Caribbean Gems

Miami is the busiest cruise port in the world, hosting a myriad of ships year-round from all over the globe. Although it is technically not on the Caribbean Sea, no other American city exudes more of the diverse tropical appeal of the Caribbean. The city is home to a large and vibrant immigrant population that blends snowbird refugees from more northern climes with emigres from all Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as sizable groups from Europe, the Middle East and Asia. From the hot-blooded Art Deco haunts of South Beach to the natural wonders of the UNESCO-inscribed Everglades and the laid-back charms of the Keys, South Florida offers a bounty of appealing attractions that make an extended stay in the region nearly mandatory for those either embarking or disembarking here.

More than 40 islands and cays comprise the Turks & Caicos Islands. Though small, these islands have a huge reputation among divers for their crystal-clear waters, powder white beaches and accessible coral reefs. They also have a big history: Columbus wrote about them in 1492, Ponce de Leon arrived in 1512 and they have been a British Crown colony since 1766. Grand Turk, largest of the islands at seven miles long and 1½-miles wide, is the seat of the government and noted for its charming Bermudian architecture. Salt was once the island’s main form of income, and today the salina ponds are feeding grounds for resident and migratory birds. From January to April thousands of humpback whales pass through the Columbus passage between Grand Turk and South Caicos en route to winter breeding grounds.

Catalina Island, known locally as Isla Catalina, is an island wildlife reserve located off the south-east corner of the Dominican Republic, near La Romana. A relaxing patch of inhabited paradise, it offers long beaches of powdery white sand, fringed by palm trees. Its diverse eco-systems include sand dunes, mangrove forests and coral reefs. The surrounding seas are rich with many species of birds and fish.

Miami is the busiest cruise port in the world, hosting a myriad of ships year-round from all over the globe. Although it is technically not on the Caribbean Sea, no other American city exudes more of the diverse tropical appeal of the Caribbean. The city is home to a large and vibrant immigrant population that blends snowbird refugees from more northern climes with emigres from all Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as sizable groups from Europe, the Middle East and Asia. From the hot-blooded Art Deco haunts of South Beach to the natural wonders of the UNESCO-inscribed Everglades and the laid-back charms of the Keys, South Florida offers a bounty of appealing attractions that make an extended stay in the region nearly mandatory for those either embarking or disembarking here.