sailboat cruising the caribbean

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If you’re looking for a sailing vacation ruled by the sun, moon, and tides, you’ve found it!

Island Windjammers offers six, ten, and twelve-night sailings aboard our classic clipper ship Vela, schooner Diamant, and sailing yacht Lyra! Vela hosts twenty-six guests, Diamant accommodates ten guests, while our new addition Lyra has room for eight. This is small ship cruising at its finest.

Our Island Girls are fully-crewed and feature air-conditioned cabins, private bathrooms, portholes, and all modern comforts.

Your Captain sets the course. Each day is a new adventure. Free your mind from schedules, and savor each moment as the crew hoists the sails, the trade winds fill the canvas, and you set off to your next secret island destination.

There’s no rush. You’ll have plenty of time ashore to explore vibrant villages, sip rum at quirky beach bars, or laze the days away on pristine beaches.

Even the nights are magical. Shipmates gather on deck to dance, share a joke or tell tales of the day’s adventures. Lean on the rail, and steal a kiss under a canopy of stars.

Live in the now, and breathe it all in. This is island life--and you’re living it!

ALWAYS ON ISLAND TIME

The Best Boat for Caribbean Island Hopping (Type and Size)

When you're planning to get out cruising and you've decided on a season (or more) in the Caribbean, the question always comes down to "what's the best boat?" And the answer isn't just "it depends," even though everyone's situation, finances and skills are different. There are a few important things to consider about this lifestyle and journey.

The best boat for Caribbean island-hopping has space for you and your crew, good storage for food and water, is seaworthy, and comfortable at anchor. Some good monohulls include the Bavaria 32, Beneteau 331, and Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42 DS. For catamarans, consider the PDQ 36, Manta 40, and Leopard 44.

On this page:

Criteria for caribbean island hopping boats, island hopping vs. bluewater cruising, what you want in your island hopper, a few good island boats.

This is a broad list, and there are many boats that could meet these criteria. Read on for a few examples of some great boats, while we get into more detail about what you do and don’t need to bounce up and down the Windward and Leeward islands and through the Bahamas.

The best boat for Caribbean island-hopping meets the following criteria:

• It has adequate space for you and all the people and pets you plan to have on board.
• There is plenty of storage for food and water (storing it or making it) to carry you through islands with fewer services.
• It is seaworthy, comfortable, and safe. Note that speed is not a top priority, nor is the ruggedness you'd look for crossing oceans.
• It is comfortable to live on at anchor, including the stability and airflow through the boat.
• You can afford to buy, operate, own and maintain it.

What size boat do you need to sail the Caribbean?

There's no hard and fast rule about size, it comes down more to personal preference and budget. You can meet the above criteria with a thirty-foot boat or a sixty-foot boat. Practically speaking, there isn't much below thirty-two feet with the space and comfort for long term living, even for one. A couple should start looking around thirty-six feet. You can get away with less, but it may be tight living with your gear and stores.

What's the best boat type to travel the Caribbean?

You want something that is comfortable and sea-kindly, the specific type - catamaran or monohull - is less important than the boat's handling and living characteristics. Sailing "down island" is often into the trades, so there can be upwind days and bumps and lumps. You want something with enough comfort and protection to handle that. If your budget is tight, a smaller monohull will get you more boat and carrying capacity than a catamaran.

What size sailboat to sail to Bahamas?

The same general guidelines apply for the Bahamas as the Caribbean, with one general exception - draft. Much of the Bahamas is quite shallow, with many reefs flats. If your primary sailing time will be in the Bahamas, you want something which is comfortable at anchor and offshore, but also which doesn't draw too much. When you start looking for shallow draft boats over forty feet, most of what you find are swing/lifting keels, full keels, or catamarans.

If you read our article Sailing Time Between All Caribbean Islands , you'll see that there are no passages between islands in the Windward and Leeward chains that are more than a single overnight. Many of them are day sails. So if you buy your boat in the Caribbean and never leave the eastern Caribbean, you won't need to do any passages longer than an overnight.

Bluewater Toughness

Contrast that with blue water sailing and passage making. If you're headed across the Pacific or sailing back to the continental U.S., you will be offshore for a week or two at a time, even a month or more at a stretch for some slower boats crossing the vast Pacific.

You can't wait for a break in the weather on those trips, you leave and get the weather that happens. The boat needs to be tougher, and it needs more safety gear and equipment. A lightly built boat won't be happy pounding into chop for days on end or riding out a massive storm.

And you also need supplies, provisions, and spares for months, including fresh water if you don't have a water maker or a good catchment setup.

Island Hopping Comfort

Your island hopping needs are a lot less. With short trips, you can wait for not only good weather, but near perfect weather to move. Why put up with bad weather at all when you only need to wait a few days when your next stop is only six or eight hours down island?

And you're not that far from provisions or spares. Every populated island has food. Though the specifics of what is cheap and available varies, you will never starve or be far from something.

Spares are similar; while it is best to have a spare on hand to keep from getting stuck, the major sailing centers like St. Martin, Martinique and Grenada can get you most of what you need, and get it to you no matter where you are.

And the sailing distances are short, so you don't need a ton of speed (though speed is always nice), and you do not need an incredible motoring range.

Working from our list in the first section, there are a few things you want in your Caribbean cruising boat.

Living Space & Amenities

Your boat does not have to be big, it just has to be big enough. Cruising couples have different needs than families or solo sailors, and this is one of those "it depends" answers that is unique to each captain and crew. Living on a boat for months or permanently is a big change from land-bound life, and there is a tendency to think you need more boat than you do. We're used to space in houses, and having basements, attics and great big pantries.

You won't have the storage you were used to, but you need storage for:

• Food and supplies for a while. You won't need months, but it is wise to stock up on something when you find it, because you never know what the next island won't have. A separate freezer is very handy for this.
• Clothing...but not as much as you think. You'll be living in t-shirts, shorts and sandals most of the time. Most of those are pretty small, and you can pack a lot more clothing when you don't have to worry about bulky coats or dressy clothes.
• Water toys and fun. Snorkels, fins and masks for everyone on the boat, and diving gear if you are into it. But you may want to have a SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) or a kayak, especially if you have kids.

Fresh water is available everywhere, but it's not always free and it's not always good quality. A water maker is expensive and finicky, but a big convenience since you won't have to pay for water or move the boat to top up. If you don't have a water maker, lots of tankage and a good filter is nice to have.

Living systems like hot water and a shower make a big difference to your daily quality of life. While you'll be in the water a lot, you need to get the salt off. If you're not in a marina, it's not so easy to get a freshwater shower unless you have your own.

Comfort and Seaworthiness

Although you don't need a doughty passage maker to pop between islands, you still want something that is safe and comfortable to move. If you don't like the way your boat feels and handles at sea, you will be much less likely to move around. You don't want that.

Comfort and safety are more important than speed, and there's no need to get a rocket ship of a boat unless you have the money to burn on it.

Comfort at Anchor is Key

Three primary factors go into being happy at anchor in your boat.

• How she moves at anchor
• Airflow through the boat
• Confidence in your ground tackle

A light boat which rocks and rolls with every passing wake will not be a happy boat to spend lots of time at anchor, and there are a lot of open roadstead anchorages which are unprotected from some wind shifts. Monohulls with deeper drafts, fuller keels, or larger beams will not snap and roll in waves like light boats with low ballast. And catamarans barely move at all until it gets pretty lumpy.

The airflow on most boats is optimal when the boat is facing straight into it, as you will be in most anchored or moored situations. This is one reason we prefer to be at anchor; tied to a dock you don't get the same breezes.

But a boat with poor ventilation in the tropics will not be a comfortable boat. You won't want to rely on air conditioning for several reasons (the biggest is that you need to run a generator or be on shore power), so you will need on breezes to keep you comfortable. This applies inside your boat and in the cockpit.

Our blue water cruiser was comfortable enough in the islands, but her hatches opened aft for safety, hampering air flow, and we have a hard dodger. Neither of these were great features for an island-hopping only boat and I'd think twice about them if I wasn't planning a lot of blue water sailing.

Ground tackle is something you can upgrade. So it's not mandatory that the boat you pick has great ground tackle, as long as you can upgrade it if needed. You should have an all chain rode, and with that you’ll want a powered windlass if your boat is larger. That is a pretty big upgrade if a boat doesn't have one already, and not every boat has capacity (space, wiring, power) for the upgrade

Affordability

The cost of buying a boat and owning a boat are two different things. A boat may be cheap to buy, but expensive to own, or it could be the opposite. Or worse...it could be both expensive to buy AND expensive to own and operate.

Older boats and ex-charters have the advantage on purchase price. They will be cheapest to buy, and there are usually lots available. But there is always a risk they will be more expensive to own, at least initially if you have to do upgrades, modernizations and repairs. If you look at one, make sure you get a thorough survey and factor in the work you will need to bring the boat to the standard you want.

Newer boats will have a higher cost of entry, but require fewer upgrades and lower maintenance the first few years. But being newer or brand new is not a guarantee against problems.

But the most important thing to remember is that most boat services are charged by the foot, and those charges are not affected by what you paid for the boat or how old it is. It costs the same to haul and put bottom paint on a thirty-year-old boat as it does for a two-year-old boat the same size. So avoid the temptation to buy a lot more boat because it's older and cheap.

The charter companies get a few things right about the boats they pick for their fleets. They choose newer production boats which cost less up front, and they keep them simple to use and maintain. Production monohulls like Beneteau, Jeanneau, Bavaria, and Dufour (among others) are great solutions for this type of sailing. On the catamaran side, Lagoon, Fontaine Pajot and Leopard are popular choices.

