Netherlands Antilles Cruise from Philipsburg to Bridgetown — 15 Days

Philipsburg St Maarten, Netherlands

Philipsburg rewards a shore day spent beyond the cruise terminal. It sits on a narrow strip between Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond. The Dutch-side capital is compact and easy to explore on foot. Front Street pairs duty-free shops with the 1793 courthouse, while the Boardwalk follows Great Bay Beach. Cross the open border into French Saint-Martin for French bakeries, lively markets and another stretch of coast.

Tortola Island BVI

Tortola gives you a vivid introduction to the British Virgin Islands: green, steep-sided hills rise above a sheltered Caribbean harbour. In Road Town, browse Main Street, visit the J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens, or pause at a waterfront café. Beyond town, winding roads lead to Cane Garden Bay and island viewpoints. Ferries make nearby islands accessible, while Tortola itself rewards an unhurried day of beaches, scenery and local rum.

Basseterre St Kitts

Begin in Basseterre, St Kitts’s compact capital, where Georgian buildings and busy market streets reveal the island’s layered past. At Independence Square, once a slave market, pause among mature trees before browsing nearby shops and cafés. Then leave town for Mount Liamuiga’s volcanic slopes, former sugar estates and beaches of dark volcanic sand. Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site, rewards the drive with stone ramparts and wide Caribbean views.

Les Anses d'Arlet, Martinique

Les Anses-d’Arlet is a fishing village on Martinique’s Caribbean coast, where the church of Saint-Henri faces the sea. Come ashore for clear water, a wooden pier and a village still rooted in island life. Grande Anse offers a broad beach, while nearby Anse Dufour is known for snorkeling and sea turtles. Creole cafés and a scenic coastal road make this a fine place to slow down and explore Martinique’s south.

Bequia Island

Port Elizabeth sits on Bequia’s Admiralty Bay, where fishing boats and yachts share a sheltered anchorage. Step ashore into a compact waterfront of cafés and shops, then follow the Belmont Walkway towards Princess Margaret Beach. Bequia’s boatbuilding tradition remains visible in its working yards and local craft. Come for unhurried island life, swimming in clear water and views across the Grenadines.

St Georges Grenada, Grenada

St George’s is one of the Caribbean’s most handsome harbour towns, its pastel waterfront curving around a horseshoe-shaped bay. Walk the Carenage, where fishing boats and yachts share the water beneath Fort George. Grand Anse Beach lies a short drive south, with clear water and a long sweep of sand. In town, market stalls sell nutmeg, cocoa and cinnamon, helping earn Grenada its title, the Spice Isle.

Bridgetown, Barbados

Bridgetown rewards travelers who leave the ship and walk into Barbados’ compact capital. Its UNESCO-listed Historic Bridgetown and Garrison trace the island’s colonial history; Broad Street offers a lively glimpse of daily life. Pause beside the Careenage, where boats thread the old harbour, then browse shops for local rum and Bajan crafts. Carlisle Bay’s pale sand and clear water lie just beyond the city.

Basseterre St Kitts

Begin in Basseterre, St Kitts’s compact capital, where Georgian buildings and busy market streets reveal the island’s layered past. At Independence Square, once a slave market, pause among mature trees before browsing nearby shops and cafés. Then leave town for Mount Liamuiga’s volcanic slopes, former sugar estates and beaches of dark volcanic sand. Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site, rewards the drive with stone ramparts and wide Caribbean views.

Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe

The Îles des Saintes reward visitors who prefer a quieter Caribbean. Most calls centre on Terre-de-Haut, where pastel houses, fishing boats and cafés line a compact waterfront. Above town, Fort Napoléon surveys one of the world’s most beautiful bays and houses a small museum and botanical garden. Rent a scooter or walk to Pain de Sucre, a sheltered beach with clear water and good snorkeling. Try the island’s famed tourment d’amour, a coconut-filled pastry, before returning to the harbor.

Saint-Pierre Martinique (Ask Travel Agent)

Roseau, Dominica

Roseau is Dominica’s compact, characterful capital, where Creole life meets a handsome Caribbean waterfront. Walk its streets to find the Old Market, local shops, and the island’s botanical gardens. For a wider view, climb to Morne Bruce, where the city, coast, and green interior unfold below. Beyond town, rainforest trails lead to waterfalls and hot springs, while volcanic reefs invite exploration. Bring comfortable shoes; Dominica rewards travelers who prefer wild landscapes to polished resort strips.

Pigeon Island

Pigeon Island is more than a beach stop: this 44-acre national landmark joins Saint Lucia’s history to its northwest coast. Walk the causeway, then climb to Fort Rodney, where British guns once guarded the channel against French attack. From Signal Peak, the view sweeps across Rodney Bay and the Caribbean toward Martinique. Afterward, swim at one of the island’s small beaches or visit the museum in its restored military buildings.

Bridgetown, Barbados

Bridgetown rewards travelers who leave the ship and walk into Barbados’ compact capital. Its UNESCO-listed Historic Bridgetown and Garrison trace the island’s colonial history; Broad Street offers a lively glimpse of daily life. Pause beside the Careenage, where boats thread the old harbour, then browse shops for local rum and Bajan crafts. Carlisle Bay’s pale sand and clear water lie just beyond the city.