Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver

City meets sea in the coastal metropolis of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Soak up the sun along vast swaths of pristine white sands, take a scenic boat tour through palm-fringed canals, shop your way along the famous Las Olas Boulevard, and sip refreshing craft beers along the Fort Lauderdale Ale Trail. When it comes to dining, you’re spoilt for choice: from fresh seafood with a waterfront view to Michelin-approved pizza, there’s mouthwatering cuisine at every turn.

A day at sea with Crystal can be as relaxed or as engaging as you wish. Begin with breakfast on your veranda, take a walk along the Promenade Deck or spend the morning by the Seahorse Pool before retreating to the Aurōra Spa & Salon for a restorative treatment. Enrichment is always close at hand, with lectures, bridge, creative workshops, dance classes, wellness sessions and opportunities to fine tune skills from photography to golf.

Dining is a highlight throughout the day, from relaxed bites by the pool to elegant dinners at venues such as Umi Uma by Nobu, Beefbar or Waterside. As evening arrives, enjoy live music, theatre entertainment, comedy, social gatherings, cocktails in the lounges or a quiet night in with 24-hour in-suite dining.

Lose yourself in the beautiful chaos of Cartagena, where layers of cultural influence intersect to create a city rich in character. The walled Old Town – established in the 16th century and now a UNESCO World Heritage site – is best explored on foot. Stop by a street stall for fresh lulo juice before setting off to explore the labyrinthine streets, filled with shady plazas, ornate former mansions, and balconies overflowing with flowers. Just outside the historic walls, you’ll find the colorful neighborhood of Getsemaní, where vivid murals adorn the facades of shops and galleries, and salsa music wafts from lively bars.

Sailing through the legendary Panama Canal, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, brings to life the incredible potential of human achievement. Connecting the Pacific Ocean with the Caribbean Sea, this engineering icon, which began operating in 1914, raises ships 85 feet above sea level to Gatun Lake, then lowers them at the other end. While traversing the Panama Canal, keep an eye out for monkeys and sloths in the lush surrounding jungle.

A day at sea with Crystal can be as relaxed or as engaging as you wish. Begin with breakfast on your veranda, take a walk along the Promenade Deck or spend the morning by the Seahorse Pool before retreating to the Aurōra Spa & Salon for a restorative treatment. Enrichment is always close at hand, with lectures, bridge, creative workshops, dance classes, wellness sessions and opportunities to fine tune skills from photography to golf.

Dining is a highlight throughout the day, from relaxed bites by the pool to elegant dinners at venues such as Umi Uma by Nobu, Beefbar or Waterside. As evening arrives, enjoy live music, theatre entertainment, comedy, social gatherings, cocktails in the lounges or a quiet night in with 24-hour in-suite dining.

Once the center of Costa Rica’s coffee-exporting boom, Puntarenas sits on a slender spit of sand that snakes into the Pacific Ocean. Still a working port, home to a charming blend of colonial buildings, chatty street vendors, and a must-visit market selling tropical fruit and handmade souvenirs, this place packs a punch. Ticos, as Costa Ricans are known, flock here to soak up the laid-back beachfront atmosphere and stroll along the promenade. The place is famed for its fresh seafood, and traditional dishes include zesty lime-drenched ceviche, best sampled at the family-run sodas, or restaurants, that line the old dock.

San Juan del Sur, on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, woos travelers and surfers alike with its colorful, 19th-century clapboard houses and crescent of silver sand. Once a sleepy fishing village, it’s now a party town, watched over by Cristo de la Misericordia, a towering statue of Christ – hike to it up the hillside or, for a less strenuous walk, just go as far as the peach-and-white San Juan Bautista church. Microbreweries and fancy fish restaurants have joined the easygoing surf joints recently, meaning there are more spots to sip a cool craft beer or savor fresh fish tacos as the sky turns from blue to pink.

Unearth the charm of Acajutla, El Salvador's thriving port city, where sun-kissed Pacific beaches meet a rich history and a lively culture, crafting an extraordinary Central American experience. The seaside town of El Salvador is famous for its fishing culture and maritime heritage. In this charming town, you will be able to explore beautiful beaches, visit El Imposible National Park and taste delicious, fresh seafood dishes in the many local restaurants.

A day at sea with Crystal can be as relaxed or as engaging as you wish. Begin with breakfast on your veranda, take a walk along the Promenade Deck or spend the morning by the Seahorse Pool before retreating to the Aurōra Spa & Salon for a restorative treatment. Enrichment is always close at hand, with lectures, bridge, creative workshops, dance classes, wellness sessions and opportunities to fine tune skills from photography to golf.

