The floating cities that are today’s cruise ships definitely have their place in the Caribbean, of course. But sometimes we long to experience the simple pleasures of sailing: the thrill of dropping anchor in a small, out-of-the-way port and leisurely discovering its ins and outs for ourselves. But since we’re still waiting for Aunt Doris to bequeath us that 150-foot yacht, we’ll make do by booking passage on of one of the specialty cruise lines that ply the region, carrying mere hundreds (as opposed to thousands) of passengers to untrammeled ports. CJ Travel Editor Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon brings you the Caribbean’s best small small-ship cruises.
Seabourn You’ll explore petite ports such as Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands; Vieques and Gustavia in St. Barths aboard this fleet of luxurious ships with a maximum capacity of 600 passengers. We’ve got our eye on Seabourn Odyssey’s 20-day sailing, which departs Miami on December 17 and calls at islands including Guadeloupe, Virgin Gorda and Mayreau.
SeaDream Don’t have a friend with a mega yacht? This line’s twin 112-passenger ships, SeaDream I and SeaDream II, are the next best thing. Featuring signature champagne-and-caviar parties right in the surf, SeaDream cruises offer an intimate – and decidedly indulgent way – to discover ports including Scarborough in Tobago and Cruz Bay, St. John.
Silversea This 10-ship line offers a premium cruising experience – at an appropriately premium price. But if you want to see the Caribbean in fine style, you’ll be hard-pressed to do better than 540-passenger Silver Spirit’s 13-day cruise to Dominica, St. Barths, Grand Turk, Barbados, Puerto Rico and St. Lucia, which departs Fort Lauderdale on December 22.
Star Clippers Pack your bags and set your course for lesser-known ports such as Bequia, Martinique, and the Tobago Cays when you cruise on this trio of tall ships (none carrying more than 227 passengers), which combine classic sailing style with modern amenities. Royal Clipper’s January 6, 2018 sailing from Barbados (which stops at the above ports and more) has our name all over it.
Windstar Cruises Take a week (or two) to see the slower, sweeter side of the Caribbean on this line’s six-ship fleet, which takes a maximum of 310 cruisers to the region’s most secluded anchorages. You can’t go wrong with 212-passenger Star Breeze’s’ 14-day small ship cruises, which depart Barbados on November 18 and calls at Les Saintes in Guadeloupe, Anguilla, Montserrat and Dominica.