Lesser Antilles In Depth Cruise

Day 1 - Barbados

Arrive: Sat 30 November 2024 / Depart: Sat 30 November 2024 at 17:00

Barbados has retained many of the trappings of its British colonial heritage. Judges and barristers wear proper robes and wigs, police don helmets styled after London bobbies and cricket remains a national passion. Barbados also has all the sporting appeal of the rest of the Caribbean, with pristine beaches, powerful surf and crystal clear waters. Brightly colored homes and hibiscus flowers mingle with mahogany trees and English churches dating back to the 17th century.

Day 2 - Port Elizabeth (Grenadines)

Arrive: Sun 01 December 2024 at 08:30 / Depart: Sun 01 December 2024 at 18:00

Bequia’s Admiralty Bay is a favorite yachtsman’s anchorage. They ferry ashore to join the friendly, low-key locals “under the almond tree,” the chosen meeting place. Stroll along the Belmont Walkway to the Gingerbread for homemade nutmeg ice cream, or Frangipani, run by the daughter of a former prime minister. Continue to lovely, golden Princess Margaret Beach, or round the bend to Lower Bay. Don’t miss the excellent craftsmanship at the Sargeant Brothers Model Boat Shop, it’s a Bequia specialty.

Day 3 - Roseau

Arrive: Mon 02 December 2024 at 08:30 / Depart: Mon 02 December 2024 at 18:00

The Caribbean’s verdant “Nature Island” has resolved not to succumb to the high-rise hotels and casino culture that predominate on some other islands. The tiny nation is determined to thrive on its natural resources, which are many and attractive. Water is one, and the island does export delicious mineral water throughout the area. There are also thermal springs and a “boiling lake,” as well as lovely waterfalls. Citrus fruits such as grapefruit are another export. The island is the source of Rose’s Lime Juice, a requisite of the perfect gimlet cocktail. Fragrant bay rum, distilled from native trees, is a handmade commodity much prized on the global market. Visit the peaceful Botanical Gardens, or ascend Morne Bruce for a stunning view over the town, the harbor and the sea beyond.

Day 4 - St. Kitts

Arrive: Tue 03 December 2024 at 08:30 / Depart: Tue 03 December 2024 at 23:59

A classic golden arc of sugary sand at South Friar’s Bay, Carambola is home to the island’s most luxurious beach clubs and restaurants. Umbrellas, loungers and optional water sports abound for those so inclined. Otherwise St. Kitts has other attractions, including a number of lovingly preserved plantation great houses, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Brimstone Hill Fortress and a scenic narrow gauge sugarcane railway.

Day 5 - At Sea

Day 6 - Oranjestad, Aruba

Arrive: Thu 05 December 2024 at 06:30 / Depart: Thu 05 December 2024 at 18:00

Although no written record of the island's discovery by Europeans exists, it was in 1499 that Alonso de Ojeda landed in Aruba and claimed the island for Spain. Over the years, possession changed from the Spanish to the Dutch to the British and back to the Dutch, with independence promised by 1996. Aruba is one of only a few Caribbean islands where the indigenous Indian population was not decimated by invading Europeans. The native Aruban today is a mixture of Arawak Indian, and Spanish and Dutch colonizers. The official language is Dutch, with both English and Spanish widely spoken. The local population's everyday tongue is Papiamento, a mixture of all of the above plus a few words left over from the days of the Arawak. The countryside is dotted with cottages surrounded by cactus fences and bright splashes of bougainvillea, oleander and hibiscus. During our call, enjoy a stroll through the capital, Oranjestad. Colorful Wilhelminastraat is lined with typical Aruban buildings of the Dutch Colonial style, and plenty of shops offering duty-free goods.

