Silversea CruisesFort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale - Central America SojournItineraryTuesday - Fort Lauderdale, FloridaWhat began as a trading post along the banks of the New River at the turn of the last century has turned into a popular resort, an affluent yachting capital and an enterprising city. Crisscrossed by 300 miles of navigable waterways, Fort Lauderdale is popularly known as the Venice of America. Water plays such an integral part that the area is home to 100 marinas and boatyards and more than 42,000 yachts. In addition, there are miles of palm-shaded sand beaches that run parallel to the coastal highway A1A. The downtown area is comprised of modern bank buildings and towering glass edifices. A recent multimillion-dollar beautification program did much to enhance the town center and beach areas with landscaped parks, promenades and the Riverwalk, which provides a link between the cultural district and the delightful Las Olas Boulevard, downtown’s main hub. Along Las Olas there are trendy shops, art galleries and several restaurants, offering both inside and outdoor dining. The eastern end of Las Olas meets the oceanfront, where resort hotels, restaurants and plenty of shops overlook the beach. For a unique introduction to the Venice of America, you may want to take one of the yellow and green water taxis.This convenient local transport makes numerous stops along the Intracoastal Waterway and the New River, bringing you within short distance of shopping, dining and local attractions.Another option to see Fort Lauderdale from the water is on one of several sightseeing boats. These delightful cruises can be booked from locations at the waterfront and the Riverwalk area. They meander through the main waterways and past magnificent mansions owned by wealthy local families and celebrities from around the country and abroad.
Wednesday - Day At Sea
Thursday - Cozumel, Mexico Other activities include the exploration of some recently excavated Mayan ruins, browsing in the many local handicrafts and souvenir shops, or simply relaxing and enjoying the warming rays of the sun. Early in the morning, the ship will anchor for a short time off Playa del Carmen to disembark guests who are participating in the excursions CZM-1 and CZM-2. The ship will then proceed to Cozumel. The Yucatan Peninsula is noted for its wealth of archaeological treasures. Remains of pyramids, temples and palaces bear evidence of ancient civilizations that once thrived on these sundrenched plains. The most famous and visited sites are Chichen Itza and Tulum, offering excellent examples of the once flourishing Toltec-Maya culture.
Friday - Costa Maya, Mexico
Saturday - Santo Tomas, Guatemala It enjoys a mild climate and a variety of ecosystems, including coastal plains, mountains, volcanoes, deserts, forests and jungles. The Mayan culture still dominates and can be seen in the faces of the people living here, the exotic variety of handmade traditional costumes, and the words spoken on the streets. Although Spanish is the most common tongue, you will also hear Garifuna, and up to 23 different Mayan languages. Each ethnic group differs itself from the others by wearing hand-woven textiles with unique patterns and colors, and by speaking their own language. This medley of colorful traditions, costumes and food make Guatemala an interesting country to visit. Inside the cruise terminal at Santo Tomas you will find a colorful market filled with all sorts of handmade crafts. Guatemala’s hand-woven and hand-embroidered textiles are famous for their quality and unique designs and are perfect for souvenirs. The designs often have religious or magical meanings, and may identify a certain group or village. Also for sale will be crafts made from wood and stone. To obtain the best prices for your souvenirs, be sure to bargain – room to discount will be built into the price you are first quoted.
Sunday - Roatan Island, Honduras The friendly English-speaking population offers a unique blend of African, Spanish, Paya Indian and British cultures. British and Spanish settlers invaded the Paya as their respective countries fought over possession of Roatan in the 16th century. Soon after, pirates numbering nearly 5,000, including Henry Morgan, claimed Roatan as their stronghold. During the height of the slave trade, Roatan became a dumping ground for rebellious slaves that the British could no longer control. These marooned slaves, now called Maroons or Garifuna, form a present day ethnic group near the town of Punta Gorda. This unique mix of people and cultures, presently controlled by Honduras, has created a population that is rich in tradition yet welcoming to visitors.
Monday - Day At Sea
Tuesday - Puerto Limon, Costa Rica When Columbus discovered Costa Rica during his last voyage, rumors of vast gold treasures led to the name of Costa Rica (Rich Coast). The Spaniards settled in the Central Valley; additional immigrants from northern Spain increased their numbers considerably. The local Indian population was soon greatly diminished due to diseases brought by the settlers. In 1821 the country declared independence from Spain. In an effort to create a source for revenue, coffee was introduced from Panama in 1791. The government offered free land to coffee growers, thus building up a peasant landowning class. The first coffee exports were carried on mule-back to the ports; by 1846 oxcarts were used to transport the coffee to Puntarenas. A few years later, there was a large flow of coffee to overseas markets, which was facilitated by the opening of a railway from San Jose to Puerto Limon on the Caribbean. Later a railway was built to the Pacific port of Puntarenas. Today, the country’s economy is based on the export of coffee, bananas, meat, sugar and cocoa. Tourists particularly enjoy the country’s well-kept national parks and nature reserves that have been established to protect the extremely varied Costa Rican ecosystems, such as the few remaining patches of the dry tropical forest and the unique cloud forest.
Wednesday - Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Thursday - Day At Sea
Friday - Day At Sea
Saturday - Key West, Florida In the early 1800s, pirates found the Keys’ busy shipping lanes quite profitable and Key West an easy escape. When piracy was defeated, a new, legal industry emerged - wrecking. The history of the wreckers can be learned in the Wrecker’s Museum, which features treasures of some of the most successful salvage operations. Other industries developed, including sponging and fine cigar making; the latter was introduced in the 1830s by Cubans who escaped from Spanish tyranny. In 1912, Henry Flagler’s railroad between Key West and the mainland was completed; it was destroyed by a hurricane a few years later. Cigar makers moved to Tampa and the railroad and shipping trade with Havana ceased; the resourceful islanders discovered tourism as their salvation. Visitors to Key West find a number of attractions to enjoy - unique architecture and charming gardens, treasures from shipwrecks, picturesque streets to stroll around, delicious cuisine and scores of souvenir shops and art galleries.
Sunday -Fort Lauderdale, Florida Cost of This Itinerary12 Night Trip:
The least expensive cabin costs:
The most expensive stateroom costs: |