Dining is a highlight throughout the day, from relaxed bites by the pool to elegant dinners at venues such as Umi Uma by Nobu, Beefbar or Waterside. As evening arrives, enjoy live music, theatre entertainment, comedy, social gatherings, cocktails in the lounges or a quiet night in with 24-hour in-suite dining.

A charming and buzzing seaside town that offers traditional Mexican culture with a modern twist. Second only to Acapulco when it comes to the Mexican Riviera's leading resort cities, Puerto Vallarta is embraced by rugged tropical mountains on one side and the lovely Banderas Bay on the other. The city brims with life, with its bougainvillea-lined cobblestone streets, picturesque alleyways, luxury hotels and smart boutiques, and stunning seaside location. Shop for leather goods here as well as shell and silver jewelry, hand-embroidered blouses or painted figures from Oaxaca.

A day at sea with Crystal can be as relaxed or as engaging as you wish. Begin with breakfast on your veranda, take a walk along the Promenade Deck or spend the morning by the Seahorse Pool before retreating to the Aurōra Spa & Salon for a restorative treatment. Enrichment is always close at hand, with lectures, bridge, creative workshops, dance classes, wellness sessions and opportunities to fine tune skills from photography to golf.

Dining is a highlight throughout the day, from relaxed bites by the pool to elegant dinners at venues such as Umi Uma by Nobu, Beefbar or Waterside. As evening arrives, enjoy live music, theatre entertainment, comedy, social gatherings, cocktails in the lounges or a quiet night in with 24-hour in-suite dining.

Embrace the laidback lifestyle of this coastal Californian city, where the weather is as sunny as the dispositions of its inhabitants. There are 17 miles of pristine coastline, so pick a stretch of sand to lay your towel upon, admire cliffside views on a coastal hike, or take to the waves with a surf lesson – this is, after all, one of the world’s most renowned surfing destinations. In the heart of the city, you’ll find the 1,200-acre Balboa Park, a leafy oasis that houses multiple museums, as well as Japanese gardens and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Refuel at one of the many local taquerias or independent burger joints.

Pleasure is paramount in Santa Catalina, just off the coast of Los Angeles, which gained cachet when moguls and movie stars started hanging out here – Marilyn Monroe owned a property on the island. Landmarks including the casino remain from early efforts to turn Santa Catalina into a resort, and there’s also a curious legacy of the island's double life as a frequent location for filming – the bison that roam its pastures were brought here as extras for a film that never even made the cutting-room floor. Yet this resolutely American playground feels Mediterranean rather than West Coast, as you’ll see on arrival in the port of Avalon, which is more Monte Carlo than Malibu.

The Port of San Francisco annually hosts more than 80 cruise ships at the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal (Pier 27) and nearby Pier 35. The terminal is in a prime location, with easy access to popular attractions including Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, the Ferry Building and Union Square.

One of the most spectacular things about cruising from San Francisco is passing under the Golden Gate Bridge. Make sure you are on the lido deck for the sailaway party. It’s certainly a ‘hold your breath’ moment as the ship sails under the bridge.

A day at sea with Crystal can be as relaxed or as engaging as you wish. Begin with breakfast on your veranda, take a walk along the Promenade Deck or spend the morning by the Seahorse Pool before retreating to the Aurōra Spa & Salon for a restorative treatment. Enrichment is always close at hand, with lectures, bridge, creative workshops, dance classes, wellness sessions and opportunities to fine tune skills from photography to golf.

Dining is a highlight throughout the day, from relaxed bites by the pool to elegant dinners at venues such as Umi Uma by Nobu, Beefbar or Waterside. As evening arrives, enjoy live music, theatre entertainment, comedy, social gatherings, cocktails in the lounges or a quiet night in with 24-hour in-suite dining.

Victoria, capital of British Columbia, sits on the southern end of Vancouver Island, framed by an attractive harbour and surrounded by grand buildings.

With abundant parkland, it’s known for outdoor activities. The city's British colonial past shows in its Victorian architecture, including stately Craigdarroch Castle mansion. Butchart Gardens, with 55 acres of vivid floral displays, plus statuary, water features and a carousel, is one of many formal gardens in the city.

A creative community and quirky character underpin the harbor city of Nanaimo on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Weave through its charming downtown streets to discover independent art galleries, boutiques, bars, and distilleries – and stop at a café to sample the city’s signature sweet treat, the creamy and chocolatey Nanaimo Bar. Nanaimo takes pride in its thriving live music scene – catch a free gig at one of its many eclectic venues, or time your visit to coincide with a summer festival or alfresco concert. Opportunities for outdoor adventure are never far off in Canada, and this is certainly true in Nanaimo, where coastal parks, mountains, waterfalls, and beaches are waiting to be explored by foot, bike, or boat.

