Barbados and Southern Caribbean MSC Virtuosa 2024-11-26

Cuando llegues a Barbados en un crucero MSC por el Caribe y las Antillas, comienza tu exploración por la capital, Bridgetown. Hay muchas atracciones en esta pequeña ciudad caribeña, pero no dejes de admirar sus numerosos edificios coloniales, el edificio del Parlamento y la estatua de Lord Nelson en lo que actualmente se llama la Plaza de los Héroes Nacionales.

Barbados conserva cierto aire británico, con sus topónimos, el criquet, las carreras de caballos y el polo, las iglesias parroquiales anglicanas e incluso un distrito montañoso conocido como Escocia. Pero el carácter británico puede ser exagerado, ya que se trata de un país claramente antillano, cubierto por un mosaico de campos de caña de azúcar y salpicado de pequeñas tiendas de ron.

La zona histórica de Garrison, declarada Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO con magníficos edificios de los siglos XVIII y XIX, es una parada obligatoria, ya que alberga una de las mejores colecciones de cañones del mundo. También incluye la Casa de George Washington, donde el patriota estadounidense pasó seis semanas de su vida.

La actual iglesia de San Juan, en la parroquia oriental del mismo nombre, en la quinta reconstrucción de la iglesia local más antigua, de estilo gótico barbadense. Encaramada en un acantilado a 244 metros sobre el nivel del mar, data de 1836. Su interior alberga una escultura del artista británico del siglo XVIII Richard Westmacott, mientras que su cementerio contiene la tumba de Ferdinando Paleologus, descendiente directo del hermano de Constantino XI, el último emperador bizantino.

Reserva una excursión MSC para descubrir la historia de la isla en el Museo y Sociedad Histórica de Barbados, en el barrio de St. Y visita Sunbury Plantation House, situada en la tranquila campiña de St. Philip. Data de 1650 y es un monumento vivo a la vida en las plantaciones y a una época pasada.

Harrison’s Cave, en el distrito de St. Thomas, es una maravilla de la naturaleza con sus estalactitas, estalagmitas, arroyos, lagos y cascadas. Es una de las cavernas, el juego de luces sobre las rocas es tan intenso que ha recibido el sobrenombre de ”La habitación de cristal”.

Para divertirse en la playa, diríjase a Perates Cove, una de las mejores playas de Barbados. Con palmeras y cabañas chickee, arena blanca y aguas cristalinas, es el lugar perfecto para relajarse, a tiro de piedra de Bridgetown.

Si es lo bastante valiente para sumergirse en las profundidades, emprenda una excursión MSC dentro de un auténtico submarino, el Atlantis, para explorar el arrecife de coral y descubrir la belleza que revelan las profundidades.

With its yacht-filled harbours, stunning beaches, volcanic backdrops and crystalline turquoise waters, it’s easy to see why the unparalleled natural beauty of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has long attracted sailors, adventurers and the rich and famous, and why it was chosen as the primary filming site for the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy.

Located in the Lesser Antilles, the archipelago of St. Vincent and the Grenadines comprises 32 is-lands and cays, only 9 of which are inhabited. St. Vincent, the largest island in the chain, is home to Kingstown, the capital.

Once you arrive on an MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruise to Kingstown, you will visit Fort Charlotte, a British garrison named in honour of the wife of King George III. Built in 1806, it housed 600 troops in its heyday. Some 30 cannons are still visible today at the fort, where a number of paintings charting the history of the Black Carib people are showcased. From its summit, enjoy fantastic views of the archipelago; on a clear day, Grenada can be seen 90 miles to the south through binoculars.

Explore the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Botanic Gardens, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the Western Hemisphere, on an MSC excursion. Established in the mid-18th century, the gardens played a critical role in the colonization of not just St. Vincent, but also other islands in the West Indies. They helped introduce, establish and distribute plants upon which the future economies and food supplies of most islands became based. These beautiful gardens are home to a wide variety of tropical and medicinal plants, as well as numerous bird species, including the rare St. Vincent parrot. For other opportunities to spot the indigenous parrot species, head on an MSC excursion to Parrot Lookout on the Vermont Nature Trail in the dense rainforest. The guided hike takes you through cultivated fields and forest plantations in the verdant Vermont Valley.

St. Vincent has had a long tradition of cultivating sugarcane. On yet another MSC excursion, learn the history of Black Point – a tunnel dug during the height of the slave trade that was key in the transport of molasses used for making rum. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a guided tour and tasting at the rum distillery in Georgetown to discover how molasses is distilled into one of the strongest nips of rum in the Caribbean.

“Pirates of the Caribbean” buffs won’t want to miss one of several MSC excursions that take you through the sites on the island where famous scenes were filmed. Visit the village of Wallilabou, board the Scaramouche, a traditional West Indian schooner for a pirate party, or kayak to the so-called Bat Cave near Byahut Cove. The cave is home to a noisy bat colony, and you can enjoy some swimming or snorkelling at the cove and experience the amazing marine life found around the reef. Accessible only by sea, the cove is one of the locations where the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films were shot.

