Sun, Sails, and Serenity: Exploring the Caribbean with Island Windjammers | Renae Gunter, Sojourney Travel
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by…. Sea Fever by John Masefield
Sailing the Caribbean on a tall ship is an unforgettable experience! Think of sun filled days and nights under the stars to provide a unique adventure filled with laughter, fun, and great food!
For our friends who know us well, you know that we love sailing! But many people are surprised when I say that we were planning a 12-night cruise on a tall ship. These types of sailing vessels are large traditionally-rigged sailboats such as a topsail schooner, brigantines, brigs and barques. The Island Windjammer corporation owns 3 tall ships. Currently, two of the ships sail in the Caribbean and one is sailing around the Greek Islands. This vacation was my and my husband’s second time aboard this cruise line and both times we have sailed the ship named “VELA”. She is a 150-foot schooner that can accommodate 26 passengers and 9 crew members.
We began our adventure in St. Kitts at a small restaurant on the bay. The ship was moored out aways and the crew came in by dinghy to meet us. After taking our luggage to the ship, we then made our way to the dinghy to be taken to meet Vela. We boarded Vela and were met with a lovely rum punch under a large canopy sail. After our initial meeting where our cruise director explained our itinerary and life aboard, we were escorted to our cabins. The cabins are quite small and cozy, but each have their own shower, bathroom and air conditioning. You really don’t need to bring much on these cruises since we are outside most of the day in this very laid-back life.
The Activities and Meals
For those of us who rise early, coffee awaits with an early morning yoga class taught by our wonderful cruise director, Debbie. Around 8:00 am the bell rings for breakfast, (yes, the bell is rung for every meal to alert us that the cooks are ready!), which included a variety of cereals, eggs, bacon, pancakes, just to name a few.
The dinghies head into shore and usually leave at 9 a.m. for shopping or other activities. Dinghies run every hour to and from the islands. Most of the time we all came back to the ship for lunch which could range from grilled fish to a trio of cold salads. This is served on deck at noon.
Our afternoon activities included snorkeling, visiting small port towns in the islands, hikes, or just seeing what that particular island had to offer. The Island Windjammers tend to find small towns that most of the large cruise ships can’t visit, affording us the opportunity to support and explore regions of the Caribbean that often are overlooked.
The popular snack and cocktail hour takes place at 5 p.m. outside on the forward deck. This is when the rum punch again is served and paired with delicious appetizers ranging from flavorful plantain chips, fruit and cheese platters, and a host of other tantalizing foods along with complimentary wine and beer. Then by 7:00 pm, its dinner under the stars on the deck. By the way, all of the cuisine is prepared by two chefs whose kitchen, known as the galley, is probably no more than 10 feet long and 3 feet wide! We had the most amazing food at every meal. The chefs cook everything from scratch including the most decadent desserts!
The Itinerary
Since our captain sets the course, each day is a new secret adventure. You can free your mind from schedules as you watch the sails being raised and the winds filling the sails! Each evening a colorful whiteboard was updated explaining our schedule for the next day. We visited islands such as Nevis, Martinque, Monseratt, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Marie Galante, Îles des Saintes, and Saint Lucia. We never knew where we were headed next so we all looked forward to taking pictures of the whiteboard to see where the next day would take us!
The Atmosphere
Life aboard is casual, relaxing, and geared to just having fun! We even had the opportunity to help raise the sails and steer the ship. Often, you will see everyone just hanging out reading books or chatting. There is no wi-fi on board, so it was a wonderful time to disconnect from the world back home.
Attire onboard is t-shirts, shorts, or whatever you feel the most comfortable wearing. If you are wearing shoes, you are overdressed! No need to dress fancy in the evenings. Just take a shower and let the winds dry your hair!
We were able to live in the now, breathe it all in, and just live the Island Life! The Island Windjammers truly offers a unique vacation with the chance to get away from it all and let the wind take you away! Ready to experience your own island paradise? Reach out to me or a Sojourney Travel advisor today to start the planning process!