Escape the Polar Vortex to four different countries aboard Holland America's new Nieuw Statendam to the Bahamas; Turks & Caicos; Domincan Republic; Puerto Rico; U.S. Virgin Islands; and Key West, Fort Lauderdale. With this being our 4th Polar Vortex Escape cruise, we can guarantee that this 14 day ‘Tropical Eastern Caribbean Cruise’ will be the perfect and stress- free vacation getaway.
STOPS:
Saturday, January 4, 2020 Transfer from DeKalb to O’Hare to board flight to Ft. Lauderdale. Transfer to hotel after landing
Sunday, January 5, 2020 Fort Lauderdale Board the ms Nieuw Amsterdam
Monday, January 6, 2020 Half Moon Cay Arrival: 8:00 a.m.; Departure: 5:00 p.m. Holland America Line's pristine private island offers everything you need for a day of play in paradise: a two-mile crescent of perfect beach; an interior lagoon; private beachside cabanas with butler service, showers and misters; and all manner of watersports and activities, including a children's aqua park and a buoyed personal watercraft course. *Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner*
Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Sea Day Trivia takes place most days up in the Crow's Nest, or -- in an inspiring link-up -- in the Queen's Lounge using footage from BBC Earth to supplement the questions. *Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner*
Wednesday, January 8, 2020 Grand Turk, Turk & Caicos Arrival: 8:00 a.m.; Departure: 5:00 pm Grand Turk, a jewel of an isle that measures just 7 square miles, is awesomely rich in natural wonders, ringed by translucent warm waters teeming with coral and fish. Of course, you can always simply kick back and just enjoy the view from under a palm tree or beach umbrella. Or explore the fascinating history of Turks & Caicos in its capital, Cockburn Town, lined with Bermudan-style buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. *Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner*
Thursday, January 9, 2020 Amber Cove, Dominican Republic. Arrival: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Located on the Dominican Republic's north coast, the port of Amber Cove, near Puerto Plata, is a new phenomenon. Built in 2015, the area was fashioned as an homage to the country’s colonial architecture and features restaurants, bars and shops, as well as an activity center, a pool and cabanas. But it’s the neighboring region, known as the Amber Coast for its plethora of the semiprecious stone, that’s this port’s true draw. Along with golden-sand beaches and dramatic cliffs, there's the city of Puerto Plata, one of the Caribbean’s oldest, founded in the early 1500s. *Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner*
Friday, January 10, 2020 Sea Day Perhaps take in a cooking demo or a cocktail class at the Culinary Arts Center. You can see the ship's top chefs whip up mouthwatering dishes, and occasionally catch a visiting star chef from the line’s Culinary Arts Council. *Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner*
Saturday, January 11, 2020 Key West, Florida. Arrival: 8:00 a.m.; Departure: 5:00 p.m. One of the first things you’ll notice about Key West, after the colorful gingerbread wooden houses and the amazing sunsets, is the constant crowing of roosters. Hundreds of the noisy birds --along with their quieter-clucking mates--roam the streets at all hours,and are nearly as synonymous with Key West as its six-toed cats, the famous furry residents of Ernest Hemingway’s mansion in the Old Town district. They’re all part of the quirky charm of the United States' southernmost point, whose compact 4.2 square miles pack in everything from gorgeous historic architecture and spectacular fishing and sailing to a raucous party scene along famed Duval Street. *Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner*
Sunday, January 12 Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Arrival: 7 a.m. ; Departure: 4:00 p.m. Because of its many canals and waterways, Ft. Lauderdale is sometimes called the Venice of America. It's home to the annual Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show, one of the largest in-water boat shows in the world. Visitors can easily get a taste of the area's nautical lifestyle by cruising the Intracoastal Waterway on an old-fashioned paddle wheeler. *Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner*
Monday , January 13, 2020 Nassau, Bahamas Arrival: 8:00 a.m.; Departure: 4:00 p.m. New Providence may not be the largest island in the Bahamas, but it draws the lion’s share of visitors from around the world —and with good reason. For starters, it’s home to Nassau, the nation’s capital: a bustling harbor front hub whose stately colonial buildings house lively restaurants, bars, galleries and shops. Beyond the downtown area, however you'll find that plenty of other pleasures beckon. Just across the harbor bridge, for instance, is Paradise Island — and its dazzling Atlantis casino resort and water park(which you can access with a day pass). Interested in Bahamian art and culture? Check out the island’s National Art Gallery, Pirates of Nassau Museum and 18th-century colonial forts and monuments, and if you’d rather just relax amid beautiful Caribbean scenery, try wandering through the lush botanicals at Ardastra Gardens or sunbathing on sugary Cable Beach. Whatever you choose to do, though, make sure to sample some of the local culinary specialties like conch fritters or cracked conch. You’ll almost certainly find that they’re vibrant and just a little exotic, and leave you wanting more. *Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner*
Tuesday, January 14, 2020 Sea Day Enrichment activities are scheduled throughout the day and might include a digital workshop and tips for using your cellphone at sea. *Breakfast Lunch, Dinner*
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 San Juan, Puerto Rico Arrival: 1:00 pm. ; Departure: 11:00 p.m. Back in the 1500s, Puerto Rico was one of the first Caribbean islands to be settled, and its capital, today's San Juan, became a vital hub of Spain’s New World colonies. The historic part of the city, known as Old San Juan, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it's also a National Historic Site within the U.S. National Park Service. Strolling the narrow cobble stoned streets of Old San Juan, you'll discover a historic treasure surrounded by massive city walls. You can climb the ramparts of imposing fortresses like El Morro, at the entrance to the bay, and visit the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, one of the oldest churches in the Americas and the final resting place of the city’s founder, Ponce de León. *Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner*
January 16 Thursday St. Thomas, U.S.Virgin Islands. 8:00 a.m.; Departure: 5:00 p.m. The capital island of the U.S. Virgin Islands is often the first stop for travelers as they begin to explore the Caribbean. Its easy access, use of American currency and cultural cues, as well as its reputation for safety, make St. Thomas the easy first choice. *Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner*
Friday, January 17, 2020 Sea Day
Saturday, January 18,2020 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas Arrival: 8:00 a.m.; Departure: 3:00 p.m. Little San Salvador Island, also called Half Moon Cay, is a tiny private island in the Bahamas. Accessible by cruise ship, it's known for the long, crescent-shaped Half Moon Beach. Luxury cabanas dot the beachfront, which gives way to trail-lined country rich in bird life. Half Moon Lagoon Aqua Park has water slides and playgrounds. Stingray Cove, a lagoon enclosure, is home to tame stingrays.
Sunday, January 19, 2020 Depart ship from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Transfer to the airport for your return to DeKalb. *Breakfast*
Thank you for your interest in our 2020 Polar Vortex Escape Cruise! Below you will find a PDF download with the itinerary. If you have any questions about the trip, please do not hesitate to give us a call at (815) 756-1547. We would be happy to help you.
