Caribbean: Round-trip Barbados to Dominica

Arrive in Bridgetown and board the Sea Cloud II. Settle in to your cabin and attend a welcome dinner as the ship sets sail.

Enjoy this day offshore, relaxing and taking in the smell of the fresh ocean breeze up on deck.

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.

In Falmouth Harbour's neighbouring bay lies an old natural harbor fortified by the Royal Navy. This British naval base was important in the 18th and 19th centuries and is known as the English Harbour. The imposing fortifications, Georgian docks, and lovingly restored former workshops, dwellings, and warehouses in Nelson's Dockyard remind of the time when Britain "ruled the waves". From the old fortifications at Shirley Heights you have a breathtaking view over the port and the whole coastline. There is partying and dancing on the weekends, with live music from popular steel and reggae bands.

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.

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 characterized 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 Cabrits National Park and, recaptured by nature, the former strategically important Fort Stanley appears like a picturesque backdrop in the heart of the jungle.

Return to Bridgetown and disembark after breakfast for your continued independent journeys.