Eastern Caribbean: Bahamas & San Juan

Miami is a city of perpetual reinvention — the Art Deco jewel of South Beach giving way to the street-art murals of Wynwood, the Cuban rhythms of Calle Ocho, and the glass-and-steel towers of a skyline that has redrawn itself every decade since Julia Tuttle convinced Henry Flagler to extend his railroad south in 1896. Must-dos include strolling the pastel-fronted Ocean Drive at dusk and exploring the world-class collections at the Pérez Art Museum Miami overlooking Biscayne Bay. November through April delivers idyllic weather — warm and dry — while summer brings heat, humidity, and hurricane risk. Miami handles cruise departures elegantly, with the Port of Miami a short taxi ride from the best neighbourhoods.

Half Moon Cay, a private island paradise in the Bahamas, is renowned for its stunning beaches and serene atmosphere. Must-do experiences include savoring local delicacies like conch fritters and exploring the vibrant markets. The best time to visit is during the winter months when the weather is pleasantly warm and inviting.

Amber Cove is a purpose-built cruise gateway on the Dominican Republic's northern coast, just minutes from the historic city of Puerto Plata — where Spanish colonial fortresses and a Victorian-era cable car await beneath the shadow of Isabel de Torres mountain. The port itself offers a tiered freshwater pool complex, watersports, and a curated market of amber jewelry, featuring some of the finest specimens in the world with prehistoric insects preserved inside. The surrounding Cibao Valley is prime territory for zip-lining through rainforest canopy. Visit November through April to enjoy the island's most reliably sunny season.

Grand Turk, the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands, is a captivating port known for its rich history and stunning natural beauty. Must-do experiences include savoring local dishes like conch fritters and exploring the nearby paradise of Providenciales. The best time to visit is from December to April, when the weather is most pleasant and ideal for beach activities.

Nassau wears its layered past lightly — pirates once commanded these shores, and the elegant colonial facades along Bay Street still whisper of British rule — but today the Bahamian capital is above all a place of cerulean water and indolent pleasure. The Queen's Staircase, 65 steps hand-carved from solid limestone by enslaved labourers in the late 18th century, and the clifftop ruins of Fort Fincastle reward those who venture beyond the waterfront boutiques. Paradise Island's Harbour island, accessible by water taxi, delivers some of the Atlantic's most celebrated pink-sand beaches. Nassau is year-round in climate; November through April brings the most reliably perfect weather.

Miami is a city of perpetual reinvention — the Art Deco jewel of South Beach giving way to the street-art murals of Wynwood, the Cuban rhythms of Calle Ocho, and the glass-and-steel towers of a skyline that has redrawn itself every decade since Julia Tuttle convinced Henry Flagler to extend his railroad south in 1896. Must-dos include strolling the pastel-fronted Ocean Drive at dusk and exploring the world-class collections at the Pérez Art Museum Miami overlooking Biscayne Bay. November through April delivers idyllic weather — warm and dry — while summer brings heat, humidity, and hurricane risk. Miami handles cruise departures elegantly, with the Port of Miami a short taxi ride from the best neighbourhoods.

Grand Turk, the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands, is a captivating port known for its rich history and stunning natural beauty. Must-do experiences include savoring local dishes like conch fritters and exploring the nearby paradise of Providenciales. The best time to visit is from December to April, when the weather is most pleasant and ideal for beach activities.

San Juan, Puerto Rico's radiant colonial capital, is one of the Americas' most compellingly layered cities — a place where the sixteenth-century fortresses of El Morro and San Cristóbal stand sentinel over streets of painted townhouses and flowering balconies. The cobblestoned lanes of Old San Juan pulse with world-class rum bars, ceviche stands, and rooftop restaurants serving the island's vibrant cocina criolla. La Fortaleza, the oldest executive mansion in the Western Hemisphere still in use, anchors the historic district. Florecer, the district's famed bioluminescent bay, glows emerald after dark. January through April offers the most idyllic conditions.

Charlotte Amalie, the capital of St. Thomas, unfolds across a hillside of Danish colonial buildings and cobblestone alleys above one of the Caribbean's most celebrated natural harbors, its duty-free shops and waterfront markets reflecting three centuries of mercantile tradition. Beyond the vibrant town, the island's real splendor reveals itself at Magens Bay — a sheltered arc of powdery sand consistently ranked among the world's most beautiful beaches — and at Coral World Ocean Park, where underwater observatories and sea encounters delight. The Caribbean's reliably warm and sunny climate makes St. Thomas a compelling destination throughout the year.

Half Moon Cay, a private island paradise in the Bahamas, is renowned for its stunning beaches and serene atmosphere. Must-do experiences include savoring local delicacies like conch fritters and exploring the vibrant markets. The best time to visit is during the winter months when the weather is pleasantly warm and inviting.

Miami is a city of perpetual reinvention — the Art Deco jewel of South Beach giving way to the street-art murals of Wynwood, the Cuban rhythms of Calle Ocho, and the glass-and-steel towers of a skyline that has redrawn itself every decade since Julia Tuttle convinced Henry Flagler to extend his railroad south in 1896. Must-dos include strolling the pastel-fronted Ocean Drive at dusk and exploring the world-class collections at the Pérez Art Museum Miami overlooking Biscayne Bay. November through April delivers idyllic weather — warm and dry — while summer brings heat, humidity, and hurricane risk. Miami handles cruise departures elegantly, with the Port of Miami a short taxi ride from the best neighbourhoods.