Barcelona, Las Palmas, Philipsburg, St. Kitts, Dominica, Barbados

Barcelona is one of the world's greatest treasures, a global capital of commerce, fashion, culture and sunshine. Cruise visitors should start with a walk down Las Ramblas, the glorious tree-shaded thoroughfare at the heart of the city, enjoy a dive in the wonderful beaches nearby, but, most of all, see what visionary architect Antoni Gaudi wrought. Seven of his creations have been honored as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including La Sagrada Familia, the Park Guell and Casa Mila. Time provided, you can also visit the former Olympic Ring on the hill of Montjuic, home to world-class parks, fountains and museums. Barcelona, which nurtured such artistic giants as Picasso, Dali, Miro and Casals, is definitely a traveler's paradise.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the capital of the island, is set amidst magnificent scenery composed of two bays and their beautiful beaches, in the north-eastern part of the island. Founded in 1478, the town is characterized by an important historical and cultural heritage, which is depicted in the district of Vegueta, the oldest quarter of the town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990, where you can see the Cathedral of Santa Ana, Casa Museo de Colón, Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno & Museo Canario.

Philipsburg is the capital of the Dutch section of the island Saint Maarten, which, geographically 60% percent French and 40% Dutch.

This Caribbean gem lies between clear Caribbean Sea and the Great Salt Pond, on a gentle arc of land with a saltwater lake to the north and a bay to the south.  There is an esplanade running alongside a white sand beach, giving you the opportunity to choose either shopping or sunning. You can do exciting shopping at the duty-free boutiques of Front Street, one of the great shopping avenues of the Caribbean and search the quaint clothes boutiques or browse for duty-free bargains. Outside town, you can choose from one of the island's nearly 40 beaches, such as Mullet Bay, which is one of the nicest. 

Part of the Windward Island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, the busy port of Bassterre eases along a sheltered bay surrounded by green hills and mountains, in a setting that's all Caribbean. Highlights of the town include Independence Square, the old section of town; the Circus, a main shopping district; and St. George's Anglican Church, built and rebuilt in the 300 years since its initial construction. The British and the French played keep-away with the island of St. Kitts in the 17th and 18th centuries, with the British ultimately controlling the island, its capital, Basseterre, and Fort Brimstone, the "Gibraltar of the West Indies", located on Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site of historical, cultural and architectural significance.

Dominica is an island country in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Roseau is the capital and the oldest urban settlement on the island of Dominica, located on the west coast of the island. The city is a combination of modern and colonial French architecture. The landscape is stunning with untamed rain forest, dense, lush vegetation, waterfalls, freshwater pools and bubbling hot springs, heated by the active underwater volcanoes surrounding the island. Dominica was selected as a backdrop for the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. 

Our stop at Bridgetown Barbados will reveal the British influence most directly in the historic old section of town, which has been singled out as aUNESCO World Heritage Site. Among other highlights, take a visi at the Barbados Museum and the Careenage district, with its bars and restaurants. While in Barbados, you will see various remnants and influences of the English settlerswho arrived in what is now Bridgetown in 1628: Cricket is the national sport, afternoon tea is 
a given, and motorists hug left. Before leaving, you can visit a rum distillery or take a tour to Bathsheba Pools.