When thinking of budgets, remember there are three factors that go into the price: the age , size , and condition of the boat. Expensive boats are new, big, and in great shape. If your budget is more limited, you'll need to consider something older, smaller, or in need of a bit of work.

And a word of caution on buying boats that are in the Caribbean. There are good deals to be had, but there are lots of storm-damaged boats at aggressive prices. They are project boats, and you will need to do a lot of work on them and they may have hidden flaws. There are also many boats sold out of charter fleets. These are mostly solid boats, but they may have more wear and tear for their age compared to privately owned boats, and many have deferred maintenance you will need to look for.

• Beneteau 331
• Beneteau Oceanis 390
• Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42 DS
• Dufour 500 Grand Large
• Fontaine Pajot Orana

This list is just a starting point; there are so many good boats to choose from. And you may also find many perfect boats from smaller builders and less well-known designs. If it's in your budget, you can even head to the islands and charter a similar boat to see for yourself how good it will be.

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Rodney Bay in St Lucia was our first taste of the Caribbean and turned out to be the perfect introduction to cruising this area. There was an abundance of restaurants and bars, as well as the local village of Gros Islet a mile away. Someone from the marina told us to head over on a Friday night for the weekly Jump Up, so when the time came we duly walked down the rickety jetty towards the lights and thumping music.

The streets were thronged with people, locals and tourists alike. There were food stalls lining the street selling all manner of barbecued meat and fish, interspersed with makeshift bars groaning under the weight of jars and bottles bearing hand-written labels. We learned the hard way that purchasing one of these rum punches would ensure a headache the next morning: they were far more potent than the sweet, fruity taste let on.

Soufriere and the unforgettable Pitons of St Lucia make a spectacular welcome for cruisers. Photo: Alamy / Robert Harding World Imagery

We were thrilled with our introduction to the region, thinking that we had quickly identified the ‘real’ Caribbean. However, over the following season we came to learn that this broad term doesn’t encompass the many nuanced differences between cultures in this part of the world.

Despite their similarities, there are no two islands that are truly alike in the Caribbean. Even the French islands that we visited – Martinique, Guadeloupe, St Barth and St Martin – shared only a common language and the same supermarkets; in many other respects they were very different.

The Windward Isles

Nick was desperate to return to the Tobago Cays, which he recalled being utterly idyllic when he’d visited them during his Yachtmaster course several years previously. That had been in the low season. It transpired that the Tobago Cays are a very different place in the middle of January.

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I did see my very first turtle there (it lazily swam around the boat, then promptly darted away as I clumsily jumped in the water for a closer look) but the anchorage was otherwise so overcrowded it was fairly unappealing. We left after just one night. Grenada, a little further south, gave us our first insight into ‘liveaboard’ culture.

There is a permanent liveaboard community in Grenada and we quickly fell into a pleasant routine of listening to the radio net in the morning, joining in with themed happy hours each evening, and I was even persuaded to go along to a group yoga class. There was always something to do and it was clear that many people made it to Grenada and then saw little point in moving on. We, however, had the rest of the Caribbean to explore.

Photo: Alamy / Chris A Crumley

Martinique proved to be a favourite. There are a variety of anchorages along its leeward coast, the most spectacular of which is surely at the foot of Mount Pelée, a volcano that towers above the tiny village on the seafront, and early last century wiped out all but two of its inhabitants when it spectacularly erupted.

The island’s French culture is evident as soon as you step off your dinghy ashore. Baguettes, pastries, wine and cheese are plentiful and there are several hypermarkets out of town for provisioning .

Nick and I spent a long and memorable morning negotiating our way by public transport to the HyperU. Giddy with the range of products at our fingertips, we bought a pressure cooker, a bread machine and filled a trolley with groceries, wine and beer, only to realise that we had no way of transporting all our goodies to the boat. One expensive cab journey and an over owing dinghy ride later, we had finally stocked Ruby Rose .

Photo: Richard Langdon / Ocean Images

Dominica was another highlight. It is easily the most spectacular island in the Lesser Antilles that we visited: a jumble of forest-covered volcanoes jut into the sky, their peaks often obscured by cloud. One Sunday evening at sunset the local families all converged on the beach where we were anchored.

Swimming in the sea with them, chatting about their lives and watching the kids take turns leaping from the pier, a background of golden-tinted jungle rising behind them, was an experience that will stay with me for a long time. It’s these low-key, everyday experiences that make this cruising life so special.

We continued north to the Leeward Islands, stopping at Les Saintes, a small archipelago of the French Antilles, north of Dominica. It has a strong resemblance to the Atlantic coast of Brittany, not least due to its architecture and excellent restaurants.

From Les Saintes we made our way to Guadeloupe and Deshaies, where it rained and the wind howled for days on end. We were going stir-crazy being stuck on board and eventually made a break for Antigua. Our punishment was enduring eight hours of being tossed around and feeling seasick before gratefully arriving in Falmouth Harbour.

Here we found many bars and restaurants of unusually high quality (the standard of food in restaurants in the Caribbean is generally not nearly as good as we’re used to in Europe, even on the French islands). We stuck around for the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, determined to get our hands on the famous ‘red hats’, given out only at the closing event.

Tickets for the final event were a challenge to get hold of, but we dutifully spent several evenings bar-hopping and ingesting large quantities of rum in order to secure our entry to the party.

After bypassing Nevis and St Kitts due to a rapidly-closing weather window, we spent several very rolly nights in St Barth’s notoriously uncomfortable Gustavia anchorage. I don’t normally ‘do’ rolly anchorages, but for St Barth I was willing to put up with a lot.

The town was extremely picturesque, and as quintessentially French as it’s possible to find in the Caribbean. We had fresh baguettes, cheap wine and fois gras daily, and enjoyed looking in all the upmarket shops.

St Maarten was a necessary stop for us as we had decided to upgrade our tender and do some other boat maintenance. We had planned on a week there, but ended up staying for three; something we were warned about the very first morning on the daily radio net. “This place has a way of sucking you in!” Mike, the net controller, cheerfully informed us.

The Caribbean is also famed for its sailing regattas. Photo: Paul Wyeth

There was a large and friendly community of liveaboards and cruisers on the island, many of whom were stopping for repairs and maintenance just like us. This meant that every evening at the local hangout Lagoonies there were always familiar faces and we used this opportunity to connect with old friends and make new ones.

The longer we spent in the Caribbean, the more the community became a part of our lives. One weekend we headed to the St John, in the US Virgin Islands, anticipating a quiet few days alone. However, it was not to be. As we picked up a mooring buoy (no anchoring allowed) we were hailed on the radio; friends of ours had seen us on the AIS and were coming on over.

They invited several couples we had never met before but followed on social media, who happened to be in the area. So five couples of a similar age converged and our plans for solitude and recovery were abruptly postponed.

Photo: Tor Johnson

What followed was a weekend that couldn’t have been better if we’d planned it: by day we went diving for lobster, hiking, and, on one particularly memorable afternoon swam with a dolphin and her calf who seemed just as excited to play with us as we were with them!

It was truly the most magical experience I’ve had while cruising. By night we’d descend on somebody’s boat, eat lobster, drink rum cocktails and be serenaded by the two guitar players and singers of the group.

These few days epitomised what we loved about cruising the Caribbean and it couldn’t have been a better end to our time there. The islands of the Lesser Antilles were varied and each had its own culture, character and distinctive beauty.

Every time we had to move on we felt the pull to stay; only our sense of curiosity and adventure kept us sailing. We were ultimately rewarded with all the friends we’ve met and the beautiful islands we’ve been privileged enough to visit.

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• Caribbean Yacht Charter

A Caribbean yachting vacation incorporates vast expanses of crystalline waters and endless clusters of idyllic paradisical islands, making for a picture-perfect family getaway. With its beautiful climate and spectacular coastlines that comprise iconic superyacht hotspots like the  Virgin Islands ,  St Barts  and  Antigua , a yacht rental in the Caribbean has an alluringly evergreen appeal.

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The Caribbean Sea comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs and cays, and is divided into three island arcs: that of the Greater Antilles in the north, the Lesser Antilles in the south, and the Leeward Antilles to the east.

• Ideal winter destination Boasting all-year-round pleasant weather, its powdery sand beaches and alluringly clear waters make it an especially popular choice for winter yacht charters.
• Easy-to-reach The Caribbean is well-connected to the US, with a high number of international airports flying directly into the region.
• Secluded anchorages With more than 7,000 islands and only a small percentage being inhabited, the world is your oyster when it comes to finding serenely beautiful anchorages.
• Snorkeling and diving paradise The Caribbean is home to some of the world's most impressive snorkeling and diving sites, meaning plenty of exciting underwater adventures where your eyes will be wide with wonder.
• Excellent superyacht marinas The Caribbean has numerous well-provisioned superyacht marinas to take your pick from, many of which have fantastic dining and shopping opportunities.

While the Bahamas is technically part of the Caribbean region, it is an island nation in its own right, forming part of the Lucayan Archipelago in the Atlantic. That said, the Caribbean is a vast area occupied by thousands of islands, coral reefs and islets, of which the Bahamas forms a part, along with strong political and cultural ties that have created a natural bond with its Caribbean neighbour. 

Practically speaking, however, if you are interested in cruising  the Bahamas  in conjunction with your Caribbean yacht charter, it is highly unlikely you'll be able to manage the distance during a typical 7-day charter, especially for itineraries that incorporate East Caribbean destinations such as Antigua and Saint Martin. You will need to decide which destination you prefer to spend your time in, or extend your charter vacation to incorporate both. 

To find out more about chartering in the region, check out our in-depth Bahamas destination guide for more information.

