Ports of Call

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

There is an abundance of things to see and do in the Fort Lauderdale area: visit the newly redesigned Fort Lauderdale Beach and cafes, stroll the historic Riverwalk, shop the luxurious stores on Las Olas Boulevard or venture to the Everglades for an intriguing air boat excursion.

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Key West, FL, USA

One of the first things you’ll notice in Key West is the colorful gingerbread wooden houses, the amazing sunsets, and the constant crowing of roosters. Hundreds of the noisy birds and their quieter-clucking mates roam the streets at all hours and are nearly as synonymous with Key West cruises as its six-toed cats, the famous furry residents of Ernest Hemingway’s mansion in the Old Town district. They’re all part of the quirky charm of the United States' southernmost point. The compact 11 square kilometers (4.2 square miles) pack everything from gorgeous historic architecture, spectacular fishing, and sailing to a raucous party scene along famed Duval Street. All of which is truly enjoyed by vacationers who cruise to Key West, Florida. 

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Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel, an island in the Caribbean off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, draws scuba divers, snorkelers, and seekers of sand and sun who are attracted by the reliably sunny and tropical climate. The island and its environs also offer all other manner of on-and around-the-water attractions, many of which are quite unique, such as underwater sculpture gardens, a submarine excursion to see a shipwreck, and a sailboat-racing experience that's second only to the America's Cup. For visitors who are intrigued by Mexico's Maya culture, there are several archaeological sites in and around Cozumel, including the UNESCO-inscribed Chichén Itzá and, on Cozumel itself, San Gervasio, once a site where women made offerings to the goddess of fertility and childbirth. When you're done sightseeing, there's shopping for traditional Mexican crafts, jewelry, and leather goods, including custom-made sandals and excellent food (the seafood, of course, is stellar). 

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Costa Maya, Mexico

Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula is, in some ways, a world apart from the rest of Mexico, thanks partly to its geography. That's never deterred visitors; however, Costa Maya, like the larger resort towns on the Yucatán, attracts scores of visitors each year. Eager to enjoy the sun and fun, they are also keen to explore the region's cultural attractions, including dozens of Maya sites, some of which were only recently rediscovered, excavated, and opened to the public. In addition to seeing the pyramids, temples, and ceremonial centers of Maya sites like Chacchoben and Kohunlich, modern-day visitors to Costa Maya can experience the Western Hemisphere's longest reef and cenotes, the sinkhole-formed pools that dot the region. Freshly caught fish and seafood dominate the menus here, as is to be expected, and restaurants are mostly casual in ambiance, with friendly, welcoming service. Shoppers will likely be drawn to Costa Maya's many jewelry shops, where you can buy rare gems set into stunning souvenirs or more affordable pieces that are believed to have healing properties.