9-Day Southern Caribbean Seafarer

ROTTERDAM
DEPARTS : FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, US
ARRIVES : FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, US

November 3 – 12, 2023

Itinerary: View Day-by-Day Trip Itinerary

Your Ship: Rotterdam

Our newest ship, Rotterdam, delivers the best of everything we do: exquisite cuisine, award-winning service, superbly appointed staterooms and suites, and world-class entertainment. Dance the night away at B.B. King’s Blues Club or relive your favorite rock classics at Rolling Stone Rock Room. Experience Rotterdam’s Pinnacle Class luxury and find a mastery of the details that keep our guests returning again and again.

2668 GUESTS
984 ft. LENGTH
114.8 ft. WIDTH

Itinerary

Day 1 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US

NOV 3, 2023
DEPARTS 03:00 PM
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AFAR

Ft. Lauderdale is sometimes called the Venice of America because of its many canals and waterways. It’s home to the annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, one of the largest in-water boat shows in the world; one of the many reasons our Fort Lauderdale cruise guests love visiting. . Guests of Ft. Lauderdale cruises can easily get a taste of the area’s nautical lifestyle by cruising the Intracoastal Waterway on an old-fashioned paddle wheeler. Other options include hopping aboard one of the popular water taxis or Venetian gondolas that glide down the historic New River that flows right through town.

While Ft. Lauderdale is often overshadowed by its flashy neighbor, Miami, the port city is expanding rapidly as major developers and high-end resorts build up the beachfront and surrounding neighborhoods. Visitors will find world-class shopping on famous Las Olas Boulevard, celebrated restaurants and a cultural explosion in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District. It’s clear that the city is solidifying its place as a sophisticated destination, and one of the reasons our Fort Lauderdale cruises are a popular choice for many vacation goers.

Day 2 - 3 At Sea

Day 4 Kralendijk, Bonaire

NOV 6, 2023
ARRIVES 10:00 AM
DEPARTS 07:00 PM
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AFAR

Almost as soon as you pull into the port of Kralendijk, you’ll realize it’s one of the most laid-back landings around. Though there are some colorful streets to stroll nearby—remnants (mostly) of Bonaire’s Dutch-colonial era—even the busiest lack the bustle of other Caribbean capitals. Which is a good thing. The comparative sleepiness helps maintain the island’s chief attributes: legendarily pristine wilderness, both above and below the surface; mangroves full of baby fish; and salt flats full of flamingos. And reefs full of . . . everything. Nature’s cup overfloweth here. And, by the way, so will yours (have the cactus liqueur even if you try no other local beverage). There’s also an embarrassment of cultural riches, thanks to the layers of Amerindian, Spanish, African, Dutch and British influences on the island. In fact, you’ll hear traces of the languages of all of the above (plus some French and Portuguese) during any given conversation in Papiamento, the creole language spoken throughout the Netherlands Antilles. You’ll find you can get by just fine with a few key phrases: por fabor, danki and bon dia—all of which mean exactly what you think they do.

Day 5 Willemstad, Curacao

NOV 7, 2023
ARRIVES 08:00 AM
DEPARTS 07:00 PM
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AFAR

There is so much to see and do on our cruises to Curaçao. This precious island has a good mixture of history and modernism which all of our guests can truly enjoy. The capital of Curaçao, Willemstad, is almost as old as a more famous Dutch settlement—it was founded in 1634, just 10 years after New Amsterdam, later called New York. But while the Dutch control of New Amsterdam was relatively brief, Curaçao remains a part of the Netherlands to this day. Our Curaçao cruise takes you to its historic center which is a unique mixture of Dutch architecture and Caribbean pastels, its gabled row houses overlooking Sint Anna Bay, a waterway dividing the city in two and connecting the Caribbean to the protected Schottegat Bay. The entire historic center of Willemstad has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While Willemstad’s legendary days of yore can be explored at institutions like the Kura Hulanda and Curaçao Maritime Museum, this is a vibrant, living city too. Our Curaçao cruise highlights this multicultural melting pot which might include a stop at its floating market and a visit to a Curaçao distillery to taste the famous local liqueur. Natural wonders await as well: Some of the Caribbean’s most stunning diving and snorkeling spots are here. Finally, a meal in Willemstad will let you experience the diversity of the island through the surprising flavors of its cuisine, which reflects European, Caribbean and Latin American influences.

Day 6 Oranjestad, Aruba

NOV 8, 2023
ARRIVES 08:00 AM
DEPARTS 05:00 PM

Located off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia, the windswept Dutch island of Aruba feels like another world. When you take a cruise to Aruba, you can relax in the shade of a swaying Divi Divi tree on a pristine beach or explore untamed coastal cliffs in an exotic landscape filled with cacti. Just one day on an Aruba cruise can lead to a lifetime full of stories.

Day 7 - 8 At Sea

Day 9 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

NOV 11, 2023
ARRIVES 08:00 AM
DEPARTS 03:00 PM

In a region renowned for tropical wonders, one island rises to the top—ours. We’re not the only ones enamored with our slice of paradise—Half Moon Cay is the highest-rated Bahamas private island. It has won Porthole Cruise Magazine’s Best Private Island award consecutively for 20 years. We’ve spent a quarter of a century perfecting the experience. When you feel the sugar-white sand on your toes or kayak its crystal lagoon, you’ll understand why cruise travelers love Half Moon Cay, a highlight of our Bahamas cruises.