The most popular destinations for renting a yacht in the Caribbean are those located in the Lesser Antilles region, primarily the island groups of the Leeward Islands.  and the  Windward Islands .

For Leeward Island yacht rentals , Antigua, the Virgin Islands, St Martin, St Barts and St Kitts and Nevis garner the most attention, thanks to not only their splendid tropical landscapes but also their extremely well-provisioned superyacht marinas, fine dining options, impossibly hip bars and medley of designer boutiques bound to keep guests entertained from dawn till dusk.

Scattered like pearls along the aquamarine seas, you'll find sun-drenched Martinique, gorgeous Grenada and the ultra-secluded St Vincent and the Grenadines  are the top picks for slow-paced  Windward Island yacht charters .

Although not as popular, the islands that form the Greater Antilles , such as Jamaica, Cuba and Puerto Rico , are just as beautiful and offer an array of spectacular destinations to explore and discover on a luxury yacht charter.

Looking for the best superyacht hotspots in the Caribbean? These are the spellbinding locations guests find most enticing. If you are interested in any of these cruising grounds, we strongly advise booking as far in advance as possible.

• Antigua: the jet-set adore its unbelievable scenery, intriguing historical landmarks, lavish shopping options and a cluster of ivory-white sands coupled with gin-clear waters.
• St Martin/Sint Maarten : French and Dutch sides of the island combine to bring a fascinating fusion of influences, replete with outstanding diving spots and awe-inspiring topography. 
• St Lucia : considered the tropical jewel of the Windward Islands, it's virtually unspoiled. Bordered by lush rainforest and dark volcanic sands, it makes for a truly unique anchorage spot. 
• Grenada : known as the Isle of Spice thanks to being one of the world's largest exporters of mace and nutmeg, its capital St George is regularly called the Caribbean's most picture-perfect town. 
• St Barts : Well-known for its moniker "St Moritz of the Caribbean" due to its unique Swedish-French colonial heritage, this iconic tiny island is synonymous with glamour, movie stars and designer shopping. 
• St Croix, US Virgin Islands : The largest of the USVIs boasts a National Park, breath-taking scenic beauty and some of the best dive spots in the Caribbean.
• Puerto Rico : Affectionately known locally as the ‘island of enchantment’, Puerto Rico is a profusion of vibrant Latin culture entwined with the laid back rhythm of the Caribbean, with pristine beaches, excellent diving spots and exquisite local dishes.

A yacht rental vacation in the Caribbean delights guests with its truly endless number of things to see and do. Here are our top picks:

Don't Miss:

• Eden Rock St. Barts : one of the most in-demand hotels in the Caribbean, with a seven-star bar and spa.
• Hermitage Bay, Antigua : kick back and relax on this tropical beach that delivers on sensational views.
• Bagatelle, St. Barts : overlooking the glittering Gustavia harbor, this sophisticated bar and restaurant is a hugely popular superyacht spot, showcasing the finest of French-Caribbean cuisine.
• Basil's Bar, Mustique : legendary bar and restaurant designed by Philippe Starck, frequented by royals, supermodels and rockstars for decades.
• The Cotton House, Mustique : a wellness center unsurpassed in beauty.
• Watermelon Cay, St John, US Virgin Island s: dreamy islet surrounded by coral reefs and a veritable snorkeling wonderland
• Rhone Marine Park, British Virgin Islands : the wreck of the RMS Rhone is the BVIs' most popular dive site, and arguably one of the best in the Caribbean.
• Trunk Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands : all dazzling white sand lapped by the bluer-than-blue ocean, this island paradise ranks consistently among the world’s top 10 beaches.
• Jardines del Rey archipelago, Cuba : known locally as the ‘King’s Gardens’, this collection of islands is a registered UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and an island-hopper's paradise, offering myriad secluded beaches and sensational sunsets.

For anyone looking to get a dose of serious sunshine during the Northern Hemisphere winter, a yacht charter in the Caribbean is a seriously enticing prospect, with St Barts being the clear favorite for Christmas and New Year's Eve, thanks to the showstopping celebrations that take place in Gustavia Harbour.

For avid island hoppers, the Windward islands offer an enchanting itinerary full of sun-kissed isles and laid back charm juxtaposed with chic resorts and heavenly French-based cuisine, not to mention unrivalled vistas and sultry sunsets accompanied by warm rum-laced winds. 

Across all Caribbean destinations, keen divers and snorkelers will be in for a subaquatic treat, and you'll find a wide range of designer boutiques and ultra-high-end resorts peppered across the isles wherever you go.

The Caribbean is a mesmerizing melting pot of cultures and influences, rooted in its rich heritage and undeniably shaped by its history of colonization and waves of immigration. Each island group is highly diverse in terms of its language, music, customs, architecture and cuisine, but it's mainly English, Dutch, French or Spanish colonial influences that are keenly felt. While the mix of languages spoken will differ between island groups, English is widely spoken.

Caribbean cuisine sees influences from Africa, Europe, Latin America and Spain, Meat, seafood, coconut, potatoes, beans and tomatoes tend to feature heavily in local dishes.

Locals are friendly and regularly celebrate their culture, with music, food and wildly colorful festivals held throughout the year.

A luxury yacht rental vacation in the Caribbean is, without doubt, the most sublime way to experience this region, giving you exclusive access to heavenly anchorages that are otherwise impossible to reach or are far from the typical tourist trail.

Guests have boundless fleet options when it comes to a crewed Caribbean charter. If you don't know whether to go for a motor yacht, sailing yacht or catamaran to cruise Caribbean waters, we've laid out the main points worth considering.

Motor Yacht Charters in the Caribbean

A  luxury motor yacht charter  in the Caribbean is a seven-star way of uncovering the epic beauty of the Caribbean in total privacy. 

For regions with minimal water depth the ideal choice is a motor yacht with low draft, perfect for accessing shallow lagoons and secluded bays.

For those who have their heart set on a superyacht without a shallow draft, dropping anchor further out into deeper waters and then getting a tender ride ashore, so you can get up close and personal to exquisite island reefs and blue lagoons, is the preferred option.

Sailing Yacht Charters in the Caribbean

Chartering a sailing yacht in the Caribbean is ideal for guests looking for a slower pace to fully lap up the Caribbean rays with more outdoor deck space, and add a little old-school charm to their cruising adventure.

Even better, the majority of sailing charter yachts come equipped with a retractable keel, meaning reaching turquoise shallows is a breeze. But, if you are keen to charter a larger sailing yacht, keep in mind that some may still find their draft too deep for some areas, even with the keel up. 

Catamaran Charters in the Caribbean

Luxury catamaran charters are a firm guest favourite for those embarking on Caribbean vacation, especially in the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands. Thanks to their shallow draft, catamarans give you the ability to get close to cays and islets guests can savor the thrilling feeling of being able to jump off-board at almost any point. 

The charter cost of a motor yacht, sailing yacht or luxury catamaran rental in the Caribbean will vary according to the vessel's size, age, type, number of crew, as well as the location and duration of the vacation as well as the season it takes place. 

With so many options available, there’s something to suit every type of budget. For convenience we have listed the average prices for motor yacht and sailing yacht charters in the Caribbean below;

• For motor yacht rentals in the Caribbean, prices can range from $39,167 to $1.4m per week, plus expenses
• For luxury sailing yacht rentals in the Caribbean, prices can go from $29,855 to $276,495 weekly, plus expenses

The best time for luxury yacht charters in the Caribbean is between November and March, when guests can expect clement weather and vividly blue cloudless skies.

Another aspect to keep in mind is that this is also the time when you will have the largest selection of yachts to choose from, as most charter yachts descend on the Caribbean around November after the Mediterranean season has ended and any yacht maintenance has been carried out, before returning back to the Mediterranean in March/April.

The most popular starting point for a Caribbean yacht rental is usually in either Saint Martin/Sint Maarten or  Antigua,  both of which have international airports.

It is certainly possible to begin your charter in other Caribbean destinations, providing this has been agreed with the Owner and charter broker .

Where to End a Caribbean Yacht Charter

For most private Caribbean yacht charters, there isn't one definitive place where to disembark given the vastness of the region. However, what is likely is that you will finish your yacht rental vacation in the same location that you started. For example, the majority of  British Virgin Island yacht charters will begin and end in St Thomas, while for Antigua yacht charters , it'll be the iconic English Harbour.

sample itineraries

The Caribbean offers some of the most spellbinding berthing spots in the world. These tropical, barefoot hotspots are of the finest calibre, surrounded by jaw-dropping scenery, and often feature award-winning restaurants, hip boutiques, beach bars and more.

But which marinas are the best? Below are some charter favorites:

• Falmouth Harbour, Antigua: impressive marina facilities and scenery, catering to yachts up to 100m.
• Marina Fort Louis, Saint Martin: offers 150 berths for yachts up to 79m.
• Crown Bay in St Thomas (USVI): full-serviced marina with 99 slips, including 16 berths for superyachts up to 60m
• Port Louis Marina, Grenada: idyllically located, with 227 moorings for yachts up to 91m.
• Port de Gustavia, Saint Barts: widely regarded as one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the world, accommodating up to 152 yachts up to 152m.
• Puerto Del Rey, Puerto Rico : conveniently located as a jumping off point for yacht charters incorporating the Virgin Islands and Lesser Antilles, this marina has plentiful wet slips, including capacity for yachts up to 200ft (60m) LOA.

We strongly advise booking through a qualified  yacht charter broker at least three months in advance for all Caribbean yacht charters. By doing so, you will increase the likelihood of securing your preferred dates and you will have a greater selection of yachts on offer to choose from.

