Miami to Montréal

Capitol of West Virgina, whistle stop on the river cruise.

Norwegian Cruise Lines was the first cruise line to acquire a private island and transform it into an exclusive paradise
for their passengers. Complete with swaying palms, sandy beaches, coral reefs, steel bands and the scent of barbeque wafting in the breeze because whenever a ship calls, it’s beach party time!

Swim, snorkel, snooze in a hammock, play volleyball, paddle boat rides, sailing, kayaking, limbo… anything you want.

The largest city in Canada’s Maritime Province, Halifax has strong ties to its past. The star-shaped Citadel fortress, built by Cornwallis in 1749, overlooks the city and much of the area’s maritime history is displayed in the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.

Cricket, anyone? This is the sort of thing one is likely to hear in this teddibly, teddibly British isle–or, to be accurate, collection of 150 islands, the six largest of which are connected by bridges and causeways.

Though most proximate to North Carolina, the islands retain a distinctly British flavor, dotted with traditional pubs and somewhat formal, in a friendly sort of way (short shorts are a no no, and bathing suits are appropriate only for bathing).

Residents are known as “onions,” after the sweet, succulent Bermuda onion that was an enormous part of the islands’ economic base a century ago. Now the big business here is tourism, and it’s thriving, no doubt due to the turquoise waters and incredible scuba diving afforded by the surrounding coral reefs. There’s much to enjoy, and taking a tour is an excellent way to get yourself oriented.

Québec City is the capital of the province of Quebec, home to the famous Winter Carnival and is a delightful blend of historic old world charm combined with all of the conveniences of a modern city. On a bluff, overlooking the St. Lawrence River, the Hotel Chateau Frontenac, with its impressive spires and turrets, sits adjacent to the Plains of Abraham, where important battles between the French and the British were fought. Visit the Old Fort, or take a horse drawn carriage ride down the cobbled streets of Old Quebec City with it’s quaint shops, corner bistros, and art vendors in the market squares.

Sydney, capital of New South Wales, is Australia’s largest city, chief port, and main cultural and industrial center. Manufactures include ships, refined oil, chemicals, textiles, and automobiles. Sydney Harbour and Port Botany are the main ports. Founded as a penal colony in 1788, Sydney is Australia’s oldest settlement. Its population surged during the Australian gold rushes of the 1850s. Sydney replaced Melbourne as the nation’s largest population center after World War II. Landmarks include the Sydney Harbour Bridge (1932); the Gladesville Bridge (1964); the modernistic Sydney Opera House complex (1973); and the Centrepoint Tower (1981), Australia’s tallest building. The city has several universities and museums, including the National Gallery of Art and the Australia Museum.