Port au Prince, Haiti

Day Tour of City, Petionville & Kenscoff

Per person including lunch, $13.00.

Take your camera along, it's a photographer's paradise!

From downtown Port au Prince you drive out through the colourful winding streets of the residential district. Among other places of interest you will see the Old Cathedral, the new Haitian Cathedral, the Tombs of Haiti's Heroes and the colourful iron market, “Marche Vallieres”, where the peasants in their picturesque costumes come to barter.

In the fine residential section, you will notice the curious blend of rococo, French colonial and modern Haitian architecture. A 25 minute drive up the mountain road affords a panoramic view of the entire terrain from Port au Prince to quaint Petionville, a residential suburb, located 1,200 feet above sea level.

Along the road you'll see streams of peasant women carrying farm products on their heads to the market in Port au Prince. At Petionville, a city of perpetual springtime, with beautiful villas surrounded by lush tropical flowers, you begin a leisurely scenic 15-mile climb through rugged mountains over a well paved road to Kenscoff, a town famous for its scenic attractions, its flower plantations and its elegant homes.

En-route you pause at “Boutilliers”, 3,500 feet above sea level. From this point, you will see to the West the azure of beautiful Port au Prince bay and whale-shaped Gonave Island; to the North, the large plain of Cul de Sac and the rugged Matheux Range; to the South, the towering mountains of Morne La Selle.

From Kenscoff you ascend to La Decouvert (The Discovery), 5,500 feet above sea level. As you view the surrounding scenery from here, you realise why Haiti is called “Switzerland of the Tropics”. From La Decouvert you descend to the beautiful Ibo Lele Hotel for luncheon to the accompaniment of a Haitian orchestra.

After lunch the car will be at your disposal for additional sightseeing or shopping during the afternoon.

Kingston, Jamaica

Morning Tour of City, Ram's Horn Ridge
& Castleton Gardens

Per person, $6.00

From the pier, autos proceed along King Street, through the shopping centre, passing the Post Office and government buildings, through the Victoria Gardens and along the market square, past the Race Track and onto the Half Way Tree Road.

This road leads through the residential sections, passing King's House (Governor's residence) and into the Hope Gardens. After a visit to the Orchid House and other points of interest in the Gardens, the drive proceeds past the highly picturesque aqueduct which was built in the days of slavery and is still in use as a conduit for one of the sources of the city's water supply system.

The drive continues to Old Hope Road, Waterloo Road, across to Constant Spring and up to the beginning of Stony Hill, where the road branches off to the Hermitage Dam Road and Rams Horn Ridge. Turning left, a magnificent view of Kingston and its harbour can be seen from a height of 1,300 feet, from which point the road descends into the valley, revealing fields of sugar cane, bananas and coffee trees.

The road continues to wind along the gorge of the Wag Water River, proceeding to the Castleton Botanical Gardens, where native guides point out the various plants. The return drive is made past the Military Barracks (up Park Camp) and down South Camp Road, along North Street by the Roman Catholic Cathedral, down East Street past the Institute of Jamaica and on to Harbour Street, ending the trip at the starting point.

Cristóbal for Panama Canal

An All-day Excursion

Per person, including lunch, $17.00

Offered for those interested in the wonders of the Canal and the scenic beauty of the historic country. Passengers board a special train waiting at the ship's side which passes along the Canal to Gatun Locks. After inspecting the Locks you board the train again for Gamboa.

The group will then board a government tug for an interesting 9 mile trip through part of the Canal to Pedro Miguel. Guides are on hand to point out the remarkable features of this great link between two oceans which represents one of man's most outstanding engineering achievements.

From this point the tour proceeds by car to the ruins of old Panama and thence on to the newer Panama City with its sultry Latin flavour. Here passengers may view as did Balboa the vast Pacific Ocean stretching outward from the Canal.

Luncheon is scheduled at beautiful El Panama Hilton Hotel. This is a festive interlude punctuated by a series of colourful native dances executed in traditional costumes and with authentic musical accompaniment.

From El Panama, passengers will return to their taxis which will take them on a shopping tour or additional sightseeing and then to the Railroad Station where they will board the train for the return trip to the CARONIA.

Havana, Cuba

Island Day Trip

Per Person: $8.00

The daytime tour of this fabulous city starting at the water front proceeds along Havana's palm shaded boulevards which are lined with stately buildings designed by early Spanish architects. The cars pass the Church of our Lady of Mercy in all its massive beauty and further along the restored ruins of the ancient Church of Paula, now a national shrine.

A visit is made to Arms Square, passing El Templete (the Columbus Monument) where holy Mass was first said in Havana. Other points of unusual interest are the Public Library that was once the proud La Fuerza Castle, and the City Hall, which served as a palace for Spanish Captain Generals in the days of conquest.

The route continues along the Avenue of the Gulf to Luz Caballero Park, luxuriant in its tropical beauty, past the Maximo Gomez Monument and along Missions Avenue, where the magnificent Presidential Palace comes into view. A brief visit is made to the world famous La Corona cigar factory to see the interesting exhibits in the Museum of Tobacco Industry.

The sightseeing tour resumes along the Prado to Central Park, viewing the National Theatre and stopping for an inspection of the lavishly beautiful Capitol Building. Passing through busy Industria and San Rafael Street, the city's main shopping district, the cars then swing once more into the Prado and thence to the famous Malecon, where stands the Maine Monument.

A visit is also included to the Havana residential section, with its palatial homes and its brilliant-hued flowers. Following a stop at the famous Columbus Cemetery, the tour proceeds past the Military Hospital to picturesque Chateau Madrid Gardens with their colourful tropical foliage. Here a visit is made to a Cuban perfume factory, with guides to explain the processes of perfume manufacture.

Further along the route are the Country Club and National Casino. In the harbour, making a bright picture, may be seen the trim yachts of the Havana Yacht Club, and bathers lolling on the sun-warmed sands of famous La Playa Beach.

Interesting sights on the Avenue of the Americas include the National Sports Palace and Convention Hall, and on the Avenue of the Presidents, the Jose Miguel Gomez Monument. Beyond the modern hospital buildings recently constructed by the Cuban Government, passengers may view the flourishing beauty of the Botanical Gardens.

Later a visit is made to one of Havana's celebrated rum distilleries where the party is shown the process of making this important Cuban product and given samples of various tropical drinks made from its contents. The final stage of the daytime tour proceeds along La Reina Street, past the Church of the Sacred Heart, through Fraternity Park and back to the starting point.