Eastern Caribbean Cruise - from San Juan - 122548

San Juan, the capital of the Greater Antilles island of Puerto Rico, is known as the 'oldest American city'. It was from here that the expeditions set out to explore the New World. The historic old town with the university, the fort 'La Fortaleza', the gothic cathedral and the historic buildings dating from the Spanish colonial era are all well worth a visit. Since 1983, San Juan has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 'New' San Juan boasts luxurious resorts, hotels, casinos and exclusive discos, while nature lovers can explore the nearby rainforest with its mountain lakes and waterfalls.

The US Virgin Isles, of which there are approximately 50, lie surrounded by glittering turquoise ocean, are covered in lush tropical plants and situated around 60 km to the East of Puerto Rico. They form the first link in the chain of Leeward Islands. The majority of St. John is covered with dense rainforest and it has beautiful sandy beaches. St. Thomas, one of the three main islands, which has an excellent deep-sea port, is long, narrow and peaks in a mountain ridge. St. Croix, the largest island in the group, has a hilly landscape that used to be covered with plantations.

St. John's is the capital and the only deep-sea port in the mini-state of Antigua and Barbuda in the North-East Caribbean. Clear water and hundreds of beaches with fine sands surround the town. Since visitors can shop duty-free on the island, there are a large number of fashion boutiques, electronics shops and jewellers not far from the harbour at Heritage Quay. Traditional hand-crafted items, straw dolls, masks and exotic colourful fashion is on sale in what was once the slave district. The building that once housed the British colonial court is now home to the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda with artefacts from the colonial era and the time of the slave trade. On a hill overlooking the town sits St. John's Cathedral with its two large Georgian bell towers. The plantations in the surrounding area grow mainly sugar-cane.

'The capital of the French island of Martinique is known not only as a port, but also as the economic centre of the island. Narrow, bustling strees and colourful markets give the city its character. Sights include: the library, "Savannah Gardens", the war memorial, the Empress Josephine memorial, and Saint-Louis cathedral.

Miami is a city at the South-East coast of the US state of Florida. The "Coconut Grove" district was the heart of the settlement in 1884. Today, the city is dominated by elegant boutiques and pavement cafés. Often, free street concerts are held in the side streets - usually reggae or jazz music. The city has numerous high-rise buildings, hotel complexes, areas with palm trees, shopping centres, cultural and recreational facilities. Sights include: the Southeast Financial Center - the tallest building in Florida at 55 storeys high; Dade Country Courthouse; Metro Dade Cultural, a cultural centre that houses Miami Dade Main Library; the Centre for Fine Arts and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.