Caribbean Carnival & Cocktails

Cocktails and Caribbean Carnival
The Mardi Gras Spectacle

This Caribbean cruise takes us from the Antilles island of Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin westward to the beautiful beaches and coves of the beautiful British Virgin Islands. In our travel season is "Mardi Gras", the large and colorful carnival spectacle of the Caribbean Islands. The 'Eye of the Wind' will not turn into a loud "party-ship," but we will prepare in the ship's galley some exotic cocktails to get us into the right mood for the Caribbean Carnival. On our brig 'Eye of the Wind' we will take you on an unforgettable journey to discover the Caribbean Islands.

Please note the following for your planning: The sailing trip described here is the first part of the two-week tour "To The British Virgin Islands", which begins and ends in Marigot / Saint-Martin. This one-week travel option ends at Road Town / British Virgin Islands. Please contact us - we can assist you in customizing your arrival and departure.

Saint-Martin: two nations on 92 square kilometers

The starting point of this trip is the harbor of Marigot in the French part of the colourful Caribbean island of Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin. You can fly to the international airport Princess Juliana from all European or International Airports.
Princess Juliana airport in the southwestern part of the island presents an interesting feature and popular photographing opportunity; Due to the proximity of the runway to Maho Beach, the distance between the landing aircrafts and the heads of the beach visitors (or the masts of the boats moored there) is often only a few metres.
By taxi or minibus it’s only a short drive to Marigot and you will pass the monument at the Dutch-French border – the place is remarkable, as the mother countries on the European continent are not directly adjacent to each other at any point and there is no smaller island that is divided between two nations.

Right: The ‚Eye of the Wind’ can reach Caribbean bays which are inaccessible for conventional cruise ships. (Photo: Frank Anders). Bottom: View of the beach of Philipsburg / Sint Maarten.

Caribbean flair, and 37 beaches

Use your stay on the island for a relaxing day at the dream-like Dawn Beach, a hike along the rugged cliffs of the Pointe Blanche Bay, a trip to the monument at the French-Dutch border, or a sunny boat trip through the Simpson Bay Lagoon. Almost every point of the island can be reached by a short ride on the frequent direct minibuses. Philipsburg is the largest port, which is visited by up to six majestic cruise ships every day. The range of activities for tourists is correspondingly diverse, varying from sports like Jet Ski and snorkel tours to casino visits or a visit to the sunny beach of the Great Bay. A white dream beach of fine sand borders directly on the busy shopping area of Front Street, which is known for its duty-free shopping. Do not miss a visit to the nearby market, where traditional hand-made goods are sold in the full splendor of the Caribbean.

Island hopping around the Antilles

On a southern course a pleasant breeze pushes us through seemingly endless expanses. The gentle, constant ups and downs of the hull in the waves, the clear turquoise blue sea and the faint creaking of the rigging are the best ingredients for a relaxing holiday experience. Depending on the wind conditions and the wishes of our guests there are several options available:

Anguilla has the "best beach in the world"

Saint-Martin's northern neighbour island, which was also discovered on Columbus' second voyage, has the status of a British overseas territory today.
Its history, the countryside of the island paradise and 33 powdered sugar sand beaches are the main attractions for visitors. Shoal Bay at the western end of the island was honored several times as "the best beach in the world" by travel experts and has a length of 1.6 kilometers, offering a coral reef for snorkeling besides excellent swimming possibilities.
On the eastern end is Island Harbour, a quiet fishing village with a colorful and lively harbor scene. In between, in the middle of the island, is Crocus Hill, the highest point of the island. From a height of 65 meters you have a good view over the turquoise bays and into the sunset. The path up there leads through "The Old Valley", where several traditional houses and buildings bear witness to Anguilla´s charming architectural history.

Anguilla's beaches offer a rough shoreline, lush vegetation, and romantic spots, too. Beach buffs will find their individual favorite spot somewhere along the coast (photos  courtesy of the Anguilla Tourist Board).

The Cocktail ABC: from "Admiral's Cannon" to "ZenSation"

The next stage takes us sailing to Saint Barth, where since the end of January little street parades performance presenting the upcoming carnival. We want to use the time at sea for a small cocktail course (included in tour price). You can try tropical cocktails or create your own Cocktail. Who knows - maybe a new cocktail called ,Eye of the Wind' will have a permanent place in the cocktail bars around the world?
As well you can look forward to our excellent galley, which has received the grade 1.0 throughout in our surveys on customer satisfaction. Let yourself be surprised!

