Embark Star Flyer in Bridgetown, Barbados. Bridgetown is full of contrasts. George Washington stayed here, and Trafalgar Square reminds you that the laid back, rum-and-fun-loving island's British-influenced heritage includes revered traditions like cricket and high tea.

Thirty islands and specks of sand make up the gloriously untouched Grenadines. Star Flyer will call on one of these islands for a blissful, laid-back beach day. We're sure you won't be disappointed.

The aromas of nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla baking in the sun - these are the tropical flavors of Grenada. From the horseshoe-shaped Carenage at St. George's, follow the Sendall Tunnel (hand-built in 1895) to the Esplanade and old Ft. George for a spectacular view of Grenada. Carenage is the old harbour area, where you can see a casting of the famous 'Christ of the deep' statue and watch wooden schooners unloading their cargo. For an idyllic beach, head for Grand Anse.

Only 25 miles north of Venezuela, Isla Margarita is the favourite getaway for Cariocans. Margarita means pearl in Greek, and the island was once the centre for harvesting egg size pearls. Porlamar, though founded in 1536, is a modern shopping mecca because of its duty free status. World class windsurfers gather on the Playa El Yaque beach, but those in search of quieter pleasures can explore the mangrove-lined Lagoon La Restinga to see flamingos and 100 other resident bird species.

La Blanquilla's tranquil and inviting white beaches give no hint of the amazing diving that lies only 65 yards offshore. A limestone cliff wall plunges more than 3,000 feet into the depths. Along the outcrop pinnacles of Piedra del Ahogado, divers can spot rare black corals growing in profusion and ashore the island is populated by goats, cacti and iguanas.

Pink flamingos, divi-divi trees, Papiamento and the best diving in the Caribbean - you can only be in Bonaire. The blinding white salt flats of Bonaire are marked by clouds of pink flamingos feasting on the orange brine shrimp that gives them their unmistakable color. In town, find jewellery, silver, ceramics and leather shops along Kaya Grandi, or sample Creole cuisine.

Willemstad has some fine 17th and 18th-century colonial Dutch architecture, brightly-coloured here in the Caribbean; see the gables and steep-pitched roofed buildings along narrow alleys in the Otrobanda district. Explore the island and see elegant, old plantation houses, lovely beaches and numerous forts, including Fort Nassau, built in 1797 and now an international restaurant. The floating market sells mangos and papayas.

Aruba's charming capital is easy to explore on foot, with palm-lined streets and brightly-painted Dutch colonial buildings, and plenty of shopping opportunities. Further afield, cave drawings and petroglyphs can be found in the north-coast caves, and at Arikok National Park see cacti, divi-divi trees and exotic flowers.

Relax in the on-deck Tropical and Piano Bar, or take a dip in the pool as Star Flyer makes for Cartagena.

Cartagena is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has a spectacular collection of buildings and massive fortifications dating from the early 1600s. Horse-drawn carriages frequently pass by carrying sightseers from the upmarket area of Bocagrande and the old walled city. Perhaps visit the Palacio de la Inquisicion and the dungeons of Las Bevedas, or to buy from local artisans, go to Plaza de Santo Domingo.

Choose a book from the gracious, Edwardian library and unwind in the sunshine on one of Star Flyer's teak decks as she makes her way to the San Blas islands.

Strung along the throat of Panama's dramatically beautiful Kuna Yala coast, the remoteness of these coral atolls protects an independent people who prize their communal culture with its rich oral history and artistic heritage. The reefs around the archipelago ofer fantastic diving and snorkelling.

The transit of the Panama Canal is a thrilling experience. Stay on deck and watch as Star Flyer navigates the mighty Gatun Locks.

Disembark Star Flyer in Balboa.