Trade in your mittens and mulled wine for beach casual and coquito (Caribbean eggnog) on this best-of-all-things holiday cruise to the southern Caribbean. Begin with the delightfully Dutch ABC islands – Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire – a wonderland of pastel colonial buildings, pink flamingos, and yoga-posing divi divi trees. Develop your ear for Papiamento, a language unique to the ABC islands, as you relax at a seaside café, and dive into the marine park surrounding Bonaire where tropical fish flicker and flash among the coral like so many Christmas lights. It’s the perfect lead-up to your Christmas Eve arrival on Grenada, the Spice Island. This is the best time of year for weather as the trade winds gently blow the humidity away and carry scents that evoke the holidays – nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, vanilla and more. Breathe in the beauty and atmosphere at a mouthwatering Signature Onboard Barbecue by the pool and rest up for a full day in port on Christmas with a late evening departure. Taste nutmeg ice cream, a favorite here any time of year, and locally made chocolates infused with spices and tropical flavors. But be sure to save room for the chef’s special holiday menus, and don’t miss the crew talent show and other onboard celebrations. Over the next few days, discover the Caribbean of old on tiny and low-key Mayreau, where a secluded beach is yours for a private Signature Beach Party, and on similarly blissful Bequia. End your cruise in delightfully British Bridgetown with its enticing blend of historic, natural, and cultural attractions.

Known for having some of the best beaches in the Caribbean, this Dutch port makes it easy to just … take it easy. Walk through town to choose your favorite carved wooden door, or spend the day like the Arubans do playing dominos at a beachside table.

Savor the pastel colors of the historic UNESCO site Old Town and the way the elaborate Dutch gables cut baroque curlicues from the sky. It’s the perfect appetizer for a day of watersports or an adventure below ground at the magical Hato Caves—filled with eerie limestone formations and ancient petroglyphs.

The ice cream colors of the stucco houses will draw your lens, as will the pink flamingos on the salt pans. But you’ll need a waterproof camera to complete the portrait since more than 400 fish species and 50 types of coral wait beneath the surface

Inhale the intoxicating aroma of the “Isle of Spice” as your eyes feast on what is widely claimed to be the most beautiful city in the Caribbean. Spend the day on 2-mile-long Grand Anse beach, and before you go, a taste of nutmeg ice cream is a must.

Inhale the intoxicating aroma of the “Isle of Spice” as your eyes feast on what is widely claimed to be the most beautiful city in the Caribbean. Spend the day on 2-mile-long Grand Anse beach, and before you go, a taste of nutmeg ice cream is a must.

With fewer than 300 inhabitants and miles of secluded beaches, it's easy to feel as if you're on your own private island. Saline Bay is a delightful anchorage that separates the Caribbean from the Atlantic - and a perfect place to play with some of the toys from the Watersports Platform.

The only ships in port are those small enough to anchor alongside the yachts and fishing boats in Admiralty Bay. Bequia’s whaling heritage is on display in the museum in pretty Port Elizabeth, or watch the island’s famed model boat builders at work on their miniature masterpieces.

Jolly old England comes to life in the city and its garrison, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Further afield, you’ll find historic sugar plantations and the fairyland magic of Harrison’s Cave.