Puntarenas in Costa Rica marks the start of this exploration of the Pacific coast of Central America. First stop is the paradisiacal Playa Flamingo, where you can enjoy sugar-white sands and cerulean lagoons. Next is Acajutla in El Salvador, within striking distance of the mangroves and mountains of El Imposible National Park, and then it’s time to relax with a day at sea while crossing the border to Mexico. Enjoy the palm-fringed beaches of Zihuatanejo, where dolphins and sea turtles play in the waves; Manzanilla, beloved by anglers for the marlin fishing in its waters; and the laid-back beach town of Puerto Vallarta. Next you’ll enjoy a couple of sea days while crossing yet another border to the U.S. and the journey’s end in San Diego.

This voyage is a seductive mix of time spent on tropical islands and enjoying the delights of Crystal’s beautiful ship. You’ll get fully acquainted with onboard life during two sea days before calling first at St Thomas, to discover tales of pirates, then Road Town, Tortola, to swim with sea turtles in the warm, clear waters. Next come Marigot on St. Martin, where France meets the Caribbean; pretty San Juan, Puerto Rico’s pastel-colored capital; and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, the former home of Christopher Columbus. A final sea day carries you back to Fort Lauderdale.

Small yet perfectly formed islands are the destinations on this hop around the Caribbean. Departing buzzy Fort Lauderdale, slip into the laid-back vibe with a couple of days at sea before Tortola in the British Virgin Islands appears on the horizon. White sands melt into blue seas here, a place beloved by snorkelers and divers for its dazzling reef life. Francophone St Barts is the next stop, to see and be seen in the glamorous boutiques of Gustavia. Continue the French theme at Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe, learning about Creole life at the town’s museum. One of the oldest botanical gardens in the western hemisphere awaits in Kingstown, St Vincent, while in Castries, St Lucia, the modern cathedral with its colorful murals of black saints is a must-see. Fort-de-France in Martinique comes next, where there are markets to browse and sights including a statue of Napoleon’s Josephine. Basseterre in St Kitts is the gateway to Brimstone Fort National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the penultimate stop before arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico.