caribbean cruise, croisière aux antilles

 

The Grenadines

Join us in the Grenadines 
at 
St. Vincent, Canouan, Union or Grenada.

From left to right: Palm, Petit St Vincent and Petite Martinique in back and taller,  Carriacou,  then on the right Union and Mayereau where we are anchored windward but protected by the coral reef.

The Grenadines.

 

 

The archipelago forms the southern end of the West Indies. It is made up of some 600 islands, isles and rocks.  The Grenadines are split between two countries, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. 

We will fly the St. Vincent flag at Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, the Tobago Cays, Mayereau, Union and Petit St Vincent.  

The flag of Grenada is required at Petite Martinique and Carriacou. 

 

 

    Click an island to get more info from an official site.

Major international airports at:

  • Martinique (Le Lamentin) a large international airport but with few flights 
    from Canada or the USA.
  • St Lucia has two airports.
    • Hewanorra the large international airport at the southern tip of the island. This airport is almost 2 hours ($100USD) by taxi from Castries the capital.
    • The smaller airport at Castries is served by regional carriers like LIAT. It is minutes from town
  • Barbados, 
    This is also a good choice. From here regional carriers fly to many of the lesser Antilles like St Vincent, Union, Grenada.
  • Grenada (Pointe Saline airport), 
    This airport we recommend, it is closer and customs are efficient. 
    There are both scheduled and charter flights from North America and Europe.
  • Trinidad (Piarco airport).
    Plan on a long delay upon arrival (over one hour) 
    clearing immigration, then getting baggage, then clearing customs.
    However this airport is served by many international airlines.  

Regional airports at:

  • St Vincent
    A regionally important airport:
    American Airlines, Caribbean Star, LIAT,  SVG Air and more.
  • Canouan
    Becoming more active with AA (American Eagle) three times weekly, SVG Air etc.
  • Union
    A Busy daytime only airport.
    Air Caraïbes, SVG, TIA, Air Mustique, and more.

Ferries.

  • There is conventional, slow ferry service, between St Vincent and Bequia.  It takes about one hour and is not expensive. 
  • Also a rapid ferry twice daily goes from Petite Martinique to Carriacou then Grenada and back.
    You could fly to Grenada and board the ferry to Carriacou and join us directly in the Grenadines.  http://www.ospreylines.com/

 

 

Saint Vincent. flag by www.3dflags.com

Superb island of volcanic origin, all mountainous and luxuriant.  Unspoiled, little developed with few roads and only one small airport, you will feel you are discovering it.  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an independent state since October 27, 1979.  It's currency is the East Caribbean dollar.  The exchange rate is fixed at $EC 2.65 for $US 1.00 .  The population of about 120 000 is mainly of African origin. 

...and it's Grenadines.

Bequia, right close to Saint Vincent is the largest of it's Grenadines.  Admiralty Bay is the main anchorage.  It offers a market, many restaurants, some hotels and boutiques, handicraft and complete provisioning for boats.  The island has an airport but also a frequent ferry service to the mother island close by. 

Mustique is situated some 14 miles to the south East.  The anchorage is very rolly and sleeping there is difficult.  You can rent a car or take a taxi to visit.  The notorious Basil's Bar is where the celebrities gather.

Canouan is some 20 miles south of Bequia or 14 miles south west of Mustique.  The island is in the middle of a real estate boom.  You will find there a golf and a few hotels.  The anchorage is OK and it is real close to the Tobago Cays.  The airport welcomes a new American Airlines service many times weekly.

The Tobago Cays!  
They are the center, the real heart of the Grenadines.  The islands are a marine park. Only one way to see them: by boat.  A large horseshoe shaped coral reef protects Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Baradal et Jamesby.  Petit Tabac although windward of this reef is protected by another called World's End Reef.  These isles are really just a bunch of palm trees circled by white sandy beaches and bathed in a turquoise sea.  Good anchorages abound.  Snorkeling in 6 feet of 84F degree water over colorful coral full of tropical fishes is fascinating.  The "Boat Boys" will come by and offer us fish and lobster for dinner.  Say hello, most of them are friends.

Mayereau, is just downwind from the Tobago Cays and boast a couple of real nice and good anchorages.  More beaches, a hotel and some restaurants..

Union the neighboring island, less than two miles south, is much larger and we will find there a nice hotels, an airport, some good restaurants and fresh bread!.  Chatham bay on the western shore is less busy with no road.  It is a good calm anchorage with a nice beach.

Tiny Palm island is entirely occupied by a hotel. 

A few miles south east is Petit St Vincent (PSV).  Another hotel island but we have access to it's beautiful beach. The area is paradise.  The bungalows (double rooms) start at US$ 800 per day. You may visit by prior arrangement.

Grenada. (The Spice Island.)flag by www.3dflags.com

See Grenada's official site:  www.grenada.org  or believe us, it is a jewel of the West Indies.  Flower gardens abound.  A very clean, very hospitable island.  Watch out!  Look right! they drive  on the left!  In three words volcanic, mountainous and luxuriant.  All kind of spice has been grown here for centuries.  You should visit the market place, a fiesta for the nose! 

St. George's s according to many the prettiest harbor of the West Indies.  Bring your camera.  In town some English cooking, some French cuisine, some Creole specialties and lot's of restaurants to sample it all.  Bon appétit!  

