The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
Set sail and discover the secret Caribbean
Forget the familiar ports of call and explore the likes of Guadeloupe, Belize, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and Panama’s San Blas Islands, says Steve Newman
The Caribbean has long been a popular cruise destination for British holidaymakers – but with its well-serviced routes and winter-sun appeal, it is often dismissed as little more than a small group of well-trodden favourites offering sun, beaches, rum and calypso.
In reality, however, the Caribbean is one of the most diverse and fascinating regions on the planet, encompassing a vast number of disparate cultures and traditions, and more than 7,000 islands – many of them still relatively off the beaten track.
And now, at last, cruise lines are beginning to branch out, broadening their horizons to include more of the Caribbean’s little-known corners, and catering more to passengers who want to eschew the sail-and-flop in favour of culture, history and a more authentic experience.
Their itineraries take in various offbeat islands, but also sweep around the Caribbean’s western edge from Venezuela to Mexico, taking in the tiny San Blas Islands off Panama, the incredible rainforest wildlife of Costa Rica and the deep rivers of Belize, revealing rediscovered Mayan cities and pyramids.
This is a world far beyond the classic Caribbean that we know – and one that is now easier than ever to discover and explore. The five routes suggested below will provide some inspiration.
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands mark the eastern boundary of the Caribbean, and exploring them under sail is quite an experience. The pink sands of Barbuda are perfect for snorkelling and swimming, while Dominica possesses a vibrant mixture of European and African cultures, with the Caribbean’s only remaining population of pre-Columbian Carib Indians.
Guadeloupe’s capital, Pointe-àPitre, offers a blend of French and Creole culture, plus historic buildings and lively markets. Admire the bright yellow cathedral of St-Pierre and St-Paul, then head for Nelson’s Dockyard in Falmouth Harbour to watch the world go by at a waterside cafe.
Star Clippers (01473 242666; starclippers.co.uk) offers the seven-night Leeward Islands cruise from £1,307pp full-board (cruise-only). The price includes a 20 per cent Early Booking Discount, valid until April 30. Calls at Barbuda, Dominica, Terre-de-Haut, Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe, Falmouth Harbour, Antigua, Gustavia, St Barts, Philipsburg and Sint Maarten. Departs Sint Maarten on Dec 14 2024.
This cruise not only takes you deep into the culture of Central America, but also to the tiny archipelagos that litter its coastline, where you are highly unlikely to see another cruise ship. In English-speaking Belize, you will visit ancient Mayan cities and a wildlife-rich coral reef. Admire the colourful wildlife statues on Nicaragua’s little-explored Big Corn Island, then watch hummingbirds feeding in the trees around Honduras’s oldest city, Trujillo, before exploring the remains of its 16th century colonial past.
Hurtigruten Expeditions (02045711385; travelhx.com) offers the 13-day Tropical Waters & Remote Island Communities in the Caribbean cruise from £3,186 per person. Calls at Belize, Utila Island, Cayos, Miskito, Island de la Providencia, Big Corn Island, Bocas del Toro and Colon. Departs Miami on Sept 25 2024.
Eastern Caribbean
Start in the pristine Turks and Caicos Islands (still considered by those in the know to be one of the world’s best kept secrets), paying a visit to the jewel in its crown, Grand Turk, where the diminutive main street of its capital, Cockburn Town, is lined with examples of British Colonial architecture. Next, you will sail to quirky Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the island of St Thomas, with its Danish colonial-style houses, then on to Puerto Rico’s San Juan, with its Unesco World Heritage old town and El Yunque rainforest tours. seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise from £1,219 per person, including all drinks and WiFi. Calls at Grand Turk, St Thomas, San Juan, Half Moon Cay and Fort Lauderdale. Departs Fort Lauderdale on Oct 20 2024.
The “ABC” islands of the Dutch Caribbean – Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao – kick off this itinerary in unforgettable fashion. In Willemstad, Curaçao’s capital, you could be forgiven for thinking you had stumbled into a brightly repainted version of Amsterdam – but join the locals at the Plasa Bieu, a large covered hall with open kitchens, and a plate of the local Krioyo cuisine will soon prove otherwise. Explore the local fish market in Bonaire’s capital, Kralendijk, and amble to the huge covered market in Fort-de France when you reach Martinique – also notable for its amazing library (imported stone by stone from France) and its beautiful native flowers.
Seabourn (0344 338 8615; seabourn. com) offers the 12-Day Treasures Of Aruba, Bonaire & Curaçao cruise from £4,799 per person (all inclusive, with WiFi). Calls at Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Martinique, Dominica, St Kitts, Antigua and Tortola.
Departs San Juan on Dec 2 2025.
Taking in examples of both American and Spanish-influenced Caribbean cultures, this cruise kicks off in St Thomas and concludes in Puerto Rico. The route takes in various exclusive enclaves in between – including St Barts, where the international jet set flee for upmarket solitude, and the privately owned Norman Island, at the southern tip of the British Virgin Islands. The latter is said to hold undiscovered pirate loot, but if searching for buried treasure sounds too much like hard work, then the beaches of White Bay (and the world famous Soggy Dollar Bar) make a delightful spot to kick off your flip flops and relax in the sun.
In the tiny archipelagos that litter its coastline, you are unlikely to see another cruise ship
Mundy Cruising (020 7399 7670; mundycruising.co.uk) offers the Virgin Islands and Undiscovered Puerto Rico cruise from £4,995 per person, including return flights from the UK, one night in Miami, one night in St Thomas, overseas transfers, all meals and drinks, port taxes and gratuities. Calls at Lovango, White Bay, St Barths, Norman Island, Boqueron, Salinas and Puerto Rico. Departs St Thomas on Nov 23 2024.
that its markets and restaurants are teeming with the freshest of seafood, and dwaeji gukbap – the city’s hearty, signature pork soup – delivers a kind of savoury satisfaction unmatched anywhere else in the country.
The Paradise Hotel (00 825 1742 2121; busanparadisehotel.co.kr; doubles from £312) sits on Busan’s Haeundae Beach and is known for its spacious rooms and ocean views. Down the street is the Haeundae Seacloud (00 825 1933 1000; seacloudhotel.com; doubles from £99), which pulls off sleekness while also managing to be budget-friendly, and the Lotte Hotel in Seomyeon (00 825 1810 1000; lottehotel.com; doubles from £188) is a go-to for business and holiday travellers due to its central location.