Day 1: Embark the m/v Tere Moana in Philipsburg, St. Maarten
The smallest island in the world to have been partitioned between two nations (France and the Netherlands),
St. Martin/St. Maarten has prospered in peaceful coexistence for nearly 350 years. Embark the m/v Tere Moana on the Dutch side of the island, St. Maarten, and enjoy time at leisure in its historic capital, renowned for its pastel-colored buildings, flower-filled courtyards, wealth of dining venues, and lively nightlife. The ship sets sail late in the evening.
Day 2: Road Town, Tortola, B.V.I.
The largest and by far the most populous of the British Virgin Islands, Tortola attracts visitors for its white-sand beaches framed by lush mountains and an azure sea. Spend a day in the island’s capital city, Road Town, named for a 17th- century term meaning “open anchorage.” Perhaps you’ll inhale the fragrance of tropical blooms at the J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens, or venture out to the hiking trails at Sage Mountain National Park. Or take advantage the excellent diving and snorkeling here.
Day 3: Soper’s Hole, Tortola, B.V.I.
Early this morning, The Moana sails to Frenchman’s Cay. Once a pirates’ hideaway, this spit of land is connected to Tortola’s west coast by a sand bar and a small bridge. Here, the ship drops anchor at Soper’s Hole, a quaint marina area that many consider the best in the British Virgin Islands. You have the full day to browse the shops or indulge in local watersports, including diving and windsurfing.
Day 4: Jost Van Dyke, B.V.I.
Sometimes called the “Barefoot Island,” Jost Van Dyke offers picture-postcard scenery and a relaxing, casual ambiance. You’ll have a full day to wander the beach that serves as its main street or relax on the island’s coral sands, considered among the loveliest beaches in the Caribbean. Ships wrecked on the coral reefs in days of old provide fascinating diving and snorkeling today. Back aboard this evening, perhaps you’ll admire one of the spectacular sunsets for which Jost Van Dyke is renowned.
Day 5: Virgin Gorda, B.V.I.
A mix of African, Indian, and Spanish cultures distinguishes Virgin Gorda, whose jagged landscape rises sharply from a turquoise sea. Among the nature trails and nature reserves that showcase the island’s spectacular beauty are the ruins of an abandoned 19th-century copper mine on Handsome Bay, now a national park, and The Baths, where giant boulders strewn about by nature have created a patchwork of pools, beaches, and trails.
Today, you will also have the opportunity to board a tender for Prickly Pear Island, a small island named for the cacti that dot hills sloping down to beautiful white-sand beaches where turtles make their nests. Enjoy time to relax and also savor a festive beach barbecue.
Day 6: Anguilla, B.V.I
Day 7: St. Barts, F.W.I.
Chic shops are a hallmark of this “Manhattan-sur-Mer” (“Manhattan on the Sea”), known for its duty-free shopping. Others include the island’s balmy climate and brilliant blue skies, iguanas, and night-blooming cactus. Distinctly French in language, culture, and cuisine, St. Barts remains thoroughly independent in spirit. Enjoy excellent snorkeling and diving from the island’s fabulous cove-style beaches.
Day 8: Disembark in St. Maarten
Your Caribbean idyll ends where it began, in colorful St. Maarten. Enjoy breakfast aboard before disembarking for your return flight home.
