Caribbean & Mexico Cruises 2008/2009 - (Page 45) Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Half Moon Cay, Bahamas Kralendijk, Bonaire A sophisticated resort city of sunshine, swaying palms and miles of beautiful Atlantic Ocean beaches. Why not extend your cruise vacation with a pre- or postcruise hotel package? (See page 84.) Gatún Lake, Panama Canal Sparkling centerpiece of our 10-day Sunfarer ® cruises, Gatún Lake is key to supplying the water necessary to operate the locks system. Formed by an earthen dam across the Chagres River to keep the water 85 feet above sea level, the water runs downhill to fill the locks. No pumps, no power other than the force of gravity! Sample shore excursions: Gatún Locks & Kayak in the Canal; Panama Railway; Emberá Indian Village. George Town, Grand Cayman Holland America Line’s pristine private island offers everything you need for a day of play in paradise: a two-mile crescent of perfect beach; an interior lagoon; private beachside cabanas with butler service, showers and misters; and all manner of water sports and activities, including a children’s aqua park and a buoyed personal watercraft course. Sample shore excursions: Horseback Riding by Land and Sea; Deep-sea Fishing; Stingray Adventure; AquaTrax ® Watercraft Adventure. Key West, Florida Preservation rules on Bonaire, long known to divers and snorkelers for its pristine, unspoiled reefs. Feast your eyes on gorgeous coral gardens; take in the blush of thousands of pink flamingos reflected in the still salt lake, the hush of the mangroves. Sample shore excursions: Samur Sail & Snorkel Adventure; Sportfishing; Nature Bike Tour; Mangrove Boating Eco Adventure. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico An American town that moves to the sensuous rhythms of the Caribbean. Conch culture, coral reefs and sleek racing catamarans await. Sample shore excursions: Old Town Trolley & Conch Train; Pirate Soul & Shipwreck Museum. Kingstown, St. Vincent A statue of Christopher Columbus dominates bustling Colón Plaza, while Bengal tigers prowl at Puerto Rico’s only zoo. Farther afield: the jagged karst landscape of Rio Camuy Cave Park. Sample shore excursions: Camuy Caves; Arecibo Observatory and Coffee Plantation. Mt. Pelée, Martinique (scenic cruising) Crystalline waters, snorkeling with tame stingrays, civilian submarines: This dutyfree port has it all, plus Seven Mile Beach and a charming turtle farm. Sample shore excursions: Stingray City Cruise & Island Drive; Reef & Wreck Snorkel by Boat; Scuba Adventure; Nautilus One Semi-submarine. Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands Named for the fez-like scarlet blossoms of the cactus that grows here, Grand Turk is an island of simple pleasures. Float dreamily over vibrant coral reefs, dine on conch fritters, set your watch to “island time.” Sample shore excursions: Scuba Diving; 4-wheeldrive Safari; Horseback Beach Ride & Swim; Dune Buggy Safari; Grand Turk Experience — Your Way All Day. Thanks to constant and intense volcanic activity through the ages, St. Vincent is endowed with enticing black-sand beaches and soil fertile enough to create the oldest botanic gardens in the Western Hemisphere (est. 1765). Here, too, find one of the liveliest markets in the Caribbean and a post office famous for its colorful issues featuring flowers and tropical fish. Sample shore excursions: Kayak and Snorkel; Bequia Day Sail; Garden Tour. Be at the rail as we cruise by scenic Mt. Pelée, the volcano that erupted in 1902 with such cataclysmic heat, it instantly transformed the village of St.-Pierre into the Pompeii of Martinique. There was only one survivor, a prisoner who was spared by the thick walls of his underground cell. LE FT TO RIGH T Bonaire. outside mayagüez, long stretches of white-sand beaches rim calm seas. colorful native of Belize. www.hollandamerica.com 45 caribbean ports of call http://www.hollandamerica.com
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