10 Days in the Caribbean on 'World Navigator'
STORIESIntroduction
By GERRY BARKER
Published November, 2021 October was a milestone month for us: The month we got back to cruising. And what a cruise it was -- 10 days on a brand new ship from a new cruise line -- Atlas Ocean Voyages' World Navigator. Our cruise would begin in St. Maarten and end in Barbados. We were both excited and cautious, wondering what travel would entail in this time of COVID. Only one way to find out. So me packed our bags, vaccine cards, negative test results and headed for Miami International. Follow along in our day-by-day diary which ran on ALL THINGS CRUISE, with the new addition of photo slide shows and video on the places we visited. All aboard! DAY ONE: ST. MAARTENST. MAARTEN_After almost two, long, painful years, Pam and I are on an actual cruise. Pinch me — is it real?
Yes, I can see the hotels, buildings and sandy beaches of this dual-nationality nation (Dutch and French) across the blue waves from our balcony. This is the first stop for World Navigator, a brand new ship from a brand new cruise line, Atlas Ocean Voyages. For the next 10 days, we’ll sail the Caribbean, visiting multiple islands while we get acquainted with all this ship has to offer. As we all know, taking a cruise these days isn’t as simple as parking at the terminal and walking onboard. With the COVID pandemic came a host of new protocols and procedures. Since this cruise embarked from St. Maarten, that included something else we haven’t done in a very long time: Flying. READ MORE AT ALL THINGS CRUISE DAY TWO: ST . MAARTENST. MAARTEN_ Since we’re overnighting here, we have plenty of time to get to know World Navigator, who made her debut just four months ago and is the first in what will be a fleet of five ships sailing under the Atlas Ocean Voyages banner.
With a total guest capacity of just under 200, it hugs the line between cruise ship and super yacht. On this voyage, we have around 50 guests onboard, along with 127 crew, so right away we feel even more pampered and special. And when Atlas says their fares are “All Inclusive, All the Way,” they mean just that. They include round-trip airfare, unlimited premium drinks, prepaid gratuities, a free shore excursion in every port and maybe most important these days, emergency medical evacuation insurance. READ MORE AT ALL THINGS CRUISE DAY THREE: SABASABA_After leaving St. Maarten, our next stop is somewhere we’ve never been, and frankly, didn’t know about: Saba (prounced SAY-ba). We first heard about it from our St. Maarten taxi driver, who told us it was featured in the 1933 film classic, “King Kong.” That definitely got my attention.
Once it came into view, the connection was obvious. Rising out of the ocean, we saw its towering cliffs and jagged rocks, the top of the island obscured by misty clouds, reminiscent of Hawaii. No wonder filmmakers chose this to be Skull Island, the home of Kong. But that’s where any similarity ends. There are no fearsome dinosaurs or giant apes, only a friendly and welcoming population of around 2,000 living in a tropical paradise. READ MORE AT ALL THINGS CRUISE DAY FOUR: ST. BARTSST. BARTS_We have arrived at this Caribbean French playground for the rich and famous, but happily they also welcome the not-so-rich unknowns as well.
Shopping here is something like an island version of Rodeo Drive: Lots of high-end brand names that draw the yachting crowd like a magnet. But there are also deals to be had. Some of our new friends came back with jewelry, clothes and accessories that didn’t break the bank. Normally, Pam would be right there with them, but I’m scheduled for a massage at the L’OCCITANE Spa (the only one at sea) and she is enjoying some downtime at The Dome on deck 7. We later learned the shops on St. Barts close from 1-4 pm, so it just didn’t work with our schedule. Whew. READ MORE AT ALL THINGS CRUISE DAY FIVE: ST. KITTS AND NEVISST. KITTS AND NEVIS_We are rapidly moving toward the mid-point of our 10-day cruise, and as is customary, the time is flying by. For the next two days, we will visit the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, and as is the case with our earlier ports, we will be among the first cruise ships to call here since the pandemic started.
