MSC GRANDIOSA: Cruise from Orlando to the Bahamas and Mexico

     Nassau is the capital city of the Bahamas, a group of islands 50 miles from the coast of Florida, named 'Baja Mar' by Spanish settlers. Christopher Colombus was one of the first Europeans to visit the islands, and called the inhabitants 'lucaiani', derived from 'lukku-cairi' in their native language, meaning people from the island.
     The first foreigners to have a substantial presence were British Lutherans who settled there after abandoning Bermuda in 1647. They made their home near Nassau, which is on New Providence Island, and developed a substantial maritime trade. The islands' commercial activities soon gained the unwanted attention of pirates, who for some 70 years terrorised the islands.
     Among the more notorious pirates were Barbanera, Morgan and Anne Booney, as well as the legendary Blackbeard. The Bahamas' close proximity to America encouraged trade between the two, particularly during the American War of Independence in 1776 and the Anglo-Spanish War. But following the American Civil War, the Bahamas suffered lengthy and frequent periods of economic downturn, which lasted until the end of World War II.
     Tourism became an increasingly important source of revenue, particularly after Castro came to power in Cuba and Americans had to look for an alternative nearby holiday destination. The Bahamas became part of the Commonwealth in 1969 and gained full independence in 1973. The capital Nassau, a fiscal haven, is rich in history, tradition, charm and folklore. Established in 1656, it has survived the colonial age, piracy and economic recession. Only ancient city walls and fortresses testify to the city's former troubles.
     A number of gardens and fountains punctuate the busy city streets, lined with a host of restaurants, bars and duty-free shops. The port is the busiest in the Bahamas, with a constant stream of yachts and passenger ships arriving and leaving. And there are a number of glorious sandy beaches nearby, both on New Providence Island and its sister Paradise Island, connected by bridge from Nassau.

     The island of Cozumel is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, attracting an estimated 20 million people a year keen to enjoy its unique mix of glorious beaches, superb diving and ancient archaeological sites. The town of Cozumel is the perfect place to relax in the tropical sun and the perfect gateway to the island's ancient treasures.
     The first evidence of civilisation on Cozumel dates back to the Mayans of 300 BC. Cozumel's importance to Mayan society came from its vantage point as a port and from its apparent powers of fertility. Mayan women would travel to the island in their thousands in the hope that the special properties of the area would furnish their children with good health and good luck. It is possible today to see the excavated ruins of San Gervasio, a holy Mayan monument, originally a temple built to honour Ixchel, the Mayan god of medicine, love and fertility.
     The Mayans' fortunes suffered after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in 1519 and many of its culture masterpieces were plundered. This beleaguered state, during which the island remained virtually deserted, remained for several hundred years until Cozumel's importance as a trading post in the gum trade and then as an American anti-submarine base during World War II revived its importance.
     On the south of the island, Chankanaab national park offers some delightful diving in a lagoon packed with a colourful array of tropical fish and turtles. It is also on this side of the island that the village of Cedral is situated, which includes a Mayan site decorated with ancient drawings.