Destinations

The very best way to end a busy year is to take stock while stopping over in various Caribbean ports of call.  This year I chose to spend the time on a five-day fabulous SeaDream II sailing.  She is one of two small yacht-cruise vessels holding a maximum of 98 pampered guests .  We coupled this with stopovers in St Thomas prior to boarding the ship and in San Juan Puerto Rico at the end making a balanced relaxing holiday.To say that service, food, water- and land-based activities abounded is to be severely understating the quality of this fine cruise.

This is The Cruise for the person who wishes low profile albeit attentive service.  By the time you have returned from breakfast topside cabins were remade, fresh Bulgari amenities replacing used ones, fresh ice in the ice bucket, and specially requested juices and sodas replenished in the mini-fridge.  Our cabin was completely ready and renewed for the day.  The ship has 3 cabin decks with ample outdoor space for walking or lounging, a small casino bar area downstairs and ample bar services topside, poolside and inside, a watersports deck in back and ample area to be either quiet or busier with others on board.  Up top are the famed lounging sunbeds.  These fabulously comfortable deep-cushioned deck beds can be made up at night for sleeping under the limitless star-filled skies!!!  Dining is just that — taken either in the lovely dining salon or up top on the varied deck dining areas with tables for two, four or more depending on your personal choice.  You can just enjoy the company of your traveling companion or with new-found shipboard friends.  There are no set dining start times so you dine as you wish and times you desire.  Everything on board SeaDream is meant to let you enjoy your time in your own fashion.  The wonderful Thai spa services are simply fabulous.  And if you must work out, there is a gym and even golf simulator room for your use.  This could not have been a more perfect five days of total enjoyment.

Ports-of-call:  Gustavia, St Barts was amazing with a long Swedish history and city design and a harbor full of some of the largest private yachts I have ever seen.  Our 4,333 ton SeaDream II seemed almost part of the family of private yacht cruisers anchored in the larger outer harbor area.  Dockside in town various private yachts were lined up side by side.  I had always heard that the air landing on the island was an heart-thumping arrival experience.  I climbed the saddle of the two hills behind town to find a small prop plane arriving just over my head and diving down to land expertly on the small strip.  French and Swedish traditions live side by side.  The liquor outlet advertised itself in both French & Swedish.  French is the language of St Barts today.   We also cruised over to spend time in the British Virgin Islands — lovely and unspoiled Virgin Gorda, Norman Island with its amazing cove and water, and finished our short cruise with the famed “beach lunch and champagne/caviar splash” on impeccable Joost van Dyke.  Yes, the Dutch were here, too!!!  Bathing suits on, we waded into the water where a surfboard manned by our ship’s chef and maitre d’hôtel and several of our waiters attired in slightly wet clothes served glasses of champagne along with caviar and all its accompaniments to applause and the clicking of camera lens as we waded in.  Great fun!

St Thomas proved once again that history trumps modernity.  The roots of this busy island keep cropping up in street names (Toldboldgade which is Danish), in left-side driving (England left her imprint here), in the variety of religious houses of worship (Lutheran founded by the Danes; Jewish in the 2nd oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, as well as Catholic, Protestant and other declarative Christian houses of worship).  As a former free port as well as long time European entrepôt and former slave trading community, today’s population reflects the diversity of peoples who came here to live.  Island living means graciousness and hospitality to others.  Once outside the most densely visited sites of the busy cruise port restaurant-shops-souvenir warehouse district (itself fun and historical) you can feel the inherent grace of the island.  Waters are azure, aqua and green blue; palms and bougainvilleas sway and rustle in the tropical breezes, and fabulous iguanas are found along warmed walls and rocks, some green in their new lives - some more rusty/gray as they age.  Ah, island life.

I have been on more then 30 cruises and I have to say out of all the cruises I’ve been on the Royal Caribbean Cruises was my favorite. They have everything for everyone! Morning to Night there is non-stop entertainment, activities, and adventure that will satisfy all ages.

I prefer the Caribbean cruises because the scenery is beautiful on and off the ship. Our ship was the Freedom of the Seas and first let me say that for the size of the ship I was pleasantly surprised at how organized the crew and staff were. They were also friendly and accommodating. The cabins are comfortable and clean. I recommend getting a cabin with a balcony, we loved being able to have a view while eating breakfast.