This also ensures your yacht broker has enough time to craft a carefully curated itinerary and secure an overnight berth in the most popular Caribbean marinas.

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The caribbean yacht charter itineraries.

Make every moment count during your superyacht vacation with our carefully curated yacht charter itineraries, tailored so you can experience the very best of the paradisiacal islands of the Caribbean and ensure your yacht charter is a truly memorable one. Designed by yachting experts, we've cultivated itineraries that will satisfy a range of requirements.

For yacht charter guests seeking a little glitz and glamour on their vacation, a 7-day charter around the Leeward Islands is a must, comprising Caribbean gems such as Saint Barthelemy, renowned for its A-list celebrity culture and designer shopping, as well as the perennial favourite Antigua. For sheer unadulterated bliss, incorporate the Virgin Islands on a 14-day yacht charter, promising idyllic stretches of pristine sands lapped by waters in every shade of blue.

Discover the Caribbean

Winter Getaways, Tropical Paradise Islands, Snorkeling & Scuba Diving, Crystal Clear Waters, Beautiful Secluded Anchorages, Well-Provisioned Superyacht Marinas

When to Go:

December - March

International Airports:

• Princess Juliana Airport (St. Maarten)
• V.C. Bird Airport (St. John's, Antigua)
• Luis Muñoz Marín Airport (Carolina, Puerto Rico)
• Grantley Adams Airport (Bridgetown, Barbados)
• Lynden Pindling Airport (Nassau, The Bahamas)

Luxury Yachts for Charter in the Caribbean 2024 & 2025

Crewed charter yachts in the caribbean.

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92m   Neorion

from $1,100,000 p/week ♦︎

115m Lurssen

115m   2021

from $2,895,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Black Pearl 14

105m Oceanco

105m   2018

Christina O 34

99m Canadian Vickers

99m   1943/2020

from $778,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Carinthia VII 12

97m Lurssen

97m   2002/2023

from $1,559,000 p/w eek ♦︎

97m Feadship

97m   2017/2022

from $1,778,000 p/w eek ♦︎

CC-Summer 12

95m Lurssen

from $1,732,000 p/w eek ♦︎

from $1,334,000 p/w eek ♦︎

93m Feadship

from $1,556,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Aquarius 12

92m Feadship

from $1,500,000 p/w eek

Queen Miri 36

92m Neorion

92m   2004/2023

from $1,100,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Lady Lara 12

91m Lurssen

91m   2015/2023

from $1,400,000 p/w eek

90m Corsair Yachts

90m   2007/2021

from $497,000 p/w eek

90m Oceanco

90m   2018/2024

89m Oceanco

from $1,100,000 p/w eek

89m   2015/2023

Maltese Falcon 12

88m Perini Navi

88m   2006/2023

from $490,000 p/w eek

86m Scheepswerf Gebr. van der Werf

86m   1998/2024

from $531,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Man of Steel 12

86m Oceanco

86m   2010/2023

from $1,000,000 p/w eek

86m Abeking & Rasmussen

86m   2009/2024

from $953,000 p/w eek ♦︎

O'Ptasia 12

85m Golden Yachts

85m   2018/2024

from $1,000,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Victorious 12

85m Ak Yachts

from $889,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Le Ponant 32

84m   1990/2022

from $506,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Savannah 12

84m Feadship

84m   2015/2020

from $1,111,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Elements 12

80m Yachtley

Excellence 12

80m Abeking & Rasmussen

from $1,150,000 p/w eek

Amaryllis 12

78m Abeking & Rasmussen

78m   2011/2022

from $770,000 p/w eek

78m Golden Yachts

78m   2023/2024

from $811,000 p/w eek ♦︎

from $480,000 p/w eek

Huntress 12

76m Lurssen

76m   2009/2022

from $725,000 p/w eek

75m Admiral Yachts

75m Feadship

from $900,000 p/w eek *

75m Abeking & Rasmussen

from $880,000 p/w eek

Starburst IV 12

from $1,011,000 p/w eek ♦︎

74m Nobiskrug

74m   2008/2013

from $561,000 p/w eek ♦︎

73m Delta Marine

73m   2006/2015

from $525,000 p/w eek

Nautilus 12

73m Picchiotti

from $834,000 p/w eek ♦︎

73m Lurssen

73m   2006/2020

from $615,000 p/w eek

Quantum of Solace 12

73m Turquoise Yachts

73m   2012/2022

from $574,000 p/w eek

Game Changer 17

72m Damen Yachting

72m   2017/2020

from $450,000 p/w eek

72m   2010/2023

from $600,000 p/w eek

72m Dunya Yachts

72m   2013/2020

from $660,000 p/w eek

Talisman C 12

71m Turquoise Yachts

71m   2011/2020

from $567,000 p/w eek

70m Feadship

from $650,000 p/w eek

Sherakhan 26

70m Vuijk Scheepswerven

70m   2005/2022

from $594,000 p/w eek ♦︎

69m Feadship

69m   2012/2019

from $610,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Sycara V 12

68m Nobiskrug

68m   2010/2017

Wayfinder 12

68m Astilleros Armon

from $375,000 p/w eek

68m Icon Yachts

68m   2010/2020

from $540,000 p/w eek

67m Alloy Yachts

67m   2011/2019

from $361,000 p/w eek ♦︎

67m Benetti

from $680,000 p/w eek

67m Shadow Marine

67m   2007/2008

from $120,000 p/w eek

66m   2014/2023

66m Rossinavi

from $637,000 p/w eek *

Invictus 12

66m Delta Marine

66m   2013/2020

from $650,000 p/w eek *

65m Benetti

Ventum Maris 12

66m   2011/2021

from $530,000 p/w eek

Eternity 17 7 12

65m Codecasa

65m   2010/2022

from $390,000 p/w eek

Illusion 12

65m   2013/2019

from $462,000 p/w eek

Resilience 12

Silver Angel 12

64m Benetti

64m   2009/2015

from $425,000 p/w eek

64m   2016/2021

from $475,000 p/w eek

63m Halter Marine

63m   1978/2022

from $350,000 p/w eek

Lady Britt 12

63m Feadship

from $465,000 p/w eek *

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Caribbean Yacht Charter Q&A

The best time to visit the Caribbean is generally December to April, when it's a little cooler and less humid. But the best month to visit can differ depending on the island, budget and interests you have. For example, some yacht charter guests may decide to visit May to June and late November, when weather is still fantastic but there are fewer crowds.

We advise booking your Caribbean yacht rental at least three months in advance to ensure you get the yacht you desire. The longer you leave it, the fewer choices you will have to rent in the Caribbean.

For your Caribbean superyacht charter, you will need to provide a completed charter agreement and 50% of the charter fee as a deposit. This is payable once the contract has been signed.

When booking a Caribbean yacht rental, do keep in mind the costs that aren't included in the base rate, namely VAT and the APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance). The APA is usually paid in advance of the charter and is commonly set at 30% of the charter fee. This allowance covers expenses such as fuel, berthing, food and drinks, as well as any special requests. 

Please consult your yacht charter broker for any other costs you may need to factor in for your yacht charter in the Caribbean.

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Caribbean Yacht Charter Vacations

A crewed Caribbean yacht charter offers you the freedom to explore this tropical paradise without limits and at your own pace.

With accommodation, a professional captain, a personal chef, all meals, cocktails, wine, beer, snacks, fuel, equipment, and water toys included, few other vacations offer such an extraordinary experience and value.

Itineraries are completely flexible within your cruising area. Sail the diverse US and British Virgin Islands, the undeveloped and resort islands of the Caribbean Grenadines, or charter a luxury power yacht to cruise St. Martin, St. Barts, and Antigua in the Caribbean Leeward Islands.

Sailing Direction's charter brokers help you book a private crewed yacht in the Caribbean for any group size and budget. Whether you're looking for a family sailing vacation, a couple's adventure holiday, a BVI yacht charter, or a honeymoon or anniversary celebration - we've got you covered for an unforgettable crewed yacht charter experience.

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Guide for the Best Sailing in the Caribbean

Sailing the Caribbean is a dream for many people. The crystal clear water, white sand beaches, and lush vegetation make it ideal for vacation. If you’re wondering which are the best Caribbean sailing routes, look no further! This blog post will discuss two of the best sailing routes in the Caribbean – one that goes through the Bahamas and one that covers The British Virgin Islands. We’ll also answer some common questions about sailing in the Caribbean. So if you’re planning on sailing in this beautiful part of the world, be sure to read on!

Guide for Sailing in the Caribbean

You can take many different sailing routes in the Caribbean, but we’ve highlighted two of the best.

Enjoy Bahamas sailing route

The first route takes place in the Bahamas. It takes place in easy sailing areas, where you can enjoy a worry-free vacation and explore sheltered harbors. Start from Marsh Harbour and you’ll have the perfect opportunity to explore the heart of the Caribbean . With Kayaking in the open shallows and virgin mangrove habitat rich in wildlife, scuba diving and snorkeling, you’ll have lots of fun on your first day.

From Marsh Harbour, you can sail to Hope Town on Elbow Cay and enjoy the view of those picturesque colored houses typical for the Bahamas. Take a moment to visit the iconic red and white striped lighthouse. You can climb to the top and take in the view that makes this one of the best Caribbean sailing routes.

After Hope Town, continue sailing to Man-O-War Cay. This is an incredible place to take the family . It is perfect for relaxing and you can take a look at many handmade boats on the island.

The next stop on this route is Great Guana Cay. This is a great place to take a break and simply enjoy seven miles long Guana Beach, explore the underwater sea park and don’t forget to dive in the sea, since this is one of the best snorkeling places and diving spots in the entire Caribbean.

