Gems of the Caribbean Sea

JTilbury is a town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. The present town was established as separate settlement in the late 19th century, on land that was mainly part of Chadwell St Mary. It contains a 16th century fort and an ancient cross-river ferry.

Formed by a volcanic eruption, Madeira lies in the Gulf Stream, about 500 miles due west of Casablanca. Discovered by Portuguese explorer João Gonçalves Zarco in 1419, this beautiful island became part of Portugal’s vast empire and was named for the dense forest which cloaked it - 'Madeira' means 'wood' in Portuguese. Sugar plantations first brought wealth here, and when King Charles II of England granted an exclusive franchise to sell wine to England and its colonies, many British emigrants were drawn to the capital, Funchal. Today’s travellers come to Madeira for the varied and luxuriant scenery, from mountain slopes covered with vines to picturesque villages and a profusion of wild flowers. The natural beauty of the island has earned it many pseudonyms such as ‘The Floating Garden of the Atlantic’, 'The Island of Eternal Springtime' and ‘God’s Botanical Gardens’ and our selection of excursions aim to show you why.

You go to heaven if you want - I'd rather stay here in Bermuda!' So gushed Mark Twain in the 19th century, and Bermuda's promise of sun and sea still lures holiday-makers to its shores. Settled by the English Virginia Company in 1609, Bermuda is the oldest and most populous of Britain's remaining overseas territories. These days, celebrities like Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones call Bermuda home. The island is surrounded by a fantastic coral reef that harbours colourful fish and has ensnared scores of shipwrecks, making for memorable diving and snorkelling.

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.

Measuring 33 miles long and 9 miles wide, this little island offers big rewards.  Known for it’s stunning natural beauty, glass-clear aquamarine seas, and vast marine life, Cozumel will always be a popular cruise ship port of call and firm favourite amongst scuba divers – owing to it’s multiple diving spots across 600 miles of coral reef.

Venture off the beaten path to find deserted, windswept beaches and wild, vibrant natural parks, or head directly across from the docks to Plaza Central, the heart of San Miguel - Residents often congregate here in the evening, especially on weekends, when free concerts begin at 8pm.

Most of the island's restaurants, hotels, stores, and dive shops are concentrated downtown and along the two hotel zones that fan out along the leeward coast to the north and south of San Miguel.

Things To See, Do & Taste In Cozumel:

• See:  Mayan Ruins of Tulum - One of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico.  Sat on a seaside cliff alongside turquoise waters.
• Do: All Terrain Xrail Expedition – A journey into the heart of Cozumel's jungle.
• Taste:  Cochinita Pibil - Slow roasted pork usually served with pickled onions on tacos or tortas (also known as Torta de Cochinita Pibil or Taco de Cochinita Pibil).

Measuring 33 miles long and 9 miles wide, this little island offers big rewards.  Known for it’s stunning natural beauty, glass-clear aquamarine seas, and vast marine life, Cozumel will always be a popular cruise ship port of call and firm favourite amongst scuba divers – owing to it’s multiple diving spots across 600 miles of coral reef.

Venture off the beaten path to find deserted, windswept beaches and wild, vibrant natural parks, or head directly across from the docks to Plaza Central, the heart of San Miguel - Residents often congregate here in the evening, especially on weekends, when free concerts begin at 8pm.

Most of the island's restaurants, hotels, stores, and dive shops are concentrated downtown and along the two hotel zones that fan out along the leeward coast to the north and south of San Miguel.

Things To See, Do & Taste In Cozumel:

• See:  Mayan Ruins of Tulum - One of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico.  Sat on a seaside cliff alongside turquoise waters.
• Do: All Terrain Xrail Expedition – A journey into the heart of Cozumel's jungle.
• Taste:  Cochinita Pibil - Slow roasted pork usually served with pickled onions on tacos or tortas (also known as Torta de Cochinita Pibil or Taco de Cochinita Pibil).

Costa Maya is the gateway to the Mayan ruins of Mexico. 

The specifically created port of Costa Maya is a destination in itself, with multiple restaurants, bars, swimming pools, water sports, shops and market stalls where visitors can buy local crafts from. There is even the Lost Mayan Kingdom Water Park, just a few minutes' walk from the ship. 

To see the real lost Mayan kingdom, take a tour out to see the temples and pyramids of Chacchoben in the jungle, just 45 minutes' drive from the port. The pyramids were lost to the world until they were rediscovered in 1931, so are very well preserved and a fantastic way to learn about the ancient Mayan civilisation. 

Things To See, Do & Taste In Costa Maya:

• See:  Mayan Ruins.
• Do:  Scuba Dive the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef - One of the World’s best scuba dive sites and the largest reef system in the Western Hemisphere.
• Taste:  Enchiladas – Dating back to the Mayans, Enchiladas consist of a corn tortilla rolled around meat, cheese, beans, potatoes, and/or vegetables and covered with a savoury sauce.

One of Jamaica's largest resort cities, Montego Bay offers a range of activities bound to interest an array of visitors, from arts enthusiasts to the more adventurous type.

Offering solace on the long journey across the Atlantic, Ponta Delgada is the Azores Islands' largest city, and a welcome relief for any weary sailor. Located on an archipelago of Portuguese islands, some 1,100 miles from the mainland, you can explore humbling volcanic scenery, as well as Sao Miguel's verdant landscape - which glows with colour when the hydrangeas that the Azores are known for bloom into life during the summer months. The striking black and white facade of the Church of Sao Jose welcomes you to the city itself, while you can head to the markets to pick up the pineapples, tea leaves and coffee beans that add a little flavour to the island. As the largest city of the Azores, Ponta Delgada is well stocked with places to eat delicious local seafood, or pick up a little shopping, as you enjoy setting your feet on dry land, following a long journey at sea. Volcanic firepower has carved these stunning islands, and a journey up to Caldeira das Sete Cidades is a must do, where you can hike beside the water-filled crater, and admire views of steep green walls, and the uninterrupted Atlantic Ocean stretching beyond them. Lagoa de Fogo offers yet more humbling views, with the crater lake dropping off sharply to rippled ocean far below.

JTilbury is a town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. The present town was established as separate settlement in the late 19th century, on land that was mainly part of Chadwell St Mary. It contains a 16th century fort and an ancient cross-river ferry.