Day 7 - Willemstad, Curacao

Arrive: Fri 06 December 2024 at 08:30 / Depart: Fri 06 December 2024 at 20:00

Delightful Willemstad is the capital of the five-island Netherlands Antilles, which in turn are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Gabled buildings bring to mind Dutch cities, while working windmills dot the countryside, helping to provide the island with much-needed fresh water. Two bridges connect Otrobanda and Punda, the city's two halves. The Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, now exclusively a foot bridge, was built in 1888. The imposing Queen Juliana Bridge arches over the channel, providing the link for motor vehicles. Shoppers will find no shortage of temptations here, while those so inclined will find excellent scuba diving opportunities.

Day 8 - Bonaire

Arrive: Sat 07 December 2024 at 08:30 / Depart: Sat 07 December 2024 at 18:00

Discovered in 1499 by an expedition led by Amerigo Vespucci, Bonaire has quite a varied history. Indian drawings, which can be seen today in several places, depict life and events which took place centuries before the island's discovery by Europeans. The Spanish colonization lasted for little more than a century, ending in 1634, when the Dutch from Curaccao arrived to occupy Bonaire during their war against Spain. In 1636, Bonaire became a Dutch colony. Salt production, corn and stock breeding were developed as major economic elements. Today, the island's economy depends largely on tourism. A friendly 'bon bini' from the locals greets you during your visit ashore. Enjoy a stroll through Kralendijk, past the fish market, duty-free shops of Breedestraat, the waterfront promenade and the quaint toy-like houses exemplifying the Dutch colonial architecture.

Day 9 - At Sea

Day 10 - Charlotteville, Tobago

Arrive: Mon 09 December 2024 at 08:30 / Depart: Mon 09 December 2024 at 20:00

Trinidad’s “little sister” Tobago welcomes you with a lovely fishing village set on a curve of beach on Man-o-war Bay. The town was founded in 1633, to serve the area’s slavery-enabled sugar production. Today fishing is the main business. Even by Caribbean standards, it is a sleepy place, where most visitors arrive to bask in the laid-back atmosphere, and swim, snorkel or dive in the surrounding waters. Nearby Pirate’s Bay is considered one of the Caribbean’s prettiest beaches, accessible by a long-sloping stairway or by boat. Speyside down the coast give access to the bird sanctuary of Little Tobago island just offshore. With luck, you may be treated to a musical performance by the local Tamboo band, who make music by banging lengths of bamboo on the ground, a relic of the slavery era. Otherwise, join the locals for “liming” (chatting) and enjoying fresh seafood, and stuffed rotis including the “Buss Up Shut” so named because the torn roti resembles a “busted up shirt.”

Day 11 - Barbados

Arrive: Tue 10 December 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Tue 10 December 2024 at 17:00

Barbados has retained many of the trappings of its British colonial heritage. Judges and barristers wear proper robes and wigs, police don helmets styled after London bobbies and cricket remains a national passion. Barbados also has all the sporting appeal of the rest of the Caribbean, with pristine beaches, powerful surf and crystal clear waters. Brightly colored homes and hibiscus flowers mingle with mahogany trees and English churches dating back to the 17th century.

Day 12 - Castries, St. Lucia

Arrive: Wed 11 December 2024 at 08:30 / Depart: Wed 11 December 2024 at 13:00

St. Lucia is the sort of island that travelers to the Caribbean dream about--a small, lush tropical gem that is still relatively unknown. The Atlantic Ocean kisses its eastern shore, while the beaches of the west coast owe their beauty to the calm Caribbean Sea. St. Lucia seems like an island plucked from the South Pacific and set down in the Caribbean. Its dramatic twin coastal peaks, the Pitons, soar 2,500 feet up from the sea, sheltering magnificent rain forests where wild orchids, giant ferns, and birds of paradise flourish. Brilliantly-plumed tropical birds abound, including endangered species like the indigenous St. Lucia parrot.

Day 13 - At Sea

Day 14 - St John's, Antigua

Arrive: Fri 13 December 2024 at 08:30 / Depart: Fri 13 December 2024 at 18:00

Antigua is blessed with an abundance of shining white beaches, and many of these have sprouted top-end resort hotels that engender golf courses and other amenities counted among the best in the Caribbean. A pleasant drive up through farms and tiny villages leads to the commanding fortress on Shirley Heights, from which you can survey the town and the harbor of Nelson’s Dockyard across the island. Once a carenage for British frigates, today it is an enclave of shops and restaurants.

