Fly from the UK and grab a cab or take the train at your convenience to the four-star New Yorker Hotel situated on 34th Street opposite Madison Square Garden and just steps away from Macy's Department Store. On the same street you can enjoy the views from the 86th Floor Observatory at the top of the Empire State Building as the sun sets over the horizon and the lights twinkle on.

A further overnight hotel stay. Wander around Central Park and go shopping on 5th Avenue to take advantage of the exchange rate and the lower prices. Visit Battery Park at the Southern tip of Manhattan and take some photos of the Statue of Liberty. If you have time - hop on a boat tour via the Statue of Liberty to the museum on Ellis Island. Finally visit Times Square at night before seeing a show on Broadway.

Make your own way to the nearby Manhattan cruise terminal to embark the ship

Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.

The Dominican Republic is one of the Caribbean's most geographically diverse countries, with stunning mountain scenery, desert scrublands, evocative colonial architecture and beaches galore.

San Juan is the capital of the island which is 110 miles long by 40 miles wide and was claimed by Christopher Columbus for Spain in 1493. Spain possessed Puerto Rico for over 400 years, despite attempts by France, the Netherlands, and England to capture the island. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States where Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. Attractions include Bioluminescent Bay- a truly brilliant natural wonder, this bay, particularly on moonless nights, literally glows in the dark. Flamenco beach is in a nearly wave-less, sheltered cove where fish swim right up to the edge of the water that is waist deep for quite a stretch and has at least 20 yards of crystal clear visibility underwater. Visit the El Yunque rainforest where you can swim in the waterfall.

St Kitts is a member of the British Commonwealth and lies at the top of the Lesser Antilles chain close to Antigua. Cruise ships moor at the cruise pier called port Zante in the capital Basseterre right in front of the shops. Visit Brimstone Hill National Park known as the Gibraltar of the West Indies and the sister island of Nevis just a 45 minute ferry ride way. Get a good feel for the island on the scenic railway originally built to transport sugar cane or chill out at one of the best beaches on the island Cockleshell Beach. This 2 mile stretch of white sand beach is relatively unspoilt and overlooks the island of Nevis. Try an invigorating natural Aloe Vera massage on the beach it does wonders for your sunburn-

This is the largest of the British Virgin Islands and as a result they drive on the left (as in the UK) - confusing the American tourists- Road Town is the capital and is nestled at bottom of a backdrop of mountains. There are 2 cruise terminals within walking distance to the shops. Just up an over the mountain on the other side of the island is the popular Cane Garden Beach - this is a lovely palm fringed sweep of white sand. It takes about 10-15 minutes to get there with some magnificent views of the island and the cost is -6 in a shared minibus - taxi. There is an opportunity to swim with the dolphins in the dolphin sanctuary just to the South of Road Town. Also another must here are the Baths at Virgin Gorda - the massive volcanic boulders which form secluded pools and grottos.

This island was settled at different periods buy both the Dutch and the French so there are two distinct halves to the island. The capital is Philipsburg where the cruise ships dock at the quayside. This is a delightful warren of narrow streets with interesting shops and leafy courtyard cafes. This is a wonderful place to wander around starting in Wathey Square where you will fund a fine collection of West Indian Gingerbread houses. The French Capital is Marigot- worth visiting for its markets, caf lined waterfront and the chic boutiques of Marina Port La Royale.

St Thomas is part of the US Virgin Islands and the duty free shoppers paradise in the Caribbean. Charlotte Amalie is the capital and this quaint town is a joy to walk around with its cobbled streets and alley ways filled with the best shops in the Caribbean but not so much -in your face- as the other islands. Unlike most of the other islands this is the US of A in the Caribbean it is clean, organised and well run- you may think that you are in one of the Florida Keys. The best beach is Magen's Bay (voted one of the top 10 beaches of the world) and is approximately six-miles away from the capital on the other side of the island.

Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.

Disembark the ship after breakfast and make your own way to the airport for your overnight flight home.