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On the southern coast of England and offshore Portsea Island stands the home of the British Royal Navy, the harbor city of Portsmouth. A proud naval heritage is evident in the Historic Dockyard where modern ships are moored alongside classics like Admiral Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory, which defeated Napoleon in the Battle of Trafalgar. The wreckage of Henry VIII’s Mary Rose, which capsized offshore in 1545, is displayed in a nearby museum, and on the southern tip of the island stands Southsea Castle, constructed in 1544 to defend those same waters.

The Honduran island of Roatán is a nature lover’s paradise. Beaches such as West Bay and Sandy Bay offer powdery white sand, swaying palms and aquamarine waters. Underneath the surface, the colorful coral reefs of Roatán Marine Park are home to iridescent fish, sea turtles and dolphins. For those who want to better get to know the resident dolphins, the Roatán Institute for Marine Sciences offers the opportunity to swim, play and snorkel with these intelligent mammals.

Designated a “City of Art and History,” Saint-Pierre has many stories to tell. This cultural hub of Martinique was known as the “Paris of the Caribbean” until the eruption of Mount Pelée destroyed the city in 1902. At the Frank A. Perret Museum, founded by an American volcanologist in 1933, fascinating relics, photographs and film tell the history of the catastrophe and Saint-Pierre’s rebirth.

Named for Alexander the Great, the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria is no less impressive than its founder. From the ancient to the modern, this “Pearl of the Mediterranean” strikes a perfect balance between the richness of history and the bustle of tourism and commerce. While the Great Library at Alexandria has been lost to time, the ultramodern Bibliotheca Alexandrina memorializes its predecessor in a beautiful, contemporary space where history, culture, philosophy, art and science come together under one roof.

Languishing just three miles off the coast from Nassau, Blue Lagoon Island has everything you desire to make that island-paradise fantasy a reality. Take a dip in the clear blue waters of the hidden lagoon, snorkel the coral reefs that lie right off the beach or simply stretch out on a sun lounger beneath the swaying palms as the sweet sound of birdsong floats through the air. Alternatively, take the opportunity to get up close and personal with the beautiful residents who call this island home.

Stroll along intoxicatingly beautiful beaches and gaze upon gorgeous art deco delights in Miami. Head to South Beach to wander past the city’s famous sun-kissed, pastel-hued hotels. Bathed in a beautiful palette of soft pinks, greens and yellows and adorned with charming tropical design touches, these 1930s architectural gems are part of the largest collection of art deco buildings in the world.

Let your captain select the sunniest, most serene Bahamian island for you to enjoy based on the temperament of the day – either Great Exuma or San Salvador. The former offers the ivory sands of Emerald Bay and the yachter’s paradise of Georgetown, where you can go sailing and kayaking on Lake Victoria or discover coral gardens and underwater caves on a snorkeling or diving expedition off the coast. Should your captain select San Salvador, an entirely different yet equally fascinating undersea world awaits.