Optional BARBADOS Prelude

Friday, January 16
MIAMI / BARBADOS
Depart Miami for Barbados. Upon arrival in Barbados, transfer to Sea Cloud II for our seven-night cruise.

Saturday, January 17
AT SEA / CARRIACOU
Following a morning at sea, arrive at the island of Carriacou, where there will an opportunity for swimming at a lovely beach on Sandy Isle, just off shore Carriacou. Reboard Sea Cloud II in the late afternoon. This evening the captain will host us for welcome cocktails and dinner.

Sunday, January 18
TRINIDAD
Arrive on the island of Trinidad this afternoon. We will visit two private gardens: Le Paradis, with its exotic birds, bromeliad and orchids; and Santa Barbara, a hillside garden with tropical foliage and rare trees. Before returning to the ship, we will see some of the capital city's unique colonial architecture and the Royal Botanic Gardens (right).

Monday, January 19
GRENADA
Arrive this afternoon in St. George's, the capital city of Grenada, with its medley of brightly colored houses, set against lush green mountains. This is the "Spice Island," where you can shop for locally produced nutmeg, cloves, cocoa, cinnamon, ginger and vanilla. After a visit to privately owned Sunnyside Gardens, we continue on to Tower Plantation House, a fully-operating fruit and spice plantation located in an area of wooded hills above the island's capital. With our host, owner Paul Slinger, we will visit the historic house and gardens, and relax with a traditional rum punch. This evening gather on Lido Deck for dancing under the stars to the music of one of the Caribbean's best steel-drum bands.

Tuesday, January 20
MARTINIQUE
Arrive this morning in the elegant colonial city of Fort de France where we visit Les Jardins de Balata. A host of humming birds, including purple-throated and green-throated caribs, greet us at the entrance to this private botanical park. The creation of its owner, artist and landscape architect, Jean-Phillippe Those, Balata is the product of twenty years of collecting, including a spectacular variety of both recent rare acquisitions and mature plants. During an afternoon at sea, attend lectures by our faculty. This evening enjoy a tasting of fine rums from island distilleries.

Wednesday, January 21
DOMINICA
Today begins with a visit to the beautiful gardens of the Papillote Wilderness Retreat (left) in the depths of the rain forest. Mrs. Ann Baptiste, our hostess and creator of the gardens, will greet us. Continue for a visit to the Botanical Garden; this 40-acre plantation was founded in 1891 as an annex of London's Kew Gardens and has an extensive collection of tropical plants and trees. Alternatively, there may be an opportunity to snorkel. In the afternoon, attend an onboard lecture as Sea Cloud II sails along the "thousand-fathom line," a known feeding ground for sperm whales.

Thursday, January 22
ILES DES SAINTES
Cruise into the Iles des Saintes, an archipelago of eight tiny volcanic islands and site of the Battle of the Saintes between the Royal Navy and the French Fleet in 1782. You may wish to tour the charming colonial-style capital, Terre-de-Haut, and visit the 17th-century Fort Napolean with its commanding views, or have a swim at one of the white sand beaches before returning to Sea Cloud II for lunch and an afternoon tea. This evening join the captain for a farewell dinner.

Friday, January 23
ANTIGUA / MIAMI
Disembark this morning in Antigua and transfer to the airport for the return flights to Miami.

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