Both islands have strict COVID protocols, including masking and temperature checks, and tours are only permitted if all double-vaccinated guests stay together in a “bubble” throughout their time there — guests aren’t allowed to roam freely on their own. There is a morning bus tour of St. Kitts, but we skip that in favor of another activity the ship is offering: Soaking up some sun at the Carambola Beach Resort. For that, several of the Zodiacs on board are lowered to ferry us over. This was our first experience in these powerboat inflatables, and we got an exhilarating ride on the waves right up on the sand. READ MORE AT ALL THINGS CRUISE DAY 6: ANTIGUAANTIGUA_And now we arrive in Antigua. Or maybe not.
As we finish breakfast and go to the Atlas Lounge to assemble for our walking tour of Nelson’s Dockyard — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — we learn the seas are too rough for the tenders, so the ship is moving north to dock at the island’s capital, St. John’s. The announcement was late in coming, so both passengers and crew are scrambling to readjust, as are the Antigua authorities, who have to clear the ship. They’ll have to move their health check team as well. So we’ll just wait with everybody else in the lounge for the green light. READ MORE AT ALL THINGS CRUISE DAY 7: ST. LUCIAST. LUCIA_Hard to believe, but we have arrived at one of the last islands on this 10-day cruise, and it’s among the most beautiful, with its white sand beaches, mountainous terrain, rainforests, hiking trails, hot springs and of course, the world-famous Pitons, two volcanic spires rising dramatically out of the sea.
Many of the 50-some passengers on World Navigator have signed up for a tour of the island, and we are assembled in the Atlas Lounge awaiting departure. Enter Sean, the entertainment director, to tell us the St. Lucia authorities aren’t ready for us yet, so please be patient. After an hour delay, we go the tender and take a short ride over to Rodney Bay on Pigeon Island. It’s the first time we’ve been here. On all our previous visits, we docked at the island’s capital, Castries. A national landmark, Rodney Bay features the ruins of 18th century Ft. Rodney, and one of the island’s most popular beaches, frequented by the locals. READ MORE AT ALL THINGS CRUISE DAY 8: AT SEAAT SEA_Today our destination is … nowhere. It’s a sea day, and we’ll spend it cruising the Grenadines, between St. Vincent and Grenada. There was a heavy rain overnight, and a gray, fog-like haze envelopes the islands as we sail by. It pretty much stays with us all day.
No matter, while some head to the spa, for us it’s chill time by the pool. This morning there’s also a cooking demonstration in The Dome, where Brazilian chef/consultant Guillermo Muro, who designed the menus on World Navigator, will show us how to cook Summer Truffle Gnocchi. Working with his assistants, he took us through every step of the process, including sampling the end result. It was easily the best gnocchi we ever tasted, and his béchamel sauce was magical. READ MORE AT ALL THINGS CRUISE Day 9: MayreauMAYREAU_I bet there’s a good chance you haven’t run across this place in all your cruising. We haven’t.
It’s the smallest inhabited island in the Grenadines, with a population of under 300. World Navigator lies anchored just off a wide stretch of sandy beach, and Zodiacs have been going back and forth all morning, ferrying supplies and equipment for a very special treat for those of us onboard: A full-on beach BBQ. And when I say “full-on,” I mean everything you could possibly ask for, beautifully executed. Waiting for us as we exited the Zodiacs were lounge chairs, towels, snorkel gear and water toys for those so inclined, along with a full bar and the aroma of food cooking on charcoal grills. READ MORE AT ALL THINGS CRUISE WRAP UPOur 10-day “luxe adventure” Caribbean cruise on Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator is in the books. Now it’s time to summarize our overall impressions of the ship and what we experienced.
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PHOTOS/ SLIDESHOWS/ VIDEO
Pam ready to board in St. Maarten
Photos/Video by
North Palm Beach Life DEPARTURESHIP TOURVISITING SABAVIDEO: TROPICAL BIRDSEXPLORING THE SHIPST. BARTS: DINNER AT L'ESPRITVIDEO: COCKTAIL JUGGLERCARAMBOLA BEACH CLUBNEVIS: HAMILTON'S BIRTHPLACE |
