Join Sea Cloud II on this 10-day Caribbean cruise. Depart from Cienfuegos, Cuba, the "Pearl of the South." This city is known for its grand, romantic architecture, beautifully preserved from the days of French colonization, and its beautiful views of the sparkling turquoise sea. In Santiago de Cuba, admire the architectural gem of El Morro fortress, which withstood numerous pirate attacks throughout history. Santiago de Cuba is also a hub of culture and music, allowing for immersion into the rich rhythms of the city. Stop in Port Antonio, Jamaica and visit sugar and banana plantations, then sail to La Romana, Dominican Republic, where the Cueva de las Maravillas National Park hosts preserved Taino art in caves deep underground. End your cruise in Santo Domingo, the oldest city in the New World.
Highlights
Explore the "Pearl of the South," Cienfuegos
Soak in the music and culture of Santiago de Cuba
Admire preserved Taino art in Cueva de las Maravillas National Park
Wander the streets of Santo Domingo, the oldest city in the New World
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Cienfuegos, whose name literally translates as "Hundred fires," is also known as the Pearl of the South. The city owes its grand, romantic architecture to the French colonists who first settled there. The beautiful old town of Trinidad de Cuba is a true gem, with lovingly restored colonial facades, sleepy lanes and a turquoise sea. This friendly town, with its important past as the center of sugar cane cultivation, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for many years, along with the cultivated landscape of the Valle de Los Ingenios, or "Valley of the Sugarmills." Explore this city before boarding your ship to spend the night.
The El Morro fortress - once almost completely destroyed by the pirate Henry Morgan - towers high above the bay of Santiago de Cuba. This city is an architectural gem, and proud not only of its reputation as the birthplace of the revolution, but also of its musicality. If you go for a walk, sooner or later you will find yourself in an authentic Salsa bar. The whole city has music in its blood, and nowhere else do people make so much music or dance so much. The rhythms of the Salsa, Son and Rumba are just as thrilling in clubs, bars and schools as they are in the famous Buena Vista Social Club.
Port Antonio was once the world's banana capital, but has since been discovered and rebranded as a relaxing destination, with vacation properties found near the clear deep waters of the Blue Lagoon. The pretty little town, surrounded by sugar cane fields and banana plantations, impresses with its delightful beaches. The Rio Grande is the island's largest river and channels its course over 60 kilometers in green solitude through the jungle and into the sea. Historically, bananas and other fruit were carefully transported on bamboo rafts along the waterway to the port. Today the rafts have been equipped with bench seats and are used for excursions.
During the sugar boom of the late 19th century, La Romana developed into a lively working-class city and eastern sugar center. The third largest city in the Dominican Republic now has many faces. The streets are laid out in a grid formation with colorfully painted houses. Between these and the golf courses and luxury villas of the prominent Casa de Campo flows the Rio Dulce, which runs into the sea. Native Taino art plays a large role, both in the city's archaeological museum and in what is perhaps the country's most beautiful cave, Maravillas, which was a cult site for the native Taino people and lies 25 meters (82 ft) below ground. The numerous cave paintings are more than 1,000 years old and have been exceptionally well preserved.
Day 10: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Disembark
1 Breakfast
After breakfast, disembark the ship to explore Santo Domingo before continuing on your independent travels or heading home. On the island of Hispaniola, Columbus founded the first Spanish colony in America. Santo Domingo, the present capital of the Dominican Republic, is the oldest European-founded city in the New World. "Old" in the New World still means relatively young - it corresponds to Renaissance visions of the ideal, and was the model for many cities in Latin America. A visit to the historic old city is like a journey through time: the splendid stone buildings are remnants of the era of colonial conquests, and have been protected as UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites.
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Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$8,935
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Category F
Two portholes, chair, table, TV with DVD player, mini-bar, dressing table, closet, safe, individually adjustable A/C.
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Category E
Two portholes, sofa, table, TV with DVD player, mini-bar, dressing table, closet, safe, individually adjustable A/C.
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Category D
Two portholes, two chairs, table, TV with DVD player, mini-bar, dressing table, closet, safe, individually adjustable A/C.
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Category C
Panorama windows, two chairs, table, TV with DVD player, mini-bar, dressing table, closet, safe, individually adjustable A/C.
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Category B
Panorama window, sofa, table, chair, decorative fireplace, console with TV/DVD and mini-bar, dressing table, walk-in closet, safe, individually adjustable A/C.
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Category A
Panorama window, sofa, table, chair, desk, decorative fireplace, TV and DVD player, mini-bar, dressing table, four closets, safe, individually adjustable A/C.
Notes
Rates are based on double occupancy. A limited number of cabins can be booked for individual use for an additional charge.
Initial deposit is 30%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by Visa, Mastercard, Discover or AmEx. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
9 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches, 9 Dinners
9 Nights Accommodations
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Beer, wine, cocktails, and spirits aboard the ship. We are also pleased to offer a selection of super premium wines and liquors that are available for purchase.
Crew gratuities
Complimentary Wi-Fi internet is available to all guests (connectivity permitting)
Gratuities
Port Fees
Welcome and Farewell Cocktails
Welcome champagne in the suite/stateroom
Daily fresh fruit basket in suite/stateroom
All coffee, tea specialties and soft drinks
Bottled water on the excursions
Fine wines from renowned winemakers
Open bar (except premium brands)
Beach barbecues in select destinations
Marina platform with use of water sports equipment such as snorkel gear, stand-up paddleboards, and towable tube (weather permitting)
Laundry service in suites
Curated moments
All meals including nightly 4-course menu and a 5-course gala dinner
Excluded
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
