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28 Feb 26, from £5,450
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Cruising the Caribbean's Windward Islands – with Smithsonian Journeys

In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys

Cruising the Caribbean's Windward Islands – with Smithsonian Journeys

  • Itinerary
    Vieux Fort to Vieux Fort
    Duration
    9 days
  • Dates
    28 Feb 26 to 8 Mar 26
    Prices from
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Come aboard Le Bellot for an unforgettable voyage.

In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.

This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.

PONANT brings you an itinerary to the heart of the most enchanting islands in the Caribbean Sea. Board Le Bellot for a 9-day cruise combining long stretches of white-sand beach, idyllic turquoise waters, and the laid-back island way of life.

Board your ship in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia, whose two majestic volcanic peaks – the Gros and Petit Pitons –  jut dramatically from sea to sky and are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

You will then set sail for Portsmouth in Dominica, a mountainous island where inland rivers and nature trails provide a glimpse into the intriguing flora and fauna of the island and – if you are lucky – the chance to see the nation’s national bird, the Sisserou Parrot. Do not miss the opportunity to sample some native chocolate from a local maker.

Continue north to Les Saintes, a small archipelago of Guadeloupe, a highly popular anchorage site with crystal-clear waters and fabulous seabeds where opportunities to enjoy the seascape abound.  Snorkel, swim, or kayak in the shadow of the imposing 19th-century Fort Napoléon.

Your ship will then sail south to the archipelago of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Here, begin on the island of Bequia, where small, picturesque villages, unbelievably clear waters, and brightly colored coral reefs prove main attractions. Then, enjoy a day on your magnificent private beach on the island of Mayreau.

Continue to Saint George’s, the capital of Grenada, a hilly island of unspoiled beauty and the southernmost isle of the Lesser Antilles. Nicknamed the Spice Island, Grenada is home to a number of nutmeg plantations. The island boasts the pristine Grand Etang National Park, which you may choose to visit.

Anchor next in the Tobago Cays Marine Park. This circle of islands, bound together by arguably the most beautiful coral reef in the West Indies, will reveal its incredible underwater wildlife during your visit.

Le Bellot sails on to Bridgetown, Barbados, whose UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic center reveals touches of its British colonial past around every corner. Toast the end of your cruise with a glass of the island’s famous rum as you relish the memories of your week at sea on this breathtaking stretch of the Caribbean! Your cruise ends back in Vieux Fort.

To further enhance your Caribbean odyssey, an experienced diving instructor will be on board for the entire cruise, enabling you to safely enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving (PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent). (Diving is at an additional cost.)

The encounters with the wildlife described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.

Overview

Your voyage

All-inclusive

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Destination

Destination

Caribbean

Vieux Fort to Vieux Fort

Duration

9 days, 8 nights on board

Smithsonian Journeys, Timeless

Smithsonian Journeys

Smithsonian Journeys

Neeti Bathala

Neeti Bathala, Bénédicte Boisseron

Shore excursion or activity in each port of call + transfers included

No single supplement, PONANT Bonus 15%

Diving & initiation dive

Diving & initiation dive

Ref: VF0145US - EE280226

Journey

Your daily itinerary

  • A voyage specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers including discussions with experts, transfers before and after your cruise, and an included excursion or activity in each port of call.
  • Engaging lectures and discussions on board with two Smithsonian Journeys Experts, including ecologist and environmental scientist Neeti Bathala and Bénédicte Boisseron, an author and professor of Afro-American, Caribbean, and African studies.
  • UNESCO World Heritage sites: The Pitons of St. Lucia and Historic Bridgetown in Barbados.
  • A true picture-perfect sampling of the West Indies: endless white-sand beaches, colorful reefs, idyllic turquoise waters, and the laid-back island way of life.
  • A discovery of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, considered one of the world’s most stunning archipelagos.
  • A barbecue lunch on your private beach on the island of Mayreau.
  • Opportunities to sample local specialties, such as chocolate, spices, and rum.
  • Exceptional seabeds and reefs with the possibility to observe turtles, barracudas, spiny lobsters, and parrotfish.
  • Myriad opportunities to swim and snorkel in crystal-clear waters.
  • Possibility of diving (PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent) with an experienced instructor on board (additional cost).
Cruising the Caribbean's Windward Islands – with Smithsonian Journeys null

Customize your journey:

Guests

Sharing your journey with

Neeti Bathala null

Neeti Bathala

Bénédicte Boisseron null

Bénédicte Boisseron

Staterooms and suites

Elegance and refinement

*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.