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The best Caribbean sailing route in the Bahamas wouldn’t be complete without Green Turtle Cay. This is a small and charming island with white-sand beaches , crystal clear waters and lovely vegetation. Stop by the Green Turtle Club for a drink or lunch and enjoy the incredible view.

From Green Turtle Cay, sail further north and explore uninhabited islands such as Ambergris Cay, Bonefish Cay and Powell Cay. Imagine your family eating excellent seafood on board and enjoying the scenery, relaxing and swimming, or lying down on the beach to catch the sun and read an exciting book.

The last stop is Treasure Cay, where you can enjoy an excellent golf course, beach bars and splendid beaches. Stop by the Abaco ceramics shop to buy souvenirs.

This is one of the best Caribbean sailing routes because it offers everyone a relaxing time, places to explore, and a fun time being together with family and friends .

Explore the British Virgin Islands by boat

The British Virgin Islands, or shorthand BVI, is also one of the best Caribbean sailing routes . We recommend Scrub Island as a starting point, where you may spend your first day relaxing in the Ixora Spa or visiting one of the three private beaches.

Start your second day early in the morning to avoid crowds on Virgin Gorda, the third-largest BVI island. There you will find famous Baths. This is a must-see stop on your journey.

The next stop is Anegada Island, the second largest island in the BVI group, a perfect location for seclusion. Spend your day there relaxing on sandy beaches with Loblolly or Cow Wreck Beach beach bars. During the night, enjoy a view of sky-colored with sparkling stars.

Guana Island will take your breath away with seven white powder sandy beaches and 850 acres of tropical forests, mountains, hills and valleys.

Jost Van Dyke is also a must-see destination if you want the best Caribbean sailing route. This quest island offers beautiful scenery, a long white bay beach and crystal waters.

Add Norman Island to your list! This is a well-known destination for cruisers and other tourists because of three water-level caves at the base of cliffs just outside the western edge of the Bight.

The last destination for the BVI and the best sailing Caribbean route is Cooper Island. Explore the caves on Norman Island before sailing to Rhone Marine Park to snorkel over the steamer wreck that sank in 1867. Head to Cooper Island and Cistern Point for snorkeling or Hallovers Bay.

How much time do you need to sail the Caribbean?

You can easily sail between the different islands in the Caribbean ; however, depending on your route and stops, it will take you anywhere from a few days to two weeks. The two best Caribbean sailing routes are 7 days long, a perfect duration for exploring and relaxing .

Can you sail through the Caribbean?

Yes! The best way to explore all hidden gems is by sailing through the Caribbean. Both previously mentioned the best Caribbean sailing routes can be modified to fit your wishes, which means that you can add some spots that you wish to visit.

Which boat is the best for sailing in the Caribbean?

This answer really depends on what you are looking for in a sailing trip. The best Caribbean sailing routes can be done with a catamaran, sailboat, or motor yacht. Sailboats offer the best value for active travelers and provide a classical sailing experience starting from 160 USD per day. The catamaran will bring a smooth sailing experience compared to the sailboat, which is perfect for bigger groups or families. Their price starts from 500 USD per day. While Motor yachts offer a more luxurious sailing experience with up to five cabins depending on their size and starting price from 500 USD per day.

What is the best part about sailing in the Caribbean?

Sailing in the Caribbean is a great way to escape and relax. With its beautiful white-sand beaches, crystal clear waters, perfect climate and lush green vegetation , the Caribbean is a serene paradise waiting to be explored. Whether you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing getaway or an adventure-filled trip, sailing in the Caribbean can provide it all.

Is it safe sailing in the Caribbean?

Yes! Sailing in the Caribbean is a safe and enjoyable experience. With proper preparation and caution, sailing in the Caribbean can be a fantastic and worry-free way to explore this beautiful region.

Is it hard sailing in the Caribbean?

No! Sailing in the Caribbean is an excellent way for novice sailors to learn the ropes and for experienced sailors to test their skills. Sailing in the Caribbean can be an easy and fun experience with the right boat.

There is always the possibility to have a skipper and crew on board. That will allow you to really relax and enjoy the best Caribbean sailing routes.

Which to choose for sailing the Caribbean: all-inclusive or self-catered?

There are two main types of charters to choose from when sailing the Caribbean: all-inclusive or self-catered. With an all-inclusive charter, everything is taken care of for you – food and drinks. This is an excellent option if you want to relax and not have to worry about anything. On the other hand, a self-catered charter gives you more flexibility and freedom. You are responsible for all of your own food and drinks. This is an excellent option if you want to save money or have a specific type of food that you want to eat.

Both options have pros and cons, so it’s essential to decide which is best for you and your group. Ultimately, the best Caribbean sailing routes are those that best fit your needs and desires.

Are the best Caribbean sailing routes suitable for special occasions?

The best Caribbean sailing routes can be perfect for special occasions. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary or just want to treat yourself to a luxurious vacation , sailing in the Caribbean is an unforgettable experience. With its beautiful scenery and endless activities, sailing in the Caribbean is the perfect way to celebrate any occasion.

What do you need for sailing the Caribbean?

When sailing the Caribbean, you’ll need a few essentials: sunscreen, insect repellent, hats, sunglasses, and water shoes. It’s also important to bring cash – many smaller islands don’t have ATMs or accept credit cards. And finally, be sure to pack your sense of adventure and excitement – sailing in the Caribbean is an unforgettable experience !

If you are planning to charter a bareboat in the Caribbean, the skipper must fill out a questionnaire and the sailing experience they had. There is no official sailing license necessary to have on hand. However, before making any reservations, we advise you to check all the requirements with your agent. Otherwise, we can provide you with a local professional skipper and other crew members (such as a hostess and a chef) to attend to you and make your sailing experience a holiday to remember! So there you have it – a guide to the best Caribbean sailing routes! Whether you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing getaway or an adventure-filled trip, sailing in the Caribbean can provide it all. So what are you waiting for? Book your sailing vacation with us today!

The hurricane season in the Caribbean typically last from June to November, with its peak activity usually occurring between August and October.

The best time to sail in the Caribbean is generally during the dry season, which typically runs from December to April, as the weather is generally sunny, with less chance of rain and calmer seas.

Sailing alone in the Caribbean can be challenging due to factors such as weather, navigation, and potential hazards, so it’s essential to be well-prepared and knowledgeable about the region’s waters before embarking on a solo sailing in the Caribbean.

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Sailing in the Caribbean – The Best Destinations & Things to Know

I’ve spent the past two years sailing in the Caribbean. And my partner, a sailor by profession, has been sailing around Caribbean islands since he was a teenager.

Whether you want to charter a yacht in the Caribbean or are planning to sail on your own boat, I hope this article will give you all the information you need to make it into a great trip!

The Best Places to Sail in the Caribbean

What the best sailing destinations in the Caribbean are depends on what you are looking for . And, it even depends a little bit on where you are coming from.

For example, many North Americans will name the Bahamas as their favorite cruising destination, often followed by the USVI.

British sailors will probably tell you about sailing in the Caribbean islands of Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, the BVI, or Grenada .

And French sailors will almost always include Martinique in their list of best destinations for yachting in the Caribbean.

In this article I’m sharing six of the most popular Caribbean sailing destinations , and I will explain what makes them great and which islands and countries are best for which type of sailor.

1. The Bahamas

The Bahamas are probably the most popular sailing destination in the Caribbean for Americans .

And yes, that’s partially because of its proximity to the USA (it’s only 48 nautical miles from Miami to Bimini) but the Bahamas also has a lot to offer as a sailing destination.

Its crystal clear, turquoise waters are some of the most incredible waters I’ve seen anywhere in the Caribbean.

From a natural point of view, the Bahamas is quite spectacular.

You have hundreds of islands and anchorages to choose from. You could find yourself anchored in front of an island with a great hiking trail today, taking your dinghy through a mangrove tunnel tomorrow, and swim with nurse sharks at yet another anchorage on day three.

There is a large variety of things to see and do in the Bahamas that are only accessible if you have a boat . And that makes the Bahamas one of the best sailing destinations in the Caribbean.

The Exumas are the favorite part of the Bahamas for many sailors with famous anchorages such as Norman’s Cay and Pigs Beach, but also many more serene and remote anchorages.

One major downside to sailing in the Bahamas is just how expensive everything here is. From groceries and restaurants to cruising permits and marina fees. Almost everything in the Bahamas will cost you more than on many other Caribbean islands.

But, if you stock up before you sail to the Bahamas and anchor instead of using marinas, you can have an incredible time even if you are sailing on a budget.

Some other things to note about the Bahamas as a sailing destination is that winds are more variable since you are not in the tradewinds here. Plus many anchorages and approaches to anchorages are shallow . If your boat has a draft of more than six feet (1.8 meters) certain anchorages become very tricky and you wouldn’t be the first boat to run aground around here.

But, don’t let any of this put you off. If you want to sail in the Caribbean, the Bahamas should definitely be high on your list because it is just absolutely beautiful around here!

The Bahamas is also one of the most popular places to charter a yacht in the Caribbean and you can find a wide range of boats to rent .

Tip: I recommend getting a cruising guide for every Caribbean sailing destination you plan to visit, but especially for the Bahamas. With its many shallow areas and some tricky anchorages a cruising guide provides valuable information in addition to your chart plotter. 

The most popular cruising guides in the Bahamas are the Explorer Chartbooks. There is one for the near Bahamas and one for the Exumas & Ragged Islands .

2. The British Virgin Islands (BVI)

The BVI consists of four larger islands and 32 smaller islands and islets .

Like the Bahamas, the BVI is a country best explored by boat, and that’s just one of the reasons why the BVI is such a great sailing destination.

