Eastern Caribbean: U.S. and British Virgin Islands

Known as the American Venice, Fort Lauderdale shares the festive dynamism of Miami. At every turn lies a surprise. Enjoy a stop at Fort Lauderdale to discover the American Venice, with its lush exotic gardens. The port, with shops full of goods, will welcome you warmly and will guide you towards exceptional sites like South Beach. After exploring the city, board a water taxi to admire Fort Lauderdale. The stop at Fort Lauderdale will be an opportunity to take part in an unforgettable excursion with pirates. For lovers of old engines and sensational bodywork, we recommend a visit to the Museum of Vintage Cars to see some real gems. And don't forget to visit the Art Nouveau district of Miami.

“One beach a day,” Antigua’s motto, refers to the island’s 365 beautiful beaches that are famous, secret or even set in volcanic craters. There’s a beach for every lifestyle, for those who are social and ones who seek solitude. When you arrive on an MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruise in the port of St. John’s, the capital and commercial centre of Antigua and Barbuda, embrace the city’s colourfully vi-brant houses dating to its British colonial period, along with the evocative white baroque towers of St. John's Cathedral, and the Fort James and Barrington fortresses. The laid-back cosmopolitan city, with its distinctly British flair, is renowned for its shopping at luxury boutiques and high-end shopping malls. Beyond the city, book an MSC excursion to the historic Nelson's Dockyard in English Harbour, dedicated to Admiral Horatio Nelson, who was stationed in the West Indies be-tween 1784 and 1787. The shipyard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest of Antigua’s National Parks and still remains a working dockyard for numerous yachts and ships. Beautifully restored, its Georgian buildings in wood and stone date to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Between April and the beginning of May, the Dockyard is the venue for some of the most important sailing regattas in the world, such as Antigua Sailing Week. The excursion continues on to visit the landmark ruins at Shirley Heights of-fering breath-taking vistas of English Harbour. If an excursion in nature appeals to you, head to Stingray City to swim with friendly southern stingrays in crystal-clear water. Or discover Antigua's lush rainforest from a bird's-eye perspective as you navigate through the treetops on a guided canopy tour that will have you walking over a suspension bridge and traversing zip lines over a spectacular gorge.

The steep, spectacular hills that surround St Thomas's exquisite harbour provide a fitting entry point for this island of overwhelming natural splendour. The jungled-mountains reach up above tempting beaches and scuba diving sites, while Charlotte Amalie - the island's capital - sprawls down towards the water, bedecked with shops and tasty restaurants. Part of the beautiful U.S. Virgin Islands - together with St John and St Croix - these lands were purchased by the US in 1917. View less Nowadays, St Thomas is a patchwork of cultures, and a lively welcome to the islands, serving as a gracious host to the many visitors who linger - as well as those who jump on ferries, yachts and catamarans to explore the blessed beaches of the Caribbean's other retreats. A stunning island of dramatic jungled-scenery, keep your camera close to hand as you swing up the Skyride to Paradise Point, to look down over the natural amphitheatre of the dock and city below. Snap some more postcard-perfect shots at Drake’s Seat - said to be Sir Francis Drake's lookout point, where he could survey for approaching enemy ships. Nowadays, the views over Magens Bay and the infinite sea are always peaceful, and this is a great spot to catch a fiery Caribbean sunset spilling across the sky. Take catamaran cruises to explore the shining coastline, or seek out the glorious coves and caves that are hidden along the island's perimeter. Land on the secluded shores of tiny islands, before scuba diving and snorkelling above the twisted boughs of lost ships, reclaimed by the waters and inhabited by curious tropical fish life. Kayak over still lagoon waters, or take the chance to lay back on soft beaches strewn with tiny shells, as St Thomas's beauty washes over you.

Escape to "nature's little secret" and the largest of the British Virgin Islands, the island paradise of Tortola. Immerse yourself in the magic of a dolphin swim at Dolphin Discovery or surrender to the spectacular unspoiled tropical landscape at J.R. O'Neal Botanic Garden. Stretch out on the white sands of Cane Garden Bay or marvel at the sweeping ocean and island views from the observation deck at Skyworld. Stand in the shadow of Mount Healthy Windmill and discover the age-old art of rum production at Callwood Rum Distillery. Sightsee and shop in Road Town, the British Virgin Islands' capital city, snorkel in and around Brewer's Bay, and revel in the natural beauty that surrounds you everywhere you look.

