Southern Caribbean Cruise 7 Nights • San Juan, Puerto Rico • Rhapsody of the Seas

San Juan, Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico is one of the largest islands in the Eastern Caribbean. Discover the classic signs of a vacationer’s paradise on one of our many cruises to Puerto Rico: gorgeous landscape with lush green mountains, underground caves, balmy waters, white-sandy beaches, delicious rum drinks and so much more. Spend an afternoon snorkeling during your cruise to Puerto Rico and discover the beautiful marine life of the Caribbean Sea while swimming among the fish, coral communities, mangrove forests, and seagrass beds. Or take an evening sail around Old San Juan for amazing views of the 500-year-old walled city as the sun casts gorgeous light on the turquoise waters.

Old San Juan is one of the first cities to be established in the New World. Explore the historical forts that were built to protect the island during Spanish occupation. Navigate through the tunnels, dungeons, and barrack of San Cristobal, San Felipe del Morro, San Juan de las Cruz, and the city walls. Stroll the blue-toned cobblestone streets and uncover various UNESCO sites, museums, historic churches, restaurants and much more along the way.

Take a tour of the Bacardi headquarters and learn about the process of rum making from barrel to bottle. Get a glimpse into the history of the world’s most awarded rum and sample the final product while you’re at it. Visit Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico for the most gorgeous fine art collections on the island, including paintings, sculptures, and carvings as far back as the 17th century.

From roadside stalls serving up delicious local snacks like alcapurrias to the finest restaurants with the freshest seafood on menus, enjoy the fusion of Spanish, Taíno, African, and US influences and flavors of San Juan’s rich culinary traditions. Cruise to San Juan and discover an island with a fascinating history that is one of the most stunning examples of colonial life in the Western world.

Your ship departs promptly at 6:00 pm, so plan to arrive at least 2-3 hours early to account for checking in and boarding protocols. During this time, many of the ship's amenities are open and operating, so feel free to start your holiday early.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

In the 17th century, Dutch and French soldiers decided to share this little island, and today it remains happily split between France (Saint Martin, north side) and the Netherlands (Sint Maarten, south side).

Cruise to St. Maarten and explore the dozens of alluring beaches that ring the island. At Orient Beach, sunbathers bask and beachcombers stroll on the white sands, while divers and snorkelers
explore the sunken shipwrecks and marine life just offshore. You'll really get blown away at Jet Blast Beach (officially Maho Beach), next to the airport.

Embrace all the beauty of the island on a tour to the French capital, Marigot, where you can explore the quaint streets and cafés, open-air market, and 18th-century Fort Louis. Take a scenic cruise of Simpson Bay Lagoon, site of luxurious villas and megayachts. More tours show you charming Grand Case and Orient Bay.

Both Philipsburg and Marigot are celebrated culinary capitals, and locals do enjoy outdoor cooking. Try the barbecued ribs and chicken. Leading French chefs flock to Marigot, where they give their sophisticated cuisine a Caribbean twist.

Shoppers find electronics, rum, cigars, jewelry, and designer brands in the hundreds of duty-free and tax-free stores on Philipsburg’s mile-long Front Street.

Cruise to Antigua, named by Christopher Columbus in 1493, and discover 365 Caribbean beaches—one for every day, every type of beach—hidden among the countless cliffs and bays. The lush rainforest, dramatic landscapes, and turquoise waters tempt eco-adventurers from swimmers to hikers to zip-line flyers


Swim and snorkel with gentle stingrays—even feed and pet them—and snorkel the coral reefs that ring the island and teem with life. Take a scenic catamaran sail. Stop at Paradise Reef and peer below the surface of the clear Antiguan waters. Lie on a golden beach and sip a rum punch or enjoy some lobster on your St. John’s cruise.

Antigua and neighboring Barbuda form an independent country in the British Commonwealth. The English settled here in 1632 and imported slaves to build sugar plantations. They became independent in 1981. The capital and largest city, St. John's, is one of the more developed and cosmopolitan municipalities in the Lesser Antilles.

Antigua’s hotels and resorts serve excellent European cuisine, featuring the fresh catch of the day. Go native and try the local fungi (like polenta, paired with salt fish), callaloo (a popular West African / Caribbean dish), and hearty pepper pot.

When it's time to go shopping, find Caribbean fashions, local crafts, and designer fashions in the duty-free shops of St. John’s. Browse luxurious Heritage Quay or quaint seaside Redcliffe Quay.

