Best of Cuba & America’s Deep South

DAY 1 Wednesday 30 October 2019 Depart Australia
We depart Australia on our flight to New Orleans, USA. As we have crossed the International Date Line we arrive the same day. On arrival we will check into our hotel, located in the French Quarter, the oldest section of the City of New Orleans, famous for its historic homes, architectural treasures and funky music clubs. Meals Included: In-flight

DAY 2 Thursday 31 October 2019 New Orleans, USA
Happy Halloween! New Orleans immerses itself in the Halloween spirit with fun for all ages. Frenchmen Street stages the city’s biggest street party on the night. Today is free to explore New Orleans and get into the Halloween spirit. There is so much to do and see in the French Quarter – you may like to have lunch at a Cajun restaurant or take a ride on the famous St. Charles Avenue Streetcar. A trip to New Orleans would not be complete without a visit to the famous Bourbon Street (all optional). This evening enjoy the festive atmosphere of Halloween and Voodoo New Orleans style! Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 3 Friday 1 November 2019 New Orleans
French settled and influenced, New Orleans is one of the USA’s most exciting and interesting cities, famous for its jazz, creativity, romance and drama. We will enjoy a morning tour of the city with a local guide that will include the key sights of the French Quarter: Jackson Square, Royal Street, French market and Bourbon Street, as well the surrounding Garden District, Audubon Park, the Mississippi River and the commercial downtown. The afternoon will be free for independent exploration – enjoy the atmosphere of the French Quarter or take a Plantation tour, a Paddle Steamer cruise or a swamp tour. Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 4 Saturday 2 November 2019 Savannah, USA
Today we fly to Savannah, with its many antebellum mansions and oak trees, dripping with Spanish moss, Savannah has a real ‘Gone with the Wind’ flavour. A special feature of the city is its 21 squares (parks, with trees, fountains and statues). On arrival we have a sightseeing tour with a local guide. See the city’s fascinating architecture and walk through some of its famous squares. See the statue of local songwriter, the late Johnny Mercer, who wrote over 1000 songs, including the lyrics of Moon River & Days of Wine and Roses. The tour also includes Georgia’s picturesque coastal region and the beautiful Bonaventure Cemetery, which featured in the 1994 novel, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 5 Sunday 3 November 2019 Savannah
Today is a free day and the best way to explore Savannah is by foot! Savannah’s grid layout makes it easy to get around town. Catch the dot – the city’s fare-free express shuttle that runs continuously throughout the downtown area. Take a leisurely riverboat cruise or stroll one of the city’s markets. Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 6 Monday 4 November 2019 St Augustine, Florida, USA
Today we drive south to St Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied European city in the U.S, St Augustine was founded by the Spanish in 1565. What makes St Augustine so genuinely endearing is the accessibility of its rich history via it’s countless museums and the authenticity of its centuries-old architecture, monuments and narrow cobbled lanes. Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 7 Tuesday 5 November 2019 Miami, USA
This morning we travel by coach to Miami, with its bold style fuelled by Latin rhythms. South Beach is as known for its beautiful people and nightlife as its art deco architecture. On arrival we check in to our centrally located hotel, the remainder of the day is at leisure. Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 8 Wednesday 6 November 2019 Miami
Our day starts when our guide takes us on a Miami orientation tour including the major thoroughfare Ocean Drive, Mediterranean Revival-styled Freedom Tower, numerous famous movie locations, a visit to the peculiar residence of Pulitzer Prize winning author Ernest Hemingway and the world-famous palm-lined Miami Beach, Downtown Miami, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables and Little Havana. The afternoon is at leisure. Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 9 Thursday 7 November 2019 Miami – Begin 8-night Cuba Cruise
This morning is free for individual exploration. In the early afternoon we transfer to the cruise terminal to board your Royal Caribbean ship Empress of the Seas. Be up on deck as the ship slips her moorings at 4:00pm for the start of our fabulous cruise. Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 10 Friday 8 November 2019 Havana, Cuba
This morning we arrive in Havana, capital of Cuba. Havana is lined with pastel houses, 1950s-era cars and Spanish-colonial architecture in the 16th-century Old Town, a highlight of the holiday. Salsa music plays in the dance clubs and cabaret shows are performed at the famed Tropicana. Spend today exploring this fascinating exotic city, you may choose to take an Ernest Hemmingway tour or an Old Havana sightseeing tour by classic car. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 11 Saturday 9 November 2019 At sea
There’s so much to see and do onboard while you are at sea. Rejuvenate at the Spa, attend an engaging lecture, take a cooking class, go to a wine tasting or simply relax and unwind. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 12 Sunday 10 November 2019 Cienfuegos, Cuba
Originally settled by a Frenchman from Louisiana, Cienfuegos’ laid-back Parisian vibe and fiery Caribbean spirit have captivated visitors for centuries. This Cuban gem is nicknamed the “Pearl of the South” for its picturesque bay – but its real sparkle is the assortment of adventures. Optional excursions include Colonial Trinidad, a cigar factory tour or a city and botanical gardens tour. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 13 Monday 11 November 2019 At sea
A day at sea to explore the fabulous facilities of the ship. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 14 Tuesday 12 November 2019 Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
This morning we arrive in the port of Santiago de Cuba. Take the unique opportunity and get to know the fascinating local culture of a place untouched by time, while discovering the revolutionary history of Cuba’s second-largest city. Empress of the Seas has numerous shore excursions on offer. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 15 Wednesday 13 November 2019 Labadee, Haiti
Royal Caribbean’s Labadee is a 260-acre private beach resort carved out of Haiti’s rolling, densely forested north coast. It’s located some six miles from Cape Haitian, a city of 190,000 that’s played a prominent part in Spanish and French colonial history. Labadee was discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus, but it wasn’t until 1986 that the cruise line leased the peninsula of property from the Haitian government. Today, as in the 15th century, it is an undulating coastline creating a series of lagoon-like bays, all protected by a reef. A typical day in port may include snorkelling, filling up a plate or two at the all-you-can eat BBQ, zipping across the water on the 2,600-foot-long Dragon’s Breath Flight Line or snoozing soundly in a beach chair. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 16 Thursday 14 November 2019 At sea
Our last day at sea to make the most of the fabulous ship facilities. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 17 Friday 15 November 2019 Miami, Florida
This morning we arrive back in Miami, and after disembarking the ship we travel to Miami airport for your flight home after our wonderful Deep South of USA experience. Meals included: Breakfast & In-flight

DAY 18 Saturday 16 November 2019 In-flight

DAY 19 Sunday 17 November 2019 Arrive Australia
You will arrive back in Australia. The tour concludes.