Day 1 (DEC 12): Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Miles of sandy beaches, lively outdoor events, and a charming web of waterways help to make Fort Lauderdale a relaxed, vacation capital of Florida. The excitement is palpable, as cruise ships and gleaming yachts gather in the harbor ahead of adventures and luxury journeys across the waves. Soak up the relaxed atmosphere in the canal-laced “Venice of America,” as you enjoy big-label shopping on Las Olas Boulevard - or visit fancy restaurants and bustling art galleries. For a wilder experience, the swampy wetlands of the Everglades sprawl away nearby. Fort Lauderdale Beach is a lively stretch of sand, bordered by palm trees, and sprinkled with crowds enjoying the Sunshine State's sunny weather. The charming promenade of red-brick tiles extends right along the beach's length and rumbles with passing rollerbladers and cyclists. Glide across the waves while parasailing or relax with a coffee or a margarita in a beachfront bar, as volleyball games play out in front of you. For a quieter beach option, Las Olas Beach lies a little down the coast towards Port Everglades and has extra space to spread out and tan on smooth white sand. Spot alligators waiting patiently, and the toothy grins of crocodiles patrolling the murky waters of the Everglades - the USA's largest tropical wetlands. A haven of extraordinary wildlife, birds wade through its swamps, and black bears and panthers roam its wilds. Take a scenic flight to appreciate the full scale of the national park or zip along exploring its waterways in a fan-powered boat.

Days 2-3 (DEC 13-14): Days at Sea

Day 4 (DEC 15): San Juan, Puerto Rico

Sitting on the north coast of this lush, tropical island, San Juan is the second settlement founded by European settlers in the Caribbean, and the oldest city under US jurisdiction. The stocky walls and watchtowers here have stood the test of time, repelling notable invaders – such as Sir Francis Drake – and the pirates who historically looted these islands. With massive fortresses, airy plazas and sheer Caribbean beauty, San Juan is a beach-blessed star of these turquoise waters. With more than 500 years of European history, Old San Juan gleams In Puerto Rico’s sunshine, with sugar-almond painted facades and ankle-testing cobbled lanes. Decorative balconies and varnished wooden doors add everyday artistry to streets, dripping with history. Soak up the culture at rum-fuelled parties and salsa dances on this Spanish-culture infused island, or recline into afternoon relaxation sessions on sensational slivers of gleaming sand. Kick back on the beach, or satisfy a lust for adventure by exploring sprawling mangrove forests. The magic of sea kayaking after dark here is an experience you won't forget. Break the waves with your oar, and watch as the waters illuminate with neon colour, as bioluminescence creates a mystical, peaceful spectacle. Pocked limestone cliffs and karst landscapes add rugged contrast to the serenity of the beaches, and you can walk into folds of the earth in sea-carved caves, or across cliffs to hidden views of the Caribbean’s expanse. Enjoy a taste of the island’s cuisine by sampling Mofongo – a local concoction of green plantains and chicken. Why not indulge and wash it down with an iced mojito, made from crushed mint and locally distilled rum?

Day 5 (DEC 16): St John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Like so many of the islands in the Caribbean, 2017's double whammy of hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated much of St. John. However, as relief funds get funneled into rebuilding, normality is gradually being restored, and St. John version 2.0 is emerging - bolder, brighter, and better. St. John's small size might just give it the edge over other desert islands. The U.S. purchased the tiny landmass (at just nine miles long, the island is the smallest of the three American Virgin Islands) from the West India and Guinea Company in 1917 and it remains under U.S. govern to this day. Historically speaking however St. John is Danish, who colonized it for almost 250 years before its sale to America. The Virgin Island National Park covers almost two-thirds of the island, meaning visually St. John is stunning and will remain that way for generations to come. This "gift" to the world comes thanks to Laurence Rockefeller who in 1956 gave the 5,000 acres of lush forest to the people of the island, with the caveat that it become a national park. Thus, velvety green hills slope into picture-perfect white sand beaches, which are ringed by turquoise seas. One very definite winner of the tourism hiatus since 2017 has been the marine wildlife. Underwater life was barely affected by the storms and the subsequent lack of tourism has allowed the eco-systems to propagate. The island's abundant coral reefs were not overly affected by the storms and today the waters are teeming with sea turtles, reef sharks, and sting rays.

Day 6 (DEC 17): Gustavia, St. Barthelemy, Saint Barthelemy

Cherry red roofs, yacht-sprinkled bays, and a sophisticated French flavor all add to the gorgeous Caribbean allure of Gustavia. The island's capital rolls around a horseshoe-shaped harbor, where gleaming yachts hover and fancy shops, bars, and restaurants buzz with life and clinking cutlery. Head up to red and white Gustavia Lighthouse to look down over the revered waters, which attract many a celebrity guest and diving enthusiast to these shores. Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover this volcanic island in 1493, giving it the name St. Barthelemy in honor of his younger brother. The island has a unique history as a Swedish colony, following a deal with the French King Louis XVI to exchange the island with Sweden for better trading rights. It was returned to French control in 1878 and is now a French Overseas Collectivity. Learn more about the Swedish legacy at Fort Karl - which sits on a 29-meter-high hill above Shell Beach. The fort now lies in ruins, but you'll meet wandering iguanas, and the sweeping sea views and emerald coastline are some of the island's finest. Down below, a delightful spread of tiny pebbles and shell fragments scatter like confetti and is lapped by crystal-clear water. A little exploration uncovers countless other glorious beaches and natural wonders. Colombier Beach is a little out of the way but cradles silky-smooth sands and typically turquoise waters. If you have the chance, find somewhere to settle and sip fruity rum cocktails as the sunset flares across the waves.

