9-night Southern Caribbean & Perfect Day

Perfect Day at CocoCay is Royal Caribbean's exclusive private island. Whether your perfect holiday involves relaxing on the beach with a cocktail or enjoying high-octane thrills, there's something for everyone at CocoCay. Thrillseekers can conquer the tallest waterslide in North America and soar over the island on 1,600 feet of zipwire, whilst sunseekers can enjoy drinks at the swim-up bar and lounge in a private cabana on Oasis Lagoon, the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean. Kids will never get bored at Splashaway Bay and Splash Summit, while the adults can enjoy live music at Captain Jack's or stare out at the cyrstal clear tropical waters at Chill Island.

Dutch settlers came here in the 1630s, about the same time they sailed through the Verazzano Narrows to Manhattan, bringing with them original red-tile roofs, first used on the trade ships as ballast and later incorporated into the architecture of Willemstad. Much of the original colonial structures remain, but this historic city is constantly reinventing itself and the government monument foundation is always busy restoring buildings in one urban neighborhood or another. The salty air causes what is called "wall cancer" which causes the ancient abodes to continually crumble over time. The city is cut in two by Santa Anna Bay. On one side is Punda (the point)—crammed with shops, restaurants, monuments, and markets and a new museum retracing its colorful history. And on the other side is Otrobanda (literally meaning the "other side"), with lots of narrow, winding streets and alleyways (called "steekjes" in Dutch), full of private homes notable for their picturesque gables and Dutch-influenced designs.

Oranjestad, Aruba's capital, is easily explored on foot. Its palm-lined central thoroughfare runs between old and new pastel-painted buildings of typical Dutch design (Spanish influence is also evident in some of the architecture). There are a lot of malls with boutiques and shops—the Renaissance mall carries high-end luxury items and designer fashions. A massive renovation in downtown has given Main Street (a.k.a. Caya G. F. Betico Croes) a whole new lease on life: boutique malls, shops, and restaurants have opened next to well-loved family-run businesses. Stroll along the boardwalk from the city centre to the Palm Beach area of Aruba, filled with resorts, restaurants, nightclubs and more. Cruise ships dock at Aruba Port Authority, around a 10 minute walk from the centre of Oranjestad.

Labadee Beach is surrounded by clear water and white sandy beaches, a peninsula exclusive to Royal Caribbean guests in Haiti. Lounge on one of the many beaches, enjoy water toys and take a ride on the roller coaster. This English-speaking resort has much to offer to its cruise guests as a luxury stop on Caribbean cruises.

With over 480km of waterways, Fort Lauderdale is the 'Venice of America' and the yachting capital of the world. The city's cruise port, Port Everglades is the third busiest in the world, catering to almost four million passengers every year. Before you head to your ship, check out the 2-mile Las Olas Boulevard, filled with chic cafés, independent boutiques and entertainment venues. A stroll along the tree-lined promenade and beautiful sand beaches, will give you the perfect taster of what's in store on your sun-soaked cruise itinerary.