Day 1 – Home to St. Pete Beach, FL
Today we begin our journey south to the beautiful state of Florida in search of a bit of sunshine and warmer weather! Our flight into Tampa, then we’ll get settled into our hotel nestled along the soft white sands of St. Pete Beach! The property is located within walking distance of many restaurants, shops, attractions, and of course is right on the beach! Tonight we’ll get to know one another during a wonderful “Welcome to South Florida” dinner!
Included Meals: Welcome Dinner
Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn (3 Nights)
Day 2 – Tarpon Springs area
Following a wonderful breakfast at our hotel, we’ll head to Tarpon Springs, the “sponge capital of the world.” This charming seaside village was founded back in 1907 and is a mecca of Greek culture. As we tour the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, we’ll be immersed in a completely unique experience – from the domed basilica architecture to the iconography adorning the walls and windows, the Cathedral is designed as a reflection and embodiment of many of the fundamental beliefs of the Orthodox Church. Then we’ll have a special lunch at a local Greek Restaurant, one of R&J’s favorites. Afterwards, there will be some time to walk the fishing docks and do some browsing in the local shops. We’ll then take a Sponge Cruise and see just how the sponge divers of old collected the sponges. As we head back towards our lovely hotel, we’ll visit Florida Orange Groves Winery for a wonderful tour and tasting. Dinner and the evening are on your own to enjoy the area.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 – St. Petersburg area
Today have breakfast at your leisure as the morning is free for you to soak up the sun and sink your toes in the sand. Then we head to the new St. Pete Pier to meet our step-on guide for a tour of St. Petersburg. Our tour ends back at the Pier where we will enjoy some free time. You may choose to visit the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center. This afternoon be ready for some fun as we head over to the oldest and largest shuffleboard club in the world! R&J Tours has rented enough courts for us to play some games! If you haven’t played before, no worries, we have arranged for staff to give us a quick lesson. Dinner is planned in Johns Pass, a quaint and historic fishing village named after John Levique. John was a pirate who made the first passage through this new, hurricane-created pass in 1848.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 – St. Pete Beach to Fort Myers, FL
Today we’ll depart St. Pete Beach and make our way to charming Punta Gorda. We have a wonderful day planned in this waterfront community. We will first visit the Military Heritage Museum. The museum’s purpose is to honor all who serve. It utilizes multiple methods to educate its visitors on the heritage aspects of U.S. military history. Enjoy a blend of artifacts, veteran museum guides, and interactive experiences at this 17,000 sq. foot facility. We will enjoy lunch at The Captain’s Table and then have some free time for shopping or walking along the waterfront. This afternoon, we will have a veteran led introduction to the Vietnam Wall model at Veteran’s Park. Then we continue on to Fort Myers and check into the Homewood Suites for two nights. This evening partake in the Manager’s Reception and enjoy the amenities.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Manager’s Reception
Hotel: Homewood Suites (2 Nights)
Day 5 – Fort Myers
After breakfast this morning, we will head to the Everglades! A local guide will meet us at our hotel to share information with us about the Florida Everglades and the creatures that inhabit them. Later we will hop aboard one of Bob’s Everglades Hydro-boats for a ride that you will long remember. You will have lunch on your own today and enjoy some time this afternoon for a dip in the pool or a relaxing nap before we depart for the Broadway Palms Dinner Theater for a Broadway style musical and delicious dinner.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 – Ft Myers to Fort Lauderdale, FL – Embark Cruise
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll cut across Florida to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on the Atlantic coast. Here we’ll board the Liberty of the Seas for a reef-roaming, tropics-trekking, three night cruise! After getting settled into your oceanview cabin, perhaps you’ll want to create figure eights on the ice rink or tap your toes to the Broadway musical Saturday Night Fever where it’s 1977 and disco reigns supreme! Another great show to take in is “Broadway at Sea” offering full-scale productions of exciting musicals!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Ship: Liberty of the Seas (3 Nights)
Day 7 – Nassau, Bahamas – Cruise
This morning we arrive in Nassau after cruising through the night. Nassau has long been known for relaxation and adventure, but back in the 1600s it was actually burned down by the Spanish. The history is rich if you choose to explore Fort Charlotte or the Pirates of Nassau Museum. Other shore excursions include many water-related activities like snorkeling, sailing, glass-bottom boat, Thriller powerboat, and more. (Optional shore excursions are at your own cost throughout the entire cruise.) Make sure to leave time to experience the onboard entertainment, like the spectacular ice skating show complete with amazing jumps, lifts, and spins performed by professional skaters! Or have you listened to the live orchestra, played mini golf, or relaxed in the Solarium pool yet? Ship departs tonight to sail to CocoCay, Bahamas.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (On Board)
Day 8 – CocoCay, Bahamas – Cruise
Sink your toes into the white-sand beaches of the secluded island of CocoCay. This is a wonderful place to spend more time on the water, do some hiking, or simply relax on the sunny beach with something cool to drink. On CocoCay Island, enjoy partaking in the included buffet. (Shore excursions at CocoCay are at your own cost.) Be adventurous and try parasailing, glide on a waverunner, or snorkel to capture the beauty of reefs and tropical fish or the mystery of sunken wrecks. Back aboard the Liberty of the Seas, enjoy an included dinner in the Main Dining Room, at Sorrento’s Pizza, or choose to grab something from the Windjammer Cafe. There are additional dining options at your own expense to choose from depending on your taste. These options include the Chef’s Table, Sabor Modern Mexican, Johnny Rockets, Giovanni Table, Cupcake Cupboard, Chops Grille, and more – so many tasty options to choose from!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (On Board)
Day 9 – Fort Lauderdale to Home – Disembark Cruise
This morning we disembark back in Fort Lauderdale, board our coach, and head to the airport for our flight home. We’ve been rejuvenated by our Sun, Sand & Sail adventure!
Included Meals: Breakfast
Flyaway Per Person Pricing Information
Flyaway Travel Protection Per Person
Travel Bucks
Deposit Due
Passport Needed
Tour Pace
Price Includes
Roundtrip Airfare from MSP including baggage fees, taxes & surcharges, 18 Meals & 1 Mgr. Reception, Hotels & Activities as stated in brochure, Luxury Motorcoach, 3 Night Cruise in Oceanview Cabins, Onboard Ship Gratuities!
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- LB, Liberty of the Seas, revite with slides 2016, still grab from drone video, aft view, port side, sunset, evening, twilight, ocean, horizon,
01/12/2025 01/20/2025
Tour Map
Tour Highlights
3 Nights on St. Pete’s Beach
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Tour
Tarpon Springs & Sponge Diving Cruise
Florida Orange Groves Winery Tour & Tasting
St. Petersburg Pier & City Tour
St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club
Military Heritage Museum
Punta Gorda Vietnam Wall Memorial
2 Nights in Fort Myers
Everglades Airboat Ride
Broadway Palms Dinner Theatre
3 Night Cruise aboard Liberty of the Seas with Ports of Call in Nassau & CocoCay, Bahamas
