SeaDream Caribbean Yachting Adventures

56 Couples - 95 Crew - 5-Star Service Inclusive

   "It's yachting, not cruising" - Enjoy the difference

Enjoy SeaDream's Caribbean yacht voyages with all its natural beauty - miles of white sand beaches, hidden coves, famous yacht harbors, brilliant turquoise waters - all in casual luxury aboard your SeaDream yacht.

Each voyage is designed to highlight the very best of the Caribbean. More Marina days and late evening or overnight stays in St Barts to enjoy the nightlife!

Check out all the Caribbean voyages for 2014 & 2015

Fred Olsen Cruises Return to the Caribbean

Back by popular demand, guests can now take a Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Caribbean fly-cruise in January 2015! 

Olsen 14-night Caribbean sunshine cruise will be aboard the 929-guest cruise ship Braemar. 

Flying from London Gatwick or Manchester and departing from Barbados on 12th January 2015, this exotic cruise is predicted to be one of Fred  Olsen’s most popular voyages, with a general on sale date of Saturday 17th August 2013.

One unusual feature of Fred Olsen’s most modern ship, Braemar, is the promenade deck – a complete wrap-around deck ideal for a gentle stroll in the evening sun, making it an excellent choice for warmer cruising. Visit the site for more info 

10 Night Caribbean Hideaways Cruise With The Bikini Chef

Sail on Oceania Cruises aboard the Riviera - voted one of the best in the world by Travel + Leisure

Cruise with "The Bikini Chef" on a 10 Night Caribbean Hideaways Cruise beginning January 13, 2014 which sets sail from Miami on a 10 night journey

After an exclusive pre-cruise dinner and overnight stay in Miami, the first stop in on the beautiful island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Activities include Cane Garden Bay Beach, hiking in the rainforest, swimming with the dolphins, sea kayaking or visit the famous Virgin Gorda Baths. 

Then, it’s on to St. John’s, Antigua for an afternoon of golf, snorkeling and a lunch of crayfish, crab or the locals famous hamburger. 

Next it's the exquisite gardens and cane fields of Bridgetown, Barbados, the historic La Toc Battery, banana plantations, and spectacular reefs of Castries, St Lucia, the Swedish and French heritage of Gustavia, St. Barths with its unspoiled coastline, fine cuisine and exclusive shopping experiences.

Exclusively for guests of The Bikini Chef, a special VIP welcome gift, private cocktail reception and book signing, an exclusive Private Cooking and Wine Pairing Class in the Bon Appetit Culinary Center.

More info on Bikini Chef Cruise

Antarctica Ultimate White Christmas via Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises is offering what could be considered the “Ultimate White Christmas” voyage, because the Crystal Symphony is spending the holidays in Antarctica. 

The 18-day Dec. 21 Buenos Aires-to-Valparaíso voyage on the Crystal Symphony spends three days in Antarctic waters before sailing to Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Falkland Islands, Cape Horn and the Chilean Fjords.

This is the luxury line’s only Antarctic cruise in 2013 and 2014. 

Crystal is one of the few cruise lines permitted to sail to Antarctica, due to strict environmental regulations. Crystal said it has incurred extra cost and planning efforts to comply with the regulations.

Optional excursions let guests fly, hike and take Zodiac raft rides to view Air Force homes, penguin breeding grounds, and the glacial scenery of King George and Ardley islands. Extremely limited Crystal Adventures also explore more of Antarctica, including an overnight at the Chilean Eduardo Frei Antarctic Base. Onboard speakers include an Antarctic expedition book author, climate change researcher, shark conservationist and CBS News correspondent.

The itinerary visits Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Puerto Madryn, Port Stanley, Ushuaia (overnight), Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt, and Valparaíso. The ship will be decorated for the holidays and offer gourmet holiday feasts, a champagne New Year’s gala, religious services and junior cruiser events (including Santa). 

On a warmer note . . . 

The Crystal Serenity will spend the holidays sailing round-trip from Miami on Dec. 21 Turks & Caicos, Curaçao, Santa Marta and Cartagena in Colombia, Roatan Island Belize City, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Key West.

 All-inclusive cruise fares begin at $9,740 per person for the Antarctica/South America voyage and $7,430 per person for the Caribbean, and include $600 and $800 per person in savings, respectively, if booked by Aug. 30.

http://www.crystalcruises.com/


Source: TravelPulse

Windjammer Rum Theme Caribbean Cruise

Rum Sail Away with Island Windjammers and RumGallery.com

Blount Offering 10% off Caribbean Cruises

When you cruise with Blount Small Ship Adventures, every day is filled with possibilities

Photo courtesy of Blount Small Ship Adventures

Blount operates two U.S. registered ships, each with a capacity of 88 passengers. Enjoy free wine and beer during lunch and dinner PLUS they have a BYOB policy, and provide mixers and set-ups for cocktails available throughout the day.

