CARIBBEAN CRUISE: SAN JUAN, ANTIGUA & BARBADOS Cruise on Azamara Journey from San Juan (Puerto Rico)

San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Its hard not to be captivated by the historic treasures of majestic Old San Juan, the charming walled city with its imposing fortresses, colorful colonial architecture and numerous attractions. A short taxi ride from the old city will take you to the world-class boutiques, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Ferragamo, and restaurants of Condado, the inviting beaches and resorts of Ocean Park and Isla Verde and the bohemian neighborhood of Santurce. Event planners and business professionals come for the state-of-the-art convention center in Miramar and the financial district of Hato Rey.

Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Virgin Gorda is the third-largest (after Tortola and Anegada) and second most populous of the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Located at approximately 18 degrees, 48 minutes North, and 64 degrees, 30 minutes West, it covers an area of about 8 square miles. Christopher Columbus is said to have named the island "The Fat Virgin", because the island´s profile on the horizon looks like a fat woman lying on her side.The main town is Spanish Town on the southwestern part of the island. An unusual geologic formation known as "The Baths" located on the southern end of the island makes Virgin Gorda one of the BVI´s major tourist destinations. At The Baths, the beach shows evidence of the island´s volcanic origins, as huge granite boulders lie in piles on the beach, forming scenic grottoes that are open to the sea. North of the Baths is the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor, formerly owned by Little Dix Bay. The most notable ruin on Virgin Gorda is the old Copper Mine. In the island´s North Sound is the high end Bitter End Yacht Club, now a five star resort. Also located on the island is Rosewood Little Dix Bay, a four diamond resort offering luxury villas and suites as well as an award winning spa.

Antigua (St. John's)

The Lesser Antilles (also known as the Caribbees) are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Caribbean Sea. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America. The Lesser Antilles and the Greater Antilles compose the (or the Caribbean in its narrowest definition), which together with the Lucayan Archipielago comprise the West Indies.The islands of the Lesser Antilles are divided into three groups. The two main groups are the Windward Islands in the south and the Leeward Islands in the north. The third group is the Leeward Antilles in the west. These consist of the Dutch ABC islands just off the coast of Venezuela, plus a group of Venezuelan islands.

Saint Pierre (Martinique)

Bequia

Bequia is the largest island in the Grenadines at 7 square miles (18 km2). The native population are primarily a mixture of people of African, Scottish and Carib Indian descent. A substantial number of white Barbadians also settled the Mount Pleasant area of Bequia in the 1860s. Many of their descendants still inhabit the area. Other highly populated areas include the island capital, Port Elizabeth, which hosts the ferry terminal and Paget Farm, which hosts the airport. There are also villages at Lower Bay, La Pompe, Hamilton and Belmont. Other prominent areas of Bequia include Spring, the site of a former coconut plantation and home to agricultural animals, Industry Bay and Park Bay, where the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary is located. Bequia is popular among cruising yachts, expats and tourists. One of the busiest times of the year is the annual Easter Regatta. Two scuba diving stores run dive trips to 28 identified dive sites around Bequia. There are several wrecks and shallow caves accessible to advanced divers. It is not unusual to see Hawksbill turtles, lobsters, moray eels and many kinds of fish when diving around Bequia.

St George´s

Scarborough (Tobago)

Scarborough is the biggest city in Tobago, one of the two islands of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Places you whould visit: Pigeon Point beach, the Buccoo Reef, Fort King George, Tobago Museum and the Botanical Gardens.

Bridgetown (Barbados)

Bridgetown is the capital and largest city of the nation of Barbados. The Bridgetown port, found along Carlisle Bay lies on the southwestern coast of the island. Bridgetown is a major West Indies tourist destination, and the city acts as an important financial, informatics, convention centre, and cruise ship port of call in the Caribbean region. Bridgetown´s centre was originally composed of a swamp, which was quickly drained and filled-in to make way for the city´s early development. At the heart of Bridgetown is the Careenage and Constitution River.This body of water provides the city with direct access from medium sized yachts or small craft boats. Although moderately shallow, the Careenage slices Bridgetown into two parts. During the rainy season the Constitution River flows into the Careenage area and acts as an outflow for water from the islands interior storm drainage network. Flowing into the Carlisle Bay on the southwest coast of the island, the Careenage can be observed as a marina for boaters entering or exiting the inner basin located directly in front of the Parliament buildings of Barbados. In the centre lies the main street of Bridgetown which is Broad Street which runs directly through the centre of the city. Broad Street passes the Parliament Buildings and serves as the centre of city´s shopping area.

