It’s a huge, wonderfully landscaped property (including a practice soccer field for the Jamaican national team), secluded from other resorts, with a series of charming two- and three-story colonial buildings spread along the beachfront.

We’ve always enjoyed the food in Mexico and Excellence Riviera Cancun sets a very high standard. Even the buffet restaurant, Barcelona, has white linen and flowers on the tables and often live music to accompany its Mexican and international cuisine.

Along 75 kilometres of pristine beachfront from Boca Raton in the south to Jupiter in the north, Palm Beach County consists of 38 distinct cities and towns, most built along a sandy, barrier island.

Our last evening with Tauck was a highlight. The company arranged for all 200 of us to board a private charter ferry for a visit to Ellis Island, the disembarkation point for so many immigrants to the United States.

Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Giant’s Causeway, a natural geologic formation of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed 50 to 60 million years ago.

Mediocre food is often an irritation at all-inclusive properties but we found Secrets to take its food choices and preparation very seriously.

Although adults can and do have a fabulous time aboard a Carnival ship, the emphasis for us on this cruise was on the grandchildren. They were never bored.

As expected on a ship of this quality, all our meals were excellent. In Europa 2’s Japanese restaurant, Sakura, we enjoyed Sushi and giant tempura shrimp (who knew a German ship could produce such excellent sushi?).

Sandals LaSource Grenada is laid out in a series of “Villages” along a stretch of Pink Gin Beach. The water is warm, calm and crystal-clear and filled with tropical fish.