DAY 1: UK - San Diego.
Fly to San Diego where you will be met and transferred to your hotel, the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Resort & Spa, for an overnight stay.
DAY 2: San Diego.
Enjoy this morning at leisure, perhaps relaxing by the hotel pool or acquainting yourself with exciting San Diego, with its elegant streets, charming historic district and famous zoo. This afternoon, transfer to your cruise ship. (D)
DAY 3-4: At sea.
Spend two days relaxing and enjoying the facilities on board your ship as you cruise southwards over the shimmering Pacific Ocean. (B, L, D)
DAY 5: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Set on the Bay of Banderas, Puerto Vallarta, or 'PV' as it's nicknamed, is the quintessential Mexican resort and the jewel of the country's Riviera. Today, stroll the picturesque cobbled streets, overlooked by quaint red-tiled buildings and framed with cosy boutiques and art galleries, browse for souvenirs in the bustling city market, perhaps enjoy snorkelling or scuba diving in the warm clear waters of the bay, or head into the tropical forest of the Sierra Madre Mountains on an optional trip to visit a biological paradise eco-reserve. (B, L, D)
DAY 6: At sea.
(B, L, D)
DAY 7: Santa Cruz Huatulco, Mexico.
Peaceful Huatulco is Mexico's hottest new resort. Surrounded by lush forests teeming with wildlife, this breathtakingly beautiful place is blessed with nine dazzling, white-sand and azure-water bays. The new town is also brimming with chic boutiques and waterside restaurants serving superb fresh fish plucked from its pristine Pacific waters. (B, L, D)
DAY 8: Puerto Chiapas, Mexico.
Offering a wealth of opportunities for fascinating cultural and historic tours, this port in western Mexico serves as the gateway to the country's rich Mayan heritage and archaeological sites. One of the most spectacular is Palenque, an ancient Mayan city dating from AD300-900 and shrouded in rich tropical rain forest. Marvel at the exquisite temples and mystical palaces, built by hand without metal tools, pack animals or the wheel, all set against a majestic jungle backdrop inhabited by monkeys, ocelots and toucans. Alternatively, take a cultural tour of Tapachula City and the Izapa archaeological site, or enjoy time in the surrounding countryside on either a trip to explore the mangroves or a coffee and flowers plantation tour. (B, L, D)
DAY 9: Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala.
The Pacific coastal area of Puerto Quetzal is named after the beautiful Quetzal bird, which was once sacred to the Mayan people. Explore this lovely area on an optional excursion, perhaps heading into the highlands to see the modern-day Maya, visit Panajachel and enjoy a cruise on picturesque Lake Atitlan, or alternatively, the lowlands, for impressive views of volcanoes, a rural sugar plantation tour, or a trip the World Heritage site of La Antigua, a colonial city brimming with charming streets, churches, monasteries and museums. You could also choose to take a short flight to either Petén, for the impressive Mayan pyramid ruins of Tikal, or the archaeological site of Copán in Honduras, for Mayan pyramids, temples, stele and the remarkable hieroglyphic stairway. (B, L, D)
DAY 10: At sea.
(B, L, D)
DAY 11: Fuerte Amador for Panama City, Panama.
Nestled in the mouth of the Panama Canal on the Pacific side, the lovely port of Fuerte Amador is set on a mile-long causeway which links four small islands to Panama City on the mainland. Offering superb panoramic views, take time to watch local ships glide into the canal entrance under the beautifully lit Bridge of the Americas, enjoy sweeping views of Panama City's modern skyline and admire the picturesque Panama Bay. Burgeoning with restaurants, waterfront cafés, shopping complexes, nightspots and an elegant yachting marina, there's plenty to see and do locally. Alternatively, enjoy an optional trip to nearby Panama City. (B, L, D)
DAY 12: Panama Canal. Daytime passage.
Today, 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 fascinating 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 your ship steers its way through a series of vast locks. Having entered the canal at Balboa on the Pacific side, you end your journey at Cristobal on the Caribbean. (B, L, D)
DAY 13: 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 austere beauty of San Felipe Castle, the fortress built by the Spanish to defend the city. Also experience Cartagena's modern quarter, Bocagrande, a haven of sandy beaches, buzzing restaurants and superb shopping. (B, L, D)
DAY 14-15: At sea.
Spend two days relaxing on board as you cruise the sparkling blue Caribbean Sea, enjoying the superb amenities and comforts your ship has to offer. (B, L, D)
DAY 16: Fort Lauderdale - Miami - UK.
After breakfast, disembark your ship in Fort Lauderdale and transfer to Miami airport for your flight to the UK. (B)
DAY 17: Home landing in the UK.
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