This is the Caribbean of days gone by – deep blue waters, quiet coves and tropical islands dotted with powdery beaches and lush green hillsides. Sail from the rugged natural beauty of St. Lucia to little-known isles that are off the tourist radar. Explore the Caribbean on your small ship cruise - from colorful Bequia and Mayreau in the Grenadines to the open-air markets of exotic St. George’s, you’ll discover a part of the Caribbean that remains authentic and unspoiled. This Caribbean tour is everything that makes the Caribbean synonymous with paradise.
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
With a consistency uncommon in the Caribbean, the Union Jack flew over "Little England" for more than 300 years until it gained independence in 1966. This means that the historic city and its garrison offer an unusually unsullied look at British colonial architecture in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries—a circumstance that has earned them UNESCO designation. Stop by Queen's Park with its gigantic 175-year-old Baobab Tree. Visit the George Washington House at the top of Bush Hill where the first president really did sleep in 1751. Beyond the town, plantation houses, rum distilleries, and colorful chattel houses dot the landscape, along with natural wonders such as Harrison's Cave, a fairyland of stalactites, stalagmites, and even underground rivers cascading into underground lakes. Embark your ship this evening and settle in for your upcoming Caribbean adventure.
Day 2: Pigeon Island, St. Lucia
Your Barbados cruise begins with a dramatic approach to St. Lucia, with its iconic twin Pitons rising from the sea, hints at the wonders ahead. The rain forest is home to giant primeval ferns, wild orchids, and birds of paradise, while flamboyantly colored birds like the indigenous St. Lucia parrot fly overhead. Along the coast, you'll find the remains of old fortresses, warm and welcoming villages, and open-air markets brimming with locally made batik fabrics and woven hats. Offshore is a treasure trove of pristine coral reefs, peacock fish, parrotfish, and other species. We'll dock at Rodney Bay Village rather than the more developed cruise ship port of Castries, giving you the choice of whether to head for civilization or focus on a blissful escape from it.
Day 3: At Sea
This is your invitation to a day of indulgence. Treat yourself to a luxurious spa experience. Stretch out by the pool with your favorite beverage. Grab a great book or your favorite movie from the library. Stretch your muscles with the state-of-the-art fitness equipment. Dine in sumptuous casual style, or wrap yourself in that comfy waffle-weave robe and enjoy your meal in the privacy of your beautiful stateroom. Your delight is the single priority for your day at sea.
Day 4: St Georges, Grenada
St. George's is one of, if not the loveliest city in the West Indies and one of the most fascinating on your Caribbean cruise. The horseshoe-shaped harbor is surrounded by sherbet-colored Georgian buildings with red fish-scale roofs, the air smells of exotic blooms and the spices for which this island is famous, and Grand Anse beach beckons nearby with its two miles of sugar-white beach. With its translucent waters, it may be hard to tear yourself away from the sea, but more attractions await inland including lush Grand Etang National Park with its chipmunk-cheeked mona monkeys, fragrant spice plantations, and the island's colonial history at Fort Frederick and Fort George. A taste of nutmeg ice cream is the perfect conclusion to a day well spent.
Day 5: Tobago Cays, Grenadines
A highlight of your small ship cruise is the port that's not a port: Tobago Cays. This marine park includes uninhabited islands perfect for your Robinson Crusoe fantasies, a wealth of marine life, and pristine beaches with shallow water perfect for beginners learning to snorkel. Green and Hawksbill turtles frequent these waters, especially around Baradal Island, a turtle sanctuary. With visibility of up to 120 feet, you have a good chance of seeing them both from above and below the water. The coral reefs are home to colorful hard and soft corals, fans, whips, sponges, and a profusion of fish. And when you tire of exploring the world below the surface, there's plenty of room on deck for you to pull up a chair, order a rum punch, and toast another perfect day.
Day 6: Mayreau, Grenadines
At one and a half square miles, Mayreau has room for just one small village, one road, a population of about 300, and far more than its share of spectacular beaches. It's only reachable by boat, and electricity was just introduced in 2002, so it's free of many of the usual "distractions" you find in the Caribbean. In their place, you'll find time to appreciate the perfect half-moon beach at Saltwhistle Bay, the hourglass isthmus that separates it from its doppelganger on the Atlantic side, and the kind of quirky establishments that materialize in a place so far off the beaten path that there is no path, just a trail of luminescence across the bay.
Day 7: Bequia, Grenadines
Life in Bequia revolves around the sea. Walk through the pretty town of Port Elizabeth, set on one of the loveliest and best-sheltered harbors in the Caribbean, and you’ll see fish nets drying in the sun. Boats are built on the beach in the shade of palm trees, and many yachtsmen have come here to have a fine schooner built by hand. (Or take home a model ship, perfect in detail.) Once an active whaling station, Bequia today is a favorite among Caribbean insiders and yachties for its unspoiled beauty and easy pace.
Day 8: Bridgetown, Barbados
Disembark this morning for your continued journey home.
Dates & Prices
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We are so glad that we chose Adventure Life. The service is top-notch. Everything is well taken care of and we just have to print the documents and go. Franny even gave us timely updates on possible airport strike.
KC Chan
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.