Netherlands Antilles Cruise from Oranjestad to Ushuaia — 39 Days

Oranjestad Aruba, Netherlands

Oranjestad makes a striking first impression: Dutch gables in Caribbean colors line streets beside a busy harbor. Beyond the waterfront, the capital’s compact center rewards a walk, with shops, cafés and landmarks including Fort Zoutman. Aruba’s dry, sunlit landscape feels close at hand, while beaches and clear water are an easy ride away. Come ashore for a relaxed city stroll, then choose whether to linger over lunch or head for the coast.

At Sea (At Sea)

Panama Canal, Panama

Few journeys change your sense of scale like a passage through the Panama Canal. This 50-mile waterway links the Atlantic and Pacific, lifting ships through locks and across Gatun Lake. Watch the gates close, water rise, and a vast vessel move within inches of concrete walls. On deck, the engineering is the spectacle; beyond it, rainforest edges the route. Bring binoculars, and stay outside for the crossing.

Panama City, Panama

Balboa sits at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, where ocean-going ships begin their passage between continents. From the port, Panama City’s skyline rises beyond the canal’s working waters. Visit Casco Viejo for restored colonial streets, independent cafés and views across the bay. Or follow the Amador Causeway toward the Biomuseo and sweeping views of ships awaiting transit. Balboa rewards travelers who look beyond the canal to a capital shaped by trade, history and the sea.

At Sea (At Sea)

Guayaquil, Ecuador

Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city, a river port where the Guayas meets the Pacific-facing estuary. Start along the Malecón 2000, the broad waterfront promenade lined with gardens, museums and cafés. Then climb the steps of Las Peñas to Santa Ana Hill for rooftop views across the city and river. At Parque Seminario, iguanas roam beneath the palms in the heart of downtown. Guayaquil rewards a curious day ashore with lively streets, colonial-era façades and a distinctly coastal rhythm.

At Sea (At Sea)

Callao-Lima, Peru

Callao is Peru’s working maritime gateway, but its appeal extends beyond the harbour. From here, Lima’s historic centre and museums are within reach. In Callao, explore the imposing Real Felipe Fortress, built to defend the port, then visit La Punta for Pacific views. Stay for ceviche and discover a city shaped by trade, naval history and the ocean.

Pisco, Peru

Pisco is Peru’s gateway to a stark coast where desert, ocean and wildlife meet. Nearby Paracas offers boat trips to the Ballestas Islands, where sea lions, Humboldt penguins and seabirds gather. The peninsula’s Paracas Candelabra, etched into a sandy hillside, is best seen from the water. In town, discover the grape brandy that shares Pisco’s name; the celebrated Nazca Lines lie farther inland to the south.

At Sea (At Sea)

Valparaiso-Santiago, Chile

Valparaíso is Chile’s most characterful port, a steep-sided city rising above the Pacific in a mosaic of color. Ride a historic funicular into the hills, where murals, stairways and bright houses reward unhurried exploration. In the UNESCO-listed historic quarter, grand 19th-century architecture recalls the era when ships rounded Cape Horn. Visit La Sebastiana, poet Pablo Neruda’s house, then return to the waterfront for fresh seafood and broad Pacific views.

At Sea (At Sea)

Robinson Crusoe Island Chile, Chile

Some 670 kilometres off Chile’s coast, Robinson Crusoe Island rewards travellers who value remoteness over resort comforts. At San Juan Bautista, the island’s small settlement, fishing boats and steep green hills frame daily life. Trails cross native forest, where the endemic Juan Fernández firecrown may appear. Alexander Selkirk’s years of isolation here helped inspire Daniel Defoe’s famous castaway. Expect a rugged visit shaped by sea conditions, limited services, and extraordinary isolation.

At Sea (At Sea)

Puerto Montt, Chile

Puerto Montt is Chile’s working gateway to the Lake District, where the Andes rise above deep blue water. At the waterfront, fish stalls and seafood kitchens make the city’s maritime life easy to taste. Browse Angelmó market for smoked salmon, shellfish and local crafts, then look north toward the snow-covered cone of Osorno. Beyond town, lakes, forests and Chiloé’s distinctive island culture reward travelers who venture farther.

• Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)

Chilean Fjords, Chile

South of Puerto Montt, Chile’s fjords form a maze of islands, channels and snowbound peaks. Glaciers descend from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, while temperate rainforest reaches the water’s edge. Watch for dolphins and seabirds from deck; shore landings, where offered, reveal remote coastlines at close range. These are working waterways as well as wild scenery, best appreciated slowly, with camera ready and plans flexible.

Caleta Tortel, Chile

At the mouth of the Baker River, Caleta Tortel stands between Patagonia’s Northern and Southern Ice Fields. Forested slopes meet Pacific channels, while cypress boardwalks take the place of roads. Raised walkways link homes, piers and viewpoints, bringing visitors close to this remote settlement. Come for quiet water, local boats and a rare glimpse of life along Chile’s Carretera Austral.

Chilean Fjords, Chile

South of Puerto Montt, Chile’s fjords form a maze of islands, channels and snowbound peaks. Glaciers descend from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, while temperate rainforest reaches the water’s edge. Watch for dolphins and seabirds from deck; shore landings, where offered, reveal remote coastlines at close range. These are working waterways as well as wild scenery, best appreciated slowly, with camera ready and plans flexible.

• At Sea (At Sea)

Strait of Magellan, Chile

The Strait of Magellan is not merely a passage between oceans; it is a frontier of wind, water and history. In 1520, Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition became the first European fleet to navigate this route between the Atlantic and Pacific. Today, a voyage through Chile’s intricate channels reveals snow-capped peaks, wooded shores and the stark landscape of Tierra del Fuego. Watch the weather shift, and understand why this waterway once commanded the world’s attention.

Punta Arenas, Chile

At the edge of the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas feels like a city built for crossing oceans. Its broad avenues and ornate mansions reflect the fortunes of sheep farming and trade. The Maggiorino Borgatello Museum traces Patagonia’s natural and human history. Climb Cerro de la Cruz for views across the harbor and rooftops. From here, boats reach Magdalena Island, home to thousands of Magellanic penguins.

At Sea (At Sea)

Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)

At Sea (At Sea)

Ushuaia, Argentina

Ushuaia sits between the Beagle Channel and the snow-streaked Martial Mountains, at Argentina’s far southern edge. Its harbor has long served as a gateway to Antarctica, while the town itself rewards a slower look. Ride the End of the World Train into Tierra del Fuego National Park, or tour the former prison museum. Here, wild landscapes begin just beyond the last streets.