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.

At Sea - Cruising - Cruising

Cozumel, Mexico - Let's be direct: Cozumel is one of the world's busiest cruise ports, and it's essential to have a plan to navigate the crowds and find its genuine highlights. The island's global reputation is built on what lies just offshore: the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest barrier reef system in the world. For divers and snorkelers, this is a premier, bucket-list destination. The clear, warm water and vibrant coral formations of sites like the Palancar and Colombia reefs are genuinely world-class. For an accessible taste without a dedicated boat trip, parks like Chankanaab or the more remote Punta Sur Eco Beach Park offer excellent snorkeling directly from shore, combined with beaches and other amenities. Many are drawn by the allure of Mayan ruins, but here’s a critical piece of advice: the famous sites like Tulum and Coba are on the mainland, not on Cozumel. Reaching them requires a 45-minute ferry to Playa del Carmen and then a bus journey, consuming nearly your entire day. While magnificent, choosing this option means forgoing the island experience entirely. It's a trade-off you must be comfortable with. If you stay on the island, the main town of San Miguel offers a bustling waterfront and a dizzying array of shops. We recommend walking a few blocks inland from the main tourist thoroughfare to find more authentic local restaurants for a fantastic lunch. For pure relaxation, Cozumel’s beach clubs are a popular and effective choice. They range from lively, all-inclusive party spots with water toys to more serene, upscale retreats where the focus is on a good book and a great cocktail. You can easily find one that matches your pace. Cozumel is a highly developed tourism hub that excels at water sports and beach relaxation; embrace it for these strengths, and you’ll have a fantastic day.

Belize City, Belize - From the thriving, pulsating Caribbean capital of Belize, paradise calls. The longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere (175 miles long and second only to Australia's Great Barrier Reef) is dotted with cayes teeming with a dazzling array of colorful fish and tropical plants. Inland, find dense virgin jungles, tumbling jade-green rivers and verdant valleys. An eco-tourist's paradise.

Costa Maya, Mexico - It’s best to think of Costa Maya not as a historic town, but as a modern, purpose-built gateway to the southern Yucatán’s authentic treasures. The port itself is a clean, self-contained village with pools, shops, and restaurants—a perfectly pleasant, if manufactured, way to spend a few hours. For a more genuine experience, we highly recommend venturing beyond its walls. A short taxi ride brings you to the neighboring fishing village of Mahahual. Here, a laid-back beachfront boardwalk, or *malecón*, is lined with local restaurants and unpretentious beach clubs, offering a true taste of coastal Mexican life. The real cultural highlight, however, is the access to lesser-visited Mayan ruins. An excursion to the Chacchoben ruins offers a fascinating and accessible glimpse into ancient history, set within the jungle and free from the overwhelming crowds of more famous sites. For pure natural beauty, the nearby Bacalar Lagoon—the famed “Lagoon of Seven Colors”—provides a stunningly beautiful and tranquil setting for a day on the water. Costa Maya is an excellent, comfortable base for exploring these worthwhile regional highlights.