The islands here are located close together which makes it very easy to sail from island to island, and there are plenty of sheltered anchorages to choose from.

Almost all of the popular bays offer mooring buoys. So if you are nervous about anchoring, that’s a great feature not many other Caribbean sailing destinations can offer.

With its beautiful beaches, some great snorkeling and scuba diving, and many lively anchorages, the BVI is very popular as a sailing vacation destination, with many yacht charter options .

Also Read: Where to Go for the Best Diving in the Caribbean

The Baths at Virgin Gorda are one of the highlights to visit while sailing here. And most likely you’ve already heard about the famous floating bar Willy T’s and the Soggy Dollar Bar. Yes, the BVI is a lively sailing destination!

A downside to sailing in the BVI is that its popularity does make it crowded and its reputation as an easy sailing destination attracts a lot of novice sailors, which is something to be aware of. At the same time, if you are a novice sailor, the BVI really is a great place to gain sailing experience .

The islands are beautiful and diverse, navigation is easy and there is plenty to do in the BVI!

The best cruising guide for sailing in the BVI: Simon Scott’s Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands

3. Saint Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG)

Part of the Windward Islands, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines make for some of the most beautiful sailing in the Caribbean .

It’s all about the Grenadines really though, with Bequia and the Tobago Cays being some of the most popular sailing destinations here.

In total there are 32 islands and cays in SVG, of which only 9 are inhabited.

I’ve heard it being described as a ‘first taste of the South Pacific’. The natural beauty, the crystal clear waters and the marine life are incredible and remind many sailors of the beautiful unspoiled South Pacific.

With consistent winds, easy anchoring, and generally good holding it’s a great sailing destination. Plus, it’s easier to find less crowded anchorages here than in some of the other popular Caribbean sailing destinations.

Don’t get me wrong though, the SVG is popular, so you definitely won’t be the only boat here!

One downside to sailing in the SVG is that unfortunately, crime rates have increased in recent years. Stolen dinghies and robberies from yachts have become more common.

It’s a truly beautiful part of the world though and for many who’ve sailed all around the Caribbean it’s one of their highlights.

The best cruising guide for sailing in SVG: Chris Doyle’s Sailors Guide to the Windward Islands

Grenada is one of those Caribbean sailing destinations where many sailors spend months or even years.

It has a great sailing community , friendly locals, and enough different things to explore to keep you entertained for a long time.

We’ve spent months sailing around Grenada and I actually created a more detailed article about sailing in Grenada in which I describe all the different anchorages and marinas, and share additional tips.

Grenada is one of those lush, green islands offering good hiking, waterfalls to visit, and several chocolate estates that make for a great excursion inland.

Grenada consists of three main islands, Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, plus several smaller islands.

Sandy Island is a beautiful anchorage not to miss, and Tyrell Bay and Woburn Bay are two main anchorages with the most lively cruising communities. But again, I describe all of that in my Sailing in Grenada Guide .

You’re in the tradewinds here and mostly sailing on the leeward side, making Grenada quite an easy sailing destination.

If you’re looking for a beautiful tropical island destination with friendly people, decent boating facilities and a large sailing community, Grenada is one of the best choices!

A good number of cruisers decide to stay here for most, or even all of hurricane season. And although Grenada isn’t completely outside of the Caribbean hurricane area (and got hit badly by hurricane Beryl in July 2024), it does get hit less frequently than other islands.

The best cruising guide for sailing in Grenada: Chris Doyle’s Sailors Guide to the Windward Islands (the same as for sailing in SVG)

You might not have expected Panama to be included in a Caribbean sailing guide, but the Caribbean coast of Panama is actually a great sailing destination and one of my favorites.

And Panama as a whole is a great, diverse country to visit.

From the remote San Blas islands to the modern capital of Panama City. From Bocas del Toro with its lively sailing community to hiking in El Valle de Anton or enjoying the cooler air in Boquete.

Panama gives you a whole country to explore.

Also Read: Interesting Facts About Panama

If you love the idea of combining sailing to diverse anchorages with exploring a country on land, Panama has a lot to offer!

Panama is slightly more expensive than other Central and South American countries, but it’s a lot cheaper than most Caribbean islands . Plus it’s relatively easy to get boat parts and any other supplies shipped from abroad, which is a great help if you need to do any work on your boat.

Marinas are relatively inexpensive making it easy to leave your boat for a while to explore more of Panama.

As for sailing, the beautiful, remote San Blas Islands can’t be missed! But I would also recommend sailing to Bocas del Toro. Explore at least a few of its many different islands and meet some other sailors around Bocas Town.

The one downside to sailing in Panama is that the cruising permit is more expensive than in most other Caribbean sailing destinations.

The best cruising guide for sailing in Panama: The Panama Cruising Guide by Eric Bauhaus – although a bit older, it’s still heavily relied on by sailors for navigating shallow waters and reefs.

If you love scuba diving, nature, and a more laid-back sailing destination , then you’ll love Bonaire.

Bonaire is known for its great and easy scuba diving, attracting divers from all over the world.

Also Read: The Best Dive Sites in Bonaire

The island is small, not overly developed and the cruising community is great.

It’s really all about discovering the underwater world here though. If you don’t scuba dive yet, this is a great place to learn.

But even if diving is not your thing, snorkeling here is beautiful too and the island is popular among bird lovers as well.

Some people jokingly say there are more flamingoes than people in Bonaire!

Bonaire is not a sailing destination where you move from anchorage to anchorage. In fact, to protect the marine environment you aren’t allowed to anchor here . You can either take a mooring buoy or stay in the marina.

One downside to Bonaire as a sailing destination is that the mooring buoys do fill up so you might end up staying in a marina longer than you would have wanted to. A few years ago though the fees for using the mooring buoys have gone up substantially. This means that Bonaire isn’t the cheap sailing destination that it was anymore, but it does also mean that you are a lot more likely to find an available mooring buoy when you arrive.

Bonaire is, just about, outside of the hurricane belt which makes it a popular Caribbean sailing destination during hurricane season. I say ‘just about’ because Bonaire can get hit by a hurricane and has been in the past, it’s just very rare.

Because Bonaire isn’t a sailing destination where you go from anchorage to anchorage, a sailing guide isn’t really necessary. Your chart plotter or navigation app will suffice.

Tips for Sailing in the Caribbean

1. the best time to sail in the caribbean.

Most of the Caribbean falls inside the hurricane belt. Hurricane season officially runs from June 1st until November 30th.

Therefore the best time to sail in the Caribbean is between early December and the end of May.

December, especially the time around the holidays, is peak season for most of the Caribbean, making it crowded, and prices for things like rental cars and hotels tend to go up.

Because historically most hurricanes have happened between early August and the end of September, you’ll find many sailors still sailing around the Caribbean in June and July, and again in early November.

There are also plenty of hurricane holes around the Caribbean where you could sail to in the event of a hurricane or storm warning, but my recommendation would be to use this time of year to visit parts of the Caribbean that are outside of the hurricane belt.

Bonaire and Curaçao are popular islands for sailors to spend hurricane season.

Panama is also outside of the hurricane belt but hurricane season coincides with rainy season, making it not the best time to sail in Panama.

2. Navigation While Sailing in the Caribbean

We’ve been using Navionics for the past two years and generally, that has been very accurate to sail around the Caribbean. But, I highly recommend buying a cruising guide for the country or island you plan to sail in.

They provide a lot of useful information about the quality of different anchorages, how to enter, what facilities you can find ashore, etc.

In the list of the best Caribbean sailing destinations I’ve added links to the most popular cruising guides for each destination.

3. Is it Safe to Sail the Caribbean?

Well, this is a difficult question to answer.

Of course during hurricane season it’s not entirely safe to sail in the Caribbean anywhere within the hurricane belt.

But, apart from hurricane season there is also crime . And although violent crimes involving sailors are thankfully very rare, dinghy theft is not. And, occasionally you’ll hear a story about someone’s boat getting broken into.

I’ve anchored in bays in Saint Lucia where I didn’t feel comfortable leaving the boat alone. And our neighbor had their dinghy stolen at night in the Honduran Bay Islands. So yes, things do happen and I’d lie if I’d say that I never worry about crime in the Caribbean.

That being said, the sailing destinations listed in this article are all considered safe to visit. And with the right preparations, you’ll have a great time.

4. Always Lock Your Dinghy!

Dinghies get stolen from dinghy docks, from beaches but also right off the boat. Lock your dinghy and, if you can, hoist it out of the water at night.

5. How Big of a Boat Do You Need to Sail the Caribbean?

I’ve been asked this several times. And to be honest, it really is all about what you are comfortable with.

I’ve met people sailing around the Caribbean full-time on a 26-foot monohull but I also met someone who thought her 48-foot catamaran was a bit small.

You can safely sail any of the Caribbean islands listed above in a small boat, and all these islands have marinas and anchorages suitable for big yachts as well.

Do keep in mind that many marinas in the Caribbean are not cheap and since you generally pay per foot, the bigger the boat, the more expensive it will be for you to use marinas.

And, catamarans often pay 1.5 times the rate of a monohull.

6. Chartering a Boat in the Caribbean

If you’re looking to charter a yacht in the Caribbean, I can highly recommend Click&Boat .

They have a great selection of boats on their website at more reasonable prices than some local charter companies.

Chartering a sailboat in the Caribbean is extremely popular . And, you can choose to charter one with or without a captain.

I know several sailors who now own their own boat, but for whom chartering in the Caribbean is what got them hooked. So be careful, you might not want to go home after your Caribbean sailing trip!

Sailing in the Caribbean – Conclusions

The Caribbean is a popular sailing destination, and for good reasons.

