12 days, March 23-April 3, 2009
$1495 ppdo, inside stateroom + taxes
Includes Roundtrip Air!

Day 1: FLORIDA. Transfer to Los Angeles for your flight. Your winter escape to the warm Caribbean Sea begins this morning when your board a deluxe motorcoach at select pick up points in the desert and Inland Pass. Fly American Airlines nonstop to Florida, departing LAX at 2:00 p.m. Transfer to your hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. RAMADA INN HOTEL

Day 2: FORT LAUDERDALE/CRUISING. Morning at leisure with time to visit the Everglades before transferring to Ft. Lauderdale, where you will board your state-of-the-art ship, MSC Lirica. Bon voyage at 5:00 p.m.

Day 3 & 4: AT SEA Rich in amenities, MSC Lirica offers a peaceful and elegant way to cruise. Choose from an array of activity options, spend slow tropical hours in her lounges, or relax on deck by the pool. At night, fine fare abounds in refined dining rooms and specialty restaurants, followed by live entertainment rivaling anything on shore.

Day 5: SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO. 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Although only 100 by 35 miles, Puerto Rico offers sunny beaches, tropical rainforests, and great shopping. Modern high-rises share the island with 300-year-old towns. Here you will find famous casinos, outdoor rum and Coke stands, and a historical fort that welcomes visitors to the port.

Day 6: PHILIPSBURG, ST. MAARTEN. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Since 1648, both the French and Dutch claim the island of St. Maarten, and the two sides have distinct cultural characteristics that add to the charm of this Caribbean hideaway. Some of the most delightful cuisine known throughout the world is here. Front Street is the main thoroughfare, featuring traditional West Indian architecture and duty-free shopping of imported goods and native crafts.

Day 7: PORT CASTRIES, ST. LUCIA. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. After bouncing from French to British ownership 14 times, this awesomely beautiful island is becoming one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean. Visitors are especially impressed by the island’s forest-covered mountains with its bird, turtle and nature-study options. St. Lucia has perhaps the most dramatic splendors in its twin peaks: The Pitons,black volcanic sands in a romantic setting.

St. Lucia

Day 8: ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA. 8 a.m-5 p.m. Your visit to this colorful and lively capital, with a variety of good restaurants and shops, will be a highlight of your vacation. Boasting 365 stunning palm fringed beaches, Antigua offers crystal clear waters, year round sunshine, colonial history, and a picturesque English harbor to explore.

Day 9: ROADTOWN, TORTOLA. 7 a.m.-2p.m. Trace the paths of Columbus, Drake, Captain Kid and other historical notables during your stay in Tortola, notorious for pirates and buckaneers. Opt to go to Norman Island, the reputed setting ofTreasure Island. In Tortola you can also cruise along the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda.

Day 10: CAYO LEVANTADO. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Cayo Levantado offers only MSC cruisers the experience of a private Caribbean island. A small stretch of land off the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic in Samana Bay, the area features the beauty of natural rainforest vegetation, marvelous white sand beaches and crystal clear water. Cayo Levantado, due to its location, is the perfect spot to see humpbacked whales in March.

Day 11: AT SEA. Your final day at sea is an open menu. Yoga in the morning. An Italian lesson or a good book and cappuccino in the afternoon. Indulgent spa treatment, swimming and tanning, sports tournaments—the choice is yours.

Day 12: CRUISING/LAX. Disembark after breakfast and transfer to Miami airport for your nonstop flight back to Los Angeles, arriving at 3:30 p.m. Return to the Coachella Valley at approximately 7 p.m.