Caviar on tap, beach barbecues and a yacht for just 82 guests. A Caribbean cruise? It’s more like a giant floating house party
As we glide across the neon turquoise water toward shore on our inflatable Zodiac, I spot a waiter standing patiently on the ivory sand with a tray full of painkillers.
Not the medicinal variety, but the seductively sweet rum cocktails associated with the British Virgin Islands and scattered like gems across this corner of the Caribbean.
It’s a glamorous start to our week-long voyage on one of the megayachts of the luxury sailboat line SeaDream Yacht Club, which can accommodate up to 112 guests.
There are only 82 people on our sailing trip, which makes the atmosphere even more cozy – like one big sailing house party.
We’ve arrived at Jost Van Dyke Island for today’s Champagne & Caviar Splash Beach BBQ – a classic SeaDream adventure, as the crew hands out caviar and trimmings from a floating surfboard in the shallows.
Small World: Sara Macefield embarks on a Caribbean cruise with SeaDream. Above, Jost Van Dyke, one of the stops on her tour
It’s a cocktail party like no other and the first of countless pinch-me moments on a journey that takes us off the beaten track into the diminutive splendor of the Caribbean.
Take tiny Nevis, with its romantic hotels set among the ruins of colonial sugar mills and the birthplace of American statesman (and protagonist of the eponymous West End musical) Alexander Hamilton. Or take St Barts, a celeb paradise where designer shops and superyachts evoke a mix of the French Riviera and the tropics.
And then there’s the rustic, Gallic simplicity of Iles des Saintes, a cluster of small outposts off the coast of Guadeloupe that are said to resemble St. Barts before the jet-set days.
Our ship, SeaDream 1, adds an extra touch of brilliance. It’s not the newest or most modern ship – it’s celebrating its 40th anniversary this year – but I think the varnished wood and gleaming brass exude a classic cruiser style, complemented by impeccable service from the charming crew.
Sara travels on SeaDream 1 (pictured), a mega yacht that can accommodate up to 112 guests
Sara describes the SeaDream experience as ‘one big floating house party’
From the moment my husband Geoff and I step on board, they know our names – and remember them all the time. Such details are impressive, along with the gifts that appear in our cabin.
One evening SeaDream key rings, the next evening glasses cases.
The days are spent on land or by the pool.
Sara’s journey takes her to Iles des Saintes, seen here, a cluster of pinprick outposts off the coast of Guadeloupe
Sara explores St Barts, pictured here, the A-lister’s paradise where designer shops and superyachts evoke a French Riviera and tropical vibe.
It’s an addictive routine that gets even more exciting as we cruise around the marina with its water sports facilities and race around on jet skis or hurtle down the surprisingly steep inflatable slide into the sea.
One evening we put on SeaDream pajamas with our names embroidered on them (another gift) and sleep under the stars on one of the soft loungers on deck. It is made up with a quilt and pillows, so we quickly fall asleep to the sound of the waves.
I wake at sunrise as we approach Montserrat, its contours lit by glowing crimson skies. Normally you’d never find me awake at such an ungodly hour, but this natural alarm clock was a rare treat that was worth getting up for.
