Tampa, Florida - A myriad of attractions awaits you during your stay in the Tampa area: the active nightlife of Tampa's Ybor City, it's Aquarium, and Busch Gardens for those with kids (even Walt Disney World is within striking distance). Magnificent beaches are a short ride away (Ft. DeSoto being a rare jewel of a beach without hotels and "McMansions" crowding out nature), then there's the Dali museum in St. Petersburg's hip, food-and-art-centric Downtown. To the south, in quieter Sarasota, you can visit the palatial mansion and art museum of the king of the circus: John Ringling. It's a great vacation destination, in itself. Be sure to plan a couple days before or after your cruise to soak it in.

Key West, Florida - A distinctly American town with the look and feel of the Caribbean, Key West unlocks myriad attractions. Ride the Conch Train to the famous sights: Ernest Hemingway's home, the Audubon House, and the "Little White House", where President Truman spent many a working vacation. Hop a catamaran to America's only living coral reef to snorkel with dolphins. Or climb into the open cockpit of a World War II biplane for an unforgettable aerial tour of the Keys.

At Sea - Cruising - Cruising

Mahogany Bay, Honduras - Located just 40 miles northeast of mainland Honduras, Roatan Island is a Western Caribbean paradise. Enjoy the ease of Mahogany Bay's new state of the art cruise ship terminal; relax on a soft sand beach; and explore the Carambola Botanical Gardens and nature trails in search of iguana, parrot, and archaeological sites dating back to Mayan times.

Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala - Your portal to the fabulous Mayan ruins in Guatemala and Honduras. Not to be missed: Quirigua National Park, where intricately carved stellae and zoomorphisms conceal the mysteries of a lost world; Tikal, where a secretive jungle plaza is flanked by seven great stone temples; and Copan, "Paris of the Mayan world."

Costa Maya, Mexico - Exploring the dense tropical vegetation and wide sandy bays of the Costa Maya, it's easy to imagine the days when sacrifice and slavery, rite and ritual were rampant in the Mayan culture. Even today, the countless ruins of temple walls, stairs and secret pathways exude magic and mystery. And when your archaeology lesson is complete, glorious stretches of coral sand may inspire you to build your own empire-of sand castles, of course!