AAA Traveler - Summer 2018 - 16

Caribbean announced a
$200 million investment to
enhance and update CocoCay.
Improvements will include
a 13-slide water park, one of
which will be the tallest in
North America (at 135 feet),
a wave pool, a helium balloon
that rises 450 feet and a 1,600foot zip line. In addition, Chill
Island will offer motorized
water sports options and South Beach will increase their
sportive offerings with soccer, glass bottom kayaking and
basketball (among other activities).
Labadee, Royal Caribbean's Private Destination, is equally
popular for good reason. Highlights here include: Dragon's
Breath Flight Line (the world's largest zip line over water);
Dragon's Tail Coaster; Arawak Aqua Park; family-friendly
Columbus Cove; the Haitian Cultural Tour at Paradise
Cove & Beach Break; Sandbar Island Getaway; and multiple
beaches and restaurants.
Down on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Costa Maya
is another purpose-built port of call. It also features a
variety of shore excursions and adventures, ranging from
watersports to Mayan ruins. Cozumel, with its world-class
diving and snorkeling, and Progreso, with convenient
colonial Merida excursions, are other classic Mexico ports
of call in the Caribbean.
Scuba diving and snorkeling remain
very popular shore excursions for
all levels of experience. Along with
aforementioned Cozumel and Grand
Cayman, other diving and snorkeling
hotspots include Belize, Honduras,
Aruba, Bonaire, Caribbean-like Key
West and several other Royal Caribbean
destinations where it's popular to get wet.

Even More Options

Many more out of the way ports of call and distinct
adventures await Royal Caribbean passengers. For instance,
the Banana Coast (Trujillo) in Honduras consistently gets

rave reviews for its horseback riding excursions to Campo
del Mar Nature Park, which includes botanical gardens and
a beach. As with many other more recently developed ports,
there's also ziplining at Mahogany Bay and adventures that
feature exploration of the local culture - and cuisine. Another
lesser-known port, Falmouth, Jamaica, is also known for its
horseback riding excursions (including riding through sparkling
Caribbean waters on a white sand beach).
Other unique options include: Basseterre, St. Kitts (hiking in
the island's rugged mountains that include dormant volcanoes);
Castries, St. Lucia (featuring the twin peaks of the Pitons
mountain, with great views from catamaran trips along the
rugged coast); hiking excursions from busy Charlotte Amalie,
St. Thomas, to quiet Virgin Islands National Park on St. John;
oh-so-French Fort de France, Martinique (with the beautiful
gardens of La Savane right in town); Ponce, Puerto Rico (lots
of history and short ferry rides to pristine beaches and more);
St. Croix (providing adventures above and below the surface on
Buck Island Reef National Monument); the "Nature Island"
and wild to mild adventures on Dominica (Roseau); St. John's,
Antigua, Nelson's Dockyard (known as the "Caribbean's
Colonial Williamsburg"); St. George's, Grenada ("Spice Island"
tours and more); and, Willemstad, Curacao (including Hato
Caves and their near-mystical underground lake).
And, then there's Cuba. Of course, Havana offers several
unique tours in its classic cars, but Royal Caribbean also
offers the opportunity for adventures in even less-explored
Cuba ports of call, including Cienfuegos (Cuba's "Pearl of the
South") and Santiago de Cuba (the city's castle, Castillo de San
Pedro de la Roca, is a UNESCO World Heritage site).

It's easier than ever to plan an unforgettable Caribbean cruise. Contact your local AAA Travel Agent
to book today!
16

VISIT YOUR LOCAL AAA OFFICE

CALL 1-800-750-5386

CLICK AAA.COM/TRAVEL

ALL: ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Labadee

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AAA Traveler - Summer 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AAA Traveler - Summer 2018