obalt blue skies, lush tropical forests, and brilliantly colored Caribbean islands will serve as the backdrop for this spectacular cruise through waters once traversed by
Spanish expeditions and English explorers. Begin your journey in San Jose, Costa Rica, where you’ll board the six-star Crystal Symphony and set sail for a full day of cruising the Pacific Ocean before you reach the Panama Canal. You’ll then spend a day transiting the canal; an expert guide will be on hand to relate the history and mechanics of this engineering marvel. Along the way, you’ll savor the beauty of Gatun Lake, which was blasted out of solid mountainside. Once through the canal, you’ll spend two days sailing the Caribbean Sea before docking in St. Lucia, West Indies. There, opportunities abound for strolling the streets of Castries, the island’s capital, relaxing on pristine beaches, or visiting Diamond Botanical Gardens, home to hibiscus bushes and flame trees. Then it’s off to Antigua, where you might enjoy a game of cricket (the island’s most popular pastime) or go out in search of some of the hundreds of bird species on the island.
Arrive in St. Maarten after an evening cruise and spend the day browsing the many duty-free shops on the French and Dutch sides of the island, or go scuba diving among its many coral reefs. From St. Maarten, you’ll head to the small island of Grand Turk, where you’ll share the streets in the enchanting Cockburn Town with donkeys, horses, and cattle. Relax during a final day at sea before arriving in Miami, the last stop on this remarkable journey.
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12 days |
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Moderately active |
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$2,295 |
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Accommodations, all meals on cruise, group transfers for flight inclusive participants only, port dues; most gratuities |
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Airfare to San Jose returning from Miami, excursions, airport taxes, travel insurance, gratuities to ship’s crew |
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Three-night pre-cruise extension in San Jose |
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Esteban Monserrate, lecturer in biological sciences, teaches marine ecology and has developed a research program in Costa Rica. |
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