Exotic Caribbean Isles In-Depth on Seabourn Ovation

After enjoying your complimentary airport lounge access, fly out to Barbados, where you’ll be met by a driver and brought aboard your luxury ship. Each of its all-suite cabins enjoy ocean views and complimentary minibars stocked to your preferences – the first of many all-inclusive delights. Indeed, open cocktail bars are paired with full-board fine dining, from the Thomas Keller grill and al-fresco pizzeria to afternoon tea and French-American fineries. You’ll also have time to acquaint yourself with the facilities, which include a fitness centre, card room and salon. Of course, Barbados also excites. Look beyond its pristine beaches for 17th-century English churches and brightly coloured homes, evidencing the island’s contrasting British and Caribbean influences.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

St. Lucia is the sort of island that travellers to the Caribbean dream about – a small, lush, tropical gem that is still relatively unknown. It’s dominated by a dramatic pair of coastal peaks, the Pitons, which shelter a magnificent rainforest that’s home to wild orchids and birds of paradise. The dramatic twin coastal peaks, the Pitons, soar up from the sea, sheltering magnificent rain forests where wild orchids, giant ferns and birds of paradise flourish. The indigenous St. Lucia parrot is a particular favourite. 

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

A relaxed day at sea gives you time to full explore your ship and try out the many onboard activities, bars and restaurants. Relax by the pool, head to the gym,  try your luck at the casino or simply relax with a cocktail. 

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Little Bay’s charm lies in its intimate and unspoiled nature, a picturesque escape that’s as peaceful as it is beautiful. The bay is framed by lush hills that provide a stunning backdrop, while the warm, crystal-clear waters beckon for a refreshing dip or a leisurely swim. Little Bay offers a perfect blend of relaxation and natural wonder.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Although Antigua might be best known for its beach and golf resorts, be sure to also head inland, past farms and tiny villages to the commanding fortress on Shirly Heights. Once a lookout for British frigates, today it’s an enclave of boutiques and restaurants. Back in St. John’s, Antigua’s capital, be sure visit its market and handful of colonial buildings.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Carambola is home to St. Kitts’s most luxurious beach clubs, making it ideal for some white-sands relaxation and water-sports fun. The island also features a number of lovingly looked-after plantation houses and the UNESCO-listed Brimstone Hill Fortress – one of the best-preserved historical fortifications in the Americas. It’s a 17th-century gem. There’s also a scenic narrow-gauge sugarcane railway, offering fantastic views of the island. 

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

The smallest of the four main British Virgin Islands, Jost van Dyke is named after a 17th-century Dutch pirate who was among the BVI’s first European settlers. Only three square miles in size, this rugged island remains largely unspoiled and is ideal for sunbathing on one of its white-sand beaches. Weather permitting, your Seabourn captain will anchor at Great Harbour on the island’s southern coast, the idyllic place to deploy the ship’s marina for a day of play in the warm Caribbean waters. From here, you can rent a dingy or charter a boat to explore some of the outlying islets and cays. Nearby Diamond Cay offers great snorkelling, as does The Playground, an iconic site that attracts manta rays, reef and nurse sharks, colourful parrotfish and squid. Alternatively, you can hike a few miles east of Great Harbour to the Bubbly Pool, where waves roll through the boulders to form a jacuzzi-like pool. Be sure to try a Painkiller, the island’s signature rum cocktail, at the world-famous Soggy Dollar Bar in White Bay.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Since 2010, Sint Maarten has been a part of the Netherlands, forming the “Dutch Side” to French Saint-Martin. Although its busy port - Philipsburg is the capital - has made it a haven for duty-free shopping, look closer and you’ll also find a small collection of picturesque beaches, especially around Simpson Bay and Little Bay. There are also catamaran cruises out to remote snorkelling and dive sites, alongside the infamous Maho Beach where jet planes buzz low overhead.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

This snug harbour at the western end of Tortola is the classic Caribbean yacht haven, tucked between a forested cay and high cliffs. This was once a notorious pirates’ den, who used the high ground to watch out for naval ships. It’s the perfect spot for your ship’s marina. There are also now plenty of restaurants and bars serving up the island’s famous wood-distilled rum and its requisite cocktails.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Return to the sugary sands of Carambola. Take advantage of one of the optional excursions here, including a panoramic drive through the historical town of Basseterre, the capital of St Kitts and the UNESCO listed Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park.  Or take to the tracks on the St Kitts Railway, for a captivating journey through the island's lush landscapes aboard the first scenic railway in the Caribbean.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Enjoy another relaxing and indulgent day onboard as you sail towards Martinique. 

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Volcanic Martinique is capped by the still-smoking Mont Pelée, its dramatic slopes spilling down into hiking rainforests and pretty beach bays. You’ll land near the colonial plantation and childhood home of Josephine Beauharnais, the Martinique-born woman who became the second wife and empress to Napoleon Bonaparte. Its stately home and manicured grounds are a harrowing illustration of the island’s past dichotomy between slaves and masters. Then, in nearby Fort-de-France, you’ll find a bustling market town complete with colonial vestiges and a library imported stone-by-stone from France. Alternatively, there’s the graceful cathedral and lush botanical gardens of Balata.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Billed as “the most perfect island in the whole Grenadines” by The Lonely Planet, Bequia is a paradise of white sands and blue seas. Bequia’s Admiralty Bay is a favourite yachtsman’s anchorage. However, it’s also retained all of its charm. A stroll along Belmont Walkway will see you mingle with laidback locals under the almond trees, perhaps picking up a homemade nutmeg ice cream in the shop run by the daughter of a former prime minister. Don’t also miss the excellent craftsmanship on display at the Sargeant Brothers Model Boat Shop. 

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

The island of Grenada rises up from the Caribbean in steep, volcanic mountains. Sheer cliffs and sandy beaches alternate as you proceed along the coast. The interior boasts rainforests, crater lakes, natural springs and waterfalls. Grenada's capital has long enjoyed the reputation of being the most picturesque harbour in the Caribbean. Founded by the French in 1732, the town retains many elements of its heritage, particularly in the architecture along Market Square and the Esplanade. Quaint buildings line the waterfront, tiny pastel houses stand between lush jungle and sandy beach, and multicolour-roofed bungalows cling to the hillsides. The island's fame is mainly a result of the spices it produces and exports all over the world.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

You’ll end back in Bridgetown, Barbados. An included transfer will also see you to a hotel for use of a day room before a final transfer to the airport for your overnight flight home. 

If you wish to extend tour experience with a stay on one of Barbados's luxury beachfront hotels, please speak to one of our specialists.