Wind Spirit, Lesser Antilles & Colombian Hideaways ex Colón to St Maarten

18 Night Cruise sailing from Colón to St Maarten onboard Wind Spirit.

Highlights of this cruise:

Colon
Colon is a sea port on the Caribbean Sea coast of Panama. The city lies near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. It is capital of Panama's Colón Province and has traditionally been known as Panama's second city. Three modern ports make Colón one of the most important ports of the Caribbean Sea.

Set along the turquoise waters of the Caribbean coast, the province has a wide variety of attractions-beautiful beaches and islands, fascinating historical sites, the largest Free Trade Zone outside Hong Kong, a state-of-the-art cruise port, world-class bird watching, diving and snorkeling and a spectacular 5 star hotel/convention center on the Panama Canal.

Oranjestad
Aruba is the smallest island in the Leeward group of the Dutch Caribbean islands. Its Dutch heritage can be seen in its pastel-colored gabled buildings and a windmill brought piece by piece from Holland found in the capital of Oranjestad. Oranjestad has a daily market in the Paardenbaai (Schooner Harbour), and offers numerous shops, boutiques and malls that are all within easy walking distance of the ship. In the main street you will find many stores, shops, boutiques, restaurants and street vendors to investigate.

Oranjestad is a popular tourist destination boasting sunshine, silky sand, aquamarine waters, cooling trade winds, natural scenic wonders, friendly and courteous service, modern and efficient amenities, golf and tennis clubs, duty-free shopping, an array of nightly entertainment and some of the best cuisine in the Caribbean. Most of its 29 hotels sit side by side down one major strip along the southwestern shore, with restaurants, exotic boutiques, fiery floor shows, and glitzy casinos right on their premises.

Aruba’s principal attraction is its beaches and the Natural Bridge, an arch carved from coral cliffs by the surf. The bridge is the biggest and highest in the Caribbean and is Aruba’s most famous natural wonder. On the northern tip of the island is the California Lighthouse, and off this coast is the wreck of a German freighter from World War II, which is now very popular spot for scuba divers. The Chapel of Alto Vista at Alto Vista is another popular site on the north coast. It is bright yellow and hard to miss.

St Maarten
St. Maarten is one of the most rewarding stops for a cruise-ship passenger. The island is divided between French St. Martin in the north and Dutch St. Maarten in the south. Each side manages to retain its own distinct flavor.

The French side (St. Martin), is certainly more relaxed and sophisticated. There are first-class resorts and secluded white sand beaches. Its capital, Marigot, is Mediterranean resort-like, with yachts in the harbor, and open-air markets and shops lining the waterfront. A bit to the north, Grand Case is known for the island's best restaurants.

The Dutch side (Sint Maarten) is a lively destination of white sand beaches, casinos, historical sites, shopping venues and lot of nightlife. Most ships dock in Philipsburg, the capital of Dutch St. Maarten. Its two main streets, Frontstreet and Backstreet, are bustling thoroughfares lined with shops and restaurants.