Galveston, on a barrier island off Texas's northern Gulf Coast, blends preserved Victorian architecture with beaches. Stroll the Strand for 19th-century brick facades, boutiques, and eateries. Visit Moody Gardens for marine life, a rainforest, and science exhibits. Explore museums on seaport history, WWII naval vessels, railroads, and offshore oil. Finish with Gulf seafood at waterfront restaurants.

The town of Progreso is a new port option not exploited yet by mass market, large-sized ships. It is strategically located and the original gate to the Maya World Merida city, some 23 miles from Progreso's city center. Its beaches are pristine and clean, and the shallowness of the waters makes swimming and sunbathing divine. Merida State capital, a 25 minute drive from Progreso, is the largest city in southeastern Mexico and one of the most traditional tourist cities in Mexico.

From duty-free shopping and Seven Mile Beach to the Cayman Islands National Museum, Pedro St. James National Historic Site, Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, and a rum distillery tour, this quaint capital offers something for everyone.

Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay lie in Jamaica's north-coast heart, near where Columbus first landed over 500 years ago. Island Village by the cruise pier offers casual dining, entertainment, souvenirs, and duty-free shopping. Dunn's River Falls and Waterpark is Ocho Rios's top attraction, with guided climbs or a waterfall massage. Coyaba Gardens and Mahoe Falls feature intricate water gardens and Jamaican Spanish architecture, while Shaw Park Botanical Gardens spans 25 acres of tropical beauty.

The city blends Dutch and Spanish architecture. Now a Dutch city named for the House of Orange, it became Aruba's capital in 1979. Beyond the beaches, start at Wilhelmina Park, a tropical waterfront garden with Caribbean breezes, then visit the Archaeological Museum of Aruba or the Numismatic Museum of Aruba, which displays coins from 400+ countries. Fort Zoutman (1796), the island's oldest Dutch building, gained Willem III Tower in 1867 and now offers views, music festivals, and craft fairs.

Discover a touch of old Amsterdam in a Caribbean paradise. Pastel waterfront buildings give this Dutch island its charm. Don't miss the colorful floating market, a short walk from Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge. A World Heritage site, Punda preserves hundreds of national monuments, including Fort Amsterdam, the Governor's Palace, Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue-one of the first in the New World-and the colorful Penha building.

Just 50 miles north of Venezuela, Bonaire is part of the Netherlands Antilles, which includes St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, Saba and Curacao. In 1951, the first hotel opened on Bonaire, and tourism has been the dominant industry ever since. With a dazzling array of fish and coral reefs and spectacularly clear water (100-ft visibility), Bonaire offers some of the best dive spots in the Caribbean.

Antigua, especially St. John's, is a classic British Caribbean destination, with 365 beaches, coral reefs, forts, and colonial architecture. See St. John's Cathedral, rebuilt on the same spot three times after earthquakes, and the Museum of Antigua & Barbuda, with island history and semiprecious stones. For nature, visit Nelson's Dockyard National Park or the Shirley Heights trail. St. John's also has nightlife and live music, and local restaurants serve buttery "flying fish."

Discover tax-free shopping heaven in Charlotte Amalie, the Caribbean's Mecca. Beyond world-class beaches and snorkeling at Coki, Sapphire, and Trunk Bay, the shopping is unmatched: designer shops on Main Street and countless stores in the side streets. Find jewelry, watches, china, liquor, linens, tobacco, and rum balls. Pause for a creative rum cocktail, then head to Frenchtown for a great meal in lush tropical surroundings.

Sunny Florida skies, year-round warmth, nightlife, and a diverse culture define this cosmopolitan city. South Beach draws crowds, while the Art Deco District is the world's largest collection of Art Deco architecture. Shop from Bal Harbour to Lincoln Road and Coconut Grove, enjoy Cuban culture on Calle Ocho, or visit the historic Venetian Pool. There's something for everyone in this "Gateway to the Americas."