Kaleidoscope Travel & Cruise » Caribbean

Aruba

Administrator — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 21:39:52 +0000

Welcome to Aruba the first port of call on Kaleidoscope Travel & Cruise�s Southern Caribbean group cruise. Aruba is located in the heart of the southern Caribbean, 20 kilometers off the coast of Venezuela. It is 30 kilometers long and 9 kilometers across, at its widest point. The vegetation of Aruba is unusual for a Caribbean island. On the south and west coasts there are miles of pristine white beaches that rank among the most beautiful in the world. The northeast coast, along the windward shore, is rugged and wild. The interior is desert like with a variety of cacti and dramatic rock formations. The island�s most famous trees are the watapana, or divi-divi trees, all permanently sculpted into graceful, southwest-bending shapes by the constant trade winds. Our choice of shore excursion was the Aruba Town and Countryside Tour. We drove through the picturesque city of Oranjestad on our way to the Aloe Factory, where we received a tour of thefactory and its amazing products. Then it was off to the Casibari Rocks, for such a flat island, the presence of these unusual mountains and huge boulders that dot the countryside are truly amazing. These strange puzzling geological formations contain large quartzdiorite stone and provide adventure seekers with an “unexplained” mystery. Our next stop was the Natural Bridge. On September 5, 2005 the 100-foot long rock bridge fell into the ocean after centuries of pounding by the surf. The island�s most famous natural archway was carved out of the limestone coast and came to be one of the most recognizable tourist attractions in the entire Caribbean. We were able to view a mini natural bridge at the same location. After the tour we headed back to the pier for some duty free shopping before the ship set sail at for our next port of call � Willemstad Curacao.

Curacao – Netherland Antilles

Administrator — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 06:35:49 +0000

Lovely Curacao is the �C� of the Netherland Antilles ABC islands. Its sister islands are Aruba to the west and Bonaire to the east. This was our second port of call on Kaleidoscope Travel & Cruise�s latest group cruise tour in November 2006. Curacao covers more than 180 square miles. Willemstad is the historic port city where most of its 170,000 people live. The town it self feels very European with canals and buildings reminiscent of a tropical Amsterdam. The countryside is dotted with cacti and plantation houses. Europeans have enjoyed Curacao�s lively culture, first rate shopping and outstanding diving for years. The island is ringed with reefs that support a diverse abundance of coral and sea life. It�s not uncommon to see dolphins, turtles, or pilot whales. Over 60 dive sites, several wrecks and nearly 40 beaches. Some additional highlights on the island include the Hato Caves, once used as eerie shelters for early inhabitants and escaped slaves. The spectacular stalagmites and stalactites are still being formed by the steady dripping waters. Curacao Sea Aquarium offers an Animal Encounter which you can snorkel or dive with tropical fish, sharks, sea turtles and stingrays. Hand feeding sardines to a nurse shark will certainly become a vacation memory. Visit the world famous Curacao Liqueur Distillery or shop to you drop at the duty free shops. We set sail from Curacao at 10:00pm and spent the next day at sea enjoying all the activities the MS Volendam had to offer.

Cayman Islands

Administrator — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 06:06:42 +0000

The Cayman Islands are Renowned for beautiful beaches, excellent diving and offshore banking, they are a group of three islands situated between Cuba and Jamaica, only a 90-minute flight from Miami. Most of the population of the Cayman Islands live on the 202 sq km Grand Cayman, and every day thousands of visitors arrive, many of them on cruise liners, to besiege the narrow streets of the island capital, George Town, and delight in the beautiful beaches. The natural attractions are enough to draw the crowds, however, with the coral reefs, clear waters and sandy beaches offering the chance to try out any watersport imaginable. It is hard to believe that among the buildings that line George Town’s harbor there are 500 banks making up the world’s fifth largest offshore financial centre. Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are 113km northeast of Grand Cayman and are much smaller and even more relaxed. Visitors don’t come here in suits; the little business that goes on revolves around diving and catering for the world’s best bone-fishing. Discovered by Columbus in 1503 and explored by Sir Francis Drake in 1586, it was not until 1670 that the islands came under British rule. They remain a British territory, and the Queen’s picture is still displayed proudly, but the US exerts the dominant influence over what it considers its backyard. For years the islands were a base for pirates who delighted in the remoteness of Grand Cayman.

US Virgin Islands

Administrator — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 04:23:16 +0000

Of the 60 mostly uninhabited islands that make up the US Virgin Islands, the biggest and most visited are St Thomas, St John and St Croix. The energetic capital of Charlotte Amalie, with its attractive harbor, lies on St Thomas. This island is the most Americanized of the chain, famous for its world-class duty-free shopping. Nearby St John is an unspoilt nature lover’s paradise, with most of its forests, pristine beaches and reefs part of a protected national park. The largest of the islands is St Croix and its remoteness from the others, the historic remnants scattered about the landscape, the pretty Danish-influenced towns of Frederiksted and Christiansted, and the snorkeling at nearby Buck Island are the attractions here. Surrounded by the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean, these islands boast some of the most splendid coastline in the world, with white sandy beaches, astonishing coral reefs and pristine marine life, secluded coves, and untouched rainforests rising up above the sea-swept landscape. Caribbean color touches every aspect of the islands, blending with the strong Danish influence in the town. Local craftsmen display their unique island art along cobblestone alleyways; busy markets supply the essentials for a delicious cuisine; and the sounds of folk songs and calypso bands fill the air. The Virgin Islands being among the most popular cruise ship destinations in the Caribbean has meant that the port towns of Charlotte Amalie and Christiansted are usually swamped with newly arrived passengers in a frenzy of shopping and dining. Main beaches are seldom deserted, and the key reef areas are often a flurry of flippers and snorkels. Luxury resorts and fine hotels share the streets with old colonial architecture. Yet it is still possible to escape the crowds and find that bit of elusive paradise, to relax away from the divers and sailors, the sightseers, the ecological tour groups, and the shoppers.