Flanked by majestic mountain ranges on one side and the sparkling Pacific on the other, the British Columbia capital has natural beauty in spades, making it a dream destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking, swimming, mountain biking, and skiing are all on offer, and easily accessible from within city limits. But it’s not just active types that Vancouver caters for. The sophisticated cosmopolis boasts world-class museums, bustling markets, live music and theatre, and a truly diverse culinary scene that spans everything from casual street food to boundary-pushing fine dining.

Narrow by name, narrow by nature: this three-mile waterway between Vancouver Island and Quadra Island in British Columbia makes up a small sliver of the larger Inside Passage, but is one of its most defining features. Named after Royal Navy officer Sir George Francis Seymour, the strait is known for its intense – and once treacherous – tidal currents, which became significantly more navigable with the 1958 planned explosion of Ripple Rock, an underwater twin-peaked mountain. Cruising the Seymour Narrows offers front-row access to the raw and rugged natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Celebrated as the ‘salmon capital of the world’, the small Alaskan town of Ketchikan is an angler’s dream and the ultimate destination for nature lovers. Hiking trails abound and the surrounding waters offer some of the best kayaking in the Inside Passage. Don’t miss a visit to Misty Fjords National Monument, a breathtaking seascape of steep fjords, dramatic waterfalls, and dense coastal forest. And get a sense of the region’s rich Tlingit culture at the Totem Heritage Center, which houses the world’s largest collection of unrestored 19th-century totem poles.

Off the coast of Yakutat - 200 miles North West of Juneau - Hubbard is certainly gigantic: it's more than 9km/6mi wide where it meets the ocean. The face is over 100m/350ft tall, and icebergs 3 to 4 stories in height aren’t uncommon.

Granted, most of that ice is below water, but the ice can be so thick that cruise ships can’t get too close. In the right conditions, however, your ship might be able to get within 1km/0.5mi of the face. The strong currents and riptides that flow between Gilbert Point and the face of the glacier cause calving to occur on a daily basis, sending massive chunks of ice crashing into Disenchantment Bay.

But don't be fooled, Hubbard Glacier stands strong and is advancing so fast its earned the title "The Galloping Glacier".

The scenic city of Sitka, Alaska’s former capital, lies on the east coast of Baranof Island. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, green-tufted landscapes, and glassy waters, it’s a haven for nature lovers and offers plenty in the way of outdoor activities, including salmon fishing, cycling, hiking, kayaking, and whale watching. Its unique cultural fabric is richly woven with Russian, Tlingit, and American influences. Pay a visit to the onion-domed St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral, admire impressive totem poles in Sitka National Historical Park, and stop by the Sitka Public Market for locally made souvenirs.

This tiny hamlet (population: 710) on rugged Prince of Wales Island was first settled by the Tlingit people, who used the site as a summer fishing camp. The impressive totem park, set on a hill overlooking the harbor, houses one of the largest collections in Alaska. Gaze skywards at skilfully carved replicas of the original poles that marked the village of Tukekan, as well as poles chiselled in recent decades. The heritage center, longhouse, and carving shed on the edge of town are well worth a visit to see the masterful craftsmen at work.

A day at sea with Crystal can be as relaxed or as engaging as you wish. Begin with breakfast on your veranda, take a walk along the Promenade Deck or spend the morning by the Seahorse Pool before retreating to the Aurōra Spa & Salon for a restorative treatment. Enrichment is always close at hand, with lectures, bridge, creative workshops, dance classes, wellness sessions and opportunities to fine tune skills from photography to golf.

Dining is a highlight throughout the day, from relaxed bites by the pool to elegant dinners at venues such as Umi Uma by Nobu, Beefbar or Waterside. As evening arrives, enjoy live music, theatre entertainment, comedy, social gatherings, cocktails in the lounges or a quiet night in with 24-hour in-suite dining.

Victoria, capital of British Columbia, sits on the southern end of Vancouver Island, framed by an attractive harbour and surrounded by grand buildings.

With abundant parkland, it’s known for outdoor activities. The city's British colonial past shows in its Victorian architecture, including stately Craigdarroch Castle mansion. Butchart Gardens, with 55 acres of vivid floral displays, plus statuary, water features and a carousel, is one of many formal gardens in the city.

Vancouver is the ideal home port to begin or end an Alaskan adventure. Blessed with stunning vistas and exciting activities, Vancouver offers the perfect blend of urban and natural experiences. Vancouver is a must for any cruise itinerary, and because it's a compact, walkable city right on the edge of nature, adding on just a couple of extra days to explore will give you an authentic taste of what makes this place so attractive to visitors.

Located in the heart of Vancouver’s waterfront, 'Canada Place' (cruise terminal) can service up to three luxury cruise ships at any given time.