Caribbean & Antilles from Fort de France

Thanks in large part to its French and West Indian influences, Martinique, a lush mountainous island in the Lesser Antilles with its dormant Mount Pelée volcano in the backdrop, exudes a cosmopolitan flair with a sophisticated culinary and cultural scene that draws travellers not only to its natural wonders, beautiful bays and beaches, but also to its heart at Fort-de-France, the capital. While French is the official language, most islanders also speak Antillean Creole. As part of the European Union, the island uses the euro as its currency.

When you arrive on an MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruise in Fort-de-France, you immediately notice the island’s steep hills, colourful colonial architecture, ornate balconies and tropical flowers. Book an MSC excursion to the Balata Cathedral, a miniature replica of the Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre, Paris, which offers a spectacular view of Fort-de-France and the bay.

Before Martinique came to be known by its current name, it was once called Madinina, the island of flowers. At Balata Botanical Gardens, discover 300 types of palm trees, take in views from the garden’s suspension bridge and enjoy the tropical flowers in bloom across 16 acres of lush landscape.

Or try the island’s best rum distilleries. MSC excursions will take you to the Depaz Distillery, in business since 1651, or the St. James Rum Distillery & Museum, where you will learn about the process of making rum and taste the traditional Rhum Agricole, made by using freshly squeezed sugarcane juice rather than the conventional molasses.

Afterwards, visit the ruins of the theatre in St. Pierre, the former cultural capital of Martinique that was tragically destroyed by the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée. The modern-day town of St. Pierre is France’s 101st “City of Art and History.”

When you arrive on an MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruise in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, you will discover a French gem in the Southern Caribbean, or as native islanders called it, “Karukera,” the “island of beautiful waters.” Guadeloupe’s Creole culture and cuisine are a melange of many influences, including French, African, Indian and East Asian.

Take a scenic MSC excursion to the Guadeloupe National Park, designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Located in the south of Basse-Terre, the park has one of the most beautiful forests in the Caribbean and the highest peak on the island, the Soufrière volcano. Make your way to the three gorgeous waterfalls of Carbet on the lower slopes of La Soufrière. The second waterfall, about 360 feet in height, can be admired from a suspended bridge. Beautiful as they are, the waterfalls are among the most visited sites on Guadeloupe.

The Valombreuse botanical garden is a must-see for those who love gardens, and with 500 species in its collection, not many other gardens in the world can claim to be its equal. Tucked in between the mountains and the sea, it is a riot of tropical plants and flowers and home to many birds, including flower-loving hummingbirds and peacocks.

Head along the southern coast of Grande Terre on a sightseeing MSC excursion to St. Anne, a lovely fishing village with seafront promenade, then continue to visit the much-photographed Pointe des Châteaux, an incredible rock formation sculpted by the wind, followed by a stop in Morne-à-L’Eau, a town noted for its artistic cemetery with black-and-white checkerboard tombs.

You can also slip away on a catamaran on another excursion from Pointe-à-Pitre to the uninhabited islet of Gosier, a tiny gem calling out to you with its lush foliage, white sandy shores, a charming diminutive lighthouse and the intense blue of the sea.

Denne caribiske paradis-ø, er delt mellem kongeriget Nederlandene og Frankrig og udgør med sine kun 88 km2, verdens mindste areal, der er delt i to lande.

Den nordlige del af øen er fransk og hedder Saint Martin og er en del af EU, mens den sydlige del er en selvstændig, nederlandsk stat, der hedder Sint Maarten. øens beboere har dog levet i fred og fordragelighed i mere end 300 år, og alle stride om grænser og kultur, er for længst begravet i det hvide sand.

Selvom man som turist på St. Martin, ofte og uden at tænke over det, krydser grænsen mellem to lande, har begge dele af øen formået at bevare hver deres nationale kultur. Den franske del med hovedstaden Marigot er præget af komfort, luksus og elegance. Her er hotellerne ekstra luksuriøse og restauranterne serverer mad i verdensklasse, i en smuk kombination af det klassiske franske køkken og det mere krydrede vestindiske. Det er også på denne del af øen du finder de dyre modebutikker samt små cafeer og charmerende bistroer. Alt sammen med til at tilbyde en afslappende stemning, med et twist af moderne storby.

