Eastern Caribbean Cruise - from Port Canaveral - 131314

Port Canaveral in Florida is the port at famous Cape Canaveral, founded in 1949 as a missile-firing installation and today the launch site for satellites and spaceships. Cape Canaveral is the site of the NASA Kennedy Space Centre, the Hall of Fame of the US astronauts, the Air Force Space Museum with more than 700 rockets, the historic launch complex 39 and the US Space Camp in Florida. All of the Apollos and Space Shuttles launched from here. Port Canaveral has developed from a small oil and shrimp harbour into one of the largest cruise ports in the world with more than 3 million passengers a year. The pier, which is 300 m long and stretches out into the open sea with many restaurants, bars and shops, is also worth a visit.

The little island of Sint Maarten is split in two. The quiet North belongs to France and the lively South to the Netherlands. The capital of the Dutch part is Philipsburg, where the cruise ship port is situated. Many casinos, shops, discos and restaurants mean a varied evening's entertainment is guaranteed. It is quieter and closer to nature inland, where ramblers will enjoy the walk to Paradise Peak.

Antigua and Barbuda are part of the "Windward Islands" in the North East of the Caribbean. With a total area of 280 km², the majority of the population of 65,000 live on Antigua. This island's coast is shaped by countless bays and natural harbours with a large number of white sandy beaches. Inland, the countryside is flat and fertile and the north and north-east are made of rock formations that look like coral. The hills in the south -west of the island, in contast, are volcanic. In addition to the natural attractions of the island, the capital of the country, St. John's, has several sights worth seeing: the cathedral, taller than any other building in the city, the National Museum, the market and the Heritage and Redcliffe Quay shopping centres.

Castries is the capital city and port of the Antilles island of St. Lucia. With a population of around 65,000 it is the island's largest city and lies between the Caribbean Ocean and the green hilly hinterland. It is the starting point for trips on the island of St. Lucia. There are almost no historical sights left in Castries, since the many wooden houses have burned down over the course of the last few decades. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at Columbus Square and the Government House are well worth seeing. The best time to take a stroll around the town is on Saturday mornings, when the market stalls are set up at the deep-sea port of The Carenage. Duty free shopping is available at the Point Seraphine shopping centre. To the North-East of Castries lies the Vigie Peninsula, where tourists can enjoy the modern holiday village at the beach.

This Caribbean island lies South of St. Vincent and North of Trinidad and Tobago. Cloves, nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon are all produced on Grenada, which explains its nick-name "spice island". The 94,000 inhabitants of the island are surrounded by tropical rainforests, gorges and dormant volcanoes. The capital of Grenada is St. George's and is just 5 km from the island's long, white beach, "Grand Anse". But the real attraction on Grenada is the island itself. It is the perfect place for walks and treks through the tropical countryside. The turquoise water of the Caribbean is also perfect for sailing trips and diving excursions.

The overseas French province of Martinique is a volcanic island and the most northerly of the Caribbean Windward Islands. The island is very rocky and has wonderful black, white or mixed sandy beaches bordered by planatations of sugar-cane, palm trees, bananas and pineapples. Sights include: the charming villages, the volcanic mountain, the tropical rainforest and the Atlantic coastline.

Port of Spain is the port and capital of Trinidad and the joint capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The city centre between the harbour and Queen's Park Savannah can easily be explored on foot. The ideal starting point for a tour of the city is Frederick Street, one of the main shopping streets, which starts at South Quay by the harbour. This is also where visitors can see Fort San Andres, built in 1785 to protect the harbour, which today houses several administrative bodies. The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, the Jama Masija, a Friday mosque, the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity and the National Museum are also all worth a visit. You can enjoy a wonderful view of Port of Spain from the green hills of the hinterland. A trip to the tropical landscape of the Northern Range is also extremely worthwhile.

The island, which has been independent since 1978, now calls itself the "Commonwealth of Dominica". This island, located between Guadeloupe and Martinique, boasts perfect white sandy beaches, lined by palms and other tropical plants. Dominica is also home to the last indigenous peoples of the Caribbean.

Guadeloupe is a French overseas 'departement'. The colony comprises a group of nine islands in the eastern Caribbean, of which Grand-Terre and Basse-Terre are the two most important. Grand-Terre is renowned for its cosmopolitan flair and has a flourishing economy. Basse-Terre on the other hand, in complete contrast, is a paradise for relaxation with an impressive untouched mountainous landscape. At the heart of the island is the volcano, "Soufrière", which is surrounded by a wonderful tropical rainforest. The island group of Guadeloupe is a paradise for the physically active. Biking, golf, tennis, canoeing and diving are just some of the sports visitors can enjoy on the "butterfly of the Caribbean", as it is also known. Guadaloupe has a very special attraction for divers: the underwater "Jaques Cousteau" nature reserve is a mecca for hobby divers and visitors are guaranteed to be impressed by its breathtaking marine vegetation.

Port Canaveral in Florida is the port at famous Cape Canaveral, founded in 1949 as a missile-firing installation and today the launch site for satellites and spaceships. Cape Canaveral is the site of the NASA Kennedy Space Centre, the Hall of Fame of the US astronauts, the Air Force Space Museum with more than 700 rockets, the historic launch complex 39 and the US Space Camp in Florida. All of the Apollos and Space Shuttles launched from here. Port Canaveral has developed from a small oil and shrimp harbour into one of the largest cruise ports in the world with more than 3 million passengers a year. The pier, which is 300 m long and stretches out into the open sea with many restaurants, bars and shops, is also worth a visit.