Philipsburg to Philipsburg - 8 Day Sailing Cruise

Description

Embark on an 8-day sailing cruise through the Caribbean, where the beauty of the region unfolds before you. Experience the perfect sailing conditions with warm and steady trade winds, making each day on the water a delight. Immerse yourself in the laid-back lifestyle of yacht owners, embracing the barefoot simplicity of rustic beach bars. Discover the pure tropical nature that surrounds you, with inspiring green volcanoes and vibrant national parks creating a breathtaking backdrop. Indulge in the luxury and glamour of St Barths, where chic marinas, designer stores, and pristine white sandy beaches await. Let the Caribbean’s timeless allure captivate your senses as you sail from St Maarten and back, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Please note that the provided itinerary is just an example and is subject to change. Each departure has its own unique itinerary. For more information and specific details, please contact us.

Trip Name

Philipsburg to Philipsburg - 8 Day Sailing Cruise

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Tall Ship (Sailing) Length: 109 metres Passenger Capacity: 64 Built / refurbished: 1931 / 2011 Sea Cloud is a ship with a soul, imbued by the original owners, Marjorie Merriweather Post and her husband E.F. Hutton in the 1930’s. The ship has played host to royalty, known service in wartime, and sailed the world over. She is a vessel of incomparable grace that harks back to the golden age of ship travel. Once you’ve been on Sea Cloud under full sail, you’ll begin your own love affair. Welcome aboard a legend Sea Cloud accommodates 58 guests in 28 outside cabins including two original owner’s suites that still feature original marble baths and fireplaces. At 360 feet she is an expansive ship with extensive public spaces on the top deck, where we luxuriate in deck chairs and watch the crew of 18 go aloft in the web of riggings to hand-set her 30 sails. Her dining room is hung with marine oil paintings of the period and accommodates all guests at once for a single seating. We’ll gather in the lounge each evening for Recap. Life aboard is a uniquely pleasing mix of elegance and informality—a return to the golden age of sailing in shorts and deck shoes. You’ll find all shipboard services impeccable. Discover the romance of tall ship sailingExperience something many people don’t know exists in the 21st century—the romance of life under square sails. Discover the thrill of standing on deck as Sea Cloud gently glides through the water, her crew aloft in the riggings, running out and reefing sails. Settle in to your favorite areas on the top deck and bask in the incomparable experience of traveling aboard the finest tall ship to ever sail the seas. Lose yourself in an adventure that, in this day and age, is almost unimaginable. Please note deck and suite plans are indicative only and may vary slightly.

Itinerary

Day 1 - DAY 1, Philipsburg/St Maarten

Departure 07.00 pm Dutch in the south, French in the north – on St. Maarten you will find an unusual piece of Europe in the middle of the Caribbean. Because of the natural salt deposits, the Dutch West India Company once claimed the island for itself and – according to legend – divided the island up in 1648 after a drinking competition with the French. In the colorful port city of Philipsburg, a day at the beach can be perfectly combined with a stroll through town: From the fine sandy Great Bay Beach it is only a stone's throw to the Boardwalk with its restaurants and to the boutiques of the small city center.

Day 2 - DAY 2, North Sound/Virgin Gorda

Arrival 01.00 pm, Departure 11.00 pm Explorers and privateers once used to cross swords in the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Nowadays the sea around the British Virgin Islands is one of the world's best sailing areas. Heavenly bays, gorgeous beaches, idyllic anchoring spots, smart yacht clubs and charming little beach bars make the island a popular haunt for sailors. On Virgin Gorda, once called "The Fat Virgin" by Columbus due to its shape, you can find "The Baths", one of nature's most beautiful oddities, in the National Park. Ground to a sphere and polished to a shine, the huge granite formations on the beach and in the water create a multi-branched labyrinth of giant boulders.

