DAY 1: UK - Miami - Fort Lauderdale.
Fly to Miami where you will be transferred to your hotel in Fort Lauderdale for an overnight stay.

DAY 2: Fort Lauderdale.
Enjoy this morning at your leisure, relaxing by the pool or acquainting yourself with Fort Lauderdale's attractions, including its historic Riverwalk, the shops of Las Olas Boulevard or the newly designed beach with its cafes. This afternoon, transfer to your cruise ship, MS Volendam. (D)

DAY 3-4: At sea.
Spend two days relaxing as we sail over blue Caribbean seas, and enjoy the superb amenities on board MS Volendam. (B, L, D)

DAY 5: Cartagena, Colombia.
Today, arrive in Cartagena, the oldest city in the New World. Founded in 1533, this atmospheric city brims with plazas and cathedrals and served not only as a slave port, but also as the treasury of the Spanish occupiers, who channelled the gold, silver and emeralds they found on their conquests through here on its way back to Madrid. Admire the beauty of San Felipe Castle, the fortress the Spanish built to defend Cartagena. The modern quarter, Bocagrande, is home to the city's sandy beaches, buzzing restaurants and superb shopping. (B, L, D)

DAY 6: Panama Canal - daytime passage.
Experience the full scale and ingenuity of the engineering wonder that is the Panama Canal. On board, an exclusive Exploration Speaker programme will tell the story behind this incredible man-made feat, covering its history and construction, which cost over 300,000 lives and was finished by the US in 1914. Running for 80 kilometres through lush Panamanian countryside, the Canal makes for a magnificent journey, as you travel through a series of vast locks. Having entered the Canal at Cristobal on the Caribbean side, we end our journey at Balboa on the Pacific. (B, L, D)

DAY 7: Golfo Dulce - scenic cruising.
Enjoy a day of scenic splendour as we cruise the turquoise waters of the Golfo Dulce or 'Sweet Gulf'. Nestled between the Osa Peninsula and Costa Rica's south Pacific Coast, this spectacular, huge bay is encircled by secluded, white sand beaches and countryside famed for its rich biodiversity, making it a true tropical paradise. Soaring emerald rainforests rise from the coast and the Osa peninsula is home to 400 species of birds, 140 mammals and over 100 species of amphibians and reptiles. (B, L, D)

DAY 8: Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
Vibrant Puntarenas is the largest city in the Central Pacific and Costa Rica's most important fishing port, famed for its fresh seafood, beach life and buzzing waterfront restaurants. Enjoy an optional excursion to San Jose to marvel at the incredible pre-Columbian gold artefacts of the Gold Museum and the jade carvings at the Jade Museum. In the first century AD, Costa Rica's early inhabitants used jade as a currency and often buried it in graves for use in the after life. Alternatively, choose from our optional excursions, including a trip to the Poas Volcano National Park, topped by the mighty Poas Volcano and replete with wonderfully lush forests, animals and birdlife. (B, L, D)

DAY 9-10: At sea.
Two days to relax and enjoy the facilities on board your ship as it sails northwards to Mexico. (B, L, D)

DAY 11: Manzanillo, Mexico.
Manzanillo is one of the most scenic and luxurious resorts in Mexico, boasting beautiful beaches and a charming city with one of the largest ports on the Pacific. Explore the lovely main plaza today and enjoy souvenir shopping in the market, where you can choose from a selection of leather and pottery goods. Perhaps choose one of the optional excursions on offer and head to the nearby towns of Colima and Comala, the 1st century pyramids of La Campana, nearby El Tortugario Sea Turtle Sanctuary - the largest in Mexico, or snorkelling in the San Luciano coral aquarium. (B, L, D)

DAY 12: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
The quintessential Mexican resort, Puerto Vallarta, or 'PV' as it's nicknamed, is the jewel of the country's Riviera. Today stroll the picturesque cobbled streets, framed with smart boutiques and art galleries, browse for souvenirs in the colourful City Market or relax on one of the powdery sandy beaches. (B, L, D)

DAY 13: Mazatlán, Mexico.
Home to the largest shrimp fleet in the world, Mazatlán is a cosmopolitan city and beach resort with miles of uninterrupted sandy beaches and plenty of attractions including the historic Old Mazatlán district, the 'golden zone' of restaurants, bars and shops, and further afield, the sleepy mining towns tucked into the Sierra Madre. (B, L, D)

DAY 14: Topolobambo, Mexico.
Topolobampo is a peaceful port on Mexico's Sea of Cortez. Awaiting your arrival are playful bottlenose dolphins and the mansion of Don Diego de la Vega, otherwise known as 'El Zorro'. Why not take a full day excursion to the Copper Canyon and enjoy a rail journey through the breathtaking scenery and stunning landforms, one of the most scenic rail routes in the world? (B, L, D)

DAY 15: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Sitting on the tip of the Baja Peninsula where the Pacific Ocean meets the sapphire waters of the Sea of Cortes, Cabo San Lucas is surrounded by awe-inspiring rocky landscapes, beaches and desert terrain. Centred around a beautiful marina and complete with its own underwater nature reserve near the towering Land's End rock formations, Cabo is renowned as a sports fishing and watersports paradise. Boasting a stretch of water known as 'Marlin Alley', the crystal clear seas lapping its shores are frequented by tuna, billfish and marlin, as well as parrotfish, manta rays and, in certain months of the year, whales. (B, L, D)

DAY 16: At sea.
(B, L, D)

DAY 17: San Diego - UK.
After breakfast, disembark your ship and transfer to San Diego airport for your return flight to the UK. (B)

DAY 18: Home landing in the UK.