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Six-Night Itinerary - US & British Virgin Islands*:
2009
Dec 21-27th / Dec 28- Jan 3rd / Feb 6-12th / March 8- 14th / March 15- 21st
April 16-22nd / May 11-17th
Day One: Board in the charming Caribbean village of Red Hook - just 30 minutes from St. Thomas Airport. Once aboard, we weigh anchor for a short hop across Pillsbury Sound, dropping anchor in the turquoise waters of Caneel Bay. After a “welcome aboard” reception, we go ashore to dine at one of Cruz Bay’s premier restaurants, The Equator at Sugar Mill.
Day
Two: Early risers can breakfast with the sunrise over the distant verdant hilltops of St. Thomas. Arabella gets underway early for our first stop in the British Virgin Islands-Soper’s Hole, Tortola, where we clear customs. After a short swim we hoist sails. By mid-afternoon we’ve dropped the hook off the caves of Norman Island for our first snorkeling adventure (snorkeling gear is provided-however you are welcome to bring your own). The Caves are famous for their spectacular rock formations and crystal clear water. We’ll also launch our kayaks for those who wish to explore further. Dinner will be @ Pirate’s Bight on us. After dinner, the more adventurous can take the launch to the “William T. Thornton”, a floating nightspot/pirate ship of much ill-repute.
Day Three: Enjoy breakfast lounging on deck while the crew prepares for today’s sail. A sail up the channel brings us to Cooper’s Island, a quiet and beautiful beach. Underway again, we pass the resort of Little Dix Bay and enter the protected waters of North Sound, Virgin Gorda. Tonight we moor off the world-renowned Bitter End Yacht Club, where all are invited ashore for the famous Tuesday night barbeque-buffet.
Day Four: Arabella remains in North Sound. All Arabella guests are welcome at the Bitter End’s facilities. Lounge by the pool, schedule a massage, or take a windsurfing lesson! The Bitter End has more than two hundred watercraft at your disposal from Boston Whalers to Catamarans. The day includes snorkeling, dive expeditions, and a daylong trip to the island of Anegada for the reefs. This evening the world is your oyster, or at least this small part of it is! Within a short launch trip are several dining options, ranging from the five-star cuisine at the Biras Creek Resort to the casual pub at the Bitter End.
Day Five: After breakfast we bid adieu to Virgin Gorda, setting off on a brisk reach past the Dog Islands and Salt Island, named for the salt works that produce the BVI’s yearly levi to the British Crown. We drop anchor in Spanish Town with shuttles to the Bath’s. We then have a late afternoon sail to Marina Cay where you may go ashore to Pussers, then we have a dinner aboard.
Day Six: We sail to White Bay for a great beach day where you may visit the Soggy Dollar Bar for a drink, then have lunch on board. We then shift our anchorage to Jost Van Dyke. Early evening we will rendezvous at one of the most famous restaurants and nightclubs in the islands, Foxy’s. We have timed our stop here for the well-known Friday Night Barbeque Bash. There will be lots of food and lighthearted entertainment and a chance to end our trip in style. After dinner, guests might choose to either quietly stroll in the moonlight feeling the tropical breeze or dance to the Caribbean rhythm.
Day Seven: This morning we will set sail for the last time and proceed to St. Thomas. We make a short stop to St. John’s to clear customs, and should arrive at Red Hook in the late morning. All guests will disembark with their bags, and their memories.
*This is a sample itinerary. All stops are subject to the captain’s discretion and may vary due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
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Six-Night Itinerary - Spanish Virgin Islands*:
Day 1: Board in the charming Caribbean village of Red Hook - just 30 minutes from St. Thomas Airport. Once aboard, we weigh anchor for a short hop across Pillsbury Sound, dropping anchor in the turquoise waters of Caneel Bay. After a “welcome aboard” reception, we go ashore to dine at one of Cruz Bay’s premier restaurants, The Equator at Sugar Mill.
Day
2: We sail to Esperanza, a town in Vieques, most of which has been off limits to the public for the past century. With the curtailment of government activity in May 2003, most of Vieques remains unspoiled tropical forest. An area called Sun Bay has wild horses roaming the beaches! We have an early dinner aboard then venture into Bio Bay. These bays are full of minute plankton species which glow in the dark when disturbed. Whether you just observe from the local boats or submerge yourself in the vividly sparkling waters, you will depart with amazing memories of this special place.
Day 3: The early sunrise lights the verdant peaks of distant islands as we weigh anchor. A sumptuous buffet breakfast awaits the early risers, who can see our day’s destination, Culebra, looming in the distance as the crew sets the sails. After a swift morning passage under full sail, we slip into the calm waters of Isla de Culebrita for snorkeling and a BBQ lunch. We’ll spend the afternoon visiting pristine beaches (most of the island is a nature preserve), snorkeling the vibrant coral reefs, or keeping a lookout for the leatherback turtles which return to Culebra each year to nest. The crew will launch our fleet of sea kayaks so you may explore amongst the mangroves along the shore. Then finish off the day with your shipmates at a beachside dinner with fresh local seafood.
Day 4: We sail to St. Thomas and drop anchor off of Water Island, then have a lunch aboard and a full day of swimming, snorkeling and beaching it at Honeymoon Beach. From there it is a late afternoon sail to Christmas Cove for dinner aboard with your shipmates and the crew!
