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Christmas Transatlantic

Cruise itinerary - Christmas Transatlantic

What's included...

  • Gratuities - no need to tip!
  • Top class onboard activities/entertainment
  • 24 hour dining
  • Port taxes

Sailing Dates

05 Dec 10

Cities, sights and sensational scenery...

This festive extravaganza combines two of our most popular cruises – Tropical Transatlantic and Coral Islands. Your first port of call is Madeira, where exotic blooms, rollercoaster hills and cascading waterfalls give you a taste of things to come. Leaving Europe behind, you’ll spend six days crossing the deep blue to get to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. First up is Barbados – the pear-shaped calypso isle with ice-white sand and a distinctly British personality. Then there’s St Lucia. One of the prettiest islands in this neck of the woods, it’s the original Caribbean cliché – all rainforests, banana plantations and gold-dust beaches. Swapping one paradise isle for another, you’re off to Dominica next. This place is known as the Island of Waterfalls, and with 365 rivers to its name, it’s safe to say crystal cascades are in no short supply. There’s Trafalgar, Victoria and Sari-Sari, to name a few. Antigua is the next isle in the spotlight. If Dominica is the Island of Waterfalls, then this is the Island of Beaches. It’s got a different stretch of sand for every day of the year. On day 14 it’s off to Tortola. Here, botanical gardens jostle for space with rainforests and white sand beaches. But the world below the waves is every bit as beautiful, so book yourself a scuba session and dive in. Next on the agenda is the Dominican Republic, followed by St Vincent. The Soufriere volcano steals the limelight at the latter – make the lengthy trek to the top for great 360-degree views. Next it’s back to Barbados and Dominica, before heading to one of the Caribbean’s lesser-known islands –St Kitts. Prepare to have your breath taken away several times over, because it’s the scenery that’s the star of the show here. Then you’ll return to Tortola for one last day in paradise.

1

Sunday, Lisbon - PORTUGAL 

  • Lisbon’s enjoying a long-awaited spell in the limelight, and quite rightly so. Famous for its infectious energy, Portugal’s trendy capital stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Madrid and Barcelona.

  • Stroll through tram-clattering cobbled streets taking in gems like Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower, an ancient castle guarding Lisbon’s harbour.
  • Make a beeline for Alfama, the ancient Arab quarter, and haggle for take-home trinkets in its atmospheric Thieves Market.
  • Fall in love with the town of Sintra. Loved by Portuguese royalty and English nobility, its thick forests and surrealist architecture are a refreshing contrast from urban Lisbon.
See shore excursions

2

Monday, At Sea 

3

Tuesday, Madeira - FUNCHAL  08:00 - 17:00

  • Sweeter than wine, Madeira’s a fine excuse to binge on beautiful scenery to your heart’s content. Funchal is the island’s capital, a bewitching collection of cobbled streets, quaint museums and buzzing café and restaurant life.

  • Get to know Funchal. This spellbinding city is a portion of Portugal sprinkled with a dash of Garden of Eden and Edwardian Britain. The whole place seems to be smothered in vivid bougainvillea, jasmine and other exotic blooms. Don’t miss the covered market, a dizzying montage of exotic fruit stalls and flower-sellers wearing traditional costume. And take a look at the city’s impressive Sé cathedral with its ornate ceiling and artworks.
  • If you’re really into blooms, meander around Funchal’s tranquil Botanical Gardens, admiring their dazzling displays of orchids, cacti and Madeira’s iconic dragon trees.
  • Take a cable car up to the mountain village of Monte and hurtle back down the cobbles towards Funchal in a wicker toboggan.
  • Gaze in awe at the colossal Cabo Girao, one of the world’s largest coastal cliffs. Then take in the simple charms of the quaint fishing village, Camara de Lobos, one of Winston Churchill’s favourite retreats.
  • Sign up for a jeep safari to explore parts of the island that are usually off limits.
  • Last but not least, make the obligatory visit to a wine lodge to learn Madeira’s age-old wine making secrets.
See shore excursions

4

Wednesday, At Sea 

5

Thursday, At Sea 

6

Friday, At Sea 

7

Saturday, At Sea 

8

Sunday, At Sea 

9

Monday, At Sea 

10

Tuesday, Bridgetown - BARBADOS  09:00 - 18:00

  • A hypnotic calypso isle, Barbados is the ultimate Caribbean dream. And at just 21 miles by 14 miles, the island really is your oyster. Of course, it’s most famous for its palm-fringed beaches, but there’s more than talcum powder sands here. We’re talking a duty-free shopping scene. Gorgeous green countryside. And sights that are second to none. In a coconut shell, it’s the small island with a big fan base.

