Ultimate America's Historic Journey to Panama

Summary

Welcome to New York City, a destination that needs little introduction. From the bright lights of Broadway to leafy Central Park and the glitzy boutiques of Fifth Avenue, the Big Apple is an unmissable experience. Plan your flight to spend the day exploring this global city before we depart this evening.  

On board Scenic Eclipse, you'll meet the Captain, the crew and your butler. Settle into your spacious suite and join your fellow guests at the Sky Bar for a glass of Champagne before setting sail for your unforgettable journey celebrating the 250th anniversary of the USA, taking in the iconic New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty.

Please book your flight to arrive into New York City prior to 01:00 PM.

Summary

Located on the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, Wilmington is a city rich in heritage. Delve into centuries of history with a visit to Hagley Museum and Library. Or take a leisurely stroll through Brandywine Park, delight in the city's vibrant arts scene or indulge in shopping along Market Street.  

This evening, the ultra-luxury Scenic Eclipse will cruise through the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, which connects the Chesapeake Bay with the Delaware River.

Summary

Named one of the best places to visit in America, Baltimore is an evolving city that honours its past. The vibrant northeast capital is the birthplace of The Star-Spangled Banner, which Francis Scott Key penned here in 1814. It’s a melting pot of cultures; hosting the nation’s largest free art festival, has a booming craft brewery scene and sophisticated restaurants aplenty. Explore the city’s Inner Harbour, the National Aquarium and historic Fort McHenry.  

Cruise Chesapeake Bay this evening, the nation’s largest estuary, home to thousands of wildlife species including osprey, blue crabs and sea turtles.

Summary

Embark on a scenic journey along the historic York River, tracing the journey of early American settlers and Civil War heroes. In Yorktown, Virginia, immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of American history. Explore colonial landmarks, stroll along the charming waterfront, and envision the pivotal moments that shaped the nation. From picturesque landscapes to tales of triumph and valor, Yorktown is a captivating blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage, making it the ideal place to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America.

Summary

You will cruise the scenic Cape Fear River this morning before stopping at Wilmington. This historic city is a charming riverside enclave with brick-lined streets shaded by moss-draped live oaks, rich in Southern culture. Its National Registrar Historic District spans 230 blocks and features a variety of architectural styles from Colonial Revival to Victoria-era mansions.

The town also played a significant role in the American Revolution, Civil War, and World War II. The USS North Carolina (BB-55), the first battleship to enter service during WWII, serves as a memorial to North Carolinians lost during the war.

Summary

Oozing southern charm, well-preserved historic architecture and idyllic scenery, Charleston is one of America’s oldest cities. Founded in the 17th century, this harbour city is resplendent with cobblestoned streets trammelled by horse-drawn carriages and lined with moss-covered oak trees, old fashioned inns and pastel-coloured waterfront houses, white-sand beaches, and sprawling plantations and antebellum mansions. The Fort Sumter, the site of the first Civil War shots, the Charleston Museum, and Boone Hall Plantation, one of America's oldest working plantations, are some of the highlights. 

Summary

Florida's subtropical metropolis is an energetic melange of palm-lined beaches, pastel-coloured Art Deco buildings and a cosmopolitan high-rise skyline. Miami is also a creative art city with numerous galleries and museums and has been influenced by Cuban culture, which dates to the 1950s Cuban Revolution. You’ll find Latin restaurants, cigar shops, rum bars, Afro-Cuban music and locals playing dominos. 

Tonight, could be the night you meet your new friends at Sushi @ Koko’s for dinner. Enjoy entertainment in the state-of-the-art theatre and unwind with a nightcap at the Scenic Lounge Bar.

Summary

The island of Key West is the southernmost point of the United States, part of a coral cay archipelago that spans 325 kilometres off the Florida coast. Key West has a unique blend of Caribbean and American cultures and has been home to artists, from Ernest Hemingway to Jimmy Buffet, as well as sailors and treasure hunters. The historic old town features wooden conch-style houses, an old lighthouse, and a museum with 50 cats.

Summary

Welcome to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. The city was once a haven for pirates, with a colourful past of buccaneers, blockade runners and bootleggers. Downtown is brimming with colonial-era architecture including a gothic cathedral and the 66 steps, which were hewn out of limestone rock by slaves in the 18th century. Rainbow-hued buildings and vibrant murals bring the streets to life. This popular island playground has many world-class resorts and casinos and is much-loved for its white sand beaches lapped by crystal-clear water.

Summary

Wake up at leisure and enjoy breakfast at the alfresco Yacht Club or in the relaxed Azure Café & Bar. Spend another blissful day in beautiful Nassau. This popular island playground has many world-class resorts and casinos and is much-loved for its white sand beaches lapped by crystal-clear water. Roll out a towel on the beach for a day of sun, sand and sea or wander around Downtown to see the rainbow-hued buildings and vibrant murals that bring the streets to life.

