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Aruba
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Aruba
Bon Bini is the Aruba phrase for "welcome"… while Dutch is the official language,
everyone speaks English and Papamiento, a salsa of these and several other dialects. It is an apt language for this island of 80,000 located just 18 miles off of South America. It was first
"discovered" by Alonso de Ojeda of Spain but was conquered in 1636 by the Dutch… and it has remained linked to The Netherlands ever since. Look for De Olde Molen... the old windmill brought
over from Holland in 1960! You'll probably have time on your first and last days in Aruba to enjoy the many sights, beaches and places to shop. Crown Dynasty will be right in the heart of Oranjestad, the
Capital. You may want to take in the unique Natural Bridge built of coral right over the sea, or get an early start on your shopping. You will be right on the Turquoise Coast with the best beaches,
including Baby Beach, perfect for families with small children since it has a protected natural wading pool. Of course, everyone will want to be back on deck when Crown Dynasty sets sail at 10:00 PM,
Curaçao bound!
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Curacao
The fishing boats from Venezuela arrive every morning with their fresh catch just hours out of
the salt sea; they tie up right across from the signature Dutch Row Houses next to famous Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, where they become the Floating Market; Crown Dynasty will be just a short walk from
this focal point on the Schottegat in the Caribbean's largest harbor. You will be able to wander about discovering the City of Willemstad, whose city center is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, just
like Vatican City and Athen's Acropolis.
You may want to visit Mikve Israel Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere. Or the world-renown Curaçao Sea Aquarium.
Or perhaps the birthplace of the eponymous liqueur made from the peels of the Naranja Oranges at the Senior Landhuis Chobolobo.... a bottle of which makes an ideal souvenir. The best shopping can be
found in the Punda Market; there are many duty-free stores on Heerenstraat. Among the favorite items for purchase are the exquisite hand-embroidered linens from Belgium and Holland.
As Crown
Dynasty departs Curaçao, and after the sun sets, you'll once again want to go onto Sandy's Deck on top where you'll be able to see the distant lights of Aruba and Curaçao at the same time. And you'll
want to take long look at the stars of the southern sky painted far above you.
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St.Lucia
After 2 nights and 1 day enjoying the many delights of Crown Dynasty, you'll want to be on
deck as you see St. Lucia grow larger and larger… one of the great joys of cruising, the most romantic form of vacation travel, is entering or leaving a port-of-call. Remember, this was how the first
explorers saw the New World... from the decks of a ship! St. Lucia is part of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles… between Martinique and St. Vincents. The entire nation resounds with its rich
creole heritage, a Franco-British melange of places like Rodney Bay and Marigot Bay… the latter a picturesque yacht haven where an English Admiral fooled the French Fleet by camouflaging his ships with
palm fronds! St. Lucia is home to world-class rainforests, two Nobel Prize Laureates, and the famed Pitons, twin-peaks which climb skyward from the sea and are best-viewed from the decks of Crown Dynasty
when she stops in Soufriere so that guests can go ashore for their excursions.Whether it's a Jeep Safari past groves of banana, papaya, mango, coconut and guava trees or a refreshing visit to
mineral-rich Diamond Falls or beach-time at Anse Chastanet after the ship arrives in Castries, there will be more to choose from in your full day in St. Lucia than you can handle. And maybe you'll be
here for Carnival 2000? The colorful costumes will be rivaled only by the contrasting colors of the birds and flowers and mountains, sea and sky which surround you.
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Barbados
Barbados emerges as Crown Dynasty heads for landfall in Bridgetown Harbour. "Just Beyond
your Imagination", or so the Barbados Tourism Authority says… but you'll find your imagination comes to life as Crown Dynasty enters Carlisle Bay. The names of Barbados historic places and buildings
come alive: St. Nicholas Abbey and Drax Hall, Long Bay on the South Shore, Sandy Lane near Holetown on the Leeward Side, Morgan Lewis Mill in St. Andrew's (one of only 2 surviving Sugar Mills in the
Caribbean), Sunbury Plantation House and Bagatelle… two of Barbados' "Great Houses", and Sam Lords' Castle. There are miles and miles of beautiful beaches. Duty free shopping abounds around
Bridgetown's Broad Street! Antique cannon collections, rum bottlers, tropical gardens and even "Jolly Roger Party Cruises" are part of the sightseeing scene for your selection. All wrapped with
a patina of Olde England in the tropics. The best Coconut Ice Cream in the world is made at The Brown Sugar… or try some Bajan Fish Cakes or Bajan Flying Fish, fresh caught and cooked! Barbados
beckons... what do you want to do?
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Grenada
It is widely held that St. George's, Grenada is the most beautiful of all the cities in the
Caribbean… the horseshoe-shaped harbor, called The Carenage, is flanked by Wharf Road, and a stroll along this avenue is the perfect introduction to this lovely island. You will see and smell the unique
sights and flavors of this place named for the green hills of Andalusia's famed capital, Grenada (that is what Columbus' sailors compared the island to when they first sailed by in 1498). Along The
Carenage you'll see the London-like red phone booths here and there… and right past the Public Market (where you can buy little bags of nutmegs) there is a delightful small Statue of Christ the Redeemer
presented by the people of Italy to the people of Grenada. Some visitors take one of the many colorful boats over to Grand Anse Beach; others visit Fort George overlooking both parts of the city and the
harbor and the green hills and blue sea beyond, taking in the red tile roofs and pastel colors of the houses in a sweeping vista. Some eco-tourists head for the interior and The Grand Etang Lake &
Forest Reserve, home to the Gree-Gree Hawk, purple and green-throated Carib birds and the yellow-billed cuckoo. Whether it's the colorful birdlife and many flowers and oh-so-many sights of Grenada, the
one thing you will always take with you are the smells of Grenada… the nutmeg, mace, cloves, ginger, cinnamon and cocoa. So on your way back to Crown Dynasty stop at The Nutmeg on The Carenage for some
West Indian Soul Food… and maybe a dram of Westerhall's Gentle Grenadian Rum with your Nutmeg Ice Cream. Soon you must leave this legendary Island of Spice, because this afternoon Crown Dynasty must sail
Westward, Bonaire bound…
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Bonaire
The capital of Bonaire is Kralendijk, Dutch for "coral reef"… and that says it all…
Bonaire has become one of the most famous destinations in the world for dive and snorkel enthusiasts. The reefs have been protected since 1979 with the establishment of Bonaire Marine Park… no touching
is the rule, and no fish may be harmed. You will not be able to find another spot in the Caribbean where the marine life is so unafraid and accessible. Virtually any spot on the beaches of Bonaire or
Klein Bonaire (the Baby Sister Island to Bonaire) are dive and snorkel sites… and the islands themselves are surrealistic and arid, with cactus and aloe plants everywhere. Look for the thousands of Pink
Flamingos (the real kind) and salt pyramids. Washington-Slagbaai National Park on Bonaire's Northern side is like a lunar site with wild parrots and iguanas. On the Eastern or Windward side, windsurfing
takes over as the sport du jour… that and nude sunbathing. Remember, you must have your PADI Certificate before you can use dive equipment; no such certification is required, though, for snorkeling or
sunbathing or sightseeing or shopping! Your beautiful cruiseliner, Crown Dynasty, is one of the very few ships which will call at Bonaire this year.
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