Imagine a perfect tropical island some with lush volcanic peaks rising dramatically above the sea, others with a palm-fringed beach with crystal clear water or a harbor dotted with yachts and lined with inviting restaurants and boutiques. Whatever your ideal island escape looks like, you are likely to find it in the Caribbean. The warm waters of the sea are host to some 7,000 different islands belonging to 28 nations. It is a varied lot in terms of topography—and culturally, too, with Americans, Dutch, English, French and Spanish, among others, having left their marks on this sun-kissed corner of the world. Now it’s your turn to explore it. 

​

Your cruise starts and ends in Fort Lauderdale where you'll find yourself somewhere between laid-back island time and the fast pace of a thriving city. In this sun-filled, year-round beach town, pristine beaches with shimmering blue waters, swaying palm trees and soft ocean breezes will greet you. It is a place where you can do as much, or as little, as you desire. Because of its many canals and waterways, Ft. Lauderdale is sometimes called the Venice of America. Visitors can easily get a taste of the area's nautical lifestyle by cruising the Intracoastal Waterway on an old-fashioned paddle wheeler. Other options include hopping aboard one of the popular water taxis or Venetian gondolas that glide down the historic New River, which flows right through town. Visitors will find world-class shopping on famous Las Olas Boulevard, celebrated restaurants and a cultural explosion in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District.

​

Your first port of call is Key West where you will notice the colorful gingerbread wooden houses and the amazing sunsets.  Roosters, along with their quieter-clucking mates—roam the streets and are nearly as synonymous with Key West as its six-toed cats, the famous furry residents of Ernest Hemingway’s mansion in the Old Town district. They’re all part of the quirky charm of the United States' southernmost point, whose compact 4.2 square miles pack in everything from gorgeous historic architecture and spectacular fishing and sailing to a raucous party scene along famed Duval Street. While the island is known for its laid-back approach to life—“Margaritaville” singer Jimmy Buffett developed his signature musical style in bars around town—it also has a flourishing creative scene, with many galleries and artists' studios as well as live theater. 

​

Following a relaxing day at sea you will be in one of the most photogenic spots in the Caribbean, the island of Turks & Caicos where you can enjoy sugar-white sand, brilliant blue waters and a  kaleidoscopic of sea life. Grand Turk, a jewel of an isle that measures just seven square miles, is awesomely rich in natural wonders. Ringed by translucent warm waters teeming with coral and fish, it’s a bonanza for divers, snorkelers and anglers. Of course, you can always simply kick back and just enjoy the view from under a palm tree or beach umbrella. Or explore the fascinating history of Turks & Caicos in its capital, Cockburn Town, which is lined with Bermudan-style buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries.

​

Located on the Dominican Republic's north coast, the port of Amber Cove, near Puerto Plata, is a new phenomenon. Built in 2015, the area was fashioned as an homage to the country’s colonial architecture and features restaurants, bars and shops, as well as an activity center, a pool and cabanas. The neighboring region, known as the Amber Coast for its plethora of the semiprecious stone, is this port’s true draw. Along with golden-sand beaches and dramatic cliffs, there's the city of Puerto Plata, one of the Caribbean’s oldest, founded in the early 1500's. Another nearby option is Santiago de los Caballeros, known locally as simply Santiago, about an hour's drive from the port. The second-largest city in the Dominican Republic, it is home to excellent museums, historic buildings and cigar and rum makers.

​

The Caribbean is full of tropical wonders but there’s nothing like Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s 2,400-acre private island paradise in the Bahamas. The most authentic, highest-rated private-island experience in the region, Half Moon Cay has won Porthole Cruise Magazine’s Best Private Island award 17 consecutive years, and was also named the best in Travel Weekly's Readers' Choice Awards. One visit and it’s easy to see why Holland America Line guests wish they could stay here forever. Uncrowded and unspoiled, it combines the unparalleled natural beauty of a protected preserve with access to a wide range of amenities and activities. With miles of pristine, white-sand beach, guests can stay busy all day or simply luxuriate in tranquil solitude. 

​