In the early evening we will head for an anchorage in front of Saint Barthelemy, where you can finish off a perfect day in paradise with a Caribbean rum punch or a homemade Colada.

St. Barthélemy – Mardi Gras Parade in Gustavia

“St. Barth” is considered a trendy holiday island for Hollywood stars and other celebrities. Designer shops and offices of the big luxury brands invite to duty-free shopping and provide the perfect setting for large super yachts in the harbor (left photo). Starting from the 8th of February small Carnival Parades from school kids and Locals will walk through the streets of Gustavia. Everyone is excited and waiting for the big Mardi Gras Parade on the 12th of February (centre photo). You can explore the island on foot, by rental car or scooter. The path leads past the small lighthouse on an airfield with a surprisingly short take-off and landing strip. The Baie de Saint Jean with its beach of pink and white coral sand is located on the nearby north side of the island and offers good opportunities for swimming, snorkeling or jet skiing.

Not far from the harbor of Gustavia is the beautiful bay Anse a Colombier (right photo), where we look for a quiet and scenic anchorage for the evening and the night. At this time of year you can find a number of large turtles here, grazing the underwater grass. While swimming and snorkeling in crystal clear water at the anchorage and along the rocky coast you can encounter stingrays and other tropical fish. A delicious dinner, maybe a good glass of wine from the board bar and the view of the sunset round out the day and create the perfect holiday moments.

All photos courtesy of St. Barth Tourism Committee / Laurent Benoit.    

Days at sea – course for the British Virgin Islands    

We want to follow in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus and sail west from there, where the great discoverer chanced upon another island group a little later, which he baptized ‘St. Ursula and the eleven thousand virgins’ (today´s Virgin Islands) after a legend from the 4th century. Unlike Columbus more than 500 years ago, you will not miss any comfort on board.

After a few days at sea, the first of the 60 British Virgin Islands (BVI) will appear on the horizon. We will drop the anchor for the first time at Virgin Gorda, the third largest island of the archipelago. Here, the randomly arranged granite boulders of “The Baths” form small caves and pools, inviting you to explore and snorkel.  (Photos courtesy of BVI tourist board.)

After a night at anchor in front of this idyllic Caribbean setting, we set off towards the main island of Tortola. The port of Road Town invites you to go ashore, and with the combination of mild climate, beautiful scenery and relaxed Caribbean lifestyle it gives you a very special holiday atmosphere. Use your time for a stroll through the botanical gardens in the center of Road Town. On the Main Street of the BVI, you find many houses built in the colonial style, inviting for a stroll past the shops, bars and pubs. Some British etiquette mixes with relaxation and happiness of the “Caribbean way of life”. On the Virgin islands, the visitor will find national parks and miles of unspoiled, white sandy beaches instead of skycrapers and casinos. In places, the waterside is lined with spiny cacti, among which iguanas doze in the midday heat, and mangrove trees with tangled roots extending into the water. Emerald hummingbirds suck nectar from colorful blossoms and below the surface you find a coral reef with an armada of colourful tropical fish.

Tortola is connected to Beef Island by a bridge. The international airport is there, which can be used as a starting point for a bit of Caribbean island hopping or for your return flight. This trip will have a balanced rate of time under sail, relaxing and shore excursions. Without the hustle and bustle of everyday life you will find to have approached the most beautiful islands and beaches of the Caribbean from the water.

Highlights:

• Explore the most beautiful beaches and bays in the Antilles and British Virgin Islands by boat
• Caribbean Carnival
• On-board Cocktail course
• Sailing adventure, Caribbean culture and relaxation time
• Good balance between attractive shore excursions and time at sea
• Excellent galley with culinary delights from morning to night

Travel time: 09 - 16 February 2013

Services:

• 7 nights on the 100-year-old sailing ship ‚Eye of the Wind‘.
• Exclusive accommodation in double cabins with hot and cold water, shower, toilet and air condition (single cabin supplement)
• Full board (including all meals and soft drinks, coffee / tea)
• Lounge with TV / DVD, and extensive onboard library

Not included: Arrival and departure, shore excursions and alcoholic beverages.

Special note: The specific ports are optional. The ship management reserves the right to change the route depending on wind and weather conditions on short notice.