Passengers booking any 2014 Caribbean cruise by August 30, 2013 will save 10% 

Two new itineraries: 

• An 11-night "Bahamian Out Islands" cruise, departing March 28 and April 11, visits 12 ports, including Nassau, Spanish Wells and Governor's Harbour. Line president Nancy Blount will join the March 28 sailing. Rates from $3,999



For more information, and additional cruises visit blountsmallshipadventures.com

MSC Deals to Sea One-Week Sale to Caribbean and Europe

Save up tp 58% on select 2012-2013 Caribbean Cruises, and select 2012 European Cruises.

The “MSC Deals to Sea” are available on select Europe sailings of two Fantasia-class ships, MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida, and MSC Poesia for Caribbean sailings.

• MSC Fantasia’s seven-night “Mediterranean Fantasy” itineraries in September and October include port calls at Genoa, Barcelona, Naples, Palermo, La Goulette and Marseille. Roundtrip departures are available from Genoa, Barcelona, Marseille or Naples. 

• MSC Poesia’s 10-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing Dec. 11 and select seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, including the Dec. 21 Christmas cruise and Dec. 28 New Year’s sailing from Fort Lauderdale.

Book by September 5, 2012. Rates start at $54 per night per person, double occupancy; government fees and taxes are additional.

Check out this offer, and all special offers from MSC

Princess Cruises Features Rare Caribbean Sailing

Princess Cruises is offering a rare 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruise on the 680-passenger Pacific Princess, Jan. 17 to 27, 2013. 

The sailing features the line’s only calls at Tortola and St. Barthelemy in 2013 as well as Antigua, St. Lucia and St. Kitts. Fares begin at $899 per person, based on double occupancy.

“Because Pacific Princess travels the globe, we rarely have the opportunity to offer a Caribbean cruise on this popular small ship,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “But because we’re rescheduling the ship’s dry-dock, we now have a wonderful chance to offer this unique one-time itinerary option before she takes off on her yearly world cruise.”

Source: Travel Pulse

Royal Caribbean: Oasis of the Seas Photo Gallery

On the biggest cruise ship in the world (tied with Royal Caribbean's own Allure of the Seas), Caribbean Travel & Life super photographer Zach Stovall found many things to shoot -- the Oasis of the Sea's Central Park, Solarium Bistro, Sports Zone, Royal Promenade and much more. 

Check out the pics at CaribbeanTravelMag.com

Sailing on the Carnival Valor

We sailed on Carnival Valor a few weeks ago on an 8 day Southern Caribbean cruise with stops in Nassau, the Dominican Republic, Curacao and Aruba.

We had wonderful accommodations on the Empress Deck with an oceanview balcony.

Our first stop was Nassau, one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean. 

Our ship, the Carnival Valor, was in port along side RCL's Majesty of the Seas, and NCL's Norwegian Sky.


It's real easy getting around the island. You'll always find a taxi at the hotels, and you can easily hire the driver for an hour tour of the island.

Another mode of transportation are the Jitneys (buses) which run through downtown Nassau, as well as Cable Beach.


Check the schedules, as the jitneys do not run on the hour - the cost is $1.50 per person. You need to have exact change, and payment is made when you get off.  A slower, but scenic ride is with the horse drawn buggy ride.


Paradise Island is just 10 minutes away by ferry. Tickets are purchased at Woodes Rogers Wharf or Festival Place, and the cost is just $6.00 per person. The ferry runs every half hour on the hour from 9-6:00 p.m.


Aside from the resorts and beaches on Paradise Island, there is the Bahama Craft Centre featuring unique handmade straw items, wood carvings and souvenirs.


Heading towards Atlantis Resort is the upscale shopping Marina Village, and there are also a number of restaurants serving American, Bahamian and Italian food. You don't need to be a guest of Atlantis to stop off in the casino.


Other points of interest for cruise visitors is the Ardastra Gardens Zoo and Conservation Center - Watch the colorful march of the Pink Flamingo's. There are approximately 300 mammals, birds and reptiles to view, and many are endangered species.


Straw Market - Home of handmade Bahamian crafts such as hand-woven straw hats, bags, dolls, conch shell jewelry, wood carvings and tons of cheap t-shirts. You can bargain for deals.

Our second cruise stop was the port of La Romana. La Romana began drawing more tourists due to Casa de Campo, the finest resort on the island.


La Romana lies on the Southeast coast of the Dominican Republic, and is one of the most populated cities with an estimated 250,000 residents. 


The annual average temperature for the Dominican Republic is about 77 degrees, however the coastal regions temperature is a bit higher.

Just east of Casa de Campo is Altos de Chavón one of the country's leading sightseeing attractions. The village is a charming  version of the type of fortified medieval villages found in Spain, southern France, or Italy.


Off the coast of La Romana lies the deserted island Isla Catalina, which attracts divers and snorkelers. The island can only be reached by motorboat - the trip is 45 minutes, and there are no facilities on the island. Playa Catalina beach is surrounded by turquoise waters, and attracts many of the guests from Casa de Campo - so not entirely deserted.


