Spotlight On: the Caribbean

Did you know one of the worst volcanic eruptions in history took place on Martinique? Or that Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic is the oldest permanent European city in the Western Hemisphere?

For those who want more than a beach vacation, there’s plenty to pique your interest and satisfy your curiosity in the beautiful islands of the Caribbean. Many resorts offer tours to interesting places so why not take some time to learn about your destination from local guides? You can also venture around on your own whether you are in town for a day off a ship or staying on a longer vacation.

Here’s a summary of some of the most interesting places to visit.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
~ Oldest city in the Americas (1498) - Visit the colonial sector of the city and you’ll be amazed at the cobblestone streets and well preserved buildings from yesteryear. The first cathedral, fortress, hospital, monastery, university, palace and street in the Americas are found here.

Cuba offers many unique experiences
~From the Tropicana Nightclub to the sites of Old Havana (1519), Cuba is rich in intriguing and historical places. Attend Spanish classes, watch the experts roll cigars or take up Cuban music and dance. Cuba is also a leading bird watching centre, a good reason to take a guided hike.

Forts, homes and plantations
~ Restored plantation homes on Jamaica, Barbados and St. Croix are over 200 years old. Guided tours provide a glimpse into life on a sugar plantation.
~ El Morro (1539) in Old San Juan is Puerto Rico's best known fortress and one of the best preserved in the Caribbean. It was declared a World Heritage site by the United Nations in 1983.
~ Old San Juan (1519) is home to many other historic sites including Spanish cellist Pablo Casal’s home, now a museum.
~ La Vigía was the residence of American writer, Ernest Hemingway for more than 20 years. It is situated in the town San Francisco de Paula, outside Havana, Cuba.

Museums
~ The Volcanological Museum on Martinique explains the history and geology behind the eruption of Mt. Pelé which destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre in 1902, one of the worst volcanic eruptions in history.
~ The Dockyard Museum on Antigua is a naval history museum which tells the story of famous English Harbour, first used as hurricane shelter in 1671.
~ The Sugar Museum in Barbados explains the history of sugar cultivation and production, so vital to the island’s economy.
~ The Virgin Islands Museum houses period furnishings, artworks and exhibits. Situated in historic Fort Christian (1672) on St. Thomas.

Architecture
~ Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia for fine examples of Creole Architecture
~ Old San Juan, Santo Domingo and Havana for colonial Spanish
~ Willemstad, Curacao for authentic Caribbean Dutch
~ Barbados for Jacobean and Georgian buildings built with coral and ships ballast.

Aquariums and marine parks
~ Interact with sea life at these world class venues:
~ Stingray City and Cayman Islands Turtle Farm, Grand Cayman
~ Coral World Ocean Park, St. Thomas.
~ Seaquarium, Curacao
~ Dolphin Cove, Ocho Rios Jamaica

Distillery & Factory Tours
~ Cigar companies in Cuba including Partagas, makers of the premium brands Churchill and Lusitanias.
~ Rum factory tours are available on many islands with the Bacardi Rum factory in San Juan the largest producer in the world.
~ Curacao liqueur at Chobolobo in Willemstad, Curacao.
~ Working coffee plantations in Jamaica’s famous Blue Mountains also open their doors to visitors.