| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 22nd22 | DecDec | 202626 | Miami, Florida, United States, embark on the Silver Ray | | 18:00 |
Miami is one of the world’s most popular holiday spots. It has so much to offer; from its countless beach areas, to culture and museums, from spa and shopping days out, to endless cuban restaurants and cafes. Miami is a multicultural city that has something to offer to everyone. |
| 23rd23 | DecDec | 202626 | At Sea | | |
| 24th24 | DecDec | 202626 | Grand Turk Island, Turks and Caicos Islands | 09:00 | 17:00 |
Just 7 miles (11 km) long and a little more than 1 mile (1½ km) wide, this island, the capital and seat of the Turks and Caicos government, has been a longtime favorite destination for divers eager to explore the 7,000-foot-deep pristine coral walls that drop down only 300 yards out to sea. On shore, the tiny, quiet island is home to white-sand beaches, the National Museum, and a small population of wild horses and donkeys, which leisurely meander past the white-walled courtyards, pretty churches, and bougainvillea-covered colonial inns on their daily commute into town. But things aren't entirely sleepy: a cruise-ship complex at the southern end of the island brings about 600,000 visitors per year. That said, the dock is self-contained and is about 3 miles (5 km) from the tranquil, small hotels of Cockburn Town, Pillory Beach, and the Ridge and far from most of the western-shore dive sites. Pristine beaches with vistas of turquoise waters, small local settlements, historic ruins, and native flora and fauna are among the sights on Grand Turk. Fewer than 4,000 people live on this 7½-square-mile (19-square-km) island, and it's hard to get lost, as there aren't many roads. Beach masterpieces of silky white sand and sparkling water shifting from turquoise to royal blue welcome you to idyllic Grand Turk. Underwater ramparts of coral teem with vibrant marine life while tranquil beaches reward with a haven of relaxation. Part of the Turks and Caicos islands group an enchanting string of islands that share jaw-dropping natural beauty Grand Turk is a truly divine Caribbean escape. Your first port of call is always likely to be the blissful sand beaches that roll down to that trademark intense sea. Governor's Beach is a vision of pink sand lapped by teal waters and a perfect rendering of your most lavish imagination. Pillory Beach is another favoured option nestled a little further to the north. Graceful stingrays slide through the waters at Gibbs Cay and you can wander among huge queen conch shells strewn over its sands. Later sunset will burn and boom above as you taste fresh barbecued snapper mahi-mahi and lobster platters. The stunning coral reefs that attract keen divers from across the globe have been far less welcoming to ships historically and the wrecks that rest on the seabed attest to their hull-shredding credentials. Flashing out warnings and standing tall since 1852 Grand Turk Lighthouse is a true icon of this island. Wild donkeys and horses may join you as you roam below the rusting cast-iron tower which gazes out protectively over the North Reef. |
| 25th25 | DecDec | 202626 | At Sea | | |
| 26th26 | DecDec | 202626 | Basseterre, Saint Kitts, Saint Kitts and Nevis | 09:00 | 18:00 |
Mountainous St. Kitts, the first English settlement in the Leeward Islands, crams some stunning scenery into its 65 square miles (168 square km). Vast, brilliant green fields of sugarcane (the former cash crop, now slowly being replanted) run to the shore. The fertile, lush island has some fascinating natural and historical attractions: a rain forest replete with waterfalls, thick vines, and secret trails; a central mountain range dominated by the 3,792-foot Mt. Liamuiga, whose crater has long been dormant; and Brimstone Hill, known in the 18th century as the Gibraltar of the West Indies. St. Kitts and Nevis, along with Anguilla, achieved self-government as an associated state of Great Britain in 1967. In 1983 St. Kitts and Nevis became an independent nation. English with a strong West Indian lilt is spoken here. People are friendly but shy; always ask before you take photographs. Also, be sure to wear wraps or shorts over beach attire when you're in public places. St. Kitts verdant volcanic slopes rise from crystal clear Caribbean waters, promising a land of escape, relaxation and rejuvenation. A place for ‘limin’ - the local word for kicking back, Caribbean