Cruise passengers should be aware the majority of locals (including taxi drivers) in this area do not speak English - so being able to speak some Spanish will definitely be helpful.


Our third stop was the lovely port city of Willemstad, Curacao.

The capital city is a Dutch styled fantasy land painted in the palettes of pink cotton candy, mango-orange, papaya yellow, avocado green, and ocean blue.

If you've never been to Curacao, it's definitely worth putting on your bucket list. 


This is one of the more "unique" islands in the Caribbean chain, and the largest island of the Netherlands Antilles. 


The island boasts some of the best weather in the Caribbean region, and is located outside the Hurricane Belt.  
As you mingle with the locals, you will see a global citizenship of 50 nationalities who speak Dutch, Spanish, English, and the local dialect Papiamentu. 


Curacao has a lot more European flair than your typical Caribbean island. It's a perfect cruise destination as cruise ships arrive in the center of the island's capital - just a 15 minute walk from the ship.

As you leave the terminal, stroll across the Queen Emma Bridge which connects the two sides of the capital city. 


The bridge is at least 100 years old, and swings open to make way for ships docking or passing through. The bridge is fascinating, and a tourist attraction in its own right. When the bridge is open, you can take a free ferry ride to the other side. 


This is my third visit to Curacao, and the first visit by cruise ship. The Carnival Valor arrived at 1:00 p.m., and we left at 11:00 p.m., giving us time to see points of interest.   


Floating Market - The market has been around for decades, and has become an intricate part of life on Curacao. Venezuelan men sail to Curacao and sell their fresh fish, fruits, and vegetables daily. 


Museum Kura Hulanda - One of the best anthropological museum focusing on Curacao cultures, and showcasing  African exhibits, dating from 500 B.C. The complex features the Kura Hulanda Hotel, museum, and restaurant. 


The Sea Aquarium is located on the south coast just east of Willemstad. Features include a marina, arge beach, hotel, and the aquarium complex. Curacao Underwater Park is right next door, and is a protected marine area for divers, marine biologists and scientists. 


Dolphin Academy - Swim with the dolphins


Ostrich Farm offers great photo opportunity with hundreds of these big birds on site - a favorite activity for kids.  


The island's long coastline offers an array of approximately 30 public and private beaches - many with secluded coves. There are also numerous dive sites with multi-colored Parrotfish, Barracuda, colorful Butterfly-fish, Coral and Sea Anemones. 

Our last cruise stop was the island of Aruba. Known for it's fine beaches - the island's interior is a unique desert landscape. 

The walk into downtown takes less than 5 minutes, and then we'll hop the bus which makes stops at the hotels along the beach strip. 


First stop was Druif Beach next to the Manchebo Beach Resort. Then on to Moomba Beach which is located on Palm Beach, next to the Holiday Inn. My beach strip trip then took me on to Eagle Beach, a little farther to the North. 



Known for it's fine beaches - the island's interior is a unique desert landscape. 

 Points of interest in Aruba


Beaches are first on the list! The island has miles of pristine white sand beaches, and the consistent tradewinds make this a favorite destination for windsurfer's. 


The Butterfly Farm is located on Palm Beach. You'll find hundreds of beautiful butterflies enclosed in a tropical garden. If you make a visit when the farm opens (9 a.m.) you can see the new butterflies emerging.


California Lighthouse - Known as "Hudishibana" and a scenic island trademark. The lighthouse is located on the NW tip of the island, and is named for the U.S ship - the California. Perfect spot for photo's of Aruba's western coastline. 


Horse Back Riding - The Gold Mine Ranch (no time frames on private tours), Rancho Notorious (offers 3 different trails), Rancho Del Campo (offers free roundtrip transportation from your hotel). 


Visit Aruba's Ostrich Farm, and the on-site African Art Shop featuring authentic goods from South Africa. The Savanna Lodge Bar & Restaurant is also on-site and offers panoramic views of Aruba's north coast.


Bubali Bird Sanctuary - Home to more than 80 species of migratory birds.


Island Caves - Huliba Cave, known as the (Tunnel of Love) - the entrance is shaped like a heart - need flashlight to explore. 

Star Clippers Holiday Specials 2011

Imagine walking along the powdery beaches of the Caribbean feeling the ocean water lapping at your feet. Or perhaps you’d rather explore new heights on a rainforest rooftop adventure in exotic Costa Rica.

With Star Clippers’ incredible Advance Purchase Discounts and a wide selection of itineraries, now’s the time to reserve your cabin.

The mega-yachtsailing experience makes a Star Clippers cruise feel more like an intimate vacation with your closest friends to hidden harbors and destinations untouched by the larger ships. No long lines on board, no crowds ashore, just pampering services in a casually elegant atmosphere.

Whether you’re looking to relax and soak up the sun in the Caribbean or to discover Costa Rica’s natural wonderland on an eco-adventure, there’s no better time to plan your escape from the cold and book a Star Clippers sailing. Don’t forget to invite your family and friends.

Star Clippers