The currency is the East Caribbean dollar.  The exchange rate is fixed at $EC 2.67 for $US 1.00 .   The population of 95 000, is 85% of African origin.  English is mostly spoken but also a French Creole.  Independent since the coup d'état of 1979.  Then in December 1984, after the American military action of 1983, a new independent government was elected.  This island country is better developed than it's neighbors with an excellent education system, good roads, an active harbor, a large airport that caters to heavy aircraft, a well controlled tourism sector and a is rapidly growing yachting center.  Agriculture is important, it is the third largest producer of nutmeg in the world.  

...and it's Grenadines.

Carriacou and Petite Martinique are superb.  They belong to Grenada, that is all they have in common. 

Carriacou is the image of tolerance.  The largest of the Grenadine islands is laid back, easy going, warm and welcoming. the terrain is hilly and the climate dry.  It is still what the Grenadines were all about some years ago.  A fast ferry allows many residents to work in Grenada.  Wooden schooners are still built there, the old fashioned way.  The annual regatta early in August will show off these treasures of craftsmanship and amaze us with the traditional skills of these reputed sailors. 

Petite Martinique, a much smaller island is really much more densely populated.  It is not a tourist attraction but rather an island people return to, after a life a sea.  It is served by the fast ferry that joins it to Carriacou an Grenada in short time.

One week cruises


Begin at St-Vincent end at Union.

day
destination
hours
activities
1
Young Island
0
arrival
2
Bequia
2
visit ashore, beach
3
Canouan
4
beach, visit
4
Tobago Cays
2
snorkeling
5
Chatham
1
beach (secluded)
6
Petit St-Vincent
3
beach, visit a luxury hotel.
7
Clifton (Union)
3
visit and departure

Click here to reserve or obtain additional information about this cruise.


Begin and end at Union. 

day
destination
hours
activities
1
Palm
1
beach visit
2
Mayereau
2
beach visit
3
Tobago Cays
2
snorkeling
4
Tobago Cays
0
snorkeling
5
Chatham Bay
2
beach (secluded)
6
Petit St-Vincent
3
beach, visit luxurious hotel
7
Clifton
3
visit and departure

Click here to reserve or obtain additional information about this cruise.

Begin at Union, end at Grenada.

days
destination
hours
activities
1
Tobago Cays
1
beach
2
Tobago Cays
1
snorkeling
3
Union
1
beach, visit luxurious hotel
4
Petit St-Vincent
3
beach, snorkeling
5
Sandy I.
2
snorkeling
6
Saline I. (Carriacou)
2
visit, beach
7
St George
5
visit, market, shopping

Click here to reserve or obtain additional information about this cruise.

 

A two week cruise

Cruise no. 8
Begins at St-Vincent ends at Grenada.

day
destination
hours
activities
1
Young Island, 
(St Vincent)
0
arrival, beach
2
Young Island
0
visit St-Vincent, beach
3
Admiralty Bay
(Bequia)
2
visit, beach
4
Canouan
4
beach, visit
5
Petit Bateau
(Tobago Cays)
2
snorkeling, beach
6
Baradal
(Tobago Cays)
1
snorkeling, beach
7
Salt Whistle Bay
(Mayereau)
1
beach, walk, tour the island
8
Chatham
(Union)
1
beach (secluded)
9
Clifton
(Union)

1
visit town, swim, night life, clear customs
10
Petit St-Vincent
(Petite Martinique)
3
beach, visit luxurious hotel.
11
Sandy I. - Tyrell
(Carriacou)
2
beach, visit village
12
Saline I. 
(Carriacou)
2
beach, snorkel
13
St George's
(Grenada)
4
visit town, market, shopping
14
Prickly Bay
(Grenada)
1
beach, departure

Click here to reserve or obtain additional information about this cruise.

How to get to Grenada, Union Island, Canouan or St-Vincent.

Please note you will find an exhaustive list of links to airlines including charters, on our Links page. Here are some directly related to the Grenadines.

From North America or Europe see:

http://grenadaexplorer.com/Airline.htm 

From the USA.

  • American Airlines http://www.aa.com/ daily to San Juan where American Eagle takes you to Grenada. 

  • American Eagle http://www.aa.com/ now flies from San Juan to Canouan island right in the middle of the Grenadines.

  • Air Jamaica http://www.airjamaica.com  flies to Grenada, via Montego, from: Baltimore/Washington, Atlanta, Chicago, Ft-Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark and Philadelphia, and also offers two nonstop weekly flights from JFK to Grenada.   

  • BWIA International http://www.bwee.com takes you from New York or Miami to Grenada.

From Canada.

Air Canada http://www.aircanada.ca and other airlines offer direct flights to Barbados, from there LIAT http://www.liatairlines.com and BWIA http://www.bwee.com fly to  Grenada and American Eagle http://www.aa.com/ now flies to Canouan twice weekly. It is also easy and economical to go via Trinidad  

Skyservice has economical charter flights from Toronto to Trinidad in summer see http://www.titantours.com 

BWIA http://www.bwee.com International takes you from Toronto to Grenada.

From London.

Twice weekly British Airways takes you to Grenada. 

From Grenada or St. Vincent or St. Lucia to Union.

Daily many local airlines or air-taxi like  SVG Air, Air Caribbean, LIAT fly from Grenada or St. Lucia to St. Vincent and Union Island.

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2007-11-03