Day 15 - Marigot, Saint Martin

Arrive: Sat 14 December 2024 at 06:30 / Depart: Sat 14 December 2024 at 18:00

Tucked beside a lovely cove on the French side of this Dutch/French island, Marigot’s streets are lined with boutiques and shops displaying the filigree ironwork and striped awnings of a Riviera village. In the shops, imported Gallic goods tempt you to sample everything from cheeses and cornichons to the latest fashions. Across the island, Dutch Philipsburg is a famous duty-free bazaar, and offers activities including a sailing race aboard real 12-meter America’s Cup yachts.

Day 16 - St. Kitts

Arrive: Sun 15 December 2024 at 08:30 / Depart: Sun 15 December 2024 at 13:00

A classic golden arc of sugary sand at South Friar’s Bay, Carambola is home to the island’s most luxurious beach clubs and restaurants. Umbrellas, loungers and optional water sports abound for those so inclined. Otherwise St. Kitts has other attractions, including a number of lovingly preserved plantation great houses, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Brimstone Hill Fortress and a scenic narrow gauge sugarcane railway.

Day 17 - Soper's Hole, Tortola, British

Arrive: Mon 16 December 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 16 December 2024 at 18:00

Day 18 - At Sea

Day 19 - Terre de Haut, Ile des Saintes

Arrive: Wed 18 December 2024 at 08:30 / Depart: Wed 18 December 2024 at 13:00

The Iles des Saintes, a tiny cluster of islets off the southern coast of Guadeloupe is what the doctor ordered, if he ordered an unspoiled Caribbean experience. No franchise duty free, no big hotels, no casinos. It is what much of the Caribbean used to be like. Stroll around the little town of Bourg de Saintes. Shop for real French cosmetics from the sidewalk vendors. Grab a seat and a beer and revel in the weather and the pace of the past.

Day 20 - Fort de France

Arrive: Thu 19 December 2024 at 06:30 / Depart: Thu 19 December 2024 at 18:00

Fort-de-France, Martinique's capital, with its narrow streets and iron grill-worked balconies, brings to mind New Orleans or Nice. This distinctly French island is a full-fledged department of France, with members in parliament and the senate. Naturally, everyone speaks French, as well as a rapid-fire Creole. The island features a varied landscape, from quiet beaches to lush rain forest to imposing Mont Pelee. Not surprisingly, the shopping in Fort-de-France has a decidedly Gallic flair. Bienvenue to this bit of France in the Caribbean.

Day 21 - St Georges, Bermuda

Arrive: Fri 20 December 2024 at 06:30 / Depart: Fri 20 December 2024 at 18:00

The port facility known as Kings Wharf is actually the revitalized Royal Navy Dockyard of Bermuda in Sandy’s Parish. The facility was first developed in 1809, after the British lost their mainland docking rights in the American Revolution. After the two World Wars, with the British and Americans allied, there was no need for a Royal Navy base, and the facility was closed. Today it is the main cruise ship port for the island. It has many attractions for visitors, including the Bermuda National Museum and many galleries, shops, restaurants and etc. There are a number of beaches nearby, including the famous Sea Glass Beach. The port is also the start point for tours of other Bermuda highlights such as Hamilton, St. George’s and the beaches.

Day 22 - Barbados

Arrive: Sat 21 December 2024 at 06:30 / Depart: Sat 21 December 2024

Barbados has retained many of the trappings of its British colonial heritage. Judges and barristers wear proper robes and wigs, police don helmets styled after London bobbies and cricket remains a national passion. Barbados also has all the sporting appeal of the rest of the Caribbean, with pristine beaches, powerful surf and crystal clear waters. Brightly colored homes and hibiscus flowers mingle with mahogany trees and English churches dating back to the 17th century.