We were greeted by the Pitons of Saint Lucia this morning as Sea Cloud dropped anchor in Soufriere Harbor. We planned to visit Soufriere Volcano and Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens, followed by a pre-lunch snorkel. The lush botanical garden is home to an impressive range of plant and bird species, offering guests up close views of stunningly beautiful flowers and birds. We were lucky to spot an American kestrel, purple-throated and green-throated caribs, and a lesser Antillean bullfinch.
We returned to the ship for a final lunch. The sun was shining upon the ship as the captain positioned her for a final photo under the Pitons and a toast to our wonderful journey. Sea Cloud then sailed off towards Bridgetown for our morning departure. It has been a magnificent journey. We are lucky to be a part of the ship’s rich history, and we have been well taken care of by the amazing crew.
Growing up in Connecticut, a love of the outdoors was cultivated in Luke from a young age, as he spent most of his time on the water exploring its coast. His mother, a laboratory scientist and master naturalist, and his father, a fine-woodworker and ...
Enter travel details to receive reports from a single expedition
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Send Daily Expedition Reports to friends and family
*By clicking the submit button, I authorize Lindblad Expeditions to email me; however, I am able to unsubscribe at any time. For more details, see our Privacy Policy.
Please note: All Daily Expedition Reports (DERs) are posted Monday-Friday,
during normal business hours. DERs are written onboard the ship only and do
not apply to land-based portions of expeditions.
What a way to celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day! What could be more romantic than sailing on board Sea Cloud , a 91-year-old, four-masted barque, the most beautiful sailing yacht ever built? We experienced winds from the north and northeast, perpendicular to our course. We were aiming for Bequia, the “island of the clouds,” or Becouya in the Arawak language. Captain John Svendsen took guests around the ship to show off every restoration detail. We are on a floating museum, a beauty that is kept alive thanks to the quality of her construction, the care and constant maintenance of her sailors, and because of our guests who keep exploring the world. If the morning was for sailing, the afternoon was for Bequia, which is seven square miles in area and part of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. After lunch, we dropped anchor in Admiralty Bay in front of Port Elizabeth. We visited the Sargeant Brothers Model Boat Shop. Here, artisans spend their days carving and building replicas of vessels in Port Elizabeth. They shape the wood with tools that have been utilized for decades, and they work with the same gumwood that the Caribs used to build the canoes that brought them from the Orinoco region into the Lesser Antilles centuries ago. Some of us walked a little farther to the boat museum where Mercy, the wife of the older Sargeant brother, explained the evolution of boat building in Bequia with tenderness and a big smile. The museum is alive because of Mercy’s dedication and passion. It is love that keeps things bright and thriving, as is the case with Sea Cloud . And today we celebrated love with all our senses. >We enjoyed rum punches and piña coladas from Jack’s Bar, where we gathered for swimming and relaxing. After this, we had a brief green flash experience. Hotel manager Simon surprised us twice today. He amazed us with an enormous, heart-shaped cake for lunch. At night, he amazed us again with roses while we enjoyed the local band “Kings of Strings.” And so the night went on with singing, dancing, and calypso rhythms played by four smiling musicians from a town that will stay in our hearts.
Our day aboard Sea Cloud began with a walk-through of the engine room for our guests to experience the power that propels the ship when not sailing. Following the walk-through, Fabio presented a brief history of the art and archaeology of the Lesser Antilles. After lunch, we boarded the tenders and made our way across Tyrell Bay to Carriacou Island. Some guests went on a bus tour of Carriacou Island to explore both the Caribbean and Atlantic sides of the isle. They visited various landmarks, including the hospital, historic plantation locations, and a windmill. Other guests snorkeled at Sandy Island. Both groups came together at the end of the day on Paradise Beach, where we were delighted to experience the traditional drums and dance of the Carriacou people. During dinner on board, guests experienced Sea Cloud’s lively shanties followed by great music and dancing.
