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Easter Caribbean: Natural Paradises & Famous Sailors’ Haunts

Easter Caribbean: Natural Paradises & Famous Sailors’ Haunts

From €4,855 EUR

Description

A windjammer rendezvous in idyllic waters
When the Sea Cloud ii meets the Sea Cloud against an exquisite Caribbean backdrop and they sail together, there is a real sense of joy at the reunion of these two ships. One moment, the windjammers glide majestically side by side; then again they compete in a playful race under full sail. The elegant sisters cruise for a whole afternoon between St Lucia and Martinique, offering some stunning photo opportunities.

The jet set island of St Barts
St Barthélemy has had several masters: the Spanish, the Swedes, the French and the Knights of Malta. However, it is now firmly in the hands of the jet set, who comes here for short breaks to get away from it all. All of the yachts in the harbour are worth looking at, as are the bars and restaurants.

The magnificent Pitons of St Lucia
Gros and Petit Piton, the two famous volcanic plugs that tower over St Lucia, could have come straight out of a tropical storybook. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offer a spectacular panorama as the Sea Cloud ii sails closely alongside their slopes.

A lecturer accompanies the trip
Knowledge, entertainment and facts – our expert is on hand to give talks on a wide variety of specialist subjects. He will also be on board to answer any questions that you may have.

Trip Name
Easter Caribbean: Natural Paradises & Famous Sailors’ Haunts
Days
11
Overview
Vessel Type: Tall Ship (Sailing) Length: 105 metres Passenger Capacity: 96 Built: 2001 Launched in 2001, Sea Cloud II is a stunning vessel, built along traditional lines, but offering deluxe accommodation. She combines timeless elegance of sailing ships of the past with the highest safety standards and the luxurious comfort of modern cruise ships. Just like her legendary sister ship Sea Cloud, the 29,600 square feet of sails is set by hand which is a truly magical sight. Built to accommodate 96 passengers in five star luxury, she offers a range of beautifully appointed suites and cabins which are furnished with great style. All accommodations have outside views and the bathrooms, in light marble, are unusually spacious and extremely comfortable. The finest, carefully chosen fabrics, combined with leather, rattan and other materials, brass and gold, precious woods and marble together create an impressive ensemble. No expense has been spared to create a sympathetic ambience in both the accommodations and public areas and this is reflected throughout the vessel. Public areas include an elegant lounge, library, fitness centre, boutique, lido bar and hospital. The single sitting dining room is airy and modern and the quality of the cuisine and service will be to the highest of standards, as one would expect on a Sea Cloud cruise. Relax on the Lido deck and experience the natural grandeur of travelling under sail, rekindling memories of a bygone age. Please note deck and suite plans are indicative only and may vary slightly.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 - St. John's/Antigua
St John's is the capital of this small island in the Antilles, a former British colony. From Shirley Heights in the south you have a fantastic view over the English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard, an old restored shipyard named after the Admiral. Visit Betty's Hope, a restored sugar mill where "white gold" would have been processed during the island's bitter past. Now sweet black pineapples grow in the gentle rolling landscape around Boggy Peak. The coast is lined with bays and lagoons, dazzling white palm-filled beaches - one for every day of the year - and an almost unbroken coral reef.
Day 2 - Day 2 - At Sea
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Day 3 - Day 3 - North Sound/Virgin Gorda
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 4 - Days 4 & 5 - Gustavia/St Barthélemy
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 harbour surrounded by clusters of high class bars and restaurants.
Day 5 - Day 6 - Cabrits & Terre-de-Haut/Îles des Saintes
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 centre 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 6 - Day 7 - Terre-de-Haut/Îles des Saintes
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 7 - Day 8 - Port Elizabeth/Bequia
Bequia is actually the largest island in the Grenadines, but still small and tranquil at just 18 square kilometres (87 square miles) in size. Elegant sailing yachts sway in the natural shelter of Admiralty Bay, while in lovely Port Elizabeth, with its attractive beach bars, you are right in the heart of a lifestyle that likes to take things easy. You can find Princess Margaret Beach just nearby, named because it was once visited by the British royal. On the eastern coast you can find the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary which focuses on rearing and caring for endangered turtles.
Day 8 - Day 9 - Les Anses-d’Arlet
Sailing together with SEA CLOUD
Day 9 - Day 10 - Soufrière
Two famous volcanic cones are indisputably the emblem of St Lucia and have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Gros and Petit Piton tower over the southern, windward side of the island and, in Soufrière, seem close enough to touch. The volcanoes have in fact long been extinct, but the sulphur springs demonstrate the power of the earth's core and still bubble up. In the Botanical Gardens, natural abundance is combined with artistic arrangements to create a colourful tropical paradise. Some people claim that Josephine, who later became Napoleon's wife, used to bathe in the little pool in the garden.
Day 10 - Day 11 - Bridgetown
More than 300 years of British rule have left their mark. The whole of Bridgetown, Barbados' historic centre, with its colonial architecture surrounding Trafalgar Square, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gentle green hilly countryside and endless fields of sugar cane characterise the island's landscape. Old colonial houses are reminders of the high life of the plantation owners, while innumerable colourful chattel houses are evidence of their workers' "moveable property". The sweeping coastline is a picture postcard of fine sandy beaches and turquoise sea surrounded by colourful coral reefs.
Day 11 - Please Note:
Itinerary subject to change!

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
26-03-201805-04-2018€5,995Category E
26-03-201805-04-2018€6,695Category D
26-03-201805-04-2018€5,255Category F Upper/Lower Beds
26-03-201805-04-2018€6,555GTY Single Cabin
26-03-201805-04-2018€7,155Category C
26-03-201805-04-2018€9,355Category A
26-03-201805-04-2018€8,395Category B
26-03-201805-04-2018€4,855GTY Double Cabin

Inclusions

    • A windjammer rendezvous in idyllic waters
    • the Sea Cloud II meets the Sea Cloud
    • The jet set island of St Barts
    • The magnificent Pitons of St Lucia
    • A lecturer accompanies the trip

Map