15 January to 16 January - At sea

17 January

U.S. Virgin Islands: St John

St John is the quietest and least developed of the US Virgin Islands, with two thirds of the island designated as a National Park. There are several hiking trails that showcase the island’s unspoilt natural beauty, and it’s a popular spot for aquatic pursuits including snorkelling, kayaking and scuba diving.

18 January

U.S. Virgin Islands: Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas)

The busiest and most developed of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas is nevertheless blessed with typically Caribbean good looks. The main town, Charlotte Amalie, is situated on a perfect natural harbour, and in its colonial heyday its warehouses were filled with indigo, tobacco and cotton.

19 January

Sint Maarten: Philipsburg

Philipsburg is the gateway to an intriguing little Caribbean island with a dual personality: the Dutch side, St. Maarten, is the livelier of the two, with shopping malls, casinos and more of a nightlife scene, while French-speaking St. Martin is a more refined (and more expensive) affair, with a laid-back, continental air and a host of exclusive resorts and restaurants.

20 January

Saint Kitts and Nevis: Nevis

Sleepy, low key and utterly charming, Nevis is a real Caribbean gem. Dominated by the towering Nevis Peak, the island is dotted with former plantation houses that have been turned into characterful hotels. Drop in for lunch or afternoon tea, and if there’s time have a look round the elegantly faded Georgian capital, Charlestown.

21 January

Antigua and Barbuda: St John's

Antigua is famously home to 365 beaches - one for every day of the year - and there is an undeniable allure to the many white sand coves dotted along the coast. The capital, St John's, is worth a look, but if you've got time to visit the south coast you'll find historic Nelson's Dockyard a lot more interesting.

22 January

Martinique: Saint Pierre (Martinique)

23 January

St. Vincent & Grenadines: Bequia

Bequia is an incredibly friendly, laid-back island blessed with pristine golden sand beaches and some excellent restaurants. It’s also a popular sailing destination; the yachts tend to congregate around Admiralty Bay, where you’ll find the little waterfront town of Port Elizabeth.

24 January

Grenada: St George's

Browse the markets of charming St George’s, fragrant with the scent of cinnamon and nutmeg, and you’ll soon understand why Grenada is known as the ‘isle of spice’. This is one of the Caribbean’s most enchanting islands, fringed by gorgeous beaches and largely unsullied by mass market tourism.

25 January

Barbados: Bridgetown

There’s more to Barbados than just beaches; the delightful architecture of the old garrison in Bridgetown, the capital, is fully deserving of its UNESCO World Heritage status, and the island interior is littered with old sugar plantations and natural wonders such as Harrison’s Cave.

26 January

Trinidad and Tobago: Scarborough

Scarborough is the capital of Tobago, a sleepy island where tourism remains mostly low key. The town has a few interesting colonial era sights, but we’d recommend exploring Tobago’s natural treasures instead, including stunning reefs, secluded waterfalls and a rainforest reserve that draws birdwatchers from around the globe.

27 January - At sea

28 January

United States: Isle Royale

29 January - At sea

30 January

Brazil: Belém

Belém lies about 60 miles from the Atlantic coast on the Pará river, part of the vast Amazon delta, and the bustling food markets here are piled high with the bountiful produce of the rainforest. As well as a gateway to the Amazon, Belém is an appealing destination in its own right, with an attractive colonial centre and an imposing fortress.

31 January to 1 February - At sea

2 February

Brazil: Recife

Recife is a big and bustling metropolis on Brazil’s north east coast, with a historic core that has been mostly swallowed up by the urban sprawl. The nearby town of Olinda is a more appealing place to spend your day ashore, with an arty vibe and some lovely colonial architecture.

3 February - At sea

4 February

Brazil: Salvador

Colourful Salvador is Brazil’s third biggest city and a vibrant centre for Afro-Brazilian culture, with frequent festivals that fill the streets with music and dancing. The historic core of the old city is the biggest tourist magnet, where elegant, brightly hued colonial buildings line the cobbled streets.

5 February - At sea

6 February

Brazil: Búzios

Once just a sleepy fishing village on a picturesque peninsula, Búzios was put firmly on the map by Brigitte Bardot, who holidayed here in the 1960s. These days it’s an upmarket beach destination, with a host of luxury hotels, sophisticated restaurants and chic boutiques.

7 February to 9 February

Brazil: Rio de Janeiro

The carnival capital of the world, Rio de Janeiro needs little introduction. We can think of few cities in the world that are able to compete when it comes to location: hugging the beautiful sandy shore and surrounded by jungle-clad islands and mountains, including the iconic Corcovado, the setting for Brazil’s most vibrant city is simply breathtaking.

10 February

Brazil: Paraty

Paraty is a beautiful colonial town to the west of Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by stunning beaches and set against a backdrop of jungle-covered mountains. The cobbled streets are closed off to traffic, which makes wandering amongst the pretty whitewashed buildings all the more enjoyable.

11 February

Brazil: Ilhabela

Ilhabela, the aptly named ‘beautiful island’, is swathed in rainforest and fringed by golden beaches. The majority of the island is a protected state park, and walking trails lead you through dense foliage to magical waterfalls, with the chance to spot wildlife including toucans and capuchin monkeys.

12 February

Brazil: São Paulo

Served by the busy port of Santos, cosmopolitan São Paulo is a vast metropolis that is home to some 20 million people, making it the third largest city on earth. The urban sprawl may not be to everyone’s taste, but for fans of big city life there is plenty to see and do, with a lively cultural scene and a host of world class restaurants.

13 February to 14 February - At sea

15 February

Uruguay: Montevideo

Located just across the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires, Uruguay’s underrated capital is a cosmopolitan and eclectic mix of colourful colonial architecture and high rise modernity. The 14-mile waterfront promenade, La Rambla, is a popular and pleasant place to be on a summer’s evening.

16 February to 17 February

Arriving in Buenos Aires

The streets of Buenos Aires are redolent of a grand old European capital, lined with elegant architecture that wouldn’t look out of place in Madrid or Paris. There is also plenty of Latin passion on display: Argentina is the home of tango, that most electrifying of dances, and has played host to countless revolutions over the years.