Southern Caribbean cruise

7 nights, roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico

November 29 – December 6, 2008
Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas

Join us on Royal Caribbean's luxury ship Serenade of the Seas for Pied Piper Ninth Annual Post-Thanksgiving Caribbean Cruise! (7 night cruise departing November 29, 2008, the week following Thanksgiving )

We'll sail roundtrip from the exciting, gay-friendly port of San Juan, Puerto Rico! During our voyage we'll visit these exciting ports of call: St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia, and Barbados! This will be Pied Piper's ninth annual Post-Thanksgiving Caribbean cruise! Past groups have been some of our largest, with over 800 passengers on the 2007 sailing! Don't miss the next cruise!

The most exotic Caribbean islands await you in the south. From white-sand beaches to panoramic mountain vistas and everything in between, a Southern Caribbean cruise vacation is filled with excitement and adventure.

All this is yours while you are pampered with gracious service, gourmet dining, and numerous venues for entertainment on one of the newest and most up-to-date luxury cruise ships.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

One of the largest islands in the Eastern Caribbean, Puerto Rico's landscape encompasses mountains, underground caves, coral reefs, white-sand beaches and an incredibly massive rain forest that supplies fresh water to most of the island. At the same time San Juan, the capital of the commonwealth, is a big city with a bustling business district, glitzy resorts and casinos, as well as one of the most stunning examples of colonial life in the Western world.

When you're in San Juan, don't miss the opportunity to witness the pinnacle of natural beauty by exploring Puerto Rico's El Yunque Rain Forest. It features more than 240 species of trees, hundreds of miniature orchids, and what was once believed to be the Fountain of Youth.

Charlotte Amalie, St.Thomas

St.Thomas is known as an idyllic vacation spot today, but its history is not so peaceful. In the 18th century, the island was at the center of a bustling pirate culture, as swashbuckling pirates such as Blackbeard and Drake traded stolen wares in the port of Charlotte Amalie. This world-renowned Caribbean island is home to amazing beaches, gorgeous sea and landscapes and unbelievable duty-free shopping.

While the beaches and ocean are beautiful, there is one thing that really sets St.Thomas apart - shopping. Browse through the shop-lined streets of Charlotte Amalie and find out why St.Thomas is called the "duty-free shopping capital of the world." Shop for duty-free trinkets and bargains on everything from liquor to imported china and crystal. Visitors can bring home $1,200 in merchandise without paying duty - twice the limit of most of the Caribbean.

Philipsburg, St.Maarten

When the Spanish closed their colonial fort on St.Maarten in 1648, a few Dutch and French soldiers hid on the island and decided to share it. Soon after, the Netherlands and France signed a formal agreement to split St.Maarten in half, as it is today. Philipsburg displays its Dutch heritage in its architecture and landscaping. The island offers endless stretches of beach, beautiful landscapes and great shopping.

Compete in an actual race on an America's Cup shortened course. Grind a winch, trim a sail or just sit back and enjoy. Professional sailors will give you a quick lesson, then you're off to compete on Stars and Stripes, one of the most famous sailboats in the world.

There are about 500 duty-free shops on St. Maarten with prices 25% to 50% below those in the U.S. The selection of jewelry and watches is premier on the Dutch side of St.Maarten. Friendly competition between merchants guarantees excellent prices on emeralds, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, pearls, gold and silver. St.Maarten offers a wide selection of fine jewelry and watches from such well-known designers as C2K, Caribbean Hook, Honora, House of Tanzanite, John Atencio, John Hardy, Kabana, Roberto Coin, Starnight, White Diamonds, Alfex, Concord, Faconnable, Gucci, Maurice Lacroix, Michele, Movado, Wenger, La Nouvelle Bague and more. Be sure to try a bottle of St. Maarten's own guavaberry liqueur. The guavaberry is exclusive to this island.

St.John's, Antigua

The first settlement on the island we now know as Antigua was not established until the 1600s, when English settlers arrived. Antigua remained a part of the British Commonwealth until its independence in 1981. Today, Antigua is a popular vacation destination, attracting tourists with its ideal climate, 366 beautiful beaches, amazing landscape and leisurely lifestyle.

Discover Antigua's past at Nelson's Dockyard, a restored working dockyard. In this tropical Colonial Williamsburg, you can visit many of the original colonial buildings and get a real feel for the history of the place.

Take an unforgettable island safari and rugged hiking adventure through lush vegetation, and enjoy unbelievable panoramic vistas from one of the island's highest points at 1,200 feet. This is a great opportunity to experience a part of the island that few tourists have seen - with exotic plants, animal life and more.

Castries, St.Lucia

St.Lucia has been a part of the British Commonwealth since 1803. But prior to that, it was often occupied by the French, which is evident in much of the island's culture. Castries offers a colorful local market and great shopping. And the surrounding areas offer lush rain forests, striking waterfalls, beautiful beaches and Sulfur Springs - the world's only drive-through volcano.

See the beautiful coastline of St. Lucia from the deck of a catamaran. You'll have an unbeatable view of the scenery and get an exhilarating ride, too.

Take a tour of St.Lucia's green mountains, banana valleys, rain forests, fishing villages and the town of Soufriére. Drive by bus through Castries, Cul de Sac, the Roseau banana plantations, and the fishing villages of Anse-La-Raye and Canaries. Then board a boat for a relaxing ride back down the scenic coastline to Anse Cochon for swimming in beautiful crystal-clear waters.

Bridgetown, Barbados

Though Barbados gained its independence from the British in 1966, the island maintains a distinctly English flavor. From British products such as chocolate and china to the national pastime, cricket, the British influence is evident throughout this gorgeous Caribbean destination.

For the ultimate day of fun-in-the-sun Barbados-style, cruise on the MV Harbour to a spectacular sandy beach. Snorkel on reefs teeming with tropical fish. Enjoy the rope swing, sun tanning or walking on the beach. Cruise back along the scenic coast while dancing the calypso or limbo, or just relax on deck.

Surround yourself with beautiful coral and exotic marine life as you take a snorkel adventure through the Caribbean waters.