30 nights · NYC Manhattan-Brooklyn · Departs New York (USA) · Visiting Fort Lauderdale, Philipsburg St Maarten, Fort-de-France, Bridgetown, Macapa, Santarem, Boca da Valeria, Manaus, Parintins, Belem, Iles du Salut, Willemstad Curacao · Aboard Holland America on the ms Volendam
Image courtesy of Holland America ©
| Cruise line | Holland America |
|---|---|
| Ship | ms Volendam |
| Duration | 30 nights |
| Port calls | 13 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $5,049 per person |
| Year built | 1999 |
| Guests | 1718 |
| Cabins | 716 |
| Crew | 647 |
| Length | 237 m |
| Beam | 32 m |
| Cruising speed | 23.0 kn |
New York does not ease you in; it arrives in a sweep of skyline, river and restless energy. From the harbor, Manhattan’s towers frame a city built for walking, looking up and changing plans. Spend time among Central Park’s paths, Fifth Avenue’s museums and the neighborhoods that give each block its own character. Allow room for a classic meal, a Broadway curtain and the simple pleasure of watching the city move.
Port Everglades puts Fort Lauderdale within easy reach of the city’s waterways, beaches and cultural attractions. A short drive brings you to Las Olas Boulevard, where galleries, restaurants and boutiques line a walkable stretch. Visit the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens for a glimpse of old Florida, or head west toward the Everglades. Fort Lauderdale’s broad Atlantic beaches offer an easy counterpoint to the city’s lively dining scene.
Philipsburg rewards a shore day spent beyond the cruise terminal. It sits on a narrow strip between Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond. The Dutch-side capital is compact and easy to explore on foot. Front Street pairs duty-free shops with the 1793 courthouse, while the Boardwalk follows Great Bay Beach. Cross the open border into French Saint-Martin for French bakeries, lively markets and another stretch of coast.
Fort-de-France puts Martinique’s French-Caribbean character within easy reach of the quay. The island’s capital wraps around a sheltered bay, with cafés, shops and the covered Grand Marché near the waterfront. The iron-framed Schoelcher Library was shipped from Paris in the 19th century. Nearby, Saint-Louis Cathedral reflects a city repeatedly rebuilt after fires and earthquakes. Beyond town, roads climb toward Balata Gardens and lead to rum distilleries and beaches beneath volcanic peaks.
Bridgetown rewards travelers who leave the ship and walk into Barbados’ compact capital. Its UNESCO-listed Historic Bridgetown and Garrison trace the island’s colonial history; Broad Street offers a lively glimpse of daily life. Pause beside the Careenage, where boats thread the old harbour, then browse shops for local rum and Bajan crafts. Carlisle Bay’s pale sand and clear water lie just beyond the city.
Santana is the Amazon gateway to Macapá and the remote state of Amapá. The capital lies about 20 kilometres away by road. At Marco Zero, a monument marks the Equator’s passage through the city. On the waterfront, the 18th-century Fortress of São José recalls Portugal’s colonial presence. Expect a working river port, broad Amazon views and a capital whose character is inseparable from the water.
At Santarém, the Tapajós meets the Amazon in a striking convergence visible from the riverfront. The city rewards a stroll through its lively market and around the Cathedral of Our Lady of Conception. For a change of pace, travel about 35 kilometres to Alter do Chão, where clear water and white-sand beaches await. These shores are most expansive when falling river levels reveal the Tapajós’ sandy banks.
Boca da Valeria is a small Amazon settlement reached only by river. It stands at the mouth of the Valeria River, on the Amazon’s great waterway. Expect no grand sights or polished attractions. The visit is about meeting local families, seeing wooden homes and observing river life at close range. Look beyond the landing to the forest and passing boats, which define this remote corner of Brazil.
Manaus rises from the rainforest, far inland from Brazil’s Atlantic coast, where the Negro and Solimões rivers meet. Visit the Teatro Amazonas, the city’s opera house, opened in 1896 during the rubber boom. Explore the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, a riverfront market inspired by Paris’s Les Halles. Boat trips reveal the Meeting of the Waters, where dark and sandy-colored currents run side by side. Manaus rewards travelers who look beyond its role as an Amazon gateway.
Parintins sits on Tupinambarana Island, where the Amazon’s broad channels shape daily life and travel. Best known for its Boi-Bumbá festival, the town stages a vivid contest each June between red-and-white Garantido and blue-and-white Caprichoso. At the purpose-built Bumbódromo, music, dance and giant allegorical floats bring local folklore to life. Beyond festival season, explore the waterfront and central streets, or watch river traffic pass this Amazonian outpost.
At Santarém, the Tapajós meets the Amazon in a striking convergence visible from the riverfront. The city rewards a stroll through its lively market and around the Cathedral of Our Lady of Conception. For a change of pace, travel about 35 kilometres to Alter do Chão, where clear water and white-sand beaches await. These shores are most expansive when falling river levels reveal the Tapajós’ sandy banks.
Belém stands near the mouth of the Amazon, where river life and city life meet. Begin at Ver-o-Peso, a vast waterfront market alive with Amazonian fish, fruit, herbs and local cooking. Explore the old quarter’s tiled façades and the 17th-century Forte do Presépio, overlooking Guajará Bay. Order tacacá or fresh açaí, and discover a city whose flavors are as distinctive as its setting.
Twenty kilometres off French Guiana, the Îles du Salut rise from the Atlantic, edged with palms and shadowed by history. France sent prisoners here from 1852 until 1953. Île du Diable held Captain Alfred Dreyfus; Île Royale preserves the penal colony’s administrative ruins. Most visits land on Île Royale and Île Saint-Joseph; Devil’s Island is viewed from the water. Come for history, sea air and a strikingly remote shore.
Willemstad is one of the Caribbean’s most distinctive ports, built around the deep inlet of St. Anna Bay. Punda and Otrobanda showcase Dutch colonial architecture and form part of the city’s UNESCO-listed historic area. Walk across the Queen Emma Bridge, a floating pontoon span linking the two districts. Beyond the harbor, Curaçao offers sheltered coves, clear water and beaches for an unhurried afternoon.
Port Everglades puts Fort Lauderdale within easy reach of the city’s waterways, beaches and cultural attractions. A short drive brings you to Las Olas Boulevard, where galleries, restaurants and boutiques line a walkable stretch. Visit the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens for a glimpse of old Florida, or head west toward the Everglades. Fort Lauderdale’s broad Atlantic beaches offer an easy counterpoint to the city’s lively dining scene.
Published September 4, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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