Exotic Caribbean In-Depth on Seabourn Ovation

After enjoying your complimentary airport lounge access, fly out to Barbados, where you’ll be met by a driver and brought aboard your luxury ship. Each of its all-suite cabins enjoy ocean views and complimentary minibars stocked to your preferences – the first of many all-inclusive delights. Indeed, open cocktail bars are paired with full-board fine dining, from the Thomas Keller grill and al-fresco pizzeria to afternoon tea and French-American fineries. You’ll also have time to acquaint yourself with the facilities, which include a fitness centre, card room and salon. Of course, Barbados also excites. Look beyond its pristine beaches for 17th-century English churches and brightly coloured homes, evidencing the island’s contrasting British and Caribbean influences.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Billed as “the most perfect island in the whole Grenadines” by The Lonely Planet, Bequia is a paradise of white sands and blue seas. However, it’s also retained all of its charm. A stroll along Belmont Walkway will see you mingle with laidback locals under the almond trees, perhaps picking up a homemade nutmeg ice cream in the shop run by the daughter of a former prime minister. Don’t also miss the excellent craftsmanship on display at the Sargeant Brothers Model Boat Shop.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Volcanic Martinique is capped by the still-smoking Mont Pelée, its dramatic slopes spilling down into hiking rainforests and pretty beach bays. You’ll land near the colonial plantation and childhood home of Josephine Beauharnais, the Martinique-born woman who became the second wife and empress to Napoleon Bonaparte. Its stately home and manicured grounds are a harrowing illustration of the island’s past dichotomy between slaves and masters. Then, in nearby Fort-de-France, you’ll find a bustling market town complete with colonial vestiges and a library imported stone-by-stone from France. Alternatively, there’s the graceful cathedral and lush botanical gardens of Balata.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Although translating as “low land”, Basse-Terre is dominated by soaring active volcanoes, covered in thick rainforest. That’s alongside some fine beaches and world-class dive sites. The island’s first town is also home to a 17th-century fort, along with a grand cathedral and a 19th-century town hall. There’s also plenty of fishing villages to discover as well as a series of impressive waterfalls hidden away in the island’s interior.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

White sands, a mountainous centre and hummingbird-troubled forests – at first glance Nevis seems like just another Caribbean jewel. However, maybe it’s the uncrowded beaches or the unhurried pace of life, but there’s something particularly welcoming about this island delight. Case in point, the botanic gardens make for a wonderful afternoon’s stroll. Then, history buffs will be excited by the legacy of Founding-Father Alexander Hamilton and one Horatio Nelson. Nevis was even the place of exile for a group of Sephardic Jews, who brought with them the secret to crystalizing sugar, which transformed the economy of the Caribbean.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Although Antigua might be best known for its beach and golf resorts, be sure to also head inland, past farms and tiny villages to the commanding fortress on Shirly Heights. Once a lookout for British frigates, today it’s an enclave of boutiques and restaurants. Back in St. John’s, Antigua’s capital, be sure visit its market and handful of colonial buildings.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Carambola is home to St. Kitts’s most luxurious beach clubs, making it ideal for some white-sands relaxation and water-sports fun. The island also features a number of lovingly looked-after plantation houses and the UNESCO-listed Brimstone Hill Fortress – one of the best-preserved historical fortifications in the Americas. It’s a 17th-century gem. There’s also a scenic narrow-gauge sugarcane railway, offering fantastic views of the island.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Since 2010, Sint Maarten has been a part of the Netherlands, forming the “Dutch Side” to French Saint-Martin. Although its busy port has made it a haven for duty-free shopping, look closer and you’ll also find a small collection of picturesque beaches, especially around Simpson Bay and Little Bay. There are also catamaran cruises out to remote snorkelling and dive sites, alongside the infamous Maho Beach where jet planes buzz low overhead.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

This snug harbour at the western end of Tortola is the classic Caribbean yacht haven, tucked between a forested cay and high cliffs. This was once a notorious pirates’ den, who used the high ground to watch out for naval ships. It’s the perfect spot for your ship’s marina. There are also now plenty of restaurants and bars serving up the island’s famous wood-distilled rum and its requisite cocktails.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Tiny St. Barts, as it’s affectionately termed, is dominated by once-active volcano hills, today carpeted green and falling down into deep valleys and beautiful beaches. Having been settled by both Swedes and the French, the island is home to a unique blend of small inns, cafés and boutiques, housed in old buildings of Swedish-colonial and French-Creole architecture. Too small for most cruise ships, it’s all delightfully uncrowded and exclusive.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

St. Kitt’s is a favourite among the jet set, with its quiet beaches, remnants of the old British plantocracy and lazy afternoons spent under the silk-cotton trees, soothed by the scents of frangipani. Its bustling capital is ideal for duty-free shopping and cold beers on pavement bars, with its maze of narrow streets home to Victorian architectural gems. UNESCO-listed Brimstone Hill Fortress is a further highlight. It’s a mighty example of 17th- and 18th-century British military architecture at odds with its Caribbean setting.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

This tiny cluster of islets off the southern coast of Guadeloupe is an unspoiled Caribbean experience. There are no resorts or casinos here. Instead, it’s what the Caribbean used to be like, with quiet beaches and mountainous walks paired with first-class diving and a fantastic collection of restaurants. Or, you might just want to grab a seat and a beer to revel in the weather.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

St. Lucia is the sort of island that travellers to the Caribbean dream about – a small, lush, tropical gem that is still relatively unknown. It’s dominated by a dramatic pair of coastal peaks, the Pitons, which shelter a magnificent rainforest that’s home to wild orchids and birds of paradise. The indigenous St. Lucia parrot is a particular favourite. There’s also a collection of old plantations to discover.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

At just 1.5 square miles, Mayreau is the smallest inhabited island in the Grenadines. You’ll land on its west coast, given over to a delightfully broad beach – ideal for the ship’s marina. Then, moving past the craft vendors, a climb up the road to the hilltop village offers gorgeous views over the surrounding islands. With just 400 residents served by a dozen bars, you’ll also quickly find yourself mingling with the locals. Mayreau is famed for its fun-loving ways, with its weekly beer order reputed to be more than twice the size of Union Island, its far bigger neighbour.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

You’ll end back in Bridgetown, Barbados, perhaps enjoying a final look at its British-style parliament buildings and vibrant beach life. An included transfer will also see you to a hotel for use of a day room before a final transfer to the airport for your overnight flight home.