På St. martin er du sikret solrige dage, tropisk stemning og aktiviteter for enhver smag.

As you arrive on an MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruise in Tortola, the largest of the British Virgin Islands, it’s easy to see why pirates took refuge here among the hidden coves and sheltered bays, lush green mountains and powder-white sandy beaches.

Today, its beauty continues to draw attention; Road Town, BVI’s capital, is a haven for yacht chartering, upscale tourism and offshore finance. You recognize Dutch and English colonial influences from a bygone era dominated by large sugarcane plantations built on the backs of enslaved African labour. Main Street, Road Town’s main shopping district, features several historical landmarks including the Post Office, built in the mid-1800s, St. George’s Anglican Church, Britannic Hall and the Virgin Islands’ Folk Museum. Despite being a British protectorate, the U.S. dollar is used as Tortola’s main currency.

The best way to discover Tortola is on an MSC excursion. Take a panoramic island bus tour through Road Town and the charming districts of Long Trench and Fahie Hill. Then drive along the dramatic north shoreline to beautiful Cane Garden Bay, where you can take a dip in the inviting, clear water and gaze at the anchored boats that prize this placid bay. Along the way, get your fill of Instagram-worthy vistas of the surrounding islands.

Feeling more adventurous? Book a 4×4 island tour on a safari-style Land Rover to experience the island’s verdant terrain and magnificent views that are well off the beaten track. Enjoy a snorkelling trip on the southern tip of the BVI archipelago at nearby Norman Island, said to have been the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic “Treasure Island” novel. Or let an MSC excursion take you on a pleasant boat ride to the nearby island of Virgin Gorda to visit the stunning beach area known as The Baths, one of the BVI’s most popular sights. Amid the natural beauty, swim, snorkel and see colourful fish, or simply explore the unusual geological formations comprising huge, sea-sculpted granite boulders that line the beach and form tidal pools, tunnels, caves, arches and scenic grottoes.

En dag på havet behøver ikke at være kedelig. Brug tiden til at opleve skibets mange faciliteter eller deltag i de mange aktiviteter som skibet tilbyder. Et hvert krydstogtskib har sin egen charme og fælles for alle er de mange aktivitetstilbud. Tiden til søs kan du med fordel bruge til at forberede dig på næste havns udflugter og seværdigheder. Alle skibe har et bibliotek, hvor du kan læse om alverdens destinationer, på visse skibe afholdes der også foredrag om spændende emner, oftest relateret til din rejse. Dagen ombord kan du også bruge til bare at slappe helt af og lade dig forkæle af skibets personale. Valget er helt op til dig.

St. John´s er beliggende på den caribiske ø Antigua og er den største og hovedstaden i østaten Antigua og Barbuda, som tilhører øgruppen Leeward Islands.

St. John´s er beliggende på øens nordvestkyst og er øens pulserende centrum, hvor du kan opleve en sand farvepalette i byens gader, hvor huse og forretninger er malet i forskellige klare farver og oser af den afslappende caribiske stemning. Oplev også byens mange forter og andre levn fra kolonitiden.

Den gamle katedral, St. John´s Cathedral, tårner op over de lave huse og dominerer byens skyline med sine flotte kirketårne opført i barokstil. Er du interesseret i øens tidlige historie, er byens nationalmuseum et besøg værd, hvor du kan se alt fra indianske redskaber af konkylieskaller til landets største crickethelts crickethat.

Om morgenen på fredage og lørdage, kan man opleve byens lokale landmænds marked i den sydlige del af byen. Snus til stemningen på det livlige marked, bland farvestrålende tropiske frugter og grønt og andre lokale specialiteter. En helt særlig oplevelse.

Andre spændende seværdigheder på øen er sukkerplantagen Betty’s Hope, hvor du kan få historiske rundture mellem de gamle møller og destilleriet. En køretur ad Fig Tree Drive kan også anbefales. Denne sceniske vej leder gennem et bakket område med skiftende natur med regnskove og banan-, kokos- og mangoplantager.
øen Antigua er ligesom mange andre øer i Caribien, fyldt med flotte sandstrande, et dejligt tropisk klima og vandet omkring øen perfekt til aktiviteter såsom snorkling og dykning.

An MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruise to St. Kitts and Nevis will introduce you to the sister volcanic islands of the Caribbean. These islands have been a premier destination for elite tourists for more than 200 years and served as a haven for European nobility in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Basseterre, founded by the French in 1625, became the capital of St. Kitts in 1727, when the Eng-lish took over the island. It remained under British rule until the islands declared their independence in 1983. Throughout the city’s long history, natural disasters and conflicts have afflicted Basseterre; most buildings date from the latter part of the 1800s. A visit to the city’s two cathedrals, St. George’s Anglican Church and the Catholic Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, will appeal to those with a love of history and architecture. On South Square Street, visit Georgian House, one of the better-preserved examples of local 18th-century architecture.

Leaving Basseterre, take a panoramic drive on an MSC excursion to the southeast peninsula en route for a kayaking adventure. Stop at Timothy Hill to enjoy a 360-degree view and a stunning glimpse of the Atlantic and Caribbean nearly side by side; the two bodies of water, each with a dis-tinct appearance, are separated by a spit of land.

If it is adrenaline that quenches your thirst, go off-road on an excursion into the interior of St. Kitts in a specially modified 4×4 Land Rover to explore the lush rainforest and spot shy, green monkeys and other exotic tropical flora and fauna. At a private mountaintop property, 1,000 feet above sea level, enjoy amazing vistas of the rainforest, the coastline, Basseterre, and the neighbouring island of Nevis. Continue your journey through the mountains to the opposite side of the island to explore quaint villages and experience country life.

Learn about wearable art at Romney Manor, home of the world-famous Caribelle Batik. Visit the demonstration room, where acclaimed artists present the wax and dye process of batik making. The Romney Manor Estate encompasses eight acres of historical ruins and features ancient Carib Indian rock drawings and a beautiful botanical garden.

For an excursion unlike any other, book a land-and-sea tour combining train and catamaran. In the first leg of the trip, take in the scenery of St. Kitts on a narrow-gauge train, followed by a catama-ran cruise. The St. Kitts Scenic Railway has been showing visitors the island since 2003, but be-fore that it had transported sugar cane from the fields to the sugar mill in Basseterre for nearly 100 years. At the end of the train journey, board a catamaran to sail the storied western coast of the is-land and take in its gorgeous views.

Fly through the rainforest 25 stories above the ground as you enjoy a spectacular zipline tour over a network of 5 cable lines at the historic Wingfield Estate. Enjoy fantastic panoramic views of Brimstone Hill National Fortress (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Old Road Village, former sugar estates, the Caribbean Sea and Mount Liamuiga, with its volcano crater ridge marking the highest point in St. Kitts.

Thanks in large part to its French and West Indian influences, Martinique, a lush mountainous island in the Lesser Antilles with its dormant Mount Pelée volcano in the backdrop, exudes a cosmopolitan flair with a sophisticated culinary and cultural scene that draws travellers not only to its natural wonders, beautiful bays and beaches, but also to its heart at Fort-de-France, the capital. While French is the official language, most islanders also speak Antillean Creole. As part of the European Union, the island uses the euro as its currency.

When you arrive on an MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruise in Fort-de-France, you immediately notice the island’s steep hills, colourful colonial architecture, ornate balconies and tropical flowers. Book an MSC excursion to the Balata Cathedral, a miniature replica of the Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre, Paris, which offers a spectacular view of Fort-de-France and the bay.

Before Martinique came to be known by its current name, it was once called Madinina, the island of flowers. At Balata Botanical Gardens, discover 300 types of palm trees, take in views from the garden’s suspension bridge and enjoy the tropical flowers in bloom across 16 acres of lush landscape.

Or try the island’s best rum distilleries. MSC excursions will take you to the Depaz Distillery, in business since 1651, or the St. James Rum Distillery & Museum, where you will learn about the process of making rum and taste the traditional Rhum Agricole, made by using freshly squeezed sugarcane juice rather than the conventional molasses.

