Day 1: San Juan (Puerto Rico), United States

Departing from San Juan means you will arrive deep in the heart of the Caribbean, allowing you to avoid the long sea days associated with most Caribbean cruises. Arrive in San Juan today and enjoy time to explore Puerto Rico’s capital in depth. You might take a stroll around El Viejo San Juan, or Old San Juan, with its colonial charms, easy island tempo and authentic culture. Wander its narrow lanes, literally paved with history, laid with blue adoquín stone once used to ballast Spanish galleons. As we are docked here overnight, you will have ample time to explore the city. This evening, stroll the Old Town’s azure byways romantically illuminated by street lamps.

Day 2: San Juan (Puerto Rico), United States

With our destination-focused itinerary, you will call on a new port daily, with not a single day spent at sea. Today, you have another day to take in the history and architectural beauty of San Juan, from its fanciful Condado district to the magnificent 16th-century Fort San Felipe del Morro, set on a promontory at the entrance to San Juan Bay. Or visit the lush woodland of El Yunque national rainforest. Later today, you will sail away into the Caribbean’s blue waters.

Day 3: Tortola, British Virgin Islands, United Kingdom

Witness the lush beauty that once lured the pirates Blackbeard and Captain Kidd to Tortola, part of the British Virgin Islands. You will traverse Tortola, ascending to its greatest heights to admire spectacular Caribbean vistas. Experience some of its British flavor, pass through charming fishing villages and cast your eyes on magnificent blue-green seascapes. Alternately, take to the waters to explore the grottoes of Virgin Gorda.

Day 4: St. Kitts (Basseterre), St. Kitts & Nevis

Call on St. Kitts today, Britain’s first Caribbean settlement that grew into a sugar-producing powerhouse; 68 plantations operated at the height of the boom. You will learn about this lucrative colonial era at St. Kitts’s Fairview Great House & Botanical Garden, a fascinating repository of relics and beautifully preserved rooms that provide a glimpse of the lives of sugar barons. Or, visit the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 5: Castries, St. Lucia

Call on the lush and mountainous island of St. Lucia, with its sheltered harbors, quiet byways and Creole-inspired cuisine. A short drive from our berth in Castries, admire breathtaking views of azure waters and hillsides shrouded in tropical green. Witness the art of batik making here and glimpse prolific banana plantations. Or, venture across the island to view the spectacular Pitons, towering twin peaks draped in forests.

Day 6: Bridgetown, Barbados

Relish the intense Caribbean beauty of Barbados today when you call on its capital, Bridgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will discover ample evidence of British rule here, from cricket matches and afternoon tea to the Commonwealth’s third oldest Parliament. Marvel at spectacular vistas from the heights of the Highland Adventure Center, descending to sea level for a tour of Bridgetown. Or, head underground to explore the stalactites and stalagmites of Harrison’s Cave.

Day 7: Roseau, Dominica

Immerse in the vibrancy of this colorful West Indian Capital among its streets lined with old-stone and wooden buildings, with reggae music spilling onto every corner. Roseau is the most important port for foreign trade on the island, yet once you leave its bustling center, you will be surrounded by beautiful countryside. Visit “The Nature Island” of the Caribbean as you explore its waterfalls, rainforests and beneath the ocean on a trip out to sea. Take a hike through its UNESCO listed National Park, and hear more about the island’s volcanic activity. Or discover its Kalinago Indian culture as you meet island natives and learn more about their traditions and rituals.

Day 8: St. John’s, Antigua

Visit Antigua today, once Britain’s “Gateway to the Caribbean.” On an island tour from our berth in St. John’s, you will admire lush green beauty all around and visit English Harbor. Its restored Georgian dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is named for Admiral Horatio Nelson, who commanded the Crown’s fleet here in the 18th century. Today, yachts line the quays. But the island’s beautiful scenery has not changed since Nelson’s day, blanketed with tropical forests and punctuated by sheer cliffs dropping into blue waters.

Day 9: Philipsburg, St. Martin

Explore two countries on one island today when you call on St. Martin. You will dock on the Dutch side, in Philipsburg, and have the chance to contrast the two cultures. See the great salt pond on the Dutch side, the charming old village of Quartier-d’Orleans and the French capital, Marigot. Or, embark on an exhilarating experience copiloting a multimillion-dollar boat during a simulated “America’s Cup” race.

Day 10: St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, United States

Explore one of the Caribbean’s most beloved islands today, St. Thomas. You will dock within walking distance of its capital, Charlotte Amalie, set on one of the most picturesque harbors in the region. Get acquainted with the beauty of St. Thomas during a scenic drive along a spectacular route, stopping at the famous Mountain Top for breathtaking views of the sea and surrounding islands. Alternately, you might cross the emerald-green island to Magens Bay, home to one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

Day 11: San Juan (Puerto Rico), United States

Disembark this morning and return home, or continue your exploration of the Puerto Rican capital with our extension here.