Central America & Cuba: Colon - Havana

Arrive in Colon and embark on Sea Cloud II. 

Since 1914, the Panama Canal has linked the Atlantic to the Pacific. This technological marvel of locks and canals also comprises two artificial lakes. The Gatúnsee, one of the world's largest dammed lakes, has now regained a unique range of flora and fauna. In fact, nature has reclaimed the lake for itself, with the rainforest sprawling over its banks. The former hills are now islands on which an astonishing variety of species has formed, due to its isolation. The largest island, Barro Colorado, is completely untouched and has been a nature reserve since 1923. Scientists from all over the world come here to try and discover the jungle's last secrets.

Enjoy this day offshore, relaxing and taking in the smell of the fresh ocean breeze up on deck.

In gaining its independence, San Jose very quickly transformed from a mountain village into the busy modern capital city of a young, optimistic country. The Central Valley lies at a height of between 1,000 and 1,700 metres in a picturesque setting surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. The mild, unchanging climate and the fertile volcanic soil have brought wealth and prosperity, primarily through the cultivation of coffee. Around 165 kilometres (102 miles) to the east, on the Caribbean coast, lies the harbour town of Puerto Limón which was founded in 1870.

The Corn Islands in the Caribbean consisting of two islands, Big and Little Corn Island, as well as "Blowing Rock", a handful of volcanic rocks out in the open sea, from the center of which seawater periodically shoots vertically upwards. Formerly a safe haven for pirates, Little Corn Island is still an undiscovered treasure and a delightful paradise for divers and snorkelers, with its deserted palm-covered tropical golden beaches, crystal-clear water shimmering in every shade of turquoise, and a large protective coral reef with shoals of colorful fish.

Enjoy these days offshore, relaxing and taking in the smell of the fresh ocean breeze up on deck.

Roatán is around seventy kilometers (43 miles) long but just three kilometers (2 miles) wide. In its center the landscape is typically tropical and mountainous, with dense rainforest and a coastline that exhibits unusual-looking rocky bays, traditional little fishing villages and delightful sandy beaches lined with coconut palms. The island is surrounded by the second largest coral reef in the world and, as a result, many wrecks and alleged pirate treasure still lie unsalvaged on the seabed. The island's other treasures are more obvious - West Bay, a gently curving, 300-meter- (985 foot)-long "dream beach" is one of the most beautiful strips of sand on Roatán.

Belize City is the country's largest town, main port, and its economic and cultural centre, although it has not been the capital since 1975. Belize is situated in the south-east of the Yucatán peninsula and was part of the Mayan Empire, which left behind a rich legacy here. The ruined city of Altun Ha is one of Belize's best-preserved and most accessible Mayan cities. Lamanai, which lies on the banks of an inland lagoon, has been a settlement for 3,000 years. Excavations have shown that more than 20,000 people lived here in 700 AD.

The Belize Barrier Reef is a 256-kilometer-long series of coral reefs made up of numerous small coral islands. It is the second largest in the world after Australia's Great Barrier Reef. In Lighthouse Reef Atoll you will discover a very unusual natural wonder - the Great Blue Hole. It was formed during the last ice age and this circular recess in the ocean floor with a diameter of over 300 meters is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Enjoy this day offshore, relaxing and taking in the smell of the fresh ocean breeze up on deck.

Almost any pirate who was anyone dropped anchor here. Nowadays it's filled with people wanting to escape the stresses of daily life under palm trees or in the rich underwater world. Cozumel, the largest island in Mexico, lies only a few knots away from the Yucatan peninsula. The advanced Mayan civilisation in Central America, which began around 5,000 years ago and reached its final stages at the time of the Spanish conquest, still poses questions today. Their ceremonies appear bloodthirsty, their stepped pyramids impressive and their stone carvings extremely skilled. As far as we know, Tulum is the only Mayan settlement which was established on the coast.

Enjoy this day offshore, relaxing and taking in the smell of the fresh ocean breeze up on deck.

With its beautiful balconies, wrought iron railings and idyllic inner courtyards, a stroll through Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, brings you right to the heart of life in the city. Old American limousines cruise past magnificent colonial buildings on the wide boulevards and the Malecón Promenade is a popular place to walk at sunset. In the legendary Tropicana club, where stars like Frank Sinatra and Josephine Baker once appeared on stage, the flamboyant, high-spirited shows still create the same mood today as they did when it opened in 1939.

Disembark after breakfast.