Details

More information

What's Included

Important travel details

In your luggage

Cruising the Caribbean's Windward Islands – with Smithsonian Journeys

Itinerary

Embarkation 28/02/26 from 17:00 to 17:30 Departure 28/02/26 at 18:30

28 Feb 26 - Vieux Fort
28 Feb 26 - Vieux Fort

Arrival 01/03/26 early morning Departure 01/03/26 late afternoon

1 Mar 26 - Portsmouth
1 Mar 26 - Portsmouth

Arrival 02/03/26 Departure 02/03/26 late afternoon

2 Mar 26 - Les Saintes
2 Mar 26 - Les Saintes

Arrival 03/03/26 late morning Departure 04/03/26 at night

3 Mar 26 > 4 Mar 26 - Port Elizabeth, Bequia Island
3 Mar 26 > 4 Mar 26 - Port Elizabeth, Bequia Island

Arrival 04/03/26 early morning Departure 04/03/26 evening

4 Mar 26 - Mayreau Island
4 Mar 26 - Mayreau Island

Arrival 05/03/26 early morning Departure 05/03/26 late evening

5 Mar 26 - Saint George's, Grenada
5 Mar 26 - Saint George's, Grenada

Arrival 06/03/26 early morning Departure 06/03/26 late afternoon

6 Mar 26 - Tobago Cays
6 Mar 26 - Tobago Cays

Arrival 07/03/26 early morning Departure 07/03/26 late afternoon

7 Mar 26 - Bridgetown
7 Mar 26 - Bridgetown

Arrival 08/03/26 early morning Disembarkation 08/03/26 at 8:00

8 Mar 26 - Vieux Fort
8 Mar 26 - Vieux Fort

Cruising the Caribbean's Windward Islands – with Smithsonian Journeys

Included package

Shore excursion or activity in each port of call + transfers included

Cruising the Caribbean's Windward Islands – with Smithsonian Journeys

Customize your journey

St. lucia: natural beauty and creole culture (3 nights)

ST. LUCIA: NATURAL BEAUTY AND CREOLE CULTURE (3 NIGHTS)
Details

With its dense, green, rain-forest-covered peaks rising from the turquoise Caribbean, St. Lucia is known throughout the world for its remarkably beautiful variety of landscapes and seascapes. It is also one of the most culturally diverse places in an area celebrated for its multicultural heritage. This specially designed program provides the opportunity to experience both of these aspects of a fascinating island.

Day 1 – St. Lucia

Arrive at Hewanorra International Airport, where you will be met and transferred to the northern tip of the island to the Bay Gardens Beach Resort, your home for the next three nights. Check-in time is 4:00 p.m. A local representative will be present at the hospitality desk in the afternoon to welcome you and answer any questions you may have. Relax and enjoy the many amenities of the resort before enjoying dinner at the hotel.

Day 2 – St. Lucia

Spend a relaxing day, enjoying the beach and the facilities at the resort. This evening join your fellow travelers for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at the hotel.

Day 3 – St. Lucia

Because of its history as both a French and British colony (control of the island changed hands between these two European powers fourteen times between 1639 and 1814) the creole culture of St. Lucia is a fascinating blend of English, French, African, and indigenous Caribbean language and traditions. Today's excursion begins with a visit to a local farm that is part of the international "FarmHer" movement to highlight and support the role of women in agriculture. Meet with the owner and learn about her entry into the business, and about the support she receives from her creole background, and, of course, sample some of the produce from the farm. Continue to Stony Hill, a private residence with a splendid tropical garden and panoramic views of Pigeon Island and Rodney Bay. Enjoy a guided tour of the garden led by the owner before returning to your hotel, where the balance of the day is at leisure, until dinner.

Day 4 – St. Lucia | Embark

Breakfast and check-out are followed by a day exploring the western coast of St. Lucia. Your panoramic tour begins with a drive through the town of Castries to a viewpoint overlooking the harbor of this busy port and capital city. Drive further south through lush valleys to the yachtsman's paradise of Marigot Bay, where you pause before continuing to Soufrière, home to the iconic Pitons of St. Lucia. Here you will enjoy guided tours of the Diamond Botanical Gardens and of Sulphur Springs Park, with views of the bubbling pools of sulphur that give Soufrière its name. Your final stop will be at Morne Coubaril Estate, a working farm that produces cocoa, coconut, and manioc and that preserves a sense of 18th-century life on a French creole plantation. Enjoy a delicious creole lunch at a local restaurant before transferring to the pier in Vieux Fort to embark your ship in late afternoon.

Your hotel:

The Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa is a superior first class resort on the spectacular golden sands and crystal-clear blue waters of Reduit Beach on Rodney Bay. It boasts a large pool with a Jacuzzi in the middle, two ocean side restaurants, a fitness center, and a business center. The luxurious on-site La Mer Spa and Salon offers a variety of massages and couples treatments.

Your program includes:

  • 3 nights at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa
  • Transfer and luggage handling from the airport to the hotel on the scheduled program arrival day
  • Transfer and luggage handling from the hotel to the ship on embarkation day
  • Welcome Reception on Day 2
  • Dinner on Days 1, 2, and 3
  • Breakfast on Days 2, 3, and 4
  • Lunch on Day 4
  • Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary
  • Local English-speaking guide
  • Gratuities for the drivers and local guides

Your program does not include:

  • Transfer from the airport to the hotel on any day other than the scheduled program arrival day
  • Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program

Please note:

It is imperative that your flight arrival details are communicated at least 60 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the airport to the hotel.

Early check-in and/or late check-out are available depending on availability and at a supplement. An additional night is possible, upon request and depending on hotel availability. Please, contact reservations or your travel agent for further details.

The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar. US dollars and credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.

This pre-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.

Program is offered on a space available basis.

Program is subject to change without notice.

Hotel contact information:

Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa

Reduit Beach, Rodney Bay Village

P.O. Box 1892

Castries, Saint Lucia

Local Telephone: + 758 457 8514

Toll Free US & CAN: + 1 877 620 3200


Total

£1,250/person*

Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.