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Joy Of The Islands

Aboard Seven Seas Navigator with Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Departure Date

13 January 2025

Duration

7 Nights

Fly Cruise From

£4,059pp

Cruise Reference

ART-6JORE10

Cruise Overview

If you associate Puerto Rico's capital with the colonial streets of Old San Juan, then you know only part of the picture.

San Juan is a major metropolis, radiating out from the bay on the Atlantic Ocean that was discovered by Juan Ponce de León.

More than a third of the island's nearly 4 million citizens proudly call themselves sanjuaneros.

The city may be rooted in the past, but it has its eye on the future.

Locals go about their business surrounded by colonial architecture and towering modern structures.By 1508 the explorer Juan Ponce de León had established a colony in an area now known as Caparra, southeast of present-day San Juan.

He later moved the settlement north to a more hospitable peninsular location.

In 1521, after he became the first colonial governor, Ponce de León switched the name of the island—which was then called San Juan Bautista in honor of St.

John the Baptist—with that of the settlement of Puerto Rico ("rich port").Defended by the imposing Castillo San Felipe del Morro (El Morro) and Castillo San Cristóbal, Puerto Rico's administrative and population center remained firmly in Spain's hands until 1898, when it came under U.S.

Control after the Spanish-American War.

Centuries of Spanish rule left an indelible imprint on the city, particularly in the walled area now known as Old San Juan.

The area is filled with cobblestone streets and brightly painted, colonial-era structures, and its fortifications have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Old San Juan is a monument to the past, but most of the rest of the city is planted firmly in the 21st century and draws migrants island-wide and from farther afield to jobs in its businesses and industries.

The city captivates residents and visitors alike with its vibrant lifestyle as well as its balmy beaches, pulsing nightclubs, globe-spanning restaurants, and world-class museums.

Once you set foot in this city, you may never want to leave.

The capital of Dutch St.

Maarten stretches about a mile (1½ km) along an isthmus between Great Bay and the Salt Pond and has five parallel streets.

Most of the village's dozens of shops and restaurants are on Front Street, narrow and cobblestone, closest to Great Bay.

It's generally congested when cruise ships are in port, because of its many duty-free shops and several casinos.

Little lanes called steegjes connect Front Street with Back Street, which has fewer shops and considerably less congestion.

Along the beach is a ½-mile-long (1-km-long) boardwalk with restaurants and several Wi-Fi hot spots.Wathey Square (pronounced watty) is in the heart of the village.

Directly across from the square are the town hall and the courthouse, in a striking white building with cupola.

The structure was built in 1793 and has served as the commander's home, a fire station, a jail, and a post office.

The streets surrounding the square are lined with hotels, duty-free shops, restaurants, and cafés.

The Captain Hodge Pier, just off the square, is a good spot to view Great Bay and the beach that stretches alongside.

Cruise Itinerary

Aboard Seven Seas Navigator

Launch Year: 1999 Length: 172 Width: 24 Currency: USD Capacity: 482 Crew Count: 378 Deck Count: 8 Cabin Count: 241

Seven Seas Navigator® may be found in two very different regions: the South Pacific or Canada and New England. Take your pick of amazing beauty in both destinations — turquoise waters teeming with bright tropical fish or the blazing orange, red and gold leaves of a New England autumn.

As you gaze at Seven Seas Navigator®, imagine what you’ll hear as well. Listen for sounds of happiness like forks clicking on Versace dinnerware, a ball clacking on a roulette wheel, and a martini being shaken to icy perfection.

You’ll find time spent on board the ship to be just as enriching as time ashore. Relax by the pool, compete in a friendly game of trivia or bocce ball, indulge in treats at afternoon tea and gain insight from an expert lecturer.

Chat up like-minded travellers over a cocktail at Stars Lounge on Deck 6, find your Zen at a yoga class on Deck 12 or update your wardrobe at the boutiques on Deck 7. Do it all on the luxurious decks of Seven Seas Navigator®

Seven Seas Navigator Facilities

Seven Seas Navigator Includes

Cabin Details

Serene ocean views enhance the soothing colour palette in each Seven Seas Navigator® suite. You’ll also find luxurious bath amenities, a cosy robe and our superior Elite Slumber™ beds to ensure a relaxing and revitalizing voyage.

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