Summary

Part of Exuma Cays, Staniel Cay is a hidden gem in The Bahamas, south of Nassau. It is home to a small village, a yacht club and is famous for the swimming pigs, who have become an attraction paddling in the translucent water of nearby Pig Beach. On Staniel Cay guests can enjoy sun-kissed beaches and a rustic and authentic Bahamian lifestyle.   

Tonight, settle in at the spacious Scenic Lounge Bar to enjoy your beverage of choice, whether it be aged whiskey- there are over 130 varieties, or a glass of wine, while reflecting on the day's discoveries.

Summary

You’ll spend the day at San Salvador Island today, an island rich in history, including its significance as the first landfall of Christopher Columbus in the New World. The island is an aquatic wonderland, fringed by pristine sand beaches, with a series of inland lakes and some 50 dive sites to explore reefs and wrecks, as well as a medley of marine life. You can also wander through charming coastal villages and fall into the island’s languid pace.

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Embark on a cultural odyssey at Cabo de La Vela, where the indigenous Wayuu people welcome you to their ancestral lands. Learn about their rich traditions, from vibrant handicrafts to ancient rituals. Engage with locals and share stories during a visit to the local school. Cabo de La Vela is a place of striking beauty where the rugged desert landscape is adorned with windswept dunes and lapped by crystalline waters.

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Cartagena is a beautifully preserved and colourful Caribbean city oozing colonial charm. This World Heritage-listed walled city is looked over by a great 17th century hilltop fortress, and is crammed with churches and monasteries, bustling plazas where traditional musicians and dancers entertain and candy-coloured buildings with balconies draped in bougainvillea. 

Renowned for vibrant festivals and exquisite cuisine, Cartagena is a treasure trove of Latin American culture and history. Wander its Old Town, with cobblestone streets that are frequented by artisans, hawkers and food vendors touting tropical fruits. The surrounding landscape of pristine beaches and tropical forests adds to its allure.

Summary

The San Blas archipelago is a group of islands located just north-west of Panama in the Caribbean Sea. Also known as Kuna Yala (‘Land of the Kuna’), San Blas comprises 365 islands and Cays, most of which are uninhabited. But on some of the larger ones, guests can meet the indigenous people, known as the Kunas.

Experience the rich culture of the Kuna people, view handicrafts such as the mola, intricate hand-woven textiles and savour the flavours of local traditional cuisine.

Summary

Discover the enchanting beauty of Bocas del Toro, a destination with lush forests and mountains on one side and pristine beaches on the other. It has an Afro-Caribbean culture with a very distinctive language that blends English, French and Spanish, where calypso and reggae music fills the streets and dishes are created with seafood, coconuts and spices.

Spend the day exploring colourful reefs, unwinding on white sandy beaches or discovering the picturesque villages.

Summary

Today, you’ll pass through the Panama Canal, considered one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Modern World’. Built between 1904 and 1914 to significantly decrease the travel time between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, it has seen more than 900,000 vessels and counting.

Experience this engineering marvel as you relax on board Scenic Eclipse. Spend time on the verandah of your spacious suite with a coffee delivered by the butler or take in the scenery of the Panama Canal from the Sky Deck & Bar.

Summary

Expect incredible morning views as you arrive into the port for Panama City. Tinged with a silver pre-dawn light, the city will metamorphosise into a golden glow as the sun rises above it. And from then on expect one stunning view after another. Very interesting in its own right, Fuerte Amador is obviously overshadowed by its proximity to Panama City. So should the Miraflores museum of the Canal, which offers a comprehensive and immersive tour of the Canal including a 3-D experience, four exhibition halls, an observation deck, and a surprisingly good restaurant not interest you then there is always the option of lovely Casco Viejo – literally the old quartier of Panama. The grand old colonial houses, cobbled streets, independent boutiques and buzzing street scene make this a must stop on your itinerary. And if you like seafood, you will not want miss the many restaurants and market stalls serving different variations of so-fresh-it’s-still-practically-swimming ceviche. Best eaten like the Panamanians do, with salty crackers and a cold beer on the beach. And if money is no object, a cup of geisha coffee – supposedly the world’s best and definitely the world’s most expensive at $7 a shot is definitely a pick me up! Cool cosmopolitan capital aside, Panama has a skyscraper filled skyline that is worthy of some of its North American counterparts. But if urban utopia is not your scene then fear not, the sandy beaches and lush rainforests are never more than a short cab ride away.

Summary

Your cruise will come to an end in the capital of Panama, Panama City. This cosmopolitan city, which comprises a juxtaposing skyline of skyscrapers, 17th century churches and colonial-style buildings, is steeped in history and boasts a happening culinary scene.  

Savour one last luxurious breakfast on board your 6-star Discovery Yacht before saying farewell to the crew and new friends who have shared this remarkable journey with you. As you disembark, know you have created unforgettable memories. 

Please book your flight to depart out of Panama City after 12:00 PM.

+All drinks on board, including those stocked in your mini bar, are included, except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, Champagnes and spirits. #Spa treatments at additional cost. ~Kayak and stand-up paddleboard may not operate in all locations.

Please note the itinerary is a guide and may be subject to changes for operational reasons. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.