Mid Atlantic Crossing

San Juan is a city of white-sand beaches, lush rainforests and inspiring Spanish colonial architecture. Compact and elegantly planned, Old San Juan spans the centuries. El Morro fortress has been standing watch over San Juan Bay since the 16th century and its formidable cannons peer out to sea. The streets of the centuries-old UNESCO World Heritage Site are paved with steel-blue adoquín stone, used to ballast the Spanish galleons that brought settlers here. These colorful, narrow byways lead to picturesque multihued facades and townhouses with neoclassical balconies.

Sail the Atlantic Ocean, divided in half, north to south, by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Longer than the Rockies, the Himalayas and the Andes combined, this underwater mountain range is the longest on Earth.

Sail legendary waters, where medieval Europeans believed “there be dragons” beyond the ocean's horizon.

The nutrient-rich waters of the Atlantic Ocean are home to more than half of the world's fisheries, annually providing millions of tons of fish and other marine species for human consumption and industrial purposes.

The Atlantic Ocean derives its name from Greek and means “Sea of Atlas,” a reference to the mythological Atlas, a Titan who supported the heavens on his shoulders as a punishment for fighting the gods.

Stretching between the west coast of Africa, Greenland and Brazil, the North Atlantic ocean is populated with volcanic islands, including Cape Verde and the Canaries.

The North Atlantic Ocean hosts an abundance of wildlife, many of which are endangered. Humpback whales, seals, manatees as well as petrels, auks and albatross call these waters home.

Set on the most northwesterly island of the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz de La Palma is a maritime city steeped in history. Founded during the 15th century by the conquistador Alonso Fernández de Lugo, it was once an important commercial center of the Spanish Empire. Its wealth made it a target for pirates, and the city was invaded many times, most famously during July of 1553. The best way to experience Santa Cruz de La Palma is to walk the cobbled streets of the Calle Real or visit the Plaza de España, home to Renaissance buildings, including the Church of El Salvador.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife exudes both Spanish flair and island tranquility, featuring painted buildings, shops and a city park where fountains and birdsong provide a soothing ambiance. Volcanic Mt. Teide, Spain's highest point, looms over much of the island. Its hills harbor fruit plantations and vineyards that produce some of Spain's finest wines. The Orotava Valley slopes down from Teide to the sea and Puerto de la Cruz; the former fishing village transformed into a spa town in the 19th-century and today invites a stroll amid its boardwalks, leafy squares and seaside charms.

The island of Madeira is an enchanting Atlantic paradise. Known as the “Garden Island” for its rich agriculture, terraced hillsides and beautiful flowers, it maintains a temperate year-round climate. The island's irrigation aqueducts, or levadas, were dug into the hillsides so that early farmers could make use of every patch of land. One of the island's most prolific crops that has long been fed by levadas is grapes, which produce four types of Madeira wine popular around the world. In the capital and port city of Funchal, the picturesque Old Town is best explored on foot.

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.