Grand Caribbean Cruise From New York

Itinerary

• Day 1 - Fly from London, UK to New York, USA
  Overnight hotel stay. Spend your first day soaking the unique buzz of Manhattan by heading to Times Square. This central hub of midtown Manhattan is a great starting point from which to explore. Head a couple of blocks north to Central Park. Head west on 42nd Street from some great shows or two blocks east via the Rockerfeller Centre for the shopping on 5th Avenue. While several blocks to the south will take you to 34th Street for Macys and the Empire State Building.
• Day 2 - New York, USA
  A further overnight hotel stay. Explore this buzzing city in a continual sweep starting in Central Park and working south towards Wall Street and Battery Park where boat trips depart for The Statue of Liberty and the fascinating Immigration Museum on Ellis Island. Definitely take advantage of the shopping on 5th Avenue and benefit from lower prices due to the exchange rate. Stop off for a coffee in the golden atrium of the Trump Tower and stroll through the Rockerfelller centre on your way to marvel at the bright lights of Times Square. Soak up the panoramic views from the viewing platform at the top of the Empire State Building as the sun sets over the horizon and the lights twinkle on.
• Day 3 - New York, USA
  Embark ship and set sail at 1700 enjoying the sail-away party as the ship eases away from her berth out into New York Harbour. Get your cameras at the ready as the ship slips past the Statue of Liberty and squeezes under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge with the famous Manhattan skyline disappearing on the horizon.
• Day 4-5 - At sea
  Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
• Day 6 - Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
  The Dominican Republic is one of the Caribbean's most geographically diverse countries, with stunning mountain scenery, desert scrublands, evocative colonial architecture and beaches galore.
• Day 7 - San Juan, Puerto Rico
  San Juan is the capital of the island which is 110 miles long by 40 miles wide and was claimed by Christopher Columbus for Spain in 1493. Spain possessed Puerto Rico for over 400 years, despite attempts by France, the Netherlands, and England to capture the island. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States where Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. Attractions include Bioluminescent Bay- a truly brilliant natural wonder, this bay, particularly on moonless nights, literally glows in the dark. Flamenco beach is in a nearly wave-less, sheltered cove where fish swim right up to the edge of the water that is waist deep for quite a stretch and has at least 20 yards of crystal clear visibility underwater. Visit the El Yunque rainforest where you can swim in the waterfall.
• Day 8 - Philipsburg, Saint Maarten
  This island was settled at different periods buy both the Dutch and the French so there are two distinct halves to the island. The capital is Philipsburg where the cruise ships dock at the quayside. This is a delightful warren of narrow streets with interesting shops and leafy courtyard cafes. This is a wonderful place to wander around starting in Wathey Square where you will fund a fine collection of West Indian Gingerbread houses. The French Capital is Marigot- worth visiting for its markets, cafe lined waterfront and the chic boutiques of Marina Port La Royale.
• Day 9 - Tortola, British Virgin islands
  This is the largest of the British Virgin Islands and as a result they drive on the left (as in the UK) - confusing the American tourists-Road Town is the capital and is nestled at bottom of a backdrop of mountains. There are 2 cruise terminals within walking distance to the shops. Just up an over the mountain on the other side of the island is the popular Cane Garden Beach - this is a lovely palm fringed sweep of white sand. It takes about 10-15 minutes to get there with some magnificent views of the island and the cost is -6 in a shared minibus - taxi. There is an opportunity to swim with the dolphins in the dolphin sanctuary just to the South of Road Town. Also another must here are the Baths at Virgin Gorda - the massive volcanic boulders which form secluded pools and grottos.
• Day 10 - Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas
  St Thomas is part of the US Virgin Islands and THE duty free shoppers paradise in the Caribbean. Charlotte Amalie is the capital and this quaint town is a joy to walk around with its cobbled streets and alley ways filled with the best shops in the Caribbean but not so much -in your face- as the other islands. Unlike most of the other islands this is the US of A in the Caribbean it is clean, organised and well run- you may think that you are in one of the Florida Keys. The best beach is Magen's Bay (voted one of the top 10 beaches of the world) and is approximately six-miles away from the capital on the other side of the island.
• Day 11-13 - At sea
  Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.