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RITZ-CARLTON
SINT MAARTEN TO BARBADOS
PHILIPSBURG, SINT MAARTEN
TO BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS
All-Inclusive Luxury Cruise
ABOARD THE RITZ-CARLTON YACHT COLLECTION
7 Nights | November 21, 2020 - November 28, 2020
Fares from $4600 per person
Taxes, fees and port expenses of $391 per passenger are additional.
Fares are per person based on double occupancy.
Highlights:
Philipsburg, Little Bay, Terre-deHaut, Roseau, Le Maren, Bridgetown
Embark on a voyage through the Lower Eastern Caribbean, whose mountainous islands were forged by volcanos, a number of them still active. Beyond the dramatic land and seascapes, experience the distinctive style, celebrated cuisine and culture of the French Antilles.
DAY 1 | PHILIPSBURG,
ST. MAARTEN
For nearly 400 years, the Netherlands and France have shared the island known as St. Maarten on the Dutch side and St. Martin on the French. Home to 37 beaches and an array of tropical experiences, the island’s dual cultural profile sets it apart from other Caribbean destinations. Philipsburg, the capital of the Dutch side, is a bustling port with a lively waterfront, colorful shopping district, casinos, and restaurants serving international fare. Water sports, like sailing, and rainforest explorations are all within easy reach of its docks. Less than 10 kilometers away is the French capital of Marigot, with its cafés, patisseries and low-key vibe. The restaurants and bistros of Grand Case, a village on the north coast, are celebrated for serving the best of French-Caribbean cuisine. Orient Beach, also on the French side, is an island favorite thanks to its long expanse of sand.
DAY 2 | SAILING TIME
With a day at sea, enjoy the unique opportunity to unplug and relax into the unhurried life on board. Enjoy a workout with a view at the gym, indulge in a relaxing spa treatment, watch the sky transform at sunset from The Observation Lounge, or find an intimate alcove in The Living Room and lose yourself in a favorite book.
DAY 3 | LITTLE BAY,
MONTSERRAT
Monserrat represents a unique opportunity to experience the forces of nature – both destructive and creative – that have forged the mountainous idylls of the Caribbean. After decades of dormancy, the island’s Soufrière Hills volcano erupted in 1995, causing widespread devastation. Ongoing explosions and other volcanic activity turned more than half the land into an “Exclusion Zone.” Incredibly, the northern half was largely untouched, its rugged landscape still as lush and green as the historic nickname of “the Emerald Isle” – also a nod to the many Irish who settled here – would suggest. On the northwest coast, the harbor at Little Bay is the site of a new capital to replace Plymouth. The ruins of that historic capital, buried in ash like Pompeii, are a fascinating, if sobering, sight. In the island’s unrestricted areas, the Centre Hills forest has great hiking trails, while dramatic seascapes such as those on the New Beach offer both birdwatching and snorkeling.
DAY 4 | TERRE-DE-HAUT,
LE SAINTES, GUADELOUPE
Les Saintes are a volcanic archipelago of two islands and seven uninhabited islets surrounded by thriving coral reefs and clear seas. Small at just over two square miles, Terre-de-Haut is the most developed of the group, thanks to an anchorage-rich coastline of scenic bays, natural harbors, quiet beaches and charmingly picturesque villages. The ambience is decidedly low-key, and days are devoted to beachgoing, hiking, snorkeling and diving. The island, too hilly and arid for agriculture, boasts longstanding maritime traditions and a rich Norman-Breton heritage dating to the first French settlers. The main town of Bourg des Saintes is home to cafés, bistros, the historic church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption and Fort Napoleon. Built on the ruins of Fort Louis, the 19th-century garrison was used as a prison and today houses a cultural history museum with a botanical garden and the best views of Les Saintes.
