Jewels of the Caribbean
NEED a life-affirming boost to look forward to? How about extending the summer with a sun-drenched Caribbean cruise?
This joyous riot of tropical islands greets paradise-hunters with a wonderful palette of zingy hues – perfect for banishing those seasonal blues.
Spectacular Caribbean waters teem with exotic fish, emerald rainforests are home to tropical birds, and rustling palm trees fringe arcs of soft white sand.
Visitors cast off their workaday blacks and greys as they step off the plane and quickly become part of the mesmerising Caribbean parade.
From the rainbow of food found in the markets, to costume-filled carnivals, street parties, jazz festivals and pastel-shaded houses, there’s every colour on show.
The best cruises effortlessly combine a chance to explore fascinating European colonial legacies with plenty of time to sit back and relax in the sun.
There’s much to discover – and wherever your ship heads, you are sure to have an enriching time.
NEW CRUISE STAR
WHO should you cruise with? There’s one appealing new option that might be perfect for you. River cruising’s award-winning line Viking Cruises now offers distinctive ocean cruising aboard the glamorous and elegant Viking Star.
This is a 930guest, all-balcony cruise ship with multiple dining options at no extra charge, and a stunning spa. Or you can enjoy a rum punch with your feet dangled in the ship’s infinity pool.
You could cruise around a string of islands, starting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Explore narrow lanes that are paved with history – they are laid with blue stone once used to ballast Spanish galleons – before continuing to the lush former pirate base of Tortola.
LORD NELSON WAS HERE
LIFE’S a beach on laidback Antigua, where there is a slice of white sand for every day of the year.
The beguiling blue waters, sheltered by a coral reef, have provided refuge for everyone from Lord Nelson to pirates and latter-day billionaires, including Sir Richard Branson and Oprah Winfrey. Here you’ll find Nelson’s Dockyard, while historic plantations reveal more of Antigua’s colonial past.
Once a British colony, St Lucia packs a big personality into its perfectly formed little paradise – there’s a rainforest, banana plantations and the famous Pitons peaks, a Unesco World Heritage site.
Translucent turquoise seas shelter a colour chart of darting tropical fish and corals. In your free time, wander hand-in-hand along soft white sands, stopping for a rum punch and some creole cuisine at a brightly decorated beach bar.
Away from the shore, you might venture inside a volcano or hike through an emerald
rainforest, spotting hummingbirds, parrots and orchids among the trees.
Another stunning port of call is Barbados – the Little England of the Caribbean – with churches in every parish, horse racing on Saturdays, and even red post boxes.
You’ll also find the best of the Caribbean, such as pristine, palmfringed beaches lapped by azure waters, where snorkellers swim over wrecks in the company of hawksbill turtles and seahorses.
Tour historic sugar-cane plantations and caves, or try the famous local rum at one of the many distilleries.
There’s even more heritage to uncover as you cruise around the Caribbean’s best cultural treasures. Guadeloupe provides a taste of France in the New World, its colonial charm set amid idyllic Caribbean landscapes.
British and French influences linger in St Kitts, home to historic fortresses, dramatic volcanoes and lush rainforests.
St Martin, split between French and Dutch sectors, showcases a stunning mix of colourful architecture.
And emerald-green St Thomas greets you with some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and fantastic views.
Finally, you’re back among the seductive charms of San Juan, a fitting conclusion to an exceptional voyage around some of the Caribbean’s most enticing cultures.