For something special, cruise on a catamaran to see the beguiling coastline of the Bequia, the second largest island in the Grenadines. Catch views of a private community called Moonhole, known for a way of life that seeks harmony with nature and with homes built directly into the landscape, most with neither windows nor doors. Move on to Petite Nevis, a spot where signs of whaling history are still visible and enjoy views of the neighbouring private isle of Mustique, famed for drawing a wealthy clientele that includes members of the British royal family.

Scents of spices such as cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg waft through the air as you arrive on MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruise to St. George’s, the capital of the island of Grenada. Nicknamed the “Spice Island” for its agriculture, Grenada’s symbol is the nutmeg, the island’s most famous product, which also appears on the nation’s flag.

Originally colonized by the French in the 1600s, who wiped out the native Carib peoples during conflicts, Grenada was captured by the British in 1762 and remained under British rule until its independence in 1974.

St. George’s offers many attractions starting with its beautiful views, botanical gardens, parks and heavenly beaches, most notably the Grand Anse Beach nearby.

Start your journey with a guided walk on an MSC excursion through the capital’s winding maze of streets from the Carenage, the horseshoe-shaped harbour, with its lively waterfront promenade. Gaze at picturesque 19th-century pastel-coloured Creole houses made of brick and stone with red-tile roofs made from ship ballasts.

Get a first-hand look at the wonderful palette of spices and scents of the island on an MSC excursion that stops at Dougaldston Estate. At this rustic, 300-year-old cocoa plantation in Gouyave, discover what drying trays for spices and cacao look like and learn how these spices are processed from seed pods, or how cinnamon is harvested from the bark of a tree. From there, proceed to an old-fashioned nutmeg cooperative plant where the work is done by hand.

Grenada features a host of beautiful waterfalls, the most spectacular of which are Annandale Falls, about 7 miles from St. George’s. Hidden by a grotto of dense vegetation in the mountains, the waterfall cascades 30 feet down into the midst of leaves and branches, creating a natural pool where you can swim.

For a throw-back to Grenada’s past, hop on a Creole bus on a guided MSC excursion along a labyrinth of steep roads to higher elevations. Enjoy sumptuous panoramas from the 18th-century forts of Fort George and Fort Frederick, nicknamed “The Backward Facing Fort,” for the cannons facing the land and not the sea.

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.

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.

Tanto los Franceses y los Holandeses reclamaron la Isla de St. Maarten. En 1648 los poderes firmados en un tratado dividió la isla entre ellos, a pesar de que las dos partes tienen características culturales distintas. Pero en sus diferencias se suma el encanto de este rincón del Caribe y la convierte en una de las cocinas más deliciosa conocida en todo el mundo. Entre Great Bay y el Great Salt Pond esta la capital Holandesa Philipsburg que llena una pequeña extensión de tierra, y las dos carreteras principales Front Street y Back Street cruzan toda la ciudad. Front Street es la calle principal, con una arquitectura tradicional de las Indias Occidentales y libre de impuestos de compras de bienes importados y artesanías nativas.

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.

”Una playa al día”, el lema de Antigua, se refiere a las 365 hermosas playas de la isla, famosas, secretas o incluso enclavadas en cráteres volcánicos. Hay una playa para cada estilo de vida, para lo que son sociales y los que buscan la soledad.

Cuando llegue a un crucero de MSC por el Caribe y las Antillas al puerto de St. John’s, la capital y centro comercial de Antigua y Barbuda, disfrute de las coloridas casas vi-brantes de la ciudad que datan de su período colonial británico, junto con las evocadoras torres blancas barrocas de la Catedral de St. John’s y las fortalezas de Fort James y Barrington. Esta ciudad cosmopolita y relajada, con un toque claramente británico, es famosa pro sus compras en boutiques de lujo y centros comerciales de alta gama.

Más allá de la ciudad, reserve una excursión del MSC al histórico Nelson’s Dockyard en English Harbour, dedicado al almirante Horatio Nelson, que estuvo destinado en las Indias Occidentales entre 1784 y 1787. El astillero, declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO, es el mayor de los parques nacionales de Antigua y sigue siendo un astillero en funcionamiento para numerosos yates y barcos. Hermosamente restaurados, sus edificios georgianos de madera y piedra datan de finales del siglo XVII y principios del XIX. Entre abril y principios de mayo, el astillero es la sede de algunas de las regatas de vela más importantes del mundo, como la Antigua Sailing Week. La excursión continúa para visitar las emblemáticas ruinas de Shirley Heights, que ofrecen unas vistas impresionantes de English Harbour.

Si le atrae una excursión por la naturaleza, diríjase a Stingray City para nadar con las simpáticas rayas del sur en aguas cristalinas. O descubra la exuberante selva tropical de Antigua a vista de pájaro mientras navega por las copas de los árboles en una excursión guiada por las copas de los árboles que le hará caminar por un puente colgante y atravesar tirolinas sobre un espectacular desfiladero.