Santa Lucia (Castries)

Volcanic island, located at the south east of the Caribbean. Surrounded by hills, its large, safe harbor at the head of a wide bay is a constant hive of activity. Castries is a major port of call for cruise ships, that dock at Pointe Seraphine. The islands population is around 140.000, the mayority are catholic africans. The oficial language is english although they also speak a french dialect (french patois). the capital and principal port is Castries. Its economy is based on agriculture, some industry and a growing tourism, and has good internal communications networks and airports. The island was discovered by the Spanish in 1500 and in 1660 a permanent French colonywas established, its control was contested between French and English until 1814 passed into British hands. The island gained independence within the Commonwealth in 1979.

Roseau (Dominica)

It is the capital of Dominica and the eldest and most important city. Roseau is the principal touristic centre of the country. The city has beaches of black sand, volcanic origin, as one of the main touristic attractions. The religious buildings more representative are the temple of the anglican church of St. Georges. The catholic Cathedral of Roseau. Near the city you can find termal fountains. Some other tourist attractives are the scuba diving in Champagne Beach, where you can feel bubbling of the marine waters.Another natural attraction , the Titou Gorge, also in the Roseau Valley, it is located 5 miles northeast of Roseau, in laudat. It is a natural swimming pool on the base of a waterfall and covered by vegetation. Anather waterfall, the Emerald pool, is located about 8 miles from Roseau. it is a cascade 39ft long with an easy access natural pool.

St. Kitts (Basseterre)

Basse Terre is the Capital city of Guadeloupe, an overseas region and department of France located in the Lesser Antilles.The city of Basse-Terre is located on Basse Terre Island, the western half of Guadeloupe. Although it is the administrative capital of Guadeloupe, Basse-Terre is only the second largest city in Guadeloupe. ContentsBasse Terre lies at a transitional point between a tropical rainforest climate and a tropical monsoon climate.In town is the Cathedralof Saint Pierre et Saint Paul, a 19th century building which has a notable grey stone highlighted by white statues; many other colonial buildings; La place du Champ d´Arbaud, the main square and Le Jardin Pichon, the park adjoining to the south & the Zoological and Botanical Park lies on a 1,500 foot hilltop garden on the banks of La Rivière-aux-Herbes. This is a reserve of the plants and animals of Guadeloupe.

Charlestown, Nevis, West Indies

Charlestown is the capital of the island of Nevis, in the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Leeward Islands, West Indies. Charlestown is situated on the leeward side of the island of Nevis, near the southern end of Pinneys Beach. Historically, in colonial times, the town of Charlestown was protected by Fort Charles to the south and Fort Black Rocks to the north. The Museum of Nevis History, Charlestown, Nevis. This building was built on the foundation of the structure where Alexander Hamilton was born. Charlestown was the birthplace and childhood home of Alexander Hamilton. The restored stone building which was his place of birth now houses the Museum of Nevis History on the ground floor, and the Nevis Island Administration Assembly Room on the upper floor. There are two other museums in Charlestown: the Nelson Museum, and the Nevis Sport Museum, as well as the Philatelic Bureau.There are many other important buildings in the town, some historical and some recent, such as the Post Office, the old Treasury Building which is now the Nevis Tourism Authority, the Court House and Public Library, the new Police Station and the Alexandra Hospital. At the northern end of town is the Bath Hotel and Spring House, which was a famous tourist hotel and spa during the 18th century. The main building of the Bath Hotel is now occupied by government offices.There is a modern port area with a dock where the ferries from St. Kitts load and unload passengers. Memorial Square commemorates all the Nevisian soldiers who died during World Wars I and II. Nearby is the Cotton Ginnery Mall which supplies some of Nevis´ residents´ recreational shopping needs.

St. Martin (Philipsburg)

Philipsburg is the main town and capital of the country of Sint Maarten. The town is situated on a narrow stretch of land between Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond. The island is located around 240 kilometers east of Puerto Rico. It's great importance is that it an international commercial port. St. Maarten has suffered in recent years a strong population growth due to the strong development of tourism. The leading immigration of Haitian, French and Dominican descents.

Tortola (Virgin Islands)

Tortola is the biggest and most important of the Virgin Islands. Stands out for its huge and stunning beaches, commerces, restaurants and the particular charms of Road Town which is the capital.

San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Its hard not to be captivated by the historic treasures of majestic Old San Juan, the charming walled city with its imposing fortresses, colorful colonial architecture and numerous attractions. A short taxi ride from the old city will take you to the world-class boutiques, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Ferragamo, and restaurants of Condado, the inviting beaches and resorts of Ocean Park and Isla Verde and the bohemian neighborhood of Santurce. Event planners and business professionals come for the state-of-the-art convention center in Miramar and the financial district of Hato Rey.