For travellers wanting to combine the very best of city life with the ultimate exotic beach holiday, combined flight and cruise deals to New York and the Caribbean might be just the ticket.

This kind of holiday is great for those who like constantly changing horizons on their holidays, offering a convenient package for a wide variety of destinations in one trip. The adventure begins with flights from Sydney to the Big Apple, where visitors can take a few days to soak up the very best of the city.

Shopaholics might like to blow their spending money on Fifth Avenue's renowned designer boutiques, or perhaps head to Sixth Avenue, between 24th and 26th streets for some vintage bargains in the city's biggest flea market. Culture vultures have rich pickings on Broadway, as well as in the city's plentiful museums and galleries. Once those have been ticked off the itinerary, Central Park, Times Square and the Empire State Building should ensure travellers get their fill of the urban jungle before jumping on another plane to Florida - a very different take on the American Dream.

Florida's Fort Lauderdale offers an altogether more laid-back approach to life than the bustling metropolis of New York. After the excitement, noise and the bright lights of NYC, travellers can start to wind down on this leg of the journey; strolling down the picturesque Riverwalk, or maybe taking a cruise on one of the old riverboats that patrol the scenic tropical waterways of this 'Venice of America'. Fort Lauderdale is also where the cruises section of the holiday takes place, and visitors embark on their ship to set sail for the delights of the Caribbean.

First stop is Nassau - the capital city of the Bahamas. A stunning blend of old world and colonial architecture, visitors spend their time wandering the city's streets and markets; perhaps imagining what the port would have been like when Blackbeard and other feared pirates took control of Nassau and proclaimed it a 'pirate republic' in 1713. James Bond fans might also recognize the town for its use as a location in Thunderball, Never Say Never Again and Casino Royale.

Next stop is the port of Charlotte Amalie on the island of St Thomas, where travellers can enjoy the beauty of this genuine Caribbean paradise. As well as the gorgeous beaches and crystal clear, warm waters, St Thomas also holds its own as a shopping destination.

The last port of call is the island of Sint Maarten - unusual in that it is the Dutch half of an island which is also half French - known as Saint-Martin. The cruise ship docks in the port of Philipsburg in the southern, Dutch end of the island, giving passengers chance to explore the town's shops and restaurants. One unusual attraction which brings visitors to Philipsburg is the nearest airport - the Princess Juliana International Airport. This is renowned throughout the world for being a great spot for close-proximity photography of landing aircraft, with incoming planes flying just 10-20 feet from sunbathers (and plane-spotters) on Maho Beach.

Royal Caribbean International offers the New York and Caribbean fly/cruise package from April to June, with cruises on the Oasis of the Seas - the largest cruise ship in the world.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/g4egk/4816608544/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Image source: Greg Knapp