Wind Spirit, A Lesser Antilles Odyssey ex St Maarten to Bridgetown

21 Night Cruise sailing from St Maarten to Bridgetown aboard Wind Spirit.

Highlights of this cruise:

St Maarten
St. Maarten is one of the most rewarding stops for a cruise-ship passenger. The island is divided between French St. Martin in the north and Dutch St. Maarten in the south. Each side manages to retain its own distinct flavor.

The French side (St. Martin), is certainly more relaxed and sophisticated. There are first-class resorts and secluded white sand beaches. Its capital, Marigot, is Mediterranean resort-like, with yachts in the harbor, and open-air markets and shops lining the waterfront. A bit to the north, Grand Case is known for the island's best restaurants.

The Dutch side (Sint Maarten) is a lively destination of white sand beaches, casinos, historical sites, shopping venues and lot of nightlife. Most ships dock in Philipsburg, the capital of Dutch St. Maarten. Its two main streets, Frontstreet and Backstreet, are bustling thoroughfares lined with shops and restaurants.

Jost Van Dyke
The British Virgin Islands, about 60 (mostly uninhabited) islands and cays, are one of the Caribbean's most popular destinations. Jost Van Dyke is a casual island with protected anchorages, fine beaches and beachfront restaurants and bars. It is said to have been named after an early Dutch settler, a former pirate.

At Great Harbour, Little Harbour, and White Bay there are safe, protected anchorages and unspoilt beaches shaded with coconut palms and seagrape trees. Discover inviting restaurants, bars, and small shops selling local treasures.

Parties here are legendary, especially at Foxy's. This bar and its owner are known to travellers from around the world for the New Year's Eve and Halloween parties, when Great Harbour fills up with yachts.

Gustavia
Saint-Barthélemy (St Barts) is a French island located in the Caribbean among the Leeward Islands. It lies near the islands of Saint Martin, Saba and Anguilla off the coast of Puerto Rico. Gustavia is the main town on St Barts, and has long been considered a playground of the rich and famous. It’s known for its beautiful pristine beaches, gourmet dining in chic bistros and high-end designer shopping.

Excellent shopping can be found on Quai de la Republique, Rue du General De Gaulle, and Rue Oscar II. The shopping is within easy walking distance of the tender wharf. The flea market and pastry stores in Gustavia are also a treat for tourists.

Exploring Gustavia you’ll find the St. Barths museum which is small, but somewhat interesting and the fort at the northern end of the harbor ( Fort Gustav III) offers great views of the harbor for photo opportunities. Shell Beach is popular for families with kids as it has little surf, and lots of tide pools.

Bridgetown
Barbados is an ideal Caribbean destination, whether you want to bake in the sun or spend your time discovering island life and culture.

The beaches along the West and South coasts are lovely. Because they're open to the public, though, they lack the privacy some visitors may seek. Elsewhere on the island, linked by almost 900 miles of good roads, are small villages, historic plantation houses, stalactite-studded caves, a wildlife preserve, and the Andromeda Gardens, one of the most attractive small tropical gardens in the world. Culturally, Barbados has retained a very British atmosphere: Afternoon tea is a ritual, cricket is the national passion, and a few luxury hotels request a jacket and tie at dinner.

But Barbados is true blue Caribbean as well, with classic sand beaches, and wild monkeys in the jungle.

Roseau
Roseau is the capital city of Dominica, a small island nation that is known for its pristine beauty and unspoiled nature. It is the largest and most mountainous of the Windward Islands, with volcanic peaks, mountain streams and rivers, beaches of both black (volcanic) and golden sands, dense forests, quiet lakes, waterfalls, geysers and boiling volcanic pools.

Roseau is small, ramshackle and friendly, with a surprising number of pretty old buildings still intact. Some houses look a bit tatty, but there is still some attractive gingerbread fretwork in the traditional style on streets like Castle Street.