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Through the Lesser Antilles

Through the Lesser Antilles

From €5,295 EUR

Description

A windjammer rendezvous in idyllic waters
When the SEA CLOUD meets the SEA CLOUD II 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.

Bequia: a sailors’ haunt
Bequia is a very special gem in the picture-perfect island chain that is the Grenadines. For many years the island was known only to sailors and adventurers, which preserved much of its original, old Caribbean charm. With its colourful wooden houses, free-roaming hens and sailing yachts that span the full range of ages and prices, it is hard not to get swept up in the relaxing and uplifting atmosphere felt all over the island.

French style on the ÎIes des Saintes
The ÎIes des Saintes give such a welcoming first impression, though the historical Fort Napoléon that towers over the main island is a reminder of less peaceful times. This small town’s promenade is perfect for taking a stroll, and here the savoir-vivre unfolds against a backdrop of the glowing pastel colours of the Caribbean.

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
Through the Lesser Antilles
Days
12
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 - Bridgetown (Barbados)
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 2 - Day 2 - 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 3 - Day 3 - St. George's
Beautiful beaches, aromatic spice plantations, dense rainforests, waterfalls and a volcano that has long been extinct, picturesquely towering over this stunningly beautiful island. For many people, Grenada is the incarnation of a tropical paradise and St George's the most beautiful little port in the Grenadines. All around the horseshoe-shaped bay there are numerous houses that remind you of colonial times. There is good reason why nutmeg is immortalised on the national flag. Alongside cloves, cinnamon and ginger, it is one of the island's biggest exports.
Day 4 - Day 4 - Tobago Cays & Chatham Bay/Union Island
Right in the south of the Grenadines are Union Island and the Tobago Cays. Union Island was given the evocative name "the Tahiti of the West Indies" thanks to its volcanic silhouette. Four small uninhabited islands, surrounded by a protective horseshoe-shaped coral reef, form the Tobago Cays. The Horseshoe Reef holds the Atlantic swell at bay and its unique animal and plant life make it an ideal place for snorkelling. The lagoon between the islets shimmers in all shades from turquoise through to emerald green and invites you to take a dip at the fantastic beaches.
Day 5 - Day 5 - 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 6 - Day 6 - Les Anses-d’Arlet & Sailing together with SEA CLOUD II
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Day 7 - Day 7 - 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 8 - Day 8 - 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 9 - Day 9 - Basseterre/ St. Kitts
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Day 10 - Day 10 & 11 - 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 11 - Day 12 - 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 12 - Please Note:
Itinerary subject to change!

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
29-03-201809-04-2018€7,055Category 4
29-03-201809-04-2018€6,095Category 5
29-03-201809-04-2018€5,295GTY Double Cabin
29-03-201809-04-2018€10,695Category C
29-03-201809-04-2018€11,455Category B
29-03-201809-04-2018€8,155Category 3
29-03-201809-04-2018€12,255Category A
29-03-201809-04-2018€7,855GTY Single Cabin
29-03-201809-04-2018€8,795Category 2
29-03-201809-04-2018€9,255Category 1

Inclusions

    • A lecturer accompanies the trip
    • French style on the ÎIes des Saintes
    • A windjammer rendezvous in idyllic waters
    • the SEA CLOUD meets the SEA CLOUD II
    • Bequia: a sailors’ haunt

Map