On this tiny island of high mountains and unusual beaches, you can explore volcanoes, rainforests, and a reef that bubbles. In the capital, Roseau, you'll sway to the infectious rhythm of reggae and behold the historic architecture of the French Quarter. Discover the black sand beaches, eerie shipwrecks, and teeming Caribbean reefs. Underwater volcanic vents at Champagne Reef turn the sea here into an effervescent dream world. Explore Dominica's interior in a 4x4 and hike lush rainforests amid untamed volcanoes. See where Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was filmed. Swim the waterfalls at Emerald Pool or Titou Gorge and experience the healing waters at sulfur springs. In Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, you’ll find a great variety of flora and fauna. Marvel at the boiling lake and seething geysers in the Valley of Desolation. In Carib Territory, on the Atlantic coast, browse for native images, carvings, and crafts. Back in Roseau, find hand-made treasures—baskets, attire, soaps, rugs, and carvings—at the historic Old Market Plaza. Dominica’s volcanic soil, tropical weather, and Caribbean waters produce abundant fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood. French and local chefs make good use of them. Sip hand-squeezed juices, savor hearty stews, and try callaloo, the national dish, which originated in West Africa.

Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis

Explore French and English colonial architecture, breathtaking beaches, and lush landscapes beneath soaring mountain peaks.

Walking distance from the St. Kitts cruise port, find the Circus and Independence Square. The Circus is a roundabout lined by local shops with artisanal batik clothing, leatherwork, and weaving. Stroll another couple blocks to Independence Square, site of the stately courthouse and cathedral.

West of Basseterre, visit 350-year-old Romney Manor estate, once owned by a British earl. The grounds include magnificent gardens with exotic plants and an amazing saman tree—as old as the estate—that covers half an acre.

Tour Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site, 750 feet above the Caribbean. Ride a narrow-gauge train through breathtaking scenery on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway tour. All round the island, take in magnificent views of Mount Liamuiga, a 3,792-foot-high dormant volcano. Of course, pristine beaches and turquoise waters are everywhere.

For lunch, seek out rustic plantation homes that serve hearty West Indian fare like fresh seafood, local rotis, mango ginger chicken, and goat water stew, blending the islands’ staple protein with local papaya and breadfruit.

You'll have so much to discover before returning to the St. Kitts cruise port.

Come St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

St. Croix for the powdery white beaches, clear blue waters, shipwreck diving, coral-reef snorkeling, birdwatching, and sea turtles. In ancient times, peaceful Arawak natives migrated here, fishing, farming, and painting caves. Then fierce Carib warriors replaced them. In 1493, Christopher Columbus landed at present-day Salt River Bay National Historical Park.

Danish colonial history lives in St. Croix's architecture and language. Ruins of its former sugar industry still dot the island—some sites open to the public. Today, locals process sugar in the form of rum, and two distilleries give tours, Cruzan and Captain Morgan.

The west-end town of Frederiksted unfurls at the foot of the cruise pier. You can't miss richly colored Fort Frederik on your St. Croix cruise. This bright red U.S. National Historic Landmark was built in the 1750s to ward off pirates.

On the north side, Christiansted preserves 18th-century Danish buildings, painted in pastel colors. Explore seven-acre Christiansted National Historic Site. Stroll nearby Cay Beach and imagine pirates anchored offshore.

St. Croix is celebrated for its rums, fruits, and home-style cooking. Try the fish and fungi (say foon-ji). Cornmeal-based fungi can be soft and tender like mashed potatoes or firm like dumplings.

Discover duty-free treasures at the boutiques, galleries, jewelry stores, and workshops in Christiansted and Frederiksted. Find deals on rums, other liquors, electronics, and more. Bring home some St. Croix hook bracelets and colorful Caribbean fashions.

San Juan, Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico is one of the largest islands in the Eastern Caribbean. Discover the classic signs of a vacationer’s paradise on one of our many cruises to Puerto Rico: gorgeous landscape with lush green mountains, underground caves, balmy waters, white-sandy beaches, delicious rum drinks and so much more. Spend an afternoon snorkeling during your cruise to Puerto Rico and discover the beautiful marine life of the Caribbean Sea while swimming among the fish, coral communities, mangrove forests, and seagrass beds. Or take an evening sail around Old San Juan for amazing views of the 500-year-old walled city as the sun casts gorgeous light on the turquoise waters.

Old San Juan is one of the first cities to be established in the New World. Explore the historical forts that were built to protect the island during Spanish occupation. Navigate through the tunnels, dungeons, and barrack of San Cristobal, San Felipe del Morro, San Juan de las Cruz, and the city walls. Stroll the blue-toned cobblestone streets and uncover various UNESCO sites, museums, historic churches, restaurants and much more along the way.

Take a tour of the Bacardi headquarters and learn about the process of rum making from barrel to bottle. Get a glimpse into the history of the world’s most awarded rum and sample the final product while you’re at it. Visit Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico for the most gorgeous fine art collections on the island, including paintings, sculptures, and carvings as far back as the 17th century.

From roadside stalls serving up delicious local snacks like alcapurrias to the finest restaurants with the freshest seafood on menus, enjoy the fusion of Spanish, Taíno, African, and US influences and flavors of San Juan’s rich culinary traditions. Cruise to San Juan and discover an island with a fascinating history that is one of the most stunning examples of colonial life in the Western world.

The cruise might have ended, but there are still some great activities to enjoy in the area. If you flew into this port, be mindful of your departure flight time and plan accordingly.