Blessed with some of the oldest buildings in the Western Hemisphere, San Juan, Puerto Rico’s cap-ital, is romantically charming with its bright pastel Spanish colonial facades, wrought-iron balconies abloom with flowers, narrow cobblestone streets and beloved park squares. Once you arrive on an MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruise at the port, explore Old San Juan (Viejo San Juan), a UNESCO World Heritage district, widely renowned for the fortresses of Castillo San Felipe del Morro and the Castillo San Cristóbal. The old town occupies the headland of a 2.5-mile-long island (connected by bridge to the mainland) that shelters San Juan Bay, for centuries a key port in the New World. It was originally known as Puerto Rico, or “rich port,” because its location made it the perfect stop for shipping. Several MSC excursions offer walking tours that let you soak up amazing views of San Juan, while making cultural discoveries of a lifetime. Wander through the old town along the Paseo de la Princesa, San Juan’s oldest tree-lined avenue; head up its southern city wall, La Muralla, which until the late 19th century encircled all of Old San Juan with sandstone; and tour the 16th-century fortress of El Morro, with its six different lines of defence. Take a coffee-tasting walking tour to explore Puerto Rico’s rich coffee culture, and learn how the island’s rich volcanic soil and climate have contributed to the rise of coffee as one of its main crops. Taste a delicious cup of freshly brewed Puerto Rican café con leche, learn about the island's historical ties with the caffeine-rich beverage, and explore how coffee and the church are connected on this MSC excursion through the streets of Old San Juan. Or savour San Juan’s culinary delights, in a Martha Stewart excursion curated exclusively for MSC that will have you tasting local cuisine and drinks at five destinations along the route through the fortified colonial city. From Puerto Rican fritters at historic El Convento Hotel, to chocolate tasting at a fourth-generation chocolatier, you won’t want to miss this tour, which ends at La Casita de Rones for a rum lesson and a piña colada, the national drink of Puerto Rico. With more than 80% of the world's rum coming from Puerto Rico, delve deeper into the spirit on an MSC excursion to Casa Bacardí in the town of Cataño. Discover the story behind Bacardí’s legendary cocktails, sniff the products on display and learn about the rum-making process including wood barrelling, ageing and finishing. For the grand finale, enjoy a fascinating mixology show. Nature lovers will not want to miss a visit to El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. territory and one of Puerto Rico's finest spots of natural beauty. Marvel at its small horsetail waterfalls, giant ferns and tropical hardwoods. For an enchanting experience, kayak into the enchanting bioluminescent bay at Laguna Grande of Fajardo on another MSC excursion. Under the blanket of the night sky and the lighthouse of Fajardo, paddle through the water and watch it glow with the bioluminescence of millions and millions of tiny organisms.

Fulfill your private island fantasy on Carnival cruises to Half Moon Cay. Sway in the sweet Bahamian breezes to the rhythms of calypso on this tropical island paradise. Cruises to Half Moon Cay deliver you to an idyllic sun-drenched island hideaway where you can play in the turquoise seas, ride horseback on powdery white sand, and encounter silky-smooth stingrays. If your wish list includes a cruise to private island serenity — and it should — Half Moon Cay is a must.

Known as the American Venice, Fort Lauderdale shares the festive dynamism of Miami. At every turn lies a surprise. Enjoy a stop at Fort Lauderdale to discover the American Venice, with its lush exotic gardens. The port, with shops full of goods, will welcome you warmly and will guide you towards exceptional sites like South Beach. After exploring the city, board a water taxi to admire Fort Lauderdale. The stop at Fort Lauderdale will be an opportunity to take part in an unforgettable excursion with pirates. For lovers of old engines and sensational bodywork, we recommend a visit to the Museum of Vintage Cars to see some real gems. And don't forget to visit the Art Nouveau district of Miami.