Every morning you receive a news paper with all the activities that will be available that day. There is a multitude of choices from napkin folding classes to surfing! Yes surfing! The ship has the world’s first surf simulator. There is always something going on that will please everyone in your group. They have an ice skating rink were you can ice skate yourself or catch some of the best shows onboard. There is a rock climbing wall, a full size sports court, an arcade, a theater, night clubs, pools, kids club, teen club, almost anything you can think of they have it. They also offer a range of classes from boxing to yoga. If you need some time to relax there is also a spa. The Royal Promenade is a four story naturally lit walk way with your choice of shops, restaurants, and bars.

The food selection is amazing and very good. You can choose from a wide range from Japanese to Italian. There is also a Johnny Rockets for the young ones to enjoy. The main dining hall sometimes has themed nights such as Mexican where the waiters dress up and there is singing and music. For a nightcap I recommend the Viking Lounge which has a great view and great music and dancing.

If your looking to satisfy everyone in your group cruises are the prefect way to go!

Virtuoso travel advisors share their top island getaways, from tropical havens to cosmopolitan escapes in the March/April Islands issue of VIRTUOSO LIFE.

1. Hawaii - The 50th state was hands down the most popular choice for tropical bliss, with Maui the top individual island. “Love the beaches, the people, the ambiance, the closeness to other islands for day trips, the sun, the golf, the food - I love it all.”
2. Tahiti - Running a close second was this South Pacific paradise, with Bora-Bora - and its overwater bungalows - receiving the most raves. “The color of the water is truly amazing, and the people are wonderful, very friendly and welcoming. I fell in love with Bora-Bora.”
3. Anguilla - “On this island in the Lesser Antilles, the people are beautiful on the inside, the beaches are beautiful on the outside, and the food is great too. I love Anguilla so much I’ve brought a boyfriend and two husbands here - not at the same time, of course.”
4. Saint Bart’s - “It has terrific beaches, amazing restaurants, great live music, and the local people are eclectic and fun. I love to stay in a villa with a pool and visit a different beach each day. It is also a perfect island for celebrity spotting.”
5. Vancouver Island - “It may not be tropical, but it has so many opportunities to experience nature: temperate rain forest, fjords, wild sea life, storms blowing in off the Pacific. It is one of the world’s most diverse, gorgeous places.”
6. Fiji - “It’s so remote and romantic. You can walk out of your beachfront bure and hop into the water for a swim or snorkel. The Fijians make a stay very special and are truly the most friendly and hospitable people on earth.”
7. Barbados - “What better combination is there than white sand and blue sparkling water? Add to that luxurious resorts with fabulous spas and golf courses, loads of colorful festivals, and sunken ships to explore by tank or snorkel, and there’s no reason to go anywhere else.”
8. Tasmania - “With a third of the island designated as national parkland, the unspoiled scenery is spectacular. From lakes to beaches and forests, you can hike, ride horseback, swim, fish, kayak, scuba dive, and spot wildlife. The island’s cool-climate wines are excellent, and Tassie has some of the nicest people you will find anywhere.”
9. Easter Island - “The peace and serenity of the place are overwhelming. The guides are fantastic, the food outstanding, the scenery breathtaking, and the people wonderful. The sky is so blue and the ocean even bluer. It’s a great place for couples or families.”
10. Nevis - “It’s the kind of place where you don’t need those few days to unwind. You can relax as soon as you arrive. A hammock on the beach is all I need, but there are guided hikes, golf and spa at the Four Seasons, plantation houses to visit or stay at, and a ferry that visits nearby Saint Kitts.”
11. Aitutaki - “One of the Cook Islands, Aitutaki is one of my favorite places on earth. You can walk in the knee-high water for miles, find conches the size of a sink, feel like you are alone, and totally rejuvenate.”
12. Bali - “The Balinese radiate a spiritual beauty. I love the emerald green rice paddies, the haunting music of gamelan, and watching the women balance stacks of fruit on their heads as they glide gracefully toward a Hindu ceremony at one of the mini-temples on the island.”
13. Bermuda - “There’s so much to see and do, with scenery, history, charm, and year-round temperate weather. Everything is clean, the people are gracious, and it has a great economy.”
14. Capri - “I love Capri for its great views and Italian charm. If you spend time here, you discover places that entice you to return. It’s wonderful to sit in the piazza and sip an espresso or wander the narrow streets. The pizza here is the best anywhere.”
15. Santorini - “This Greek isle is always at the top of my list, with is whitehead cliffside dwellings overlooking the most unusual shade of blue in the caldera. Spend the day sightseeing and shopping; come late afternoon, trek to the village of Oia to watch the sunset, then enjoy a dinner of fabulous local food, topped off with a little singing and dancing.