  • Take a tram ride through a labyrinth of underground caverns at Harrison’s Cave in St Thomas. A natural phenomenon that has to be seen to be believed, it’s all sparkling streams, playful waterfalls and stalactites and stalagmites that shimmer in shady tunnels.
  • Let your senses go into overload at the Andromeda Gardens in the village of Bathsheba. The sweet smell of orchids and hibiscus follows you at these botanical gardens, which boast one of the finest collections in the Caribbean.
  • Get an introduction to the ageing, blending and bottling of the island’s favourite tipple at the Mount Gay Rum Visitors Centre in Bridgetown. And once you’ve learned all the secrets, taste the liquid gold yourself.
See shore excursions

11

Wednesday, Castries - ST LUCIA  08:00 - 18:00

  • This truly tropical isle is one of the prettiest in the Caribbean. Think glossy rainforests showered in sunbeams. Vivid yellow banana plantations. And striking, syrup-coloured sands that simply demand your tanning time. The coral reefs are out of this world, too. Be dazzled by the rainbow of colours hidden beneath the waves, then let the St Lucian sun gently dry your skin. For a paradise escape, this place comes up trumps every time.

  • Drive through this gorgeous canvas that showcases some of Mother Nature’s finest handiwork. Pass Soufriere’s ‘drive through’ volcano as you head for the spires of Les Pitons. These towering twin cones of volcanic rock are St Lucia’s trademark.
  • Unroll your beach towel in Rodney Bay, one of the most popular beaches on the island. Or head for Anse Chastanet beach where the dark volcanic sand is overlooked by Les Pitons.
  • Pick up a bargain in the Castries market, an amazing swirl of crafts, fruits and the hum of Creole conversation. For a more upmarket, but still good value, shopping experience, try Pointe Seraphine, a duty-free shopping centre next to the harbour.
  • Take a boat trip to the nearby Grenadines. Leave your footprints in snow-white sands, swim in translucent waters and indulge in net-fresh seafood.
See shore excursions

12

Thursday, Portsmouth - DOMINICA  08:00 - 18:00

  • Known as the island of waterfalls, Dominica is as green as it is unspoilt. Fairly off the tourist trail, this exotic isle is a paradise for nature lovers. In fact, it’s one of the Caribbean hotspots for scuba-diving and rainforest trekking. And of course, it’s got some superb beaches. Not the snow-white variety you’d expect, but dramatic volcanic sweeps and secluded coves hidden by greenery. Have your camera at the ready…

  • Make your way through the rainforest of canopied ferns and soaring trees in Canefield and you’ll arrive at the Emerald Pool. A sparkling grotto at the foot of a 12-metre waterfall, it’s the perfect place for a cooling dip.

  • Don’t miss the chance to river tube down Dominica’s biggest river, River Layou. You’ll climb into what looks like a giant rubber ring, before battling currents, rocks and rapids as you head downstream. It’s great fun, and gives you fantastic close-up views of the island’s jungle-like scenery.

  • Get to know Dominica’s fascinating past with a visit to a traditional Carib village. Carib Indians were the first residents of the island, and their villages look pretty much the same as they did a hundred years ago. Cue thatched-roof wooden huts surrounded by banana plantations and coconut farms.
See shore excursions

13

Friday, St John's - ANTIGUA  08:00 - 17:00

  • If you’re a big fan of the beach, prepare to lose your heart to this place. Antiguans like to boast they have a different one for every day of the year. Without doubt, porcelain, palm-fringed sands and still turquoise waters are the star of this island show. But that’s not all Antigua’s got to boast about. Get ready for towns in a rainbow riot of colours. Quiet countryside that slumbers in the sunshine. And cuisine as sublime as those moon-white shores.

  • Sink your toes into soft sand and wade through waters too blue to be true. A good place to head is Dickenson Bay, a wide strip dotted with thatched beach bars. Or pack up your snorkel and flippers and head north to Paradise Reef, a marine explorer’s dream.
  • Hit the shops in St John’s, Antigua’s bright and breezy capital. Plump for island crafts or up the spending in the duty-free complexes. Afterwards, take a look at the mighty domed towers of the city’s Baroque cathedral, Antigua’s most famous landmark.
  • Pull up a chair in one of St John’s restaurants and order the locals’ favourite, pepperpot stew, a tasty concoction of salt beef, pumpkin and okra. With a little legwork you’ll find some really unusual settings - old sugar mills, former slave quarters and 17th-century inns are among the top contenders.
  • For a small island there’s loads of history to soak up. During the 1700s Antigua’s coastline was littered with British forts. Today most of these military strongholds lie in ruins but they’re great vantage points. Try Fort Barrington and Fort James in St John's for coastal views that’ll take your breath away.
See shore excursions

14

Saturday, Road Town - BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS  08:00 - 14:00

  • Nature’s the star attraction of Tortola. Ancient rainforests hog the limelight. Beautiful botanical gardens vie for your attention. And opal-white beaches like Apple Bay and Smuggler’s Cove really steal the show. It’s wild. It’s wondrous. It’s waiting.

