7-day Cruise to Caribbean: Curacao, Aruba & Bonaire from San Juan, Puerto Rico on Norwegian Epic

They called it worthless. That’s right-the Spanish explorer Alonzo de Ojeda, who claimed Aruba for Spain in 1499, said the island wasn’t worth colonizing. What could he have been thinking? With beautiful beaches, fine snorkeling and watersports, today’s visitors to Aruba enjoy fabulous nightlife, delicious local seafood, and the genuine friendliness of Aruba’s unique population.

The Spanish may not have been impressed, but the Dutch were. Arriving in force in 1634, they’ve entwined their culture, language and cuisine with that of the natives, giving the island a flavor all its own.

The island is now home to fabulous resorts, a golf course, a casino and outstanding shopping. The scuba and snorkeling in the clear waters is world famous.

Although first visited by Columbus, it was Ponce de Leon who named and established the area.

Because of its strategic location, Spain chose San Juan to be one of its strongholds in the New World. The El Morro Fort,rising defiantly from the sea, is living testament to the days when Puerto Rico was a cornerstone of Spain’s efforts in North America.

Today the fort is still an attraction, in addition to the walled city of Old San Juan, the beautiful hotels and casinos and the nearbyresort areas and golf courses.

Saint Lucia (sânt l¡¢she), island nation (1995 est. pop. 156,000), 238 sq mi (616 sq km), West Indies, one of the Windward Islands. The capital is Castries. A lush volcanic island with mountains rising abruptly from the sea, St. Lucia is much favored by vacationers. It also earns foreign exchange from traditional exports-bananas, cocoa beans, coconut oil, and copra-and its oil refinery and oil transshipment facilities. The population is largely of African descent. English is the
official language, but a French patois is widely spoken. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion. Columbus probably sighted St. Lucia in 1502, but hostile Caribs prevented early colonization attempts. The first successful settlement was by the French in the late 1600s, but Britain gained control in 1803. A member of the short-lived West Indies Federation (1958-62), St. Lucia gained self-government in 1967 and independence in 1979. The conservative United Workers’ party, with John Compton as prime minister, has been in power since 1982.