The weather is generally great (outside of hurricane season), the winds are stable and there are more anchorages to explore than anyone could in a lifetime.

But, some destinations will suit you better than others, depending on your personal interests, your boat, and how much time you have.

I therefore recommend taking some time to plan where you want to go and why.

The sailing destinations I’ve listed above are all absolutely great, but they might not all fit your needs.

For example, we sailed to St Maarten because we had some problems with our engine and St Maarten is a good destination in the Eastern Caribbean for boat maintenance.

Read different Caribbean cruising guides and talk to other sailors about their favorite places and tips.

But enjoy, no matter where you’ll end up sailing in the Caribbean, I’m sure you’ll make incredible memories!

• Sailing in Saint Lucia – Anchorages, Sailing Tips & More
• Sailing in Curaçao – Things to Know
• Anchoring in Mullet Bay, St Maarten
• Sailing Across the Atlantic – My Experiences
• Why Taking Seashells From the Beach is a Bad Idea
• The Best Caribbean Islands to Visit & Why
• 5 Most Romantic Caribbean Islands

  Like this article about sailing in the Caribbean? Pin it!

Disclaimer: This blog about sailing and chartering a yacht in the Caribbean contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links, at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Finding Used Sailboats for Sale in the Caribbean

Where would you seek them out, and why would you want to look for a used sailboats for sale all the way down in the Caribbean anyway?

The first part of the question is easy to answer - right here! We're not a broker so we seek no commission, nor do we make a charge for placing the ads. We only allow ads from the owners themselves - or occasionally from their appointed brokers - and yes, it's all for free!

But there are other sources of second-hand cruising yachts in the Caribbean, one of which is the yacht charter companies.

These companies update their fleets from time to time, selling off the older models.

Horizon Yacht Charters have bases on several of the Eastern Caribbean islands, and would be a good place to start looking.

Charter boats are generally optimised to maximise accommodation for fare-paying clients and, whilst being quite acceptable for Caribbean island-hopping, may not make ideal long-distance cruising boats.

Why Should I Buy a Used Sailboat in the Caribbean?

After all, it's a long way to go to look at one, and there's likely to be a lot more to choose from closer to home, but...

• Perhaps you've got time for some extended cruising in the Caribbean but are not very enthusiastic about tackling the long ocean passage necessary to get there, or
• You're looking for a bargain. Sometimes, but not always, the owner of a boat in the Caribbean has had enough sailing and is keen to sell. Maybe he hasn't got the time to sail her back home, or doesn't want to pay someone else to do it for him. That puts you in a strong negotiating position.
• You've been looking for a particular boat for a while now - and here it is!

Getting Her Surveyed

You've found a boat that looks ideal - it's time for a deep and meaningful conversation with the owner, after which you've got a decision to make. Do you...

• Make an offer subject to survey?
• Go and take a look at her yourself before walking away or making an offer subject to survey?
• Get her surveyed before deciding whether to walk away or take a look at her yourself?

Here's what I would do, assuming I hadn't decided to walk away...

• Ask at least two local professional yacht surveyors to quote for a full survey, and
• Make an assessment of the transport and accommodation costs involved in visiting the boat.

If the cost of (1.) is relatively low compared with the cost of the survey I'd download a copy of Andrew Simpson's  'Secrets of Secondhand Boats' and, armed with this most valuable assistant, go and assess her myself before deciding whether to walk away or appoint a yacht surveyor.

If the cost of (2.) is relatively low compared with the cost of making the trip I'd appoint the yacht surveyor. His report would enable me to decide whether to walk away or, after visiting the vessel, make an offer.

A Selection of Used Sailboats for Sale in the Caribbean

'Bijou' , a Hylas 46 

Location:  Panama

Asking Price: $397,500

'Windward' , a Tayana 48 DS 

Location:  Grenada, West Indies

Asking Price: $390,000

'Harvester 1' , a Harmony 42 

Location:  Grenada West Indies

Asking Price: $79,000

'Alkoomi' , a Hunter 466 

Asking Price: $149,000

'Galileo' , a Jaguar 36 catamaran

Asking Price: $150,000

'Soul Venture' , a Hunter Passage 42

Asking Price: $69,000

'Coco Rose' , a Fountaine Pajot Lipari 41

Asking Price: €131,000

'Petrel Blue' , a Westerly Oceanranger 38

Asking Price: $38,588

'Wind's Way' , a Hardin Seawolf 40

Location:  Martinique, French West Indies

Asking Price: $66,000

'BlueJacket' , a Freedom 40/40

Location:  Belize, Central America

Asking Price: $150,000   $134,900

'Cabo Frio' , a Catalina Morgan 43

Location: Grenada, West Indies.

Asking Price: $65,000

'Hitchcock' , an RM1260

Asking Price: €209,000

'Venture' , a  Bristol 40

Asking Price: $46,000 $36,000

'Live the Dash' , a  Morgan Out Island 37

Location: St Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Asking Price:  $36,900 $33,900

'Revelia' , a  Cheoy Lee 47 Ketch

Location: Grenada, West Indies

Asking Price:  $154,900 $125,000

'Pompoen' , a Hans Christian 34

Location: Trinidad, West Indies

Asking Price:  $42,000

'Wanuskewin' , a Catalina 42 MkII 

Location: Lucaya, Grand Bahama

Asking Price:  $105,000

'Pegasus' , a Gib'Sea 126

Location:  Curaçao, Dutch Antilles

Asking Price:  $50,000 $45,000

'Shindig' , a Custom Design Performance Cruiser

Asking Price:  $49,900

'Just Friends' , a Hunter 376

Location:  Puerto Rico, West Indies

Asking Price:  $70,000

'Anna' , a Bavaria 390

Location:  Trinidad, West Indies

Asking Price:  $35,000 now $28,000

more 'Anna' pics, info and owner's contact details...

'Untethered Soul' , a Vagabond 47

Location:  Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Asking Price:  $162,000 $96,000

'Freja' , a Voyager 35

Asking Price:  €35,000

more 'Freja' pics, info and owner's contact details...

'Golightly' , an Island Packet 350

Asking Price:  $88,000

more 'Golightly' pics and info...

'Music II' , a Morgan 41 Classic

Asking Price:  $97,500

'Maia' , a Moody 376

Location:  Martinique, French West Indies

Asking Price: €70,000

'Svea av Valleviken' , an Overseas 35

Location:  Grenada, West Indies

Asking Price: €89,000

'Vite & Rêves' , a Catana 401

Asking Price: €198,000

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Princess Cruises to sail to all regions of the Caribbean for the first time in 2026

Princess Cruises has announced it will be sailing to every region of the Caribbean in 2026 for its “biggest summer Caribbean cruise season ever,” with its ships stopping in summer hot spots such as the Bahamas , Turks and Caicos and Mexico.

The cruise company will have two ships departing from Florida , the Regal Princess and the Caribbean Princess , to take vacationers around the Caribbean, sailing to all regions for the first time.

The cruises are now available to book, with over 90 voyages sailing to every region of the Caribbean from two Florida ports, Port Canaveral in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale/Port Everglades.

“Princess continues to expand access to our world-class premium experience now operating from eight North America homeports,” John Padgett, the president of Princess Cruises, said.

“With ships now departing from both Central Florida and South Florida, it’s easier and more convenient than ever to set sail aboard the iconic Love Boat,” he added.

Caribbean Princess , which has accommodation for over 3,000 guests, is offering trips to both the eastern and western Caribbean on seven-day itineraries, with an option to combine the two regions on a 14-day ‘Caribbean Adventurer’ sailing.

The variety of cruises includes a six-day or seven-day trip around the eastern Carribean and the Turks and Caicos islands, a seven-day voyage around the eastern Carribean with Puerto Rico , and a seven-day sailing trip to the western Caribbean and Mexico .

Regal Princess , which has room for over 3,500 holidaymakers, is offering journeys to all regions of the Caribbean in the summer of 2026, including eastern, southern and western islands.

The cruise will embark on a seven-day eastern or western Caribbean itinerary or an eight-day cruise around the southern Carribean with the ABC Islands.

On the southern cruise, stopping at Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao in April 2026, guests can also take advantage of extended port stays in Aruba and Curaçao, giving vacationers a chance to explore the islands for a little longer.

As for the seven-day cruises, two will journey around the eastern Caribbean, one with the Bahamas and one with St Thomas, and one other will sail around the western Caribbean, stopping at Mexico.

Guests who also want to make their holiday a little longer and visit multiple regions can sail on a combination cruise for 14 days.

Princess is offering a further two other cruises that will sail around the southern Carribean for a longer duration at the start and end of the season.

These include a Caribbean Princess voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Port Carnival, stopping at Princess Cays, Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, San Juan, Amber Cove, Grand Turk, and Nassau in April 2026 for 13 days.

The Regal Princess will be going on a 14-day trip from Fort Lauderdale to New York , stopping at Curaçao, Aruba, Grenada, Barbados, Dominica, St. Maarten, and San Juan in September 2026.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast

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The Caribbean’s Hot One-Design Fleet

• By Dave Reed
• August 13, 2024

I’d love to look around and enjoy the scenery, but I can’t take my eyes off the leeward bow that’s slicing through the Caribbean at 20 knots. I’d been advised earlier: The fine line between full-tilt and pitchpole is somewhere right around the chine on the wave-piercing bow. The warning also came with a caveat: “The faster we go, the safer we go.”

That’s the wisdom of Pierre Altiere, a master of the Diam 24 trimaran, with whom I’ve scored a ride for the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. The point of the exercise is to experience firsthand the hottest one-design fleet in the Caribbean. Altiere’s boat is named Cry Baby , which I may eventually come to understand, but right here, right now, all I can think about is the gust breathing down my neck.

