North America Cruise - from Miami - 121221

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.

New York - the huge, vibrant city by the Hudson River and the unofficial capital of the world - is without a doubt one of the most fascinating cities in the USA. Around 12 million residents from all over the world call New York home. The city is divided into five districts, Manhattan being the heart of the city and the most famous district. Probably just about anyone coming to New York thinks first of Wall Street, Broadway, the Empire State Building, Fifth Avenue and the many museums, Central Park and the Statue of Liberty. All of this can be found in New York City, indeed in the "small" district of Manhattan. "The Big Apple", as the city is also known, is a melting pot of cultures and nationalities, from rich to poor - the ultimate city of contrasts. The subject of many songs, and yet more literature, New York is in a constant state of flux. It is a centre for the economy, the arts and architecture that each of the 25 million visitors annually will experience differently, but which captures the imagination of every single one of them.

The historic city of Sydney with its Scottish flair is the gateway to the National Park and the natural paradise that is Cape Breton. Long mountain roads through the highlands of Cape Breton provide breathtaking views of a unique landscape. You will often see moose (Canadian elks) during walks and you might even be lucky enough to see the whales cavorting near the coast. Nova Scotia's third-largest city is also home to the oldest Catholic church in Cape Breton, St. Patrick's, as well as numerous golf courses and a historic steel works, which helped the city prosper in the 19th century.

With a population of 15,500, Charlottetown is the only large town on Prince Edward Island. The provincial capital's main sights include Province House, built entirely from sandstone in the 18th century. It is here that the negotiations were held in 1864 that led to the establishment of the Canadian Confederation. The small town centre radiates an endearing and nostalgic feel. All of the houses have been restored. In addition to the traditional brick buildings, there are also traditional terraced houses painted in bold, bright colours. The cultural centre of the island is also in Charlottetown: every year there is a huge festival at which, among other things, Canadian musical productions are staged.

'The port of Gaspé is the capital of the Canadian peninsula of the same name. The main attraction of this town, which has a population of 17,000, is a memorial made of huge stone slabs to commemorate the discovery of the region by Jaques Cartier.

The capital of the French-speaking province of the same name enchants visitors with its French charm, which has shaped the city's image. Its landmark, the famous Hotel Chateau Frontenac, opened in 1892 as a luxury hotel with around 500 rooms, overlooks old stone houses, winding streets and a well-preserved city wall dating from the 19th. A stroll around the hotel's terrace provides a breathtaking view of the St. Laurence river and the well-preseved old town. The citadel, huge fortifications built around the city in a star shape, features tourist attractions in the form of the daily changing of the guard in summer and a military museum. Sights include: wax works, the Musée du Fort, the Anglican cathedral, the old harbour and the Musée de la Civilisation.