DAY 5 | POINTE-A-PITRE,
GUADELOUPE
A narrow waterway separates Guadeloupe’s two largest islands, whose wing-like shapes inspired the nickname – “le papillon,” or butterfly – for this overseas department of France. The busy port town of Pointe-à-Pitre sits on the eastern island of Grande-Terre near the bridges to Basse-Terre, offering easy access to both. Grande-Terre is known for beautiful sandy beaches, the most popular along the reef-sheltered southern coast, and restaurants serving Guadeloupe’s best Creole cuisine. Basse-Terre is forested and mountainous – the active volcano La Grande Soufrière is the tallest peak. Its beaches are strikingly diverse, ranging from sugar white to volcanic ebony. On Basse-Terre’s quieter west coast, Plage de la Malendure is a leading diving center. Back in port, the Mémorial ACTe museum, dedicated to the complex global history of slavery, has been a top attraction since opening in 2015.
DAY 6 | ROSEAU, DOMINICA
Rugged mountains, rainforest, black sand beaches and natural wonders: this is Dominica, the Nature Island. Volcanoes forged the striking interior of high peaks, deep gorges, rivers and waterfalls. Geothermal forces are still at work, from roiling the waters of Boiling Lake to blowing bubbles at Champagne Reef. The dramatic underwater topography of boulders, plunging stone walls and ancient craters is filled with colorful tropical fish, making for great diving and snorkeling as well as whale watching. A stroll along the winding streets and waterfront promenades of the capital city of Roseau reveals a mixed French and English colonial legacy. Dominica’s culture is a rich, unique blend of African and European heritage along with Carib, thanks to the rare surviving community known as the Kalinago.
DAY 7 | LE MARIN, MARTINIQUE
The yachting capital of Martinique, Le Marin sits at the head of a deep bay and has one of the largest marinas in the Caribbean. At the center of town is one of the area’s few historic sights, the 18th-century stone church of Église Saint-Étienne, whose design suggests an overturned ship’s hull. Businesses in Le Marin are oriented to sailors and yachtsmen, who enjoy the lively ambience in the waterfront bars and clubs. The nearby peninsula of Sainte-Anne is home to the island’s best beaches, the celebrated Grande Anse des Salines among them. Steps from those famous sands, La Savane des Pétrifications is a protected nature area of colorful rocks and desert-like formations on the site of ancient marshes and an even older volcano. This petrified savannah is one of the stops along the Trace des Caps hiking path that follows Martinique’s southern shores. West of Le Marin, Le Morne Gommier offers beautiful panoramic views of the island.
DAY 8 | BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS
Barbados is a sophisticated tropical beauty steeped in English heritage and enlivened by the warm Bajan culture. In the capital of Bridgetown, the well-preserved Old Town and historic Garrison district represent an impressive British legacy designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. The island’s lush interior is largely covered in forest and fields of sugar cane, a source of prized rums and great colonial fortunes. Attractions include restored great houses, a wildlife preserve, the underground formations of Harrison’s Cave, first-rate golfing and some 60 beaches of incredible variety. To the west are white sands and gentle azure waters. The south is the center for both nightlife and reef snorkeling, while the high cliffs of the southeast form a stunning backdrop for windsurfing. The windswept east coast, with its pounding Atlantic surf, is Barbados at its most rugged and wild.
THE SHORE COLLECTION
Discover curated experiences designed to ensure each moment ashore is uniquely rewarding. No matter which you choose, each excursion has been created to provide an exceptional travel experience. For those who prefer the freedom and flexibility of independent travel, the Concierge Ashore can transform tours into a private experience or craft an entire bespoke event just for you.
The Shore Collection excursions are available for booking 120 days prior to embarkation.
LITTLE BAY
• Birds Eye View Helicopter Tour
• Hike the Oriole Trail
POINTE-A-PITRE
• Guadeloupe Cooking Tour
• Historical Guadeloupe Tour
• Jet Ski Grande Terre's Atlantic Coast
TERRE-DE-HAUT
• Hiking Up Terre-de-Haut
• Clear Kayaking
ROSEAU
• Dominica: Land of Waterfalls
• River Tubing Adventure
• Sport Fishing off the Coast of Dominica
• Snorkeling in Champagne Reef
• Two Tank Certified Dive in Soufriere-Scott's Head Marine Reserve
LE MARIN
• Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga
BRIDGETOWN
• Botanical Gardens and Concorde Visit
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