Afterwards, visit the ruins of the theatre in St. Pierre, the former cultural capital of Martinique that was tragically destroyed by the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée. The modern-day town of St. Pierre is France’s 101st “City of Art and History.”

When you arrive on an MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruise in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, you will discover a French gem in the Southern Caribbean, or as native islanders called it, “Karukera,” the “island of beautiful waters.” Guadeloupe’s Creole culture and cuisine are a melange of many influences, including French, African, Indian and East Asian.

Take a scenic MSC excursion to the Guadeloupe National Park, designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Located in the south of Basse-Terre, the park has one of the most beautiful forests in the Caribbean and the highest peak on the island, the Soufrière volcano. Make your way to the three gorgeous waterfalls of Carbet on the lower slopes of La Soufrière. The second waterfall, about 360 feet in height, can be admired from a suspended bridge. Beautiful as they are, the waterfalls are among the most visited sites on Guadeloupe.

The Valombreuse botanical garden is a must-see for those who love gardens, and with 500 species in its collection, not many other gardens in the world can claim to be its equal. Tucked in between the mountains and the sea, it is a riot of tropical plants and flowers and home to many birds, including flower-loving hummingbirds and peacocks.

Head along the southern coast of Grande Terre on a sightseeing MSC excursion to St. Anne, a lovely fishing village with seafront promenade, then continue to visit the much-photographed Pointe des Châteaux, an incredible rock formation sculpted by the wind, followed by a stop in Morne-à-L’Eau, a town noted for its artistic cemetery with black-and-white checkerboard tombs.

You can also slip away on a catamaran on another excursion from Pointe-à-Pitre to the uninhabited islet of Gosier, a tiny gem calling out to you with its lush foliage, white sandy shores, a charming diminutive lighthouse and the intense blue of the sea.

Saint. Lucia er etsandt paradisfor naturelskere. Saint Lucia har en geografi og fantastisk skønhed, der ikke findes andet steds i Caribien.

Gå en tur langs en af de mange naturstier til hjertet af den frodig grønne urskov for at opleve det tropiske plante- og dyreliv på tæt hold. Over det meste af øen finder du også smukke vandfald langs stierne i junglen. Øen er ikke større, end at man kan komme rundt på cykel, og der findes både cykelstier til begyndere og erfarne off-road cyklister. Besøg øens sovende vulkan, som siges at være verdens eneste drive-in vulkan. Tag til Soufrière for et ocean-side trail ride på Anse Chastanet og få en smuk udsigt over de verdensberømte bjerge Gros Piton og Petit Piton.Dukan også vælge blot atnyde stemningen fra de gode gamle dage i Saint Lucias hovedstad Castries.

Barbados er østat i øgruppen De Små Antiller, og den er lidt mindre end Bornholm. Øen kaldes også for Lille England, da England var ejer af øen frem til 1961, og man støder til stadighed på britiske tegn blandt den ellers caribiske atmosfære.

Barbados byder på lange kridhvide strande, sol, svajende palmer, forførende calypsorytmer, masser af vandsportsmuligheder, et farverigt natteliv – og ikke mindst fantastisk smukke koralrev. Barbados er en koralø, og øen er født at havet mellem Atlanterhavet i øst og det Caraibiske Hav i vest. Havvandet er krystalklart, turkisblåt og altid dejlig lunt.

På øen eksisterer der en stor diversitet. På vestkysten er der lange hvide sandstrande og koralrev, og på østkysten er naturen meget uspoleret med klipper og et vildt hav, som egner sig godt til surfing. Midt inde på øen dyrker man sukkerrør i massevis, mest til fremstillingen af rom. I undergrunden er der et helt landskab med drypstensgrotter.

Regnvand har skåret sig ned gennem den porøse kalksten og dannet store underjordiske reservoirer, hvorfra man nu henter øens drikkevand, som er noget af det reneste, og kan drikkes fra hanerne som herhjemme. Mange krydstogsskibe fylder vand på her.
øen er en af de mest solrige i området, og du kan rejse til Barbados året rundt.