  • Head for Road Town’s pretty Main Street. Here, you’ll find a medley of shops, museums and historical buildings. And you won’t be able to resist snapping away at the brightly-painted bungalows either.
  • Soak up the beauty of Sage Mountain National Park. The British Virgin Island’s highest point, it’s an oasis of tropical vines, trees and plants. You can even saddle up and explore by horseback.
  • Surround yourself in serenity at J R O’Neal Botanical Gardens in Road Town. Showcasing a rainforest, orchid house and tropical bird houses, it’s the perfect place to get back to nature.
See shore excursions

15

Sunday, La Romana - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC  08:00 - 20:00

  • A Caribbean and Latin-fused favourite, it’s easy to see why Columbus labelled the Dominican Republic as ‘the fairest land under heaven’. It’s got all the tropical ingredients you could wish for. And this southeast corner is no exception. Shop for jewellery made of locally mined amber. Feast on the Spanish, African and Taino cuisine. Or explore the Chavron River, which landed a starring role in the film ‘Apocalypse Now’.

  • Join in the creative buzz at Altos de Chavon, just north of La Romana. This unique artists’ village is a replica of a 17th-century Mediterranean village and gazes down over the gorge of the Chavron River. You’ll find artists’ studios, craft shops and restaurants here.
  • Discover the historical treasure trove at Santo Domingo, the New World's oldest colonial city. You can follow in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus here around the colonial zone. Photograph the magnificent Columbus lighthouse where the great man's remains are under constant guard. Or walk down the first street in the Americas and stop for a haggle in the market.
  • It’s well worth the journey up to the bewitching Semana Peninsula. As well as having rainforests in every shade of green and angel-white sands, it’s the humpback whales that are the big draw here. They visit the area for some major speed-dating sessions during the mating season so you’ve got a good chance of glimpsing these creatures in their natural habitat.
See shore excursions

16

Monday, At Sea 

17

Tuesday, Kingstown - ST VINCENT  08:00 - 18:00

  • Somewhat unfairly, St Vincent is often overlooked in favour of its little brothers and sisters – the neighbouring Grenadines. But those who do stop here are in for a treat. Deserted beaches and untouched forest stretch for miles, interrupted only by the occasional cobbled town or dormant volcano. Kingstown is the main hub, its arched stone doors and covered walkways giving a nod to days gone by.

  • Topping the sightseeing list in Kingstown is the 19th-century St Mary’s Cathedral. An elaborate mishmash of different architectural styles, it’s all Romanesque arches, Gothic spires and Moorish ornaments.
  • Lace up your hiking boots and make the three-mile trek to the summit of St Vincent’s Soufriere volcano. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with the best views on the island.
  • Head to the north of Kingstown and take in the oldest botanical gardens of the western hemisphere. Among all the trees, shrubs and flowers, you’re likely to spot the island’s multi-coloured national bird – the St Vincent Parrot.
  • Walk the streets of one of the island’s postcard-pretty fishing villages. Questelles, Barrouallie and Châteaubelair offer up a charming mix of pastel-coloured cottages and traditional little cafés serving the catch of the day.
See shore excursions

18

Wednesday, Bridgetown - BARBADOS  08:00 - 18:00

  • A hypnotic calypso isle, Barbados is the ultimate Caribbean dream. And at just 21 miles by 14 miles, the island really is your oyster. Of course, it’s most famous for its palm-fringed beaches, but there’s more than talcum powder sands here. We’re talking a duty-free shopping scene. Gorgeous green countryside. And sights that are second to none. In a coconut shell, it’s the small island with a big fan base.

  • Take a tram ride through a labyrinth of underground caverns at Harrison’s Cave in St Thomas. A natural phenomenon that has to be seen to be believed, it’s all sparkling streams, playful waterfalls and stalactites and stalagmites that shimmer in shady tunnels.
  • Let your senses go into overload at the Andromeda Gardens in the village of Bathsheba. The sweet smell of orchids and hibiscus follows you at these botanical gardens, which boast one of the finest collections in the Caribbean.
  • Get an introduction to the ageing, blending and bottling of the island’s favourite tipple at the Mount Gay Rum Visitors Centre in Bridgetown. And once you’ve learned all the secrets, taste the liquid gold yourself.
See shore excursions

19

Thursday, Portsmouth - DOMINICA  08:00 - 18:00

  • Known as the island of waterfalls, Dominica is as green as it is unspoilt. Fairly off the tourist trail, this exotic isle is a paradise for nature lovers. In fact, it’s one of the Caribbean hotspots for scuba-diving and rainforest trekking. And of course, it’s got some superb beaches. Not the snow-white variety you’d expect, but dramatic volcanic sweeps and secluded coves hidden by greenery. Have your camera at the ready…

  • Make your way through the rainforest of canopied ferns and soaring trees in Canefield and you’ll arrive at the Emerald Pool. A sparkling grotto at the foot of a 12-metre waterfall, it’s the perfect place for a cooling dip.