Day 7 (DEC 18): St. Kitts (Basseterre), Saint Kitts and Nevis

St. Kitts's verdant volcanic slopes rise from crystal clear Caribbean waters, promising a land of escape, relaxation, and rejuvenation. A place for ‘limin’ - the local word for kicking back, Caribbean style, you’ll be welcomed to an island paradise blessed with swarming reefs, hidden white-sand beaches, and irresistible shallow seas. Bigger sibling to nearby Nevis, St. Kitts is a place of unrestrained natural beauty. Soak up the dreamy Caribbean bliss, or explore sprawling island rainforests, teeming with hummingbirds and the distant sounds of waterfalls, as you walk the island’s vine-tangled paths. A ride on Basseterre’s scenic sugar train is a rumbling, immersive journey through the heart of this Caribbean island of culture and vivid unspoiled scenery. Carriages that once transported crops of sugar cane to the city sweep around long curving bends, revealing a spectacular introduction to St. Kitts. The landscapes here are beautiful, and things are no less spectacular offshore, where glorious crystalline waters invite you to dive with turtles and explore doomed wrecks like the River Taw ship – which has now exploded with marine life. In Basseterre itself, stop off to see the pea-green Berkeley Memorial clock, which stands in the Circus, surrounded by busy St. Kitts life. Independence Square is also waiting among the city’s charming Georgian buildings. Renamed from Pall Mall on the 19th of September 1983 - to celebrate the island’s independence - the pretty square gravitates around a colorful burbling fountain, and has a dark history, as a former slave market. Wary canons watch out over the waves far below at Brimstone Hill Fortress, a site of significant history, which dates back to 1690. Known as the "Gibraltar of the West Indies" due to its importance at the heart of the British empire, St. Kitts was one of the first islands in the West Indies to be colonized. Nowadays, its World Heritage Site fortress offers panoramic views along the coastline it was built to defend.

Day 8 (DEC 19): Deshaies, Guadeloupe

Deshaies’s natural, sheltered harbor, the deepest of the Caribbean, has always attracted seafarers. Long ago it was a haven for buccaneers, and it’s said there’s still hidden treasure on the island. Postcard pretty, with painted wooden creole homes, gathered around a little church, it won’t take you long to discover Deshaies’s - a hidden gem. Whilst rightly associating Guadeloupe with transparent seas, lapping pristine beaches of colored sands, the island of Basse-Terre boasts so much more. Benefitting from farsighted, ecological measures, both land and sea have been protected, resulting in a rich biodiversity waiting to be discovered. Whatever your energy levels, from the very active, to those who simply want to recharge their batteries, there’s a landscape just for you. Trek through tropical forests, passing hot springs, and spectacular waterfalls to reach the smoldering crater of a volcano, bringing out the adventurer in you. Stroll around the manicured botanical gardens amongst jeweled colored, exotic birds. Cool off whilst exploring from a huge choice of unspoiled beaches, including the famous expansive Grande Anse, with its red sands and palm trees. Dive deep in the water, and swim with turtles. Revel in the panoramic beauty over a drink at sunset, accompanied by delicious, traditional Antilles cuisine.

Day 9 (DEC 20): Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Colorful houses speckle the rolling green hills of Tortola Island, overlooking tempting electric blue waters. Let the unspoiled British Virgin Islands scenery wash over you, as you look out over secluded coves of heavenly beaches, and quiet yacht-filled bays. Road Town is an ideal base for island hopping to the scattered charms of this volcanic archipelago - whether you choose to head out to the dazzling white sand beaches of Anegada, Virgin Gorda’s boulder-strewn caves, or Jost Van Dyke’s famous beach bars. A quieter, more secluded escape than some of the Caribbean’s resorts, Road Town is a laid-back slice of paradise, offering an indulgent selection of serene beaches, fringed by thick layers of palm trees. Strap on your snorkeling mask to submerge in warm water that glistens with swirling fish - spot squirrelfish and clownfish among the reef's many inhabitants. Snorkel leisurely, or dive among the turtles and sleek stingrays that glide through Salt Island Bay’s life-filled shipwreck. For an alternative to the beaches, take on Sage Mountain’s challenge, to tour through a dense mesh of redolent white cedar and mahogany trees. Learn of sugar cane and rum production history – which go hand in hand here - or shop to pick through local jewelry or handcrafted metalwork. Get a flavor of island cuisine, by enjoying succulent flying fish sandwiches, or follow your nose to spicy barbecues producing pork roti with a fiery jerk kick on the sand. Round off your meal with a sweet guava pastry.

Day 12 (DEC 23): Fort Lauderdale, Florida