Southern Caribbean

Spend the morning walking around Baltimore’s Inner Harbour, where majestic tall ships reveal this East Coast city’s rich maritime legacy. And be sure to visit the star-shaped Fort McHenry, birthplace of America’s ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ anthem.

No visit to Baltimore is complete without exploring the historic Inner Harbour. Step aboard a collection of impressive ships – a Pearl Harbour-era cutter, a 1930s lightship, a sail-powered warship dating back to 1797. Then stroll around brick walkways flanked by chic boutiques, restaurants serving mid-Atlantic seafood and photo-worthy views of the water.

Relive the Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry, where in 1814, by dawn’s early light, Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics of The Star-Spangled Banner, the United States’ national anthem. Enter this star-shaped citadel to follow a period-costumed guide around the grounds, watch an educational film and see a replica of the 15-starred American flag.

There’s nowhere quite like Labadee® – where you can chase an adrenaline rush on an alpine coaster one minute, and do some sun soaking the next. All right in the middle of rolling jungles and sparkling beaches. Cruise to Labadee and trek to the mountaintop to catch serious air on the world’s longest zip line over water – the Dragon’s Breath Flight LineSM. Or climb the only icebergs in the Caribbean at Arawak Aqua Park. If you just want to kick back and relax, grab our signature drink – the Labadoozie – and your own beach bungalow overlooking Nellie’s Beach. Or take a boat ride off Haiti’s shore for Caribbean hues and ocean views.

Puerto Plata is the Dominican Republic’s oldest city in the north and a tourism pioneer. Nestled by the ocean with a mountainous backdrop, the city offers a lively pier, which is known as the Malecon, colourful shops and opulent homes from the 1800s. The city is famous for Parque Independencia (also known as Parque Central), a park fringed by royal palms and Victorian architecture. In Puerto Plata, you can hop on a cable car for sky-high views, take a tour of the local cacao farms and buy some of the clearest amber in the world.

The largest of the US Virgin Islands, St Croix has it all – gorgeous natural scenery begging to be explored, and quaint colonial towns perfect for wandering. It used to be nicknamed the ‘Garden of the Antilles’ because of its lush fields of sugarcane – and its sugar mills dating back to the 18th century are still popular spots. But these days, it’s world-class dive sites like Salt River Canyon, powdery beaches like Cane Bay, and rainforests teeming with tropical wildlife that keep people coming back. Plus, award-winning rum of course. Cruise to St Croix and discover plenty of Victorian Dutch architecture and charming colonial churches in Frederiksted and Christiansted.

Fort-de-France is the largest city in the French West Indies – and it has personality to match. Life here is vibrant and fast-paced, and the culture is as colourful as the brightly painted shops that line the city’s cobblestoned streets. Cruise to Martinique and visit the 17th century Fort St Louis park in La Savane for a taste of local history. Or pop into the Cathedrale St Louis, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. If it’s beaches you’re after, Plage Anse d’Arlet is one of the island’s best. The sand here is golden, and the beach is dotted with plenty of bars and French-Caribbean fusion restaurants perfect for seaside snacks.

You’ll find that Bridgetown strikes a fine mix of island warmth and English heritage. Stately colonial buildings intermingle with colourful wooden homes, open-air markets and catch-of-the-day cafés. Outside of the bustle of ‘Town’, as the locals call it, Barbados is a new kind of paradise in every direction. Cruise to Barbados and head towards the shore for pink-and-white-sand beaches that stretch on endlessly and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Or stick to the centre of the island: you’ll find rolling hills and valleys, sugarcane fields and historic plantations. You can even travel underground to discover limestone caves with their own waterfalls.

From dramatic landscapes moulded by ancient volcanoes to sparkling palm-fringed beaches, St Lucia offers some amazing Caribbean eye candy. Luxury resorts nestle up to the natural beauty, giving this island just the right touch of exclusivity. Cruise to St Lucia and explore the coast by catamaran. Hike to the peaks of the soaring twin Pitons. Tour rainforests and explore the fishing villages of Anse-La-Raye. Or take a relaxing dip in warm mineral pools heated by the dormant volcano of Soufriere. In the capital of Castries, you’ll find touches of French and British heritage, from the architecture to the cuisine.

Greens in every shade spring from the rolling hills of St Kitts – an island ripe with eco-tourism adventures. In the port city of Basseterre, you’ll find centuries of history to explore in impressive estates and photo-worthy monuments like the Brimstone Hill Fortress, one of the most well-preserved military structures in the Americas. Cruise to St Cruise to St Kitts & Nevis and venture beyond the port and gear up for a unique climb up the 1,152-metre Mount Liamuiga volcano for views that are well worth the hike. Or hop in a kayak to get up close to a rainbow of tropical reef fish. Looking for something a little more laid back? Escape to the tiny unhurried sister island, Nevis, for smooth golden beaches and clear-water snorkelling – it’s just a thirty-minute ferry ride away.

Spend the morning walking around Baltimore’s Inner Harbour, where majestic tall ships reveal this East Coast city’s rich maritime legacy. And be sure to visit the star-shaped Fort McHenry, birthplace of America’s ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ anthem.

No visit to Baltimore is complete without exploring the historic Inner Harbour. Step aboard a collection of impressive ships – a Pearl Harbour-era cutter, a 1930s lightship, a sail-powered warship dating back to 1797. Then stroll around brick walkways flanked by chic boutiques, restaurants serving mid-Atlantic seafood and photo-worthy views of the water.

Relive the Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry, where in 1814, by dawn’s early light, Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics of The Star-Spangled Banner, the United States’ national anthem. Enter this star-shaped citadel to follow a period-costumed guide around the grounds, watch an educational film and see a replica of the 15-starred American flag.