I ease the gennaker sheet in my hand and watch the bow submerge. Oh, sh-t, I think. Here we go. I’ve seen pictures of Diams tumbleweeding, but the bow porpoises. A ball of seawater smacks the forward beam and explodes into a cloud of sunlight sparkles and foam.

With a jab of the tiller bar, Altiere redirects the boat and reloads the sails. The daggerboard hums a few octaves higher as we skim across the shallow blue flats of Phillipsburg Bay. It’s thrilling and a little terrifying, and thankfully, we’re just getting started.

It’s an early March morning on St. Maarten’s Kim Sha Beach, on the bustling Dutch coast where six identical 24-foot trimarans sit under palm trees, surrounded by umbrellas, chaise lounges and rental kayaks. Four other Diams swing on their anchors a doggie-paddle’s distance from the beach. This is the homegrown Diam 24 One Design fleet, which in a few short years has multiplied from three to 10. Soon enough, Altiere promises, if his Diam dream scheme pans out, we will be looking at as many as 20.

Altiere, I’m told, is the spark, the one who started it all, and judging by the parade of sailors seeking him out for advice, parts, assistance and you name it, it’s obvious that not much happens without Altiere. As we rig our own boat, interrupted by phone calls and favors, he gives me a quick lowdown on the Diam, which was created by Vianney Ancelin, a French multihull sailor and boatbuilder. Ancelin’s vision was a recreational multihull that average sailors could handle—sporty but not lethal, high-tech but not overpriced. That was the idea before the Tour de France a Voile—a multistage regatta—adopted the Diam as its official one-design. Pro race teams with million-dollar budgets promptly priced amateurs out the class, and then the pandemic put a fork in the Tour. The builder, ADH Inotec, stopped production at just north of 100 boats. With the Tour on hold, however, there was suddenly a pile of secondhand race-ready boats, many with containers full of unused spares, most fetching $20,000 to $30,000.

Enter Altiere, the tall, jovial and hard-charging Frenchman who taught at a sailing school as a young man and then opened his own in Tahiti before landing in St. Maarten, where he operates a thriving private catamaran charter business. As a top-level F18 catamaran sailor not far back in the day, a friend once invited him to race a Diam in France. He knew little to nothing about the boat at the time. “As an F18 sailor, I knew what I was doing,” he says. “I hadn’t raced [in Brittany] in 20 years, but we somehow made it onto the podium, everyone applauded us, and I enjoyed it so much that the next day we started talking about becoming an agent for North America.”

He did, but the big continent was impossible to crack, so he pivoted to a better plan: bring potential buyers to the boat and give them a taste. Step 1: Establish a Diam base at home in St. Maarten and show off the boats. Step 2: Enter them into the region’s big-draw regattas: the Heineken and Les Voiles de St. Barth.

“There’s nothing better than an easy flight to St. Maarten, throwing your bag in the hotel, and jumping onto a Diam that same day,” Altiere says. “Just like me, I was offered a chance, I had a great experience, and right after that, I bought a boat. That’s the easy-regatta concept here: Fly in, race, celebrate, fly out.”

And that’s how “sort-of” New Yorker Adam Holmes and his buddies Ben Ferraro and Bob Young were lured to Kim Sha in late March for the Heineken Regatta. Holmes, an advertising executive and Long Island-based racing sailor, had heard about the Diam fleet through a friend in St. Maarten, who connected him with Altiere, who had one charter boat available for the Heineken Regatta.

How much for a good time?

Five-grand—tops—according to Holmes’ mental math, and that was with a top-shelf condo, on the water, for a week. Altiere’s charter fee, which included four days of racing and two days of practice, was only $3,700—worth every penny on the speed-to-dollar scale. For months, the three of them exchanged Diam sailing videos that they found online. “That was like the start of the adrenaline rush,” Young says, and when they jumped on board for their first figure-it-out-yourself session in St. Maarten, the real thing was a real rush.

“We didn’t get a very detailed briefing before our first sail,” Holmes says. “At one point on the first practice day, we were sending it at like 19 knots, and the hull was so far underwater. Bob had the kite strapped in hard and we were just flying…like really, really on the edge. The Diam guys following us in the RIB and yelling at us in French were freaking out because we hadn’t yet signed any paperwork.”

“At the time,” Ferraro adds with a laugh, “we had no idea we were on the edge—we didn’t know any better.”

But with a few more hours of practice and less than 30 minutes of one-on-one with Altiere, they were ready enough to throw themselves straight into the races. Ferraro was nominated to drive, Holmes got the back-breaking main trimmer’s spot, and Young took on the busy end at the front of the cockpit. 

On the first morning, the breeze is up to 15 knots, and even though the start is in 90 minutes, the vibe on Kim Sha is bizarrely relaxed. Beach attendants rake the sand for the inbound tourists while sailors wander about in farmer-john wetsuits, surf trunks and rash guards, most of them conversing in fast-paced French and tinkering with their boats.

Among them is Erick Clement, one of the originals. He is a master of the Caribbean multihull racing scene and enjoying his retirement from F18 catamaran racing. Daily yoga, and healthy eating keep him young and in Diam-worthy shape.

“The speed is good and the boat is not complicated, but you have to get a feeling for it,” he tells me in his best broken English. “When everything is right, the steering is balanced perfectly, and you listen for the noise of the daggerboard—that helps you know when it is right.”

As a simple three-crew boat, the roles are straightforward. Whoever has the pleasure of helm also gets the traveler—the capsize preventer. The middle crew manhandles the insanely loaded mainsheet, trims the gennaker, and assists with dousing it. The forward crew is responsible for the self-tacking jib sheet, sail controls (outhaul, cunningham, mast rotator), gennaker hoisting and the daggerboard. Between calling tactics and jibing angles, housekeeping the trampoline, and watching for traffic, it’s an active boat for all involved, especially when big-breeze buoy racing in St. Maarten.

“All crew are super-important,” Clement adds. “If one is not playing the game, you can’t do anything. You have to have a good balance with each other.”

That will be a problem for us on Altiere’s Cry Baby because we are rotating new teammates every day. With us for the first day is a strapping young Frenchman named Corentin, who goes by Coco. He’s one of Altiere’s charter boat captains and has some Diam racing experience, which is good because we’re straight into the first start without a lick of practice. It’s a chaotic five minutes of weaving through rush-hour traffic: big custom raceboats, cruisers, bareboats and two 100-footers, all pinging the starting line.

The Diam will go from zero to 15 rapidly, but it’s not the kind of boat you can luff-and-hover on the start. Full speed is Altiere’s preferred approach, and with 45 seconds remaining in the opening sequence, he is stalking next to the committee boat, mentally calculating the layline and time to kill. But the other boats are stacking up at the starboard end, making what looks to be an impossible entry. But, hey, Altiere is the man and the defending champ. This is his domain. Who am I to doubt?

At 30 seconds, he booms, “OK. We go!”

And go we do, bearing away to full hum, straight toward the big catamaran committee boat. Just when it looks like he is going to pull off a high-speed barging start, Holmes and his crew tack in front of us and stuff the boat into irons—three sun-creamed deer in our headlights.

It’s either them or the committee boat, but Altiere pulls the hand break, and we coast to a near stop. The bow of our center hull disappears beneath the catamaran’s bridge deck, and the starboard bow just clears the cat’s starboard transom. I run forward and push off, and Altiere apologizes while cursing the New Yorkers for their erratic driving.

“I mean…it was our first race, and we were still trying to figure out how to tack the damn thing,” Young says. “That was a little nutty.”

“OK, let’s go,” Altiere shouts once again. More trim!” And with that, we’re chasing down the fleet. I pull the mainsheet as hard as I humanly can. The sail is board-flat and the telltales are streaming.

“More trim!” he shouts again. “We do it together.”

He reaches forward with his big right arm, grabs hold of the sheet with one hand, and together we grunt another 2 feet. The weather hull rises higher, and then the center hull breaks the surface. I’m staring at the line that Altiere had drawn on the bow with a Sharpie. That’s my fine-line guide for the week.

“More speed,” he says. “We will get them.”

I pull but get only another inch. He reaches in and gets another 6, finds his gear, and lets it rip.

The collective opinion on Kim Sha is that Altiere is the best sailor in the fleet, and I can see why. He effortlessly threads the trimaran around oncoming traffic, across big waves, and through giant puffs that pin other boats on their ear. He will dive to leeward of another boat and sail right through its lee. Downwind, he sits inside the center hull, hunched, with his hand behind him on the tiller bar, laser-focused. He senses every subtlety of the boat and knows what it will do before it does it. And more than once, when we sail into a lull and our speed drops, he puts his hand up in the air and says, “Bwaah…come on, wind, what is wrong with you?”

He’s seriously annoyed with the breeze for denying him his speed.

The first race is a windward/leeward blur, and we somehow manage a midfleet finish. Same for the others that follow, but our mishaps reflect our thrown-togetherness. We’re fast in a straight line thanks to Altiere’s skills, but every slip-up is a dozen boatlengths lost—and that’s no lie.

Back on Kim Sha, there’s a beach bar 10 feet from the boats. It’s got reggae, cold beer and cheeseburgers in paradise. The fellas from New York are happy to be back on the beach with their recovery juices in hand.

“That was kind of devastating,” Ferraro says. “We were miles behind on all the races, like it was not even close. We weren’t going to drink, but then all of sudden, we’re standing there with a drink in our hand and were like, ‘What just happened?’”

Young isn’t bothered at all about the results. He’s whipped, but it’s worth it: “All I remