9 Night Best Of
Southern Caribbean - Christmas

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Known as the 'Venice of America,' Fort Lauderdale is a city of
islands, built on a network of canals, rivers, bays, and waterways.
With 23 miles (37km) of beaches, this is a popular stop for cruise
ships in Florida. This sophisticated yet casual resort town
situated in the heart of the Gold Coast, attracts families and
couples from all over the United States, and beyond.

Boating is a favourite Fort Lauderdale pastime, as is cycling,
or simply strolling along the beachfront promenade. Near Fort
Lauderdale, divers can enjoy one of the only living coral reefs in
the United States accessible from shore. There are sporting
facilities galore throughout the city, particularly the world
renown golf courses.

Those in search of culture will be captivated by the Broward
Center for the Performing Arts, the Florida Grand Opera, the annual
Film Festival, and numerous art galleries and museums. Fort
Lauderdale's downtown shopping street is the broad avenue of Las
Olas along the river, lined with fashion boutiques, art galleries,
restaurants, and sidewalk cafés. Diners are supremely well catered
for, with more than 3,500 restaurants covering greater Fort
Lauderdale. These range from intimate cafés to al fresco waterfront
terraces, quaint bistros, and ethnic eateries to cosy steakhouses.
As with most of Florida, the local treat is fresh seafood.

Fort Lauderdale's facilities and attractions will please any
visitor on holiday, and if that is not enough, the exciting city of
Miami lies only 40 miles (64km) away, perfect for a day trip.

Philipsburg

The capital of Dutch St. Maarten stretches about a mile (1½ km) along an isthmus between Great Bay and the Salt Pond and has five parallel streets. Most of the village's dozens of shops and restaurants are on Front Street, narrow and cobblestone, closest to Great Bay. It's generally congested when cruise ships are in port, because of its many duty-free shops and several casinos. Little lanes called steegjes connect Front Street with Back Street, which has fewer shops and considerably less congestion. Along the beach is a ½-mile-long (1-km-long) boardwalk with restaurants and several Wi-Fi hot spots.Wathey Square (pronounced watty) is in the heart of the village. Directly across from the square are the town hall and the courthouse, in a striking white building with cupola. The structure was built in 1793 and has served as the commander's home, a fire station, a jail, and a post office. The streets surrounding the square are lined with hotels, duty-free shops, restaurants, and cafés. The Captain Hodge Pier, just off the square, is a good spot to view Great Bay and the beach that stretches alongside.

Saint John's

Antigua is the largest of the English-speaking Leeward Islands and is usually the first stop for visitors to Antigua and Barbuda. The island boasts a whopping 365 glorious beaches a near-perfect climate and plenty to occupy the visitor. Antigua is home to St John's the island's capital with the magnificently evocative white Baroque towers of St John's Cathedral dominating the city's skyline. Built in 1845 the church is now in its third incarnation as earthquakes in 1683 and in 1745 destroyed the previous structures. The towers are the first sight of Antigua for about half of the island's visitors each year many of whom arrive by boat.With its recently completed cruise ship dock and many hotels St John's is a lively hub for shopping and dining. Most tourist activity is confined to the harbour-front complexes of Heritage Quay a favourite for cruise ship passengers and the more traditional Redcliffe Quay. For those interested in the early history of the island there is the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda housed in the colonial Court House (circa 1750). The museum displays artefacts from the colonial period and from the earlier Arawak settlers who lived on the islands between 35 and 1100 AD. On Friday and Saturday mornings there is a vibrant farmers market on the southern edge of the city where folk crafts colourful tropical fruits and a buzzing crowd make for a lively morning.Antigua's highest point is Boggy's Peak at 1 319 feet (402m) but the island is mostly flat and covered with sugar cane tropical fruit trees palms and exotic flowers. For those tired of lazing on the beach there is sailing diving snorkelling beachcombing and other leisurely pursuits on offer.

Castries

The main reason for the existence of the town of Castries capital of St Lucia is as a port of call for hundreds of cruise ships that dock in the deep harbour every year disgorging thousands of day-trippers who shop till they drop in the market and duty-free shopping malls. Visitors who linger find the town has a certain charm surrounded by hills although little to offer in the way of sightseeing or architectural heritage. Most of the buildings are fairly new with Castries having been destroyed several times by fire during its history most recently in 1948. There is a very vibrant and colourful market on the go every day except Sunday some good waterfront restaurants and a few remains of the defences of the island's various occupiers to claim the attention. Castries also serves as a good base for island exploration whether it is by road or water.

Basseterre, Saint Kitts

Basseterre is the capital city of Saint Kitts and Nevis, in the West Indies. It is also the main port and commercial center for the island nation. The city has a long and rich history, dating back to the early days of European colonization.

The city was named by the French after Christopher Columbus, who stopped here on his second voyage to the New World in 1493. The city was then known as Basseterre de Guadeloupe, or Basseterre of Guadeloupe. It was one of the first European settlements in the Caribbean and quickly became an important trading port.

In the 17th century, the British took control of the island and renamed it Basseterre. The city remained an important port and commercial center under British rule.

Today, Basseterre is a busy and vibrant city with a population of around 13,000. It is a popular tourist destination, with its beautiful beaches, historic buildings, and lively nightlife.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Known as the 'Venice of America,' Fort Lauderdale is a city of
islands, built on a network of canals, rivers, bays, and waterways.
With 23 miles (37km) of beaches, this is a popular stop for cruise
ships in Florida. This sophisticated yet casual resort town
situated in the heart of the Gold Coast, attracts families and
couples from all over the United States, and beyond.

Boating is a favourite Fort Lauderdale pastime, as is cycling,
or simply strolling along the beachfront promenade. Near Fort
Lauderdale, divers can enjoy one of the only living coral reefs in
the United States accessible from shore. There are sporting
facilities galore throughout the city, particularly the world
renown golf courses.

Those in search of culture will be captivated by the Broward
Center for the Performing Arts, the Florida Grand Opera, the annual
Film Festival, and numerous art galleries and museums. Fort
Lauderdale's downtown shopping street is the broad avenue of Las
Olas along the river, lined with fashion boutiques, art galleries,
restaurants, and sidewalk cafés. Diners are supremely well catered
for, with more than 3,500 restaurants covering greater Fort
Lauderdale. These range from intimate cafés to al fresco waterfront
terraces, quaint bistros, and ethnic eateries to cosy steakhouses.
As with most of Florida, the local treat is fresh seafood.

Fort Lauderdale's facilities and attractions will please any
visitor on holiday, and if that is not enough, the exciting city of
Miami lies only 40 miles (64km) away, perfect for a day trip.