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Named for Alexander the Great, the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria is no less impressive than its founder. From the ancient to the modern, this “Pearl of the Mediterranean” strikes a perfect balance between the richness of history and the bustle of tourism and commerce. While the Great Library at Alexandria has been lost to time, the ultramodern Bibliotheca Alexandrina memorializes its predecessor in a beautiful, contemporary space where history, culture, philosophy, art and science come together under one roof.

Languishing just three miles off the coast from Nassau, Blue Lagoon Island has everything you desire to make that island-paradise fantasy a reality. Take a dip in the clear blue waters of the hidden lagoon, snorkel the coral reefs that lie right off the beach or simply stretch out on a sun lounger beneath the swaying palms as the sweet sound of birdsong floats through the air. Alternatively, take the opportunity to get up close and personal with the beautiful residents who call this island home.

Stroll along intoxicatingly beautiful beaches and gaze upon gorgeous art deco delights in Miami. Head to South Beach to wander past the city’s famous sun-kissed, pastel-hued hotels. Bathed in a beautiful palette of soft pinks, greens and yellows and adorned with charming tropical design touches, these 1930s architectural gems are part of the largest collection of art deco buildings in the world.

Let your captain select the sunniest, most serene Bahamian island for you to enjoy based on the temperament of the day – either Great Exuma or San Salvador. The former offers the ivory sands of Emerald Bay and the yachter’s paradise of Georgetown, where you can go sailing and kayaking on Lake Victoria or discover coral gardens and underwater caves on a snorkeling or diving expedition off the coast. Should your captain select San Salvador, an entirely different yet equally fascinating undersea world awaits.

Nestled within Cabo Rojo and hugging the coast of the Bahía de Boquerón lies the cozy, laid-back village of Boquerón. Its gorgeous crescent-shaped coastline shelters one of Puerto Rico's finest beaches, a pretty marina and a ribbon of fantastic dive sites. Visitors can indulge at the village's lavish balneario (resort) for easy access to the beachfront or check out the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife refuge, where native birds live among the tree canopy.

A jewel in the Cape Verde archipelago, Santa Antão is rich with stunning vistas of both mountains and sea, and the city of Porto Novo is the island’s gatekeeper.

Endorsed by Condé Nast as one of the “10 best places in Europe to visit” in 2021, El Hierro nonetheless remains one of the least visited – and most pristine – of the Canary Islands, with no buildings higher than two stories, no elevators and only one set of traffic lights. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, El Hierro’s remarkably transparent waters and vibrant undersea life make it a scuba diver’s paradise.

Less than 60 miles from the northwest coast of Africa, Fuerteventura is the oldest and second largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. The Spanish name – derived from the words for “strong” and “fortune” – is an apt description of this island paradise featured on UNESCO’s list of Biosphere Reserves. The surrounding sea is renowned for a diversity of marine life, including dolphins, sperm whales and sea turtles, so keep an eye on the water while relaxing on Fuerteventura’s immaculate beaches.

With more than 1,000 miles of coastline featuring stunning beaches to contrast with its dramatic mountainous interior, Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Cagliari is the island’s ancient and present-day capital, having emerged from a long and storied past that has shifted culturally, politically and artistically over its 5,000 years of ever-changing rule.