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Coral Islands

Cruise itinerary - Coral Islands

What's included...

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

Sailing Dates

19 Dec 10

02 Jan 11

30 Jan 11

13 Feb 11

13 Mar 11

27 Mar 11

Cities, sights and sensational scenery...

Calling at Caribbean titans like Barbados and St Kitts, this cruise ticks off glossy rainforests, colourful villages and more beaches than you’ll have time to count. Things kick off in the Dominican Republic, the country Columbus declared the fairest in the world. Next, you’ll head out to sea, arriving in St Vincent on day three. The island’s Soufriere volcano steals the limelight – trek to the top for great 360-degree views. Alternatively, head to the botanical gardens, where you’re likely to spot rainbow-coloured parrots among the shrubs and blooms. Next it’s on to Barbados, where cricket grounds and old English churches sit side-by-side with palm-fringed beaches and rum shops. After getting your fill of white sands, take to the water for some swimming or snorkelling with turtles. The second half of your cruise takes you to the Caribbean’s lesser-known islands – Dominica, St Kitts and Tortola. Prepare to have your breath taken away several times over, because it’s the scenery that’s the star of the show in these places. Dominica is known as the Island of Waterfalls, Tortola is full of ancient rainforests and hot mineral pools, and St Kitts is all about the beaches.

1

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

2

Monday, At Sea 

3

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

4

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

5

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.

6

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

7

Saturday, Road Town - TORTOLA  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

8

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

What about Cruise & Stay?

Extend your holiday - add a week's stay

  • Your holiday doesn't have to end just because your ship has docked for the last time. You can extend your holiday with our Cruise and Stay option
  • It means you spend a week cruising and another week at one of our hotels and apartments.
  • Or you can do it the other way round if you like - the hotel first and the cruise second.

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