Southampton to San Francisco - 27 nights, January 2014

The United Kingdom's premier passenger ship port, Southampton was home to the great transatlantic liners of yesteryear. The port serves as your gateway to Southern England’s magnificent historic sites, national landmarks, charming villages as well as the great metropolis of London. Southampton is the ideal starting or ending point for a memorable voyage.

See the bright lights of the Big Apple, international mecca and melting pot, with expensive brownstones, colourful neighbourhoods like Greenwich Village and the Upper West Side and the legendary Central Park. Explore some of the world's great museums. Some come just for the shopping: there’s Bloomingdale’s on Lex, Tiffany’s on Fifth, Barneys and the unique boutiques along Madison.

Aruba is the Caribbean, but with a charming rugged edge. Brightly coloured houses, vibrant street life and a distinct buzz in the air, are all part of the experience when you visit the Schooner Market and watch merchants sell exotic fruit and fresh fish direct from tiny boats. Keen golfers should take a tip and reserve a round at the Tierra del Sol course.

Set foot on 'the Rich Coast' to appreciate just how rich it really is. Strolling the city's palm-lined promenade or verdant Parque Vargas will tell you that much. But no visit would be complete without admiring the vast swathes of dense rainforest, and Braulio Carillo National Park obliges with an aerial tram ride through the lush canopy.

Experience the Panama Canal in luxury on board Queen Elizabeth or Queen Victoria as part of a Cunard Voyage. The Panama Canal is a magnificent feat of engineering connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Your ship will be guided through the canal, just inches from the canal's sides in places on a journey that takes approximately 10 hours and provides a most memorable experience.

Explore Puntarenas and discover how rich this ‘Rich Coast’ really is. See the rainforest from up high during a canopy tour through wispy ferns, winding lianas and delicate orchids. You can taste nature’s bounty, too, at one of the plantations which produce the country’s famously rich coffee. Or relax surrounded by lush palms and crystal clear waters.

Sitting between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Nevada mountains, laid-back San Francisco is home to an eclectic mix of cultures and the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge. Survey the superb vistas over the Bay or traverse the steep rolling hills by tram. Explore 'The Rock' of Alcatraz, visit the Museum of Modern Art or head for the celebrated vineyards of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

Sitting between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Nevada mountains, laid-back San Francisco is home to an eclectic mix of cultures and the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge. Survey the superb vistas over the Bay or traverse the steep rolling hills by tram. Explore 'The Rock' of Alcatraz, visit the Museum of Modern Art or head for the celebrated vineyards of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.