Audiobooks at Sea Ports of Call
Nassau, Bahamas
Bustling markets and placid beaches are like the yin and yang of this capital of The Bahamas. The Nassau Straw Market, three blocks from the port, presents a riot of vendors, shoppers, and pirates, while the broad white beaches, minutes from town, feature sun-kissed sands, turquoise waters, and coral reefs. In between, there are activities to suit the whole family—observing sharks, swimming with dolphins, plunging down water slides.
Cruise to Bahamas and discover the lost city of Atlantis on Paradise Island, connected by a bridge to Nassau. You can visualize the mythical streets of Atlantis at Ruins Lagoon and stroll underwater tunnels with the sharks at Predator Lagoon. Also on Paradise Island, you can wade through waist-high water and make a personal connection with intelligent, gentle dolphins. Get face to face. Hear their vocalizations. See the excitement on their faces. The shallow-water experience is one of several at Dolphin Cay, an accredited marine mammal habitat with an 11-acre lagoon, coves and sandy beaches, residential pools, and a state-of-the-art education center.
Hop on a ferry to Blue Lagoon Island for a deluxe beach break. Unwind and settle into a hammock. Bask in warm golden sunshine and tranquil Atlantic waters. Watch the palm trees sway and the dolphins play. It's a day of pure bliss. Browse the duty-free shops and Nassau Straw Market downtown. You'll find authentic Cuban cigars and one-of-a-kind artworks. Watch the artisans weave their intricate straw hats, bags, and other mementos, using techniques passed down over centuries. On vibrant Bay Street, find duty-free deals and colorful architecture. On Paradise Island, across the bridge, shop for couture and upscale brands.
Nassau’s culinary bounty emerges from the ocean—dishes like fried snapper served with grits and grouper drizzled with butter. Try conch, the marine mollusk of the iconic shell, presented as conch fritters, conch chowder, cracked conch, even raw conch in fresh lime juice. Peas and rice is the staple side dish, and rum-based beverages are always popular.
Cozumel, Mexico
Amid the largest coral reef in the West, this Caribbean island lures anglers, divers, snorkelers, and beachgoers. Fish the flats or head out to blue water to hunt for big game—mahi-mahi, marlin, sailfish, and more. Bring your dive card with you on your cruise to Cozumel and witness all the natural wonders waiting below the surface, like neon tropical fish, swaying sea fans, and vibrant coral colonies. Or go snorkeling to see the show without a dive card. Curl up on the beach in a hammock with a cold one. At Playa Mia, you can even fly down Twin Twister waterslides.
Go cruise shopping for beautiful Mexican silver, amber, and other artisanal gifts in San Miguel. Or hop a ferry to charming Playa del Carmen, on the mainland, and stroll along la Quinta Avenida for more inviting restaurants, bars, and shops. Down the coast from Playa, you can explore the ancient Maya city of Tulum, perched impressively on a cliff, overlooking the brilliant sea and powdery beach below. Cozumel cuisine means fresh seafood. Savor the catch of the day served on a banana leaf, or enjoy it marinated in lime juice, cilantro, onion, and tomato. Of course, this is the place for Mexican classics like tacos, guacamole—and margaritas.
Miami, Florida
Miami is nice, so I’ll say it twice…. Welcome to the official Cruise Capital of the World, a world-class city with a world-class beach. Before or after your cruise from Miami, stay and play. Within view of Miami cruises, colorful characters from macaws to monkeys greet you at Jungle Island, with pink flamingos, white cockatoos, and green parrots. In Miami Beach, iconic Lummus Park frames the Art Deco hotels, fashion models, and fancy cars. From South Pointe Park, watch the ships glide out to sea. On Lincoln Road, you could spend three months eating at a different restaurant every day. Up the coast at Bal Harbour Shops, designer boutiques challenge fashionistas, who shop till they drop… and they drop at Haulover Park Beach, where the north end is clothing optional.
Cruises from Miami dock near Bayfront Park, a place to stroll the bay and get a bite. The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science has a spectacular planetarium, and the Pérez Art Museum Miami truly embraces its bay-side perch. A bit north, hipsters have turned graffiti into serious street art in the world's most unique arts district, Wynwood, while the Miami Design District attracts fans of interiors and fashion.
In Little Havana, urban pioneers rehab old buildings and open new restaurants, bars, and shops. In Mediterranean-style Coral Gables, you can swim in Venetian Pool, a coral quarry transformed into a giant swimming hole with waterfalls, caves, and grottoes. Woodsy Coconut Grove is a cool neighborhood surrounding a marina where Miami City Hall originally served as the seaplane base. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens displays priceless furnishings and art in a grand estate.
Dining in Greater Miami is fresh on many levels. The seafood served tonight was still swimming this morning. Before cruises from Miami, visitors enjoy Florida lobster, grouper, mahi-mahi, pompano, snapper, and stone crabs. The go-to lunch is a Cuban sandwich, and the coffee is Cuban, too. Enjoy anything orange—slices, juices, sauces, marmalades, and dressings. More fruits include mango, papaya, jackfruit, avocado, and passion. The must-have dessert is sweet, tart, creamy, key lime pie, made from yellow key limes, not green Persian limes.