Optional tours are available from most ports for an additional charge.
Itinerary
Day Lisbon, PortugalDeparts 05:00 PM "Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is a wealth of sights, tastes and sounds. An ensemble of neighborhoods both old and new, it's a city full of history, culture and tradition. After the devastating earthquake that struck in 1755, reconstruction began and the rebuilt Baixa area quickly became one of the city's busiest districts. From there, you can glance up at São Jorge Castle on one hill while in another direction you'll find Chiado, one of the trendiest and most elegant neighborhoods.
The spirit of Lisbon can be encapsulated by the soulful musical genre, fado, which can best be enjoyed in the Alfama, the city's oldest neighborhood. Enter one of the area's old-school taverns and listen to passionate renditions of Fado Vadio, sung by amateurs, often after a round of aguardiente, an anise-flavored liquor."
Day St. Johns, Antigua and BarbudaArrives 08:00 AM Departs 11:00 PM "The former British colony of Antigua is something special. Just ask Richard Branson, Eric Clapton, Giorgio Armani and Oprah-they all have homes here. Known for its beaches-there are 365 of them, all white sand lined with palm trees-Antigua also boasts charming harbors and a countryside dotted with old sugar mills. At one time the island was a juggernaut in the sugar trade, and also produced tobacco and cotton. Today, agriculture is still important, with Antiguan sweet potatoes, black pineapples and guavas being among the major crops.
The capital city of the dual-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda is St. John's, the center of commerce, with international banks and boutiques as well as a lone rum distillery. Elsewhere on Antigua, English Harbour is of particular note for its maritime heritage, historic sites and excellent restaurants-plus, while there, you'll get to glimpse some impressive yachts as they sail in and out of the bay. The highlight is the restored Nelson's Dockyard, which features gorgeous 18th- and 19th-century architecture but also buzzes with modern eateries and shops.
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Day Carambola Beach, Saint Kitts and NevisArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM A classic golden arc of sugary sand at South Friar's Bay, Carambola is home to the island's most luxurious beach clubs and restaurants. Umbrellas, loungers and optional water sports abound for those so inclined. Otherwise St. Kitts has other attractions, including a number of lovingly preserved plantation great houses, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Brimstone Hill Fortress and a scenic narrow gauge sugarcane railway.
Day Point-a-Pitre, GuadeloupeArrives 08:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM That rarest of breedsâan overseas department of FranceâGuadeloupe is a place where the language, currency and wine lists all attest to the fact that you're in the motherland, while the volcanic backdrop, vivid architectural palette and fragrant spice markets tell a different story. But no matter. As soon as you arrive in the port of Pointe-à -Pitre, you'll embrace the contradictions. The island's improbable blend makes for beautiful (and delicious) experiences, such as a taste of the tourment d'amour, a coconut-filled tartâthink French petit gâteau meets the tropics.
Pointe-Ã -Pitre isn't Guadeloupe's administrative capital, but it's definitely the island's cultural capital, as you'll soon discover as you explore the museums, markets and historic sites. And you're never far from amazing nature: An easy drive in almost any direction on this butterfly-shaped island will lead to rivers, rain forests, waterfalls, wild stretches of coastlineâand the highest peak in the Lesser Antilles.
Day Bridgetown, BarbadosArrives 07:00 AM "Barbadians, or Bajans in local parlance, consider their island nation the most British of the Caribbean: Queen Elizabeth II is still head of state, and English products are stocked in many of its stores and restaurants. Barbados is known as the birthplace of international pop star Rihanna, but it has also produced some of the biggest Caribbean calypso and soca music stars. The summer Crop Over festival is a huge carnival event. With live music and crafts for sale, the popular Friday fish fry at Oistins Bay is a fun place to mingle with the locals.
Centered around a waterway called the Careenage and its handsome Chamberlain Bridge, the historic center of Bridgetown, the country's capital, was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 2011 for its wealth of British colonial architecture dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Among the famous figures who visited Bridgetown when it was at its peak was none other than George Washington, who spent two months in 1751 in a house that still stands today, on his only trip abroad."