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Snorkel the reef

St. Maarten to Costa Rica

Example 15 Day Cruise
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A transit of the Panama Canal ranks high on the “wish list” of most cruise enthusiasts. But this travel rite of passage is only one of the highlights of this unique itinerary. Embark the m/v Tere Moana in Dutch-flavored St. Maarten, then sail to St. Barts, a shopper’s paradise. Discover why Antigua is so popular with sun-seekers before continuing on to magnificent Les Saintes. Next, visit “Holland in the Tropics”, Curaçao, and sophisticated Aruba. A stop at graceful Cartagena, Colombia, sets the stage for your transit of the “path between the seas.”
Snorkel in the shallows of the Caribbean as you sail its tropical watersPelicans hanging out in the oceanDock going out into the crystal blue oceanManta ray during on a snorkeling trip.Snorkel the reef
Highlights
  • Explore a few of St. John's 365 beaches
  • Snorkel the shallow corals off the coast of Aruba
  • Transit one of the world's great engineering marvels, the Panama Canal
  • Search for rare and endangered species in Corcovado National Park
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Embark in Philipsburg, St. Maarten

  • 1 Dinner
Arrive in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, and transfer to the Tere Moana. Settle in to your cabin and attend a welcome dinner as the ship sets sail.

Day 2: St. Barts, F.W.I

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Chic shops are a hallmark of this “Manhattan-sur-Mer” (Manhattan on the Sea), known for its duty-free shopping. Others include the island’s balmy climate and brilliant blue skies, iguanas, and night-blooming cactus. Distinctly French in language, culture, and cuisine, St. Barts remains thoroughly independent in spirit. Enjoy excellent snorkeling and diving from the island’s fabulous cove-style beaches.

Day 3: St. John's, Antigua

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Antigua is the largest of the English-speaking Leeward Islands of the eastern Caribbean. Said to have 365 beaches—one for each day of the year, the island boasts hospitable trade winds and a nearly perfect climate, with pleasant temperatures that range from the mid-70s in winter to the mid-80s during the summer months. It is also one of the sunniest islands in the eastern Caribbean.

Day 4: Les Saintes, F.W.I

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Located just six miles south of Guadeloupe, this small archipelago of eight gorgeous tropical islands is a world apart with its serene, relaxing ambiance. In Terre-de-Haut, one of just two inhabited islands in the chain, enjoy exceptional snorkeling in the magnificent bay, or take in the view from above at Fort Napoleon. Watch fishermen at work wearing unusual hats found nowhere else. Or explore the village, with its interesting shops and art galleries.

Day 5: At Sea

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Day 6: Willemstad, Curacao

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Independent since the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010, Curaçao is sometimes called the “Holland in the Tropics.” Much of the island’s acclaim is due to its charming capital city, Willemstad, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its distinctive urban planning dating to 1634 and mix of architectural styles. While here, admire the city’s magnificent setting on a natural harbor and quality shopping in historic buildings. Perhaps also visit Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, which boasts the longest-standing Jewish congregation in the New World, dating to 1651.

Day 7: Oranjestad, Aruba

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Come discover why Aruba’s slogan is “Where Happiness Lives”! In its glittering, multicultural capital, Oranjestad, find an ideal walking city brimming with shops, Dutch Colonial architecture, a waterfront market, and a 17th-century fort. Aruba is also world-renowned for its international cuisine, and restaurants are plentiful. Windsurfing is especially popular here, and shallow coral formations make this a great destination for diving and snorkeling. Or simply relax on a beach of soft, ivory-colored sands.

Day 8: At Sea

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Day 9-10: Cartagena, Colombia

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
A blend of Spanish colonial influences and a tropical Caribbean lifestyle infuses the vibrant local culture of Colombia’s fifth-largest city—and most popular travel destination. Cartagena is also one of the loveliest cities in South America, with narrow streets, stately mansions, sprawling plazas, grand monasteries, open-air cafés, and a beautiful seaside setting. Perhaps visit the Ciudad Amurallada—the city’s historic walled city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 11: Panama Canal Transit

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Enjoy the day at your leisure. In the evening, enjoy a "must-see" for most cruise enthusiasts: a transit of one of the world’s great engineering marvels, the Panama Canal. The desire to build a canal through the isthmus of Panama dates to the days of Christopher Columbus, but it took the vision and resolve of one man to turn it into a reality: Theodore Roosevelt. Building it entailed crossing the Continental Divide and battling the effects of heat, malaria, and a forbidding jungle. On this evening's cruise, enter the series of locks that raises ships about 85 feet above sea level, then lowers them back down again at the other side of the isthmus—all by force of gravity, without the use of any pumps. In the middle of the canal, sail through the 166-square-mile Gatun Lake—once the largest manmade lake in the world.

Day 12: Panama Canal Transit | At Sea

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Day 13: Isla de Coiba, Panama

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Visit Isla de Coiba, the largest island in Central America and one of 38 islands that comprise Coiba National Park, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its natural riches. Because the island served as a Panamanian penal colony until 2004, access was highly restricted. As a result, some 80% of the island is carpeted with unspoiled virgin rainforest. Home to rare indigenous plant species, the island is also a haven for howler monkeys, scarlet macaws, crested eagles, four turtle species, and more. Or perhaps visit one of the beautiful white-sand beaches at the north end of the island.

Day 14: Corcovado National Park (Marenco), Costa Rica

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
From Marenco, a private nature reserve on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast, you have easy access to Corcovado National Park, called “the most biologically intense place on earth” by National Geographic. Within its 103,000 acres lie 25 to 30 ecosystems, including virgin rainforest, cloud forest, mangrove swamps, and coastal habitats. An important sanctuary for rare and endangered species such as jaguars, pumas, ocelots, Baird’s tapirs, and harpy’s eagles, Corcovado also hosts an abundance of plants and wildlife, including at least 2,418 species of plants, 700 species of trees, 140 species of mammals, 117 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 40 species of freshwater fish. Perhaps spot monkeys, sloths, anteaters, crocodiles, poison dart frogs, and so much more.

Day 15: Disembark in Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica

  • 1 Breakfast
Arrive in Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, and disembark after breakfast. Transfer independently to the airport for your continued travels.

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  • 13 Breakfasts, 12 Lunches, 13 Dinners

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The trip was terrific with great planning on your part. Most of the adventures were not mainstream and somewhat off the beaten path which made it especially enjoyable!! We felt taken care of and you all were readily available to respond to questions and issues. I would highly recommend your company and friends have already expressed interest based on our pictures and excitement.
Gale Cantor

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