Captain Neil Broomhall fondly recalls his first visit to Central America and Boca Del Torro: “I was just 16 and working as a deckhand aboard a banana boat!” He instantly fell in love with Boca’s gorgeous beaches, warm waters, Latin music, and easygoing lifestyle that is “such a different pace” from his home in Britain. (He remembers falling for a certain young girl there as well, but that’s for another story.) The Captain also raves about Costa Rica’s rainforest with “all the sights and sounds of its animals and birds — and lots of lizards!”
 
Cartagena’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is another favorite of the Star Legend master, who says the colonial gem is “absolutely amazing. The wood carvings inside Santa Domingo Cathedral are incredible, and a walk along the city walls makes for great exercise.” Just beyond pastel-painted Oranjestad you’ll find the monolithic Ayo Rock Formations, considered sacred by Aruba’s ancient Arawak Indians; while a day in Santa Marta, Colombia’s oldest city, leads to glittering displays in the Gold Museum and two UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. A final overnight in Colón allows time to explore Panama City’s revitalized Old Quarter and the UNESCO-designated Fort San Lorenzo. Add a healthy dose of vitamin D from the tropical sun and, says Captain Neil, “this cruise is the perfect antidote to winter.”