Shopping på Barbados

Barbados hovedstad hedder Bridgetown og er en smuk, hyggelig, overskuelig og livlig handelsby, der ligger lige ud til havet. Her ligger fashionable forretninger side om side med kreolske markeder, rum-shops og gadehandlere. Hjertet og sjælen i Barbados’ shopping er Broadstreet i Bridgetown, hvor du finder store varehuse, forretningskæder, souvenirbutikker og toldfri butikker. Særligt om lørdagen sprudler byen med markeder, hvor folk fra hele øen kommer ind med deres hjemmeavl og hudflid for at handle.

En dag på havet behøver ikke at være kedelig. Brug tiden til at opleve skibets mange faciliteter eller deltag i de mange aktiviteter som skibet tilbyder. Et hvert krydstogtskib har sin egen charme og fælles for alle er de mange aktivitetstilbud. Tiden til søs kan du med fordel bruge til at forberede dig på næste havns udflugter og seværdigheder. Alle skibe har et bibliotek, hvor du kan læse om alverdens destinationer, på visse skibe afholdes der også foredrag om spændende emner, oftest relateret til din rejse. Dagen ombord kan du også bruge til bare at slappe helt af og lade dig forkæle af skibets personale. Valget er helt op til dig.

St. Vincent og Grenadinerne er en østat i den østlige del af det Caribiske Hav på grænsen til Atlanterhavet og er en del af De Små Antiller.

Udover hovedøen, Saint Vincent, der er på størrelse med Langeland, hører der yderligere 31 øer til øriget. øerne er af vulkansk oprindelse og landskabet er bjergrigt. Det højeste punkt – og en af de største seværdigheder – er vulkanen La Soufriere på 1234 meter, som senest var aktiv i 1979.
På hovedøen Saint Vincent finder man en tilbagelænet, ikke-turistet og næsten landlig atmosfære. Tager man til øens vestkyst kan man udforske de hyggelige kystbyer og nyde den smukke palmefyldte natur og strandene.
De små Grenadiner mod syd er derimod mere turistede feriedestinationer med alt, hvad dertil hører af luksushoteller, lækre badestrande og butikker, der udlejer dykkerudstyr.
Ingen bliver skuffede – her er noget for enhver smag. Hovedstaden, Kingstown.
Kingstown er hovedstaden og har en overskuelig størrelse. Her bliver du mødt af caribisk charme og fine bygninger fra kolonitiden. Byen har en fantastisk smuk botanisk have, som er den ældste af sin slags i hele Caribien og indeholder ældgamle sjældne træer. Blandt havens smukke træer, buske og farvestrålende blomster og papegøjer, kan man i ro og mag gå og nyde atmosfæren.

Grenada er et smukt, uspoleret, romantisk og autentisk ø-rige, som består af hovedøen Grenada samt småøerne Carriacou og Petite Martinique.

Thanks in large part to its French and West Indian influences, Martinique, a lush mountainous island in the Lesser Antilles with its dormant Mount Pelée volcano in the backdrop, exudes a cosmopolitan flair with a sophisticated culinary and cultural scene that draws travellers not only to its natural wonders, beautiful bays and beaches, but also to its heart at Fort-de-France, the capital. While French is the official language, most islanders also speak Antillean Creole. As part of the European Union, the island uses the euro as its currency.

When you arrive on an MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruise in Fort-de-France, you immediately notice the island’s steep hills, colourful colonial architecture, ornate balconies and tropical flowers. Book an MSC excursion to the Balata Cathedral, a miniature replica of the Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre, Paris, which offers a spectacular view of Fort-de-France and the bay.

Before Martinique came to be known by its current name, it was once called Madinina, the island of flowers. At Balata Botanical Gardens, discover 300 types of palm trees, take in views from the garden’s suspension bridge and enjoy the tropical flowers in bloom across 16 acres of lush landscape.

Or try the island’s best rum distilleries. MSC excursions will take you to the Depaz Distillery, in business since 1651, or the St. James Rum Distillery & Museum, where you will learn about the process of making rum and taste the traditional Rhum Agricole, made by using freshly squeezed sugarcane juice rather than the conventional molasses.

Afterwards, visit the ruins of the theatre in St. Pierre, the former cultural capital of Martinique that was tragically destroyed by the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée. The modern-day town of St. Pierre is France’s 101st “City of Art and History.”