Grand Caribbean Cruise

No longer the haunt of pirates, the Caribbean nonetheless retains a seafaring romance that can be claimed by few other destinations. You can still make off with some great booty, such as bamboo trinkets, wickerwork, pottery and Creole dolls dressed in madras. Jewelry is a perennial favorite for St. Maarten shoppers; the Front Street jewelers offer everything from loose diamonds and emeralds to original creations in gold and silver. Dominica is justifiably known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean"; with unspoiled rainforests, one of the world's largest Boiling Lakes and a host of waterfalls. Immerse yourself in the glorious surroundings and leave room in your heart for the next port of call.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart St. Martin, French – Leeward Islands
Partitioned between two different nations, St. Martin/St. Maarten has been shared by the French and the Dutch for almost 350 years. The French tend to emphasize comfort and elegance; the beaches are secluded, and the latest French fashions can be found in many of the shops. Three different cultures can be experienced in one day; the remnants of Dutch colonialism in Philipsburg and French chic in Marigot, both infused with Caribbean flair.

Day 2 - Martinque - French
Martinique is a slice of France set down in the tropics. Islanders wear Paris fashions and eat croissants. Zouk music pouring out of tape players, radios and cars remind you, however, that Martinicans have a culture of their own, solidly based on West Indian Creole traditions. Take a lush jungle walk through Les Ombrages, a botanical garden situated at the site of what was once a rum distillery. A trail passes by stands of bamboo, tall trees with buttressed roots, torch gingers and the ruins of an old mill.

Day 3 - Grenada
Dubbed the 'Spice Island' because of its impressive production of nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, ginger and cloves, Grenada has a rugged mountainous interior of rainforests and waterfalls and an indented coastline with protected bays and secluded beaches. Fort George, Grenada's oldest fort, built by the French in 1705, offers stunning views of the harbor, the Lagoon and Grande Anse. Take a leisurely tour of the Grenada National Museum where the collection in this 1704 building, includes Amerindian pottery fragments, an old rum still and a grubby marble bathtub that belonged to Empress Josephine.

Day 4 - Bequia
This tiny island has a unique, magical charm which is hard to find anywhere else in the Caribbean, fulfilling many dreams of the perfect small Caribbean island: beautiful sandy beaches, lush green hillsides, attractive little villages, places to get together and places in which to find that perfect solitude. Bequia is surrounded by some of the most beautiful waters in the world for sailing. The harbor in Admiralty Bay is famous as a mecca for visiting yachts, with safe sheltered anchoring, and a lively yachting community.

Day 5 - St. Vincent & The Grenadines
St. Vincent & The Grenadines form a multi-island nation well known to wintering yachters, aristocrats and rock stars, but off the beaten path for most other visitors. Despite its pockets of lotus-eating luxury, for the most part it's a refreshingly rugged and raw-edged backwater. Kingstown, the capitol, is best appreciated for its West Indian, featuring cobblestone streets, produce vendors, the crowds at the fish market and its stone-block colonial buildings. Kingstown is known for its churches. The 1820s St Mary's Cathedral of the Assumption (Catholic) has an eclectic mix of Romanesque arches and columns, Gothic spires and Moorish ornamentation.

Day 6 - St. Lucia
St. Lucia is a high, green island, with a spicy history dating back to the 1550s when St Lucia's first French settler, Jambe de Bois ('Wooden Leg'), used it as a base for raiding passing Spanish ships. Tour through Pigeon Island, which is more a historical monument than a nature reserve, with ruins dating from the mid-1700s, including a fortress, barracks and some rusting cannons. The grounds are well endowed with lofty trees, including a few big banyans, and you'll get fine views of the coast and nearby Martinique.

Day 7 - Dominica
Largely rural, un-crowded and unspoiled, Dominica touts itself as a 'non-tourist destination' for divers, hikers and naturalists - partly because it lacks those white-sand beaches so favored by holidaymakers to the Caribbean. The Dominica Museum offers an insightful glimpse into the culture and history of the Dominican people. You'll find Native American artifacts, including stone axes and other tools, adornos (Arawak clay figurines) and a gommier (Candle Tree) dugout. Informative displays delve into Carib lifestyles, Creole culture and the slave trade. There’s also a collection of French and English colonial coins used on Dominica in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Day 8 - Guadeloupe - French
Gaudeloupe is the center of the Caribbean’s Creole Culture, boasting a spirited blend of French and African influences. As well as for its sugar and rum as for its beaches and resorts, the archipelago offers an interesting mix of modern towns, rural hamlets, rainforests and secluded beaches. In the town of Bellevue,The Muse Du Rhum is dedicated to the history of sugar and rum production, at the site of the former Reimonena Distillery. Exhibits include an old distillery, cane-extraction gears, model ships, a fascinating collection of giant insects from around the globe, and a vapor machine dating from 1707.

Day 9 - St. Kitts and Nevis
Like no other island in the Caribbean, St. Kitts seems to embody a kind of lush tropical paradise usually associated with the South Pacific. It is an intoxicating blend of sunlight, sea, air and fantastically abundant vegetation. In Basseterre's Historic District, towards the centre of the town, there are excellent examples of Creole and West Indian architecture. Artists of St. Kitts and Nevis create works inspired by their own native traditions, life on the islands, and African roots. Pottery is especially notable, both red clay pieces and pieces fired with colorful glazes and indigenous designs.

Day 10 - St. Martin, French – Leeward Islands
Disembark

Price Includes: All accommodations aboard ship and all meals, wine and beer with lunch and dinner and nonalcoholic beverages aboard ship, transfers when group flights are used, taxes and service charges, use of snorkeling gear, services of a ship physician and services of our expedition staff.

Price Does Not Include: Air transportation, passport, visa and security fees, immigration fees, meals not indicated, baggage/accident/travel protection plans, items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages not indicated avove, e-mail, laundry. Gratuities to ship's crew at your discretion.

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All rates are per person, double occupancy. Port charges, Government taxes and fees are additional. Limited availability and based on minimum fares for select departure dates. Other dates may be higher. These rates are for new, individual bookings only. Not responsible for last minute changes of price or itinerary by cruise line, or any errors or omissions in the content of this site. Some restrictions and cancellation penalties may apply.