On this 12-day Caribbean cruise aboard the SH Diana, explore enchanting destinations from Cartagena to Nassau. Begin in Cartagena's Old City with historic architecture and coastal beauty. In Santa Marta, delve into history, surrounded by the Sierra Nevada mountains and Tayrona National Park. Discover Santo Domingo's UNESCO Colonial Zone, then explore Saona Island's natural wonders. In Samaná, witness whale migrations and explore Los Haitises National Park. Providenciales offers watersports and unique wildlife, while Clarence Town and Long Island boast cliffs, caves, and history. San Salvador Island offers iguanas and seabird colonies. Compass Cay in the Exumas provides shark encounters, and Nassau concludes your trip with beaches, history, and vibrant markets.
Highlights
Explore Cartagena's Old City with historic architecture and coastal beauty
Discover Santo Domingo's UNESCO Colonial Zone
Witness whale migrations and explore Los Haitises National Park in Samaná
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
Within the walled Old City of Cartagena, a historic coastal city in Colombia, 16th- to 18th-century military architecture, unmatched in the Americas, stands tall. Vibrant streets host museums like the Gold Museum, overlooked by the hilltop Castillo San Felipe fortress. Along the picturesque coast, La Boquilla fishing village is known for folkloric drumming and dancing and is the gateway to one of Colombia's largest mangrove forests.
Day 3: Santa Marta
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The first Spanish settlement in the Americas, Santa Marta, sits on Colombia's Caribbean coast. Its historical center preserves landmarks like the Cathedral, Santo Domingo Convent, Consistorial House, and Gold Museum showcasing pre-Columbian history. The majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, the world’s highest coastal range and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, tower over Santa Marta. Nearby Tayrona National Park is celebrated for stunning rainforests, beaches, and ancient Pueblito ruins, built by the Tayrona people and accessed via forest trails.
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our onboard lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Santo Domingo, established in the 15th century, proudly holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas. Its lively Colonial Zone is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with cobblestoned streets and coral rock buildings dating to the 1500s like the first cathedral in the Americas. Plaza de España contains the Alcázar de Colón palace, now a museum displaying medieval and Renaissance art.
Famed for its mangroves, coral reefs, and palm-fringed beaches, Saona Island is situated within the Cotubanamá National Park, off the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic. This picturesque island features a starfish-filled shallow sea. The laid-back fishing village of Mano Juan showcases colorful shacks and a turtle sanctuary. To the west, the Cave of Cotubanamá reveals ancient rock art. Beyond its picturesque beaches, Saona invites exploration with pristine natural beauty, charming villages, and a rich indigenous history.
Samaná, a picturesque peninsula in the Dominican Republic, draws thousands of humpback whales during winter's mating season. Samaná town showcases the Whale Museum with its giant skeleton and artefacts, while the charming Malecón waterfront promenade offers colourful colonial houses, bars and seafood eateries. The bay is graced by tiny Cayo Levantado island's palm-lined beaches, and nearby, the secluded El Limon Waterfall cascades into a lush swimming hole. In the vicinity, Los Haitises National Park harbours subtropical forests, and mangroves.
Affectionately known as Provo, Providenciales stands out as the third largest isle in the Turks and Caicos archipelago. Grace Bay Beach is its vibrant watersports hub, lined with resorts and seaside dining along its pristine, sandy shores. Chalk Sound National Park features a picturesque turquoise lagoon dotted with tiny cays, home to Turks and Caicos Rock Iguanas, barracudas, stingrays, and lemon sharks. The area's premier snorkeling destinations, Smith's and Bight Reefs, offer encounters with starfish, turtles, conch, and a myriad of colorful marine life.
A visit to Clarence Town and Long Island, with its cliffs and caves, reveals the area’s unique charm. The town provides amenities like a marina and restaurants. Key attractions such as Gun Hill and the historic St. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church enhance the experience. The remarkable Hamilton’s Cave, the largest cave system in the Bahamas, showcases exquisite stalactites and stalagmites. Additionally, the renowned Dean’s Blue Hole, the world's second-deepest saltwater sinkhole, adds to the natural wonders of the area.
Graham's Harbour on San Salvador Island is home to the one-of-a-kind Graham's Harbour Iguana & Seabird National Park, protecting endangered iguanas and supporting prolific seabird colonies with more species than any other Bahamian isle: magnificent frigate birds, diverse booby species, terns and tropic birds. Where Columbus first landed in 1492, the island showcases its history at Landfall National Park. With over 50 dive sites and stunning coral reefs, San Salvador provides top-tier snorkelling and scuba adventures amid copious natural riches.
Compass Cay, Bahamas, stands out as an extraordinary destination renowned for exhilarating shark encounters in their native environment. The Exumas, an archipelago comprising 365 islands, are famous for their enchanting sapphire-blue waters, so stunning that their brilliant shades are visible even from space. The Exumas are categorized into three primary regions: Great Exuma, Little Exuma, and the Exuma Cays. Among the cays, a handful are absolute must-visit spots, with Big Major Cay, home to the famous swimming pigs.
Day 12: Nassau
1 Breakfast
Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas, is a sunny and lively destination famous for its beaches, such as Cable Beach and Nirvana Beach. From The Pirates of Nassau Museum, which tells the story of Blackbeard and Edward Teach, to the Pompey Museum of Slavery, Nassau, which dates back to 1670, is rich in history. The pastel-colored buildings in the downtown area are home to shops, restaurants, bars, the Fish Market, and the Straw Market which sells souvenirs, straw crafts, and tourist trinkets.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$8,2512-3 travelers
Rates are subject to change without notice. Book early to get the best rate.
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Oceanview D4
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
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Oceanview M4
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
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Balcony D5
Located on decks 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
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Balcony M5
Located on decks 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
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Balcony D6
Located on decks 6, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
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Junior Suite
SH Diana’s Junior Suites features a Super King Size bed, separate living room area with homely flame-effect fireplace, private kitchen, luxurious en-suite bathroom and a 7 sq. m private balcony.
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Suite
Our Suites features a superking bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom and a 12 sq.m. private balcony.
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Premium Suite
SH Diana’s Premium Suites feature a Super King Size bed, separate living room with homely flame-effect fireplace, luxurious en-suite bathroom, spacious walk-in wardrobe and a 12 sq. m private balcony.
Initial deposit is 20% (30% for Suite bookings), and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. 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
11 Nights Accommodations
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Room Service
Wifi
Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
Lecture programs by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
Onboard gratuities & port taxes
Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions.
Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
Excluded
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
We recommend every traveler to take out a travel cancellation insurance, travel interruption insurance and a travel health insurance policy with an assumption of the return transport costs of repatriation
Map
When to Go
Jan
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Aug
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Oct
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Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.
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 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
1 day ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
3 days 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
4 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
