that, the Florida Keys. Miami Beach is a finger of land separating Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic, connected by five causeways to the mainland. At its southern tip is South Beach, now known as the Art Deco District or SoBe.

Miami is a right now kind of city. Its history is short, so there isn’t much in the way of antiquities. What’s interesting about Miami is its neighborhoods: Little Havana, Miami Beach, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, among others.

You’ll probably need a car—or a series of taxis—to get around in spread-out Miami. If your time is limited, we suggest you concentrate on a few sights. But if you have a day or more, you’ll have time to tour downtown and then branch out to the delightful diversities of Greater Miami.