Tropical Isles is a 7-night Winter 2025 / 2026 cruise with Marella Cruises. Sailing onboard the Marella Discovery from La Romana, Dominican Republic new ports of call include Isla Catalina, Dominican Republic and Ponce, Puerto Rico. Read on to find out more and for latest prices:
Your Itinerary: La Romana – Ship at Sea – San Juan – Charlotte Amalie – Frederiksted – Ponce – Isla Catalina – La Romana
Tropical Isles – for more dates, details and departure airports for 2025 / 2026
Tropical Isles Cruise Itinerary - Marella Discovery -Fly Cruise
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Detailed Itinerary:
Tropical Isles - Itinerary day 1: La Romana
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A Caribbean and Latin-fused favourite, it’s easy to see why Columbus labelled the Dominican Republic as ‘the fairest land under heaven’. It’s got all the tropical ingredients you could wish for. And this southeast corner is no exception. Shop for jewellery made of locally mined amber. Feast on the Spanish, African and Taino cuisine. Or explore the Chavron River, which landed a starring role in the film ‘Apocalypse Now’.
Tropical Isles - Itinerary day 2 : Ship at Sea
Tropical Isles - Itinerary day 3: San Juan
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From a huge sea-facing fortress, to the colour-splashed old quarter, the Puerto Rican capital is choc-full of colonial character. Explore the narrow streets, and you’ll lose count of the number of jazzy murals and tucked-away squares along the way. It all culminates in a maze-like peninsula beside the Caribbean Sea, which has long sandy beaches stretching down one side, and a smart harbourfront promenade lining up bars and restaurants on the other.
- The city’s most-striking landmark, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, has stood firm on San Juan’s headland for centuries. The fortress was built by the Spanish to protect the port from enemy ships, and was also used as a US military base prior to the First World War.
- Old San Juan is a charming mix of open-air cafés, column-front plazas and brightly coloured townhouses. Many consider this to be the real heart of San Juan, and it certainly has an old-school charm that you won’t find elsewhere.
- Plaza las Americas takes care of the demand for modern retail therapy. It’s the biggest mall in the Caribbean, and you’ll find it right in the middle of San Juan. Among the 300 stores is the world’s largest JC Penney, plus a cinema and a restaurant area.
Tropical Isles - Itinerary day 4: Charlotte Amalie
The city of Charlotte Amalie’s the capital of the island of St Thomas, and is known for its deep natural harbour. Christopher Columbus first landed here in 1493, and since then everyone from the legendary pirate Blackbeard to the US Navy have used it as a base. It’s also known for its colourful Danish architecture and ruby-red stronghold. The latter, Fort Christian, is the oldest building in the Virgin Islands archipelago, and was built in 1680 to protect the area from invading fleets. It’s now a museum, where you can learn about the region’s slavery-and-piracy-filled past while you take a look at centuries-old cannons and antiques.
- Charlotte Amalie’s downtown district is where you’ll find most of the city’s jewellery shops and souvenir boutiques. You can buy everything from diamond earrings to sea-glass bracelets here.
- If you’re looking for a quiet day out on Charlotte Amalie’s turquoise water, book a laidback catamaran cruise. The skipper might drop the anchor in a quiet spot, where you can enjoy a cool-down dip.
Tropical Isles - Itinerary day 5: Frederiksted
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The town of Frederiksted is on the west coast of St. Croix, the biggest of the US Virgin Islands. In true Caribbean island fashion, this place serves up plenty of A-grade beaches for you to flake out on. The most popular belt of sand is Frederiksted Beach, where the sand’s as white as flour and the water’s as warm as a bath. What’s more, it’s watched over by the town’s leading landmark, Fort Frederik. This 250-year-old stronghold was built to ward off pirates in the 1700s. It’s now a museum, where you can look at weapons that were used during a slave revolt that rocked the town in 1848.
- Browse the town’s waterfront shops for gold bracelets, bottles of rum and nautical-themed pottery.
- Rip across the water in Frederiksted Harbour on a jet-ski. There are plenty of watersports centres dotted along the coast, meaning you’ve got lots of opportunities to get your adrenaline pumping.
Tropical Isles - Itinerary days 6: Ponce
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Ponce is a certified member of the get rich quick club. It became a rum-and-sugar-trading heavyweight in the late 19th century, and there are nods to its prosperous past everywhere you turn. It’s Puerto Rico’s second city, behind San Juan, but it positions itself as the more sophisticated of the two. Here, the streets are lined with Neoclassical buildings, Victorian-esque street lights, museums and glistening fountains. Even the city’s fire station's a work of art.
- Check out the famous Dennis the Menace-like firehouse. In a city renowned for its architectural triumphs, this red-and-black striped landmark is one of the most photographed of the lot.
- Take in the sea air and salsa beats on Ponce’s seaside boardwalk. At the weekends, things get really lively – grab a bite to eat in a waterside restaurant, feed the pelicans or dance to live music.
- Admire the masterpieces at Museo de Arte de Ponce. It’s considered one of the Caribbean’s top museums, and houses a 4,500-piece collection of European, African and American art.
Tropical Isles - Itinerary days 7: Isla Catalina
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This pint-sized uninhabited island sits just off the south coast of the Dominican Republic, near La Romana. Most of it’s carpeted in forest, and everything’s penned in by a ring of milk-white sand and pale blue water that’s clear enough to see your feet in. The number-one thing to do is to top up your tan under the palms. And if you’d rather be up and about, snorkelling sessions and long, scenic strolls are on the cards, as well.
Tropical Isles - Itinerary day 8: La Romana
A Caribbean and Latin-fused favourite, it’s easy to see why Columbus labelled the Dominican Republic as ‘the fairest land under heaven’. It’s got all the tropical ingredients you could wish for. And this southeast corner is no exception. Shop for jewellery made of locally mined amber. Feast on the Spanish, African and Taino cuisine. Or explore the Chavron River, which landed a starring role in the film ‘Apocalypse Now’.
Cruise Ship Details - Marella Discovery :
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- 8 restaurants
- 8 bars
- 2 lounges
- Casino
- 4 whirlpools
- 2 swimming pools
- Minigolf
- Rock climbing wall
Marella Discovery is the sister ship to Marella Discovery 2, so you can expect nearly all of the same facilities, such as a fantastic dining scene and a show lounge to rival the West End. Top highlights include seven bars and eight restaurants, plus an outdoor cinema and a five-storey atrium. Families are well catered for on this ship. Family Suites and Family Junior Suites are kitted out with a chalkboard and a PlayStation 4, plus there’s a rock climbing wall, a minigolf course and two pools onboard, one of which is indoors.