Day 5: Back to the US of A…a brief morning sail brings us back into the pleasant waters of St. John in the US Virgin Islands. After clearing customs in Cruz Bay, we’ll spend some time exploring the National Marine Sanctuary which protects the pristine beauty of this most special of the US Virgins. First protected by a large donation from the Rockefeller Family, this island plays host to a huge array of wildlife, and features coral reefs that are a snorkeler’s heaven. If you’d rather explore shoreside, you can rent a jeep in Cruz Bay to explore the far side of the island, or chill out poolside at the Rockefeller Resort of Caneel Bay. This evening you can go ashore early to check out the great little shops which line the streets of the village in Cruz Bay – then join your shipmates for dinner at one of the fine open-air restaurants which grace the streets of this quaint Caribbean town.
Day 6: Today is our chance to really do some sailing! Jost Van Dyke is the closest of the British Virgin Islands, roughly 40 nautical miles to the East Northeast. As we leave Vieques in the distance, dolphins gather to play in our foaming bow wave. Join the captain and crew for a fun informative introduction to the art and science of sailing, or for more experienced hands, take a turn at the wheel as we charge through the sparkling blue water of the Caribbean. By mid-afternoon we arrive at Jost Van Dyke, the westernmost of the British Virgin Islands, leaving plenty of time after clearing customs to go ashore for a hike, bask on the beach at White Bay or lounge in the shade at the Soggy Dollar Bar. We’ll finish off the day with dinner at world-famous Foxy’s, the quintessential island watering hole.
Day 7: So long, farewell…goodbye…it’s such a short trip back to St. Thomas but there is plenty of time to exchange addresses with all your new friends and shipmates. After a farewell brunch, we drop the hook in picturesque Red Hook, at the eastern end of St. Thomas where you can enjoy the last sweet moments of your memorable Virgin Islands’ adventure.
*This is a sample itinerary. All stops are subject to the captain’s discretion and may vary due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
Six-Night Itinerary - St. Martin / Anguilla / St. Barth's*:
Day 1: Arriving in St. Martin, it is but a short drive along the calm lagoon of Simpson Bay to Marigot. Near the crystal clear waters of Marigot Bay, you’ll have time to explore this charming blend of the Mediterranean and the Caribbean that is the hallmark of this French colony. Besides great shopping—the entire island is duty free—you can enjoy wonderful dining along the bistro-lined wharfs at Port Royale, just steps away, or take a short expedition to the beachfront scene at Grand Case, the gastronomic center of St. Martin.
Day
2: After breakfast and once sails are hoisted, we’re off on a sparkling broad reach towards the beckoning shores of Anguilla. A member of the British Commonwealth, Anguilla is known for its exquisite hospitality and stunning beaches rated #1 worldwide. Clearing into Road Bay, we’ll drop anchor at Sandy Ground, a charming Caribbean outpost of Mother England. Once ashore, trips to the day spas at Cuisin Art Resort or Malliouhana can be easily arranged, or a tour of the islands’ signature beaches with a stop at the Valley to purchase Anguilla crafts. At Sandy Ground you can tour the Pyrat Rum Factory fed by natural springs behind Salt Pond. This evening we’ll dine in one of the casual beachfront restaurants fronting the esplanade in Sandy Ground, perhaps joining our shipmates for some live music and post-dinner entertainment.
Day 3: Breakfast will be served while we shift our anchorage to nearby Scrub Island or Tentamare, where we’ll stop for snorkeling and lunch. Once clear of Windward Point and Scrub Island, we’ll set sail for a glorious reach across the sparkling Caribbean Sea—southward bound for St. Bart’s—the green peaks off of Morne du Vitet just visible on the horizon. By late afternoon we’ll be furling sails as we glide into the protected harbor of Gustavia, the principle town on St. Bart’s. After clearing customs we’ll immediately head ashore to take in the sights and sounds of this sophisticated French port, where shopping and food are the best in the Caribbean.
Day 4: Awakening amongst the mega yachts off Gustavia, savor breakfast at anchor off Corossal Beach. Today we’ll sail to the anchorage at Columbier Bay, where you can spend the day enjoying the isolated beach accessible only by boat. Ashore for the day in Gustavia arrangements can be made for sportfishing, diving excursions, or a private tour of the island. Be sure to check out the unique boutiques that St. Bart’s is famous for—don’t forget your wallet! By early evening Arabella will be dropping her sails as we return to Gustavia. This evening we will enjoy a wonderful dinner in a building that was built in Bali, called Eddie’s.
Day 5: This morning you have the option to stay ashore and soak up the local scene or join us as Arabella sets sail for Ile Fourche, an uninhabited isle that is part of the St. Bart’s Marine Reserve. Once anchored in this pleasant bay you can kayak along the grottos lining the shore or hike inland—just you and the native goats! Snorkeling here is excellent—not only reef fish, but also rays and sea turtles can be seen along the vibrant reef ecosystem. As the sun sets we’ll hoist anchor and set sail for our return to St. Bart’s. Dinner will be aboard tonight, but make sure you take a “disco nap” if you plan on partaking in the nightlife tonight!
Day 6: Today we’ll anchor off one of the glorious beaches St. Bart’s is known for, such as Grande Saline, Lorient, or Flamands. You can mingle on the strand with bronzed celebrities or find a quiet cabana to relax in. If you haven’t yet, make sure you rent a scooter or take a taxi tour of the islands’ winding roads and scenic lookouts. Tonight dinner is on your own in Gustavia.
Day 7: Awaken to a morning sail with the crystal blue Caribbean sliding under Arabella’s glistening figurehead. Our final voyage will bring us into the harbor in Simpson Bay, St. Martin—the verdant peaks of which beckon on the horizon. As we see St. Bart’s fade into the distance, raise a toast to the many pleasures you’ve left behind.
*This is a sample itinerary. All stops are subject to the captain’s discretion and may vary due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.