Ports of Call
After departing Ft. Lauderdale you will stop at some of the most beautiful ports of call. The white sand beaches, palm trees, historic sites are among some of the adventures that await you.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
There is an abundance of things to see and do in the Fort Lauderdale area: visit the newly redesigned Fort Lauderdale Beach and cafes, stroll the historic Riverwalk, shop the luxurious stores on Las Olas Boulevard or venture to the Everglades for an intriguing air boat excursion.
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
While Holland America Line is committed to keeping 96 percent of its pristine private island wild, Half Moon Cay offers everything you need for a day of play on your Caribbean cruise. Park yourself in an air-conditioned cabana along a two-mile crescent of blinding white beach. Visit Stingray Cove to feed and learn more about the gentle creatures. Ride your horse to a deserted beach and into the surf. Or, take your kids to Half Moon Lagoon, island’s aqua park and children’s playground. Part of the Bahamas, Half Moon Cay lies about 100 miles southeast of Nassau and is visited on nearly every Caribbean itinerary.
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
The western end of Grand Cayman Island contains one of the most delightful cities in the Caribbean. Underwater. In the shallow waters West Bay, you can swim into Stingray City, where the rays will let you touch, feed, and hold them. About a mile west, on the other side of the island, lies Seven Mile Beach, an emblematic stretch of Caribbean idyll. And just south is Georgetown, the country’s capital. The town is a crayon box of shops (look for a piece of colorful Caymanite or black coral), restaurants, and history, including the Cayman Islands National Museum and the Maritime Treasure Museum. The harbor offers endless water activities for cruise guests, including snorkeling, scuba diving, and glass-bottom boat tours.
Cozumel, Mexico
Just off the coast of the Mexican mainland, the porous mass of limestone that arches out of the water has over time become one of the world’s great ocean playgrounds. But a cruise to Cozumel with Holland America Line is about more than ethereal beaches: the island is ranked among the world’s premier dive and fishing spots. And a mere ferry ride away you can explore centuries of human splendor in the Mayan ruins at Tulum, spectacularly sited on the sea cliffs.
Key West, FL
Key West is where Florida makes its last ragged stumble into the celadon waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
The water and the climate have been drawing visitors for centuries, from Ponce de Leon to Harry Truman to writers like Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams. Somehow, the writers managed to get some great work done, and their legacy lives on. Area highlights for cruise visitors include the Ernest Hemingway House (full of many-toed cats), McCoy Indigenous Park (full of rescued marine animals), and numerous local beaches (full of vitamin D). Try Fort Zachary Taylor, South Beach, or Higg’s Beach.