Day 3 - DAY 3, Norman Island/British Virgin Islands

Arrival 09.00 am, Departure 05.00 pm It almost seems as if no other career choice than pirate was possible in the 17th and 18th centuries in the British Virgin Islands. Jost van Dyke, Blackbeard, Francis Drake – they all went on the prowl in the Dream Territory during the golden age of privateering. Norman Island was named after the pirate captain Norman, who allegedly hid his treasures here, and inspired Robert Mouis Stevenson to write his adventure novel „Treasure Island.“ If you dig a little in the fine sand on the uninhabitated private island today, you probably wont discover any gold coins, but you will discover an equally valuable treasure: deep, Caribbean relaxation.

Day 4 - DAY 4, Day beneath full sails

Climbing the rigging, untying ropes, setting sails – today is all about sailing. Time to lean back and relax in the deck chair and watch the passionate crew hoisting the sails by hand.

Day 5 - DAY 5, Terre-de-Haut/Îles des Saintes

Arrival 08.00 am, Departure 05.00 pm Îles des Saintes is a small archipelago which was disputed for a long time until it finally became French in 1816. In the charming main town of Terre-de-Haut, you can take a delightful stroll along the waterside promenade. Boutiques, cafés, bars and restaurants invite you to browse and spend some time here. The 'savoir vivre' takes place against a backdrop lit up in all the pastel shades of the Caribbean. Fort Napoleon is set high above the bay and your climb up to it is rewarded by a spectacular panoramic view. On the other side of the island, the Plage de Pompierre invites you to enjoy a dip in the sea and sunbathe on the beach.

Day 6 - DAY 6, Cabrits/Dominica

Arrival 08.00 am, Departure 01.30 pm Dominica, nicknamed the "Nature Isle" of the Caribbean, is one of the most untouched of the Windward Islands. It boasts some of the highest mountains in the Lesser Antilles, as well as many beautiful national parks. Its interior is characterised by thick virgin forest, where rivers plunge into the depths and tiny streams wind through the jungle. Two extinct volcanoes are at the center of the Cabrits National Park and, recaptured by nature, the former strategically important Fort Stanley appears like a picturesque backdrop in the heart of the jungle.

Day 7 - DAY 7, Gustavia/St Barthélemy

Arrival 01.30 pm, Departure 11.00 pm St Barthélemy, affectionately known as St Barths by most, had already had many "owners" before the Lesser Antilles were acquired by France in 1877. When the first estate was acquired by the banker David Rockefeller in 1957, the island's future was finally sealed. It became a refuge for the international jet set and an elegant holiday paradise for many Hollywood stars. For over 40 years, St Barths has cultivated a luxurious lifestyle with a Caribbean laissez-faire approach. You can stroll through the charming main town of Gustavia, whose beautifully restored houses and colonial facades look out over the sea with its elegant superyachts, browse in the shops for precious items, or enjoy a sundowner in the picturesque harbor surrounded by clusters of high class bars and restaurants.

Day 8 - DAY 8, Philipsburg/St Maarten

Arrival 08.00 am Dutch in the south, French in the north – on St. Maarten you will find an unusual piece of Europe in the middle of the Caribbean. Because of the natural salt deposits, the Dutch West India Company once claimed the island for itself and – according to legend – divided the island up in 1648 after a drinking competition with the French. In the colorful port city of Philipsburg, a day at the beach can be perfectly combined with a stroll through town: From the fine sandy Great Bay Beach it is only a stone's throw to the Boardwalk with its restaurants and to the boutiques of the small city center.

Day 9 - Please Note:

Please note that the provided itinerary is just an example and is subject to change. Each departure has its own unique itinerary. For more information and specific details, please contact us.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

The perfect windjammer area: Warm and steady trade winds make for ideal sailing conditions
Relaxed yachties among themselves: Taste the laid-back barefoot lifestyle of the boat owners in the rustic beach bars of Virgin Gorda and the Îles des Saintes
Pure tropical nature: inspiring green volcanoes and colorful national parks on the island beauty of Dominica
Luxury life on St Barths: vacation retreat of Hollywood stars with chic marinas, classy designer stores and white sandy beaches