style, you’ll be welcomed to an island paradise blessed with swarming reefs, hidden white-sand beaches, and irresistible shallow seas. Bigger sibling to nearby Nevis, St. Kitts is a place of unrestrained natural beauty. Soak up the dreamy Caribbean bliss, or explore sprawling island rainforests, teeming with hummingbirds and the distant sounds of waterfalls, as you walk the island’s vine-tangled paths. A ride on Basseterre’s scenic sugar train is a rumbling, immersive journey through the heart of this Caribbean island of culture and vivid unspoiled scenery. Carriages that once transported crops of sugar cane to the city sweep around long curving bends, revealing a spectacular introduction to St. Kitts. The landscapes here are beautiful, and things are no less spectacular offshore, where glorious crystalline waters invite you to dive with turtles, and explore doomed wrecks like the River Taw ship – which has now exploded with marine life. In Basseterre itself, stop off to see the pea-green Berkeley Memorial clock, which stands in the Circus, surrounded by busy St. Kitts life. Independence Square is also waiting among the city’s charming Georgian buildings. Renamed from Pall Mall on the 19th of September 1983 - to celebrate the island’s independence - the pretty square gravitates around a colourful burbling fountain, and has a dark history, as a former slave market. Wary canons watch out over the waves far below at Brimstone Hill Fortress, a site of significant history, which dates back to 1690. Known as the ‘Gibraltar of the West Indies’ due to its importance at the heart of the British empire, St. Kitts was one of the first island in the West Indies to be colonised. Nowadays, its World Heritage Site fortress offers panoramic views along the coastline it was built to defend. |
| 27th27 | DecDec | 202626 | Deshaies, Guadeloupe | 08:00 | 18:00 |
| Deshaies’s natural, sheltered harbour, the deepest of the Caribbean, has always attracted seafarers. Long ago it was a haven for buccaneers and it’s said there’s still hidden treasure on the island. Postcard pretty, with painted wooden creole houses gathered around a little church, it won’t take you long to discover Deshaies’s a hidden gem. Whilst rightly associating Guadeloupe with transparent seas, lapping pristine beaches of coloured sands, the island of Basse-Terre boasts so much more. Benefitting from farsighted, ecological measures, both land and sea have been protected, resulting in a rich biodiversity waiting to be discovered. Whatever your energy levels, from the very active, to those who simply want to recharge their batteries, there’s a landscape just for you. Trek through tropical forests, passing hot springs and spectacular waterfalls to reach the smoldering crater of a volcano, bringing out the adventurer in you. Stroll around the manicured botanical gardens amongst jeweled coloured, exotic birds. Cool off whilst exploring from a huge choice of unspoilt beaches, including the famous expansive Grande Anse, with its red sands and palm trees. Dive deep in the water, swim with turtles. Revel in the panoramic beauty over a drink at sunset, accompanied by delicious, traditional Antilles cuisine. If any of this piece of paradise looks familiar, it could be because since 2011, it’s been the setting of the much enjoyed BCC television series Death in Paradise. Get in on the act! |
| 28th28 | DecDec | 202626 | At Sea | | |
| 29th29 | DecDec | 202626 | Kralendijk, Bonaire | 08:00 | 22:00 |
Bonaire's small, tidy capital city (population 3,000) is five minutes from the airport. The main drag, J.A. Abraham Boulevard, turns into Kaya Grandi in the center of town. Along it are most of the island's major stores, boutiques, and restaurants. Across Kaya Grandi, opposite the Littman’s jewelry store, is Kaya L.D. Gerharts, with several small supermarkets, a handful of snack shops, and some of the better restaurants. Walk down the narrow waterfront avenue called Kaya C.E.B. Hellmund, which leads straight to the North and South piers. In the center of town, the Harbourside Mall has chic boutiques. Along this route is Ft. Oranje, with its cannons. From December through April, cruise ships dock in the harbor once or twice a week. The diminutive ocher-and-white structure that looks like a tiny Greek temple is the produce market, where one can find plenty of fresh produce brought over from Venezuela. Pick up the brochure Walking and Shopping in Kralendijk from the tourist office to get a map and complete list of all the monuments and sights in the town. |
