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West Indies Explorer

Aboard Viking Sea with Viking Ocean Cruises

Departure Date

19 November 2024

Duration

10 Nights

Fly Cruise From

£4,790pp

Cruise Reference

ART-4WEVI15

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.
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.

Cruise Itinerary

Aboard Viking Sea

Launch Year: 2016 Length: 227 Width: 29 Currency: EUR Capacity: 930 Crew Count: 465 Deck Count: 9 Cabin Count: 455

Expand your horizons on this comfortable, award-winning ship, intimate and thoughtfully created by experienced nautical architects and designers to enrich your interaction with your destination in every way.

Viking Sea Facilities

Viking Sea Includes

Cabin Details

Sleep easy in a comfortable king-size bed with fine cotton linens for the sweetest dreams. Elegant décor and calm colours create the perfect sanctuary (because lazy days are often the best days). Wake up to breakfast in bed (24-hour room service is complimentary). Tune in to the latest technology, with free Wi-Fi and TV with movies on demand. Your generous ensuite has a shower that drenches you, heated floor and fluffy towels to warm you and indulgent lotions to pamper you. Bathroom bliss.

Whichever stateroom you choose, you can look forward to a private sanctuary of understated elegance, one that features all the comforts of home and your own spacious veranda.

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