Sea Cloud - Expedition-Style
Sea Cloud - Ship with a Soul
Return to the romantic era of tall ships on an expedition among the idyllic islands of the Caribbean - a place perfectly suited to the aesthetic beauty of sailing aboard an authentic square-rigger. The ship will be a movable feast and your base for seven days of exploring some of the Caribbean’s lesser-known sites. This historic sailing yacht, a souvenir of a golden age, is full of the glamour of the sophisticated ‘30’s. From the moment you step aboard you’ll feel the soul of the ship - as surely as you’ll feel the trade winds filling her sails.
Every expedition sails with a veteran expedition leader, a historian, and a naturalist who is also a Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor. With an extensive background in the region and knowledge of the islands’ histories and wildlife, you can rely on this team to offer a greater understanding and appreciation of this beautiful part of the world. Experience the "old" Caribbean at its most authentic!
The elegant 58-guest Sea Cloud is an extraordinary, historic yacht that will enable you to:
- Experience the power of sailing aboard a four-masted, 30-sail tall ship
- Sail into smaller, lesser-known ports and anchorages of the “old Caribbean”
- Explore the islands’ wildlife and cultures
- Enjoy the relaxed pace of Caribbean life and traveling by private sailing yacht
Each week aboard Sea Cloud is crafted to offer the authentic experience of sailing a true square-rigger among the Lesser Antilles’ pristine, seldom-seen locales. Flexibility is the hallmark of an expedition, and our daily itineraries will often adjust to take advantage of wind or wildlife sightings.
Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary:
DAY 1: U.S./Barbados - Embark
Embark Sea Cloud in the late afternoon and begin our voyage in the Caribbean. (D)
DAY 2: Under Sail
We have the day to enjoy one of the great pleasures of travel anywhere: sailing aboard our barque, seeing the crew go aloft unfurling the sails the traditional way—by hand—as we sail the trade winds. Watch as the crew climbs the rigging and trims the Sea Cloud's 32,000 square feet of canvas, and follow the action with sail plan in hand. This is surely one of the best ways possible to learn about the art and science of sailing, and a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the many amenities of this historic tall ship. (B,L,D)
DAY 3: Dominica
Dominica is called the “Nature Island” because of its beauty and many reserves. We dock at historic Prince Rupert Bay, where sailing ships of all flags put in for water, citrus fruits, and solid timber after a long Atlantic crossing. In the morning we drive through a succession of tropical ecosystems and fruit plantations into the Morne Diablotin National Park and rain forest. The spectacular canopy trees with their buttress roots and liana vines are home to Dominica’s two endemic parrots, which we hope to see or hear on our rain forest hike. After lunch, join our historian for a walk up to beautifully restored Fort Shirley, where English cannons protected the strategic bay below. We’ll also have our first opportunity to snorkel in the warm, clear Caribbean waters. (B,L,D)
DAY 4: Îles des Saintes/Under Sail
Distinctly French in character and culture, the shops, homes and people of Les Saintes are colorful and full of taste and flavor. Enjoy picture-postcard views from Fort Napoleon, with its cactus garden, iguanas and maritime museum. Then stroll through French colonial Terre de Haut and swim and snorkel from a nearby sandy beach. In the afternoon we set sail in the Guadeloupe Channel for a short but powerful downwind sail, as the winds fill the square sails in a glorious spectacle. (B,L,D)
DAY 5: Bequia, the Grenadines/Under Sail
With a historical mix of Scottish indentured servants, buccaneers, whalers and mariners, Bequia has a maritime culture unlike any other. Scrimshaw and model-boat building endure in this long-time sailors’ watering hole. We’ll get to know the local Bequians on a short drive around the island in covered pick-up trucks, stopping at a view with gorgeous overlooks and at a very interesting local hawksbill turtle revival initiative. In Port Elizabeth we’ll find local crafts, the Rastafarian fruit and vegetable market, elegant Belmont Walk and one of the best bookstores in the West Indies. A good swim, snorkel, and tropical beach are a short walk or Zodiac ride away, near the local beach bar. In the afternoon, we set sail across St. Vincent Channel. (B,L,D)
DAY 6: Under Sail/Exploring the Grenadines
In the morning we enjoy a rousing sail through the idyllic Grenadines, passing Mustique, Canouan, Tobago Cay, Mayreau and Union Islands. We’ll then anchor in one of the lovely white-sand arcing beaches that are the quintessential image of a Caribbean bay, with protected waters for easy swimming and snorkeling, and a few local beach bars with colorful Caribbean names and characters completing the scene. (B,L,D)
DAY 7: Soufrière & Les Pitons, St. Lucia/Under Sail
Anchor under the iconic twin peaks of St. Lucia, called “Les Pitons". There is no more iconic image of the Windward Islands than these famed mountains. We’ll anchor beneath Petit Piton at the port of Soufrière, whose name derives from the active sulfur pools indicative of ongoing volcanism. We’ll explore the active crater and the geologic origins of Les Pitons, before taking a delightful walk through the local botanical gardens that are fed by mineral-rich hot spring runoff. The gardens are a gallery of tropical blooms and color, alive with hummingbirds, bullfinches and the backdrop rush of Diamond Falls. We then return to Sea Cloud to weigh anchor and spend the afternoon sailing. Watch as the crew climbs the rigging and trims the Sea Cloud's 32,000 square feet of sails, and follow the action with sail plan in hand. This is surely one of the best ways anywhere to learn about the art and science of sailing. (B,L,D)
DAY 8: Barbados - Disembark > Home
Disembark the Sea Cloud in Bridgetown, Barbados. We’ll drive to the north along the west coast and 1627. We’ll stop at St. James Parish Church, the oldest Anglican Church in Barbados, and continue our drive through Speightstown to St. Nicholas Abbey. Built in 1660, St. Nicholas Abbey is not a church but one of only three genuine Jacobean mansions in the Western Hemisphere. It was recently refurbished, and the distinguishing features of this magnificent, well-preserved mansion include curved Dutch gables, chimney stack and coral stone finials, a Chinese Chippendale staircase and fine antiques. Our last stop before Bridgetown Airport for departure flights is Bathsheba, with spectacular views of the rugged East Coast Hills on one side and the pounding Atlantic surf on the other. We’ll stop at one of the parks nearby for a picnic lunch before continuing to the airport for flights home. (B,L)
You’ll be able to snorkel or swim in the warm Caribbean waters nearly every day, explore tropical reefs and an undersea garden in the marine reserve of Tobago Cay. Enter island capitals born in the golden age of sail. Stroll waterfront towns where the patois reflects the mosaic of cultures in these islands. Hike a jungle trail in search of parrots, or enjoy a palm-studded beach. Each island offers a unique rhythm, and your expedition can be as active or relaxing as you choose.
Centuries ago the islands we explore were used as pawns by the most powerful seafaring nations in the world. Today’s comfortable, welcoming Caribbean personality is superimposed on a diverse cultural, even architectural, history. French, Dutch, English, and Spaniards traded these islands and left lasting imprints. Your expedition team will help you navigate these diverse cultural strands and reveal the historic within the contemporary.
in association with Linblad-National Geographic
Suggestion: Extend your holiday with a pre- or post-cruise stay at one of Barbados' idyllic beach resorts.
2020 Departure Dates:
11 Feb, 18 Feb, 25 Feb
Special Offers:
FREE BAR TAB AND CREW TIPS INCLUDED
Call for Pricing and Details: 800-757-6422