  • Don’t miss the chance to river tube down Dominica’s biggest river, River Layou. You’ll climb into what looks like a giant rubber ring, before battling currents, rocks and rapids as you head downstream. It’s great fun, and gives you fantastic close-up views of the island’s jungle-like scenery.

  • Get to know Dominica’s fascinating past with a visit to a traditional Carib village. Carib Indians were the first residents of the island, and their villages look pretty much the same as they did a hundred years ago. Cue thatched-roof wooden huts surrounded by banana plantations and coconut farms.
See shore excursions

20

Friday, Basseterre - ST KITTS  08:00 - 18:00

  • One of the British Leeward Islands, St Kitts is one of the Caribbean’s pearls. Once an illustrious sugar colony, it now focuses its efforts on being a tropical paradise. And it excels in every sense, with its seductive blend of blonde sands and duck-egg blue seas. Away from the shores though, you’ll find plenty of historic sights to tick off your checklist. Or why not pop across to the neighbouring island of Nevis, which is just three kilometres over The Narrows channel?

  • Step back in time in Basseterre, the island’s capital, which sits in the foothills of the Olivees Mountains. Wander through the historic district where you can see much of the Georgian elegance from Nelson’s days. The centrepiece here is the ‘Circus’ – a roundabout modelled on London’s Piccadilly.
  • Soak up the jaw-dropping views over lush sugarcane fields from the 17th-century Brimstone Hill Fortress. Once known as the Gibraltar of the West Indies, this major British garrison was abandoned in 1850. Now, it’s been restored back to its grand former self, with cannons, swords and the like all on display.
  • Have a wander around Charlestown in Nevis, St Kitts’ sister island. More a sleepy backwater than a city, you can take in the colonial buildings here, many of which house museums like the Museum of Nevis History. You can also check out the Botanical Garden of Nevis. Don’t miss the tropical beauties that find a home in the beautiful rainforest conservatory.
See shore excursions

21

Saturday, Road Town - BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS  08:00 - 14:00

  • Nature’s the star attraction of Tortola. Ancient rainforests hog the limelight. Beautiful botanical gardens vie for your attention. And opal-white beaches like Apple Bay and Smuggler’s Cove really steal the show. It’s wild. It’s wondrous. It’s waiting.

  • Head for Road Town’s pretty Main Street. Here, you’ll find a medley of shops, museums and historical buildings. And you won’t be able to resist snapping away at the brightly-painted bungalows either.
  • Soak up the beauty of Sage Mountain National Park. The British Virgin Island’s highest point, it’s an oasis of tropical vines, trees and plants. You can even saddle up and explore by horseback.
  • Surround yourself in serenity at J R O’Neal Botanical Gardens in Road Town. Showcasing a rainforest, orchid house and tropical bird houses, it’s the perfect place to get back to nature.
See shore excursions

22

Sunday, La Romana - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 

  • A Caribbean and Latin-fused favourite, it’s easy to see why Columbus labelled the Dominican Republic as ‘the fairest land under heaven’. It’s got all the tropical ingredients you could wish for. And this southeast corner is no exception. Shop for jewellery made of locally mined amber. Feast on the Spanish, African and Taino cuisine. Or explore the Chavron River, which landed a starring role in the film ‘Apocalypse Now’.

  • Join in the creative buzz at Altos de Chavon, just north of La Romana. This unique artists’ village is a replica of a 17th-century Mediterranean village and gazes down over the gorge of the Chavron River. You’ll find artists’ studios, craft shops and restaurants here.
  • Discover the historical treasure trove at Santo Domingo, the New World's oldest colonial city. You can follow in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus here around the colonial zone. Photograph the magnificent Columbus lighthouse where the great man's remains are under constant guard. Or walk down the first street in the Americas and stop for a haggle in the market.
  • It’s well worth the journey up to the bewitching Semana Peninsula. As well as having rainforests in every shade of green and angel-white sands, it’s the humpback whales that are the big draw here. They visit the area for some major speed-dating sessions during the mating season so you’ve got a good chance of glimpsing these creatures in their natural habitat.
See shore excursions

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