Our adventure started in a still warm Malaga , Spain on 27^th Nov 2023.

Our first voyage on Explorer 2. The weather was fine and pleasant enough to sunbathe on the pool deck.

Our first stop was Gibraltar which we had visited twice before, so we disembarked to stretch our legs only, having done the sights before.

We were disappointed to be informed that our scheduled stop at Madeira was cancelled due to industrial action at the port, but delighted to learn that had been replaced with a  visit to Las Palmas Gran Canaria, which we had not visited before.

Having previously turned my nose up at the Canary Islands I was very pleasantly surprised, and impressed.

We had visited Antigua earlier on in the year and were delighted to visit again. It did not disappoint.

This was my first visit to the Dominican Republic, a highly prosperous ex Spanish colony sharing an island with the chaotic and anarchic Haiti. Amber Cove, Puerta Plata was a purpose built cruise stop, and felt it, an artificial commercial stopover. We could have been anywhere and felt like a Florida style Disney creation

Next stop should have been  Grand Turk , an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory, tropical islands in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean and northern West Indies,  the largest island in the Turks Islands. Unfortunately bad weather meant we could not dock there so we proceeded to Ocho Rios Jamaica which I was pleased about as it gave us a full day on an island I had not previously visited.

And finally the magnificent Montego Bay, Jamaica, the highlight of which was an armed escort for our coach through the stationary local traffic to the airport. A marvellous trip the only downsides were losing an hour a day as we headed west- it catches up with you after a week and the long flight home after a short flight to spain.