| 30th30 | DecDec | 202626 | Willemstad, Curaçao | 08:00 | 19:00 |
Dutch settlers came here in the 1630s, about the same time they sailed through the Verazzano Narrows to Manhattan, bringing with them original red-tile roofs, first used on the trade ships as ballast and later incorporated into the architecture of Willemstad. Much of the original colonial structures remain, but this historic city is constantly reinventing itself and the government monument foundation is always busy restoring buildings in one urban neighborhood or another. The salty air causes what is called "wall cancer" which causes the ancient abodes to continually crumble over time. The city is cut in two by Santa Anna Bay. On one side is Punda (the point)—crammed with shops, restaurants, monuments, and markets and a new museum retracing its colorful history. And on the other side is Otrobanda (literally meaning the "other side"), with lots of narrow, winding streets and alleyways (called "steekjes" in Dutch), full of private homes notable for their picturesque gables and Dutch-influenced designs. In recent years the ongoing regeneration of Otrobanda has been apparent, marked by a surge in development of new hotels, restaurants, and shops; the rebirth, concentrated near the waterfront, was spearheaded by the creation of the elaborate Kura Hulanda complex.There are three ways to cross the bay: by car over the Juliana Bridge; by foot over the Queen Emma pontoon bridge (locally called "The Swinging Old Lady"); or by free ferry, which runs when the pontoon bridge is swung open for passing ships. All the major hotels outside town offer free shuttle service to town once or twice daily. Shuttles coming from the Otrobanda side leave you at Riffort. From here it's a short walk north to the foot of the pontoon bridge. Shuttles coming from the Punda side leave you near the main entrance to Ft. Amsterdam. Bright and brilliant colours coat the waterfront buildings of Willemstad, gleaming attractively below the generous Caribbean sun. The capital of the Carribean island Curacao, Willemstad is famous for its technicolour UNESCO World Heritage Site city centre, and a narrow channel connects the sea with the Schottegat harbour, which expands inland like a blooming flower. Settled by the Dutch in the 1630s, they brought colourful architecture, lavish red-roofed mansions, and gorgeous European-style waterfront buildings to this beautiful Caribbean island. Watching over the entrance to this luxurious port is Rif Fort - a 19th-century fortress, which looms above the Sint Anna Bay channel. From here, wind your way to the Queen Emma Bridge - a pontoon bridge known as the Swinging Old Lady, which was built in 1888 to connect Otrobanda and Punda. Enjoy the wonderful views of Willemstad's lavish, pastel-coloured Punda waterfront set before you. Visit the small boats that pull up side by side to sell juicy fruits and vegetables, in a floating market on the waters below. At sunset, the gingerbread stretch bathes in lights, glowing evocatively as the last of the evening's light ebbs away. Wander Willemstad to discover the lemon-shaded Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, said to be the oldest synagogue in the Americas, see the historic liqueur distillery or head for Queen Wilhelmina Park - where the letters 'DUSHI' are spelt out in a standing sign. You'll hear this word a lot - the island's favourite way of describing the little things that make life worth living. The beaches of Curacao are certainly 'dushi', with tempting sandy curves on practically every corner. Snorkel in the turquoise waves, among dashing fish life and sleek sea turtles. |
| 31st31 | DecDec | 202626 | Oranjestad, Aruba | 08:00 | 17:00 |
