Things to Do in Riviera Maya & The Yucatan

The highlight of a visit to Versailles is entering the Grand Apartments of the king and queen, built for Louis XIV by Le Vau in the 1670s. The King’s Apartments - or Grands Appartements du Roi - are a succession of salons dedicated to the gods and planets, used for court functions.

The opulent Queen’s Apartments include the private rooms and the golden queen’s bedchamber, whose hidden door was used by Marie-Antoinette to escape the Paris mob during the early days of the Revolution.

The most spectacular room in the entire palace is the glittering Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors). The baroque mirror-lined hall was designed by Mansart in 1678, and features mirror-lined arched windows and gilt sculptures holding aloft crystal chandeliers.

The Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Hall of Mirrors at the end of World War I.

The hikers’ favorite, Grand Etang preserves the nutmeg groves and tropical rainforest of Grenada’s central highland.

At the park’s heart is the crater lake that gives the park its name, Grand Etang Lake. A network of walking trails meanders away from the lake, through the park, around the lake and towards the coast via the Concord Falls. Choose from 20-minute ambles to multi-hour treks.

You’ll be greeted by local monkeys at the visitor center, where you can pick up walking trail leaflets on park destinations like Seven Sisters Falls and Mt Qua Qua.

While walking, see if you can spot mahogany trees, hummingbirds, frogs, lizards, mongoose, armadillos, tropical flowers, caribs and hawks.

The pink-colonnaded Grand Trianon was built in 1687 by the famous architect Mansart, as a tranquil getaway from court life for Louis XIV.

Setting the benchmark for Italianate garden conservatory design, the elegantly long and low palace of pink marble and porphyry features geometrically ordered rows of columns and windows, topped by a balustrade roof.

The original furnishings were plundered during the Revolution. Today, the palace is furnished in Empire style, reflecting the decoration installed by Napoleon, who was particularly enamored of the building. Surrounding the palace is a lovely flower garden.

While the Grand Trianon is open to the public, it is also an official residence of the French President.

Known less for its name and more for the lily ponds that inspired Claude Monet's iconic paintings, Giverny is a provincial gem located just a short train journey from Paris. The tiny village, home to only 500 inhabitants, is an area of outstanding natural beauty, whose landscapes are comprised of ponds smothered in water lilies, weeping willow trees, and quaint painted bridges. Escape from Paris' metropolitan mayhem and spend the day in Giverny, a heaven for fans of Impressionism—you're sure to come back full of inner peace.

Located in the city of Bursa, the Green Mosque is part of a larger complex that also includes a madrassah, tomb, kitchen and bath. Commissioned by Sultan Mehmed I Celebi, it was built between 1419 and 1421 in an architectural style that would later become known as “Bursa Style.”  Based on a reverse T-plan, the mosque was made of sandstone and covered with marble panels. Two minarets that could only be accessed through the sultan’s apartments were added later.

The Green Mosque likely got its name from the blue green tiles that once adorned the exteriors of its domes. Similar tiles still embellish the interior walls and ceiling. The imposing entrance features two marble sofas on either side and a variety of inscriptions and arabesques, including a long Arabic inscription in bronze above the door. Underneath the central dome sits white marble fountain with an octagonal pool.

An earthquake damaged the mosque in 1855, after which it underwent extensive renovations. Although many of the original decorations of the mosque’s vaults and walls were not restored, the mosque remains a remarkable site to behold and is a must-see in Bursa.

Explore the incredible underwater world of Grand Cayman without ever getting wet aboard the Seaworld Observatory. This specially designed boat was built for Atlantis Submarines to offer passengers an up-close look at the reefs and shipwrecks around the island. 

In the ritzy Opera district of Paris, the Gourmet Chocolate Museum (Musée Gourmand du Chocolat) dedicates itself to the history of chocolate, with plenty of tastings along the way.

The center of Lille, the Grand Place (or, as it's officially called, the Place du Général de Gaulle) is a magnet for tourists and a meeting point for locals. Celebrations, ceremonies, Christmas markets - it all happens here.

The plaza is surrounded by grand buildings in the Belgian style, including the La Vieille Bourse (once the stock exchange, now a peaceful enclave for booksellers and chess players) with its riotous fruit and flower ornamentation. 

The focal point of the square is a monument depicting Deesse, the goddess particularly associated with Lille. Her statue commemorates the siege of the city by Austrian troops in the 18th century, and the bravery of the Lillois in refusing to yield their town to the invaders. 

One look at Grand Cayman Island and you can see why it’s among the most popular cruise ports in the Caribbean. Its pristine white sand beaches, picturesque ocean side villages, and plethora of sports and activities, Grand Cayman may well be the archetype of what all of those Caribbean cruise stereotypes are based off.

How to Get to Georgetown

Grand Cayman harbor has a tender wharf, and ships must remain at sea for the duration of their stop. Passengers must board smaller ships to shuttle them to the island and back. However, once on land you will find yourself immediately in the heart of Georgetown’s shopping area.

One Day on Grand Cayman

Despite being small, Grand Cayman is a bustling cruise hub that hosts almost two million visitors a year. Grand Cayman is especially known for its lush underwater ecosystems. Try the semi-submarine and fish feeding show or the Atlantis Submarine Excursion to take it all in from the safety of an Atlantis underwater vehicle. Or, get up close and personal with some rays in a one-tank dive during the Stingray City Dive.

Visitors looking to keep their heads above water can wander through the beautiful Queen Elizabeth II botanical garden, or get their retail therapy on at the mall in Governor’s Square featuring designer and luxury goods.

Port Information

Many major cruise lines dock at Bridgeport, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, and Norwegian. The Caymen Islands are a British territory, so the locals should all speak English fluently. The official currency is the Cayman Island Dollar, but American dollars are accepted almost everywhere. There are over 500 ATM’s around the island, so access to cash should never be far.

The Green Tomb is a mausoleum of Sultan Mehmed I Celebi that forms part of the Green Mosque complex in Bursa, Turkey.  Perched high on a hill in the Yesil neighborhood, the tomb stands above the rest of the complex. Built shortly after the death of the sultan in 1421, the exterior of the tomb features blue green tiles similar to those you will see at the Green Mosque. However, most were replaced after an earthquake significantly damaged the tomb in 1855.

The interior of the Green Tomb is richly decorated, beginning with carved wooden doors and colorful Iznik tiles that adorn the entry portal.  Inside, blue green tiles cover the lower portion of the walls and floral themes are evident throughout the tomb. One niche features a mosaic depicting a garden of carnations, roses and hyacinths while the tiles on the royal catafalque form additional flower designs.