Aruba's capital is easily explored on foot. Its palm-lined central thoroughfare runs between old and new pastel-painted buildings of typical Dutch design (Spanish influence is also evident in some of the architecture). There are a lot of malls with boutiques and shops—the Renaissance mall carries high-end luxury items and designer fashions. A massive renovation in downtown has given Main Street (a.k.a. Caya G. F. Betico Croes) behind the Renaissance Resort a whole new lease on life: boutique malls, shops, and restaurants have opened next to well-loved family-run businesses. The pedestrian-only walkway and resting areas have unclogged the street, and the new eco-trolley is free and a great way to get around. At this writing, Linear Park was well and will showcase local merchants and artists. There will be activities along a boardwalk that will eventually run all the way to the end of Palm Beach, making it the longest of its kind in the Caribbean. Stroll multi-coloured Oranjestad - the capital of enchanting Aruba - and feel the sun’s bronzing kiss, on the shores of one of the sunniest islands in the Caribbean. Settle in for a day on the beach, to relish the stunning weather on some of the region's finest shores - where white sands glow, gentle waves sparkle, and knotted divi divi trees lean. Offering sensational diving and snorkelling, you can swim in the shallow, warm waters, or head out on a catamaran or submarine to investigate further and deeper. If you can drag yourself away from the sparkling beaches and glowing turquoise waters, venture inland towards Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, which lie on the route to Aruba Natural Bridge. The vast natural arch collapsed in 2005, but picturesque Baby Bridge remains to take the plaudits at this scenic spot. The island takes its form from the looming, 165-metre-high volcanic hill called Hooiberg - named after the Dutch for ‘haystack’. The volcano's cone is omnipresent as you traverse the island, and if you’re up for a challenge, you can take the wheezy rise up the 650 steps to the lookout. You’ll climb among sunbathing iguanas, and reaching cacti, to views that unravel as far as Venezuela’s coastline on clear days. Visit the island's farms of butterflies and ostriches, or explore amongst Oranjestad's Spanish and Dutch flavours. Pick out bargains from the fancy shops of the colourful boutique-lined streets, or choose from local makers selling hand-crafted wares. The multicultural blend extends to the cuisine that’s cooked up, with a tantalising fusion of the best of Dutch, Asian and Caribbean flavours. |
| 1st01 | JanJan | 202727 | At Sea | | |
| 2nd02 | JanJan | 202727 | San Juan (Puerto Rico), Puerto Rico | 07:00 | 15:00 |
If you associate Puerto Rico's capital with the colonial streets of Old San Juan, then you know only part of the picture. San Juan is a major metropolis, radiating out from the bay on the Atlantic Ocean that was discovered by Juan Ponce de León. More than a third of the island's nearly 4 million citizens proudly call themselves sanjuaneros. The city may be rooted in the past, but it has its eye on the future. Locals go about their business surrounded by colonial architecture and towering modern structures.By 1508 the explorer Juan Ponce de León had established a colony in an area now known as Caparra, southeast of present-day San Juan. He later moved the settlement north to a more hospitable peninsular location. In 1521, after he became the first colonial governor, Ponce de León switched the name of the island—which was then called San Juan Bautista in honor of St. John the Baptist—with that of the settlement of Puerto Rico ("rich port").Defended by the imposing Castillo San Felipe del Morro (El Morro) and Castillo San Cristóbal, Puerto Rico's administrative and population center remained firmly in Spain's hands until 1898, when it came under U.S. control after the Spanish-American War. Centuries of Spanish rule left an indelible imprint on the city, particularly in the walled area now known as Old San Juan. The area is filled with cobblestone streets and brightly painted, colonial-era structures, and its fortifications have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Old San Juan is a monument to the past, but most of the rest of the city is planted firmly in the 21st century and draws migrants island-wide and from farther afield to jobs in its businesses and industries. The city captivates residents and visitors alike with its vibrant lifestyle as well as its balmy beaches, pulsing nightclubs, globe-spanning restaurants, and world-class museums. Once you set foot in this city, you may never want to leave. |
| 3rd03 | JanJan | 202727 | At Sea | | |
| 4th04 | JanJan | 202727 | At Sea | | |
| 5th05 | JanJan | 202727 | Miami, Florida, United States, disembark the Silver Ray | | |
Miami is one of the world’s most popular holiday spots. It has so much to offer; from its countless beach areas, to culture and museums, from spa and shopping days out, to endless cuban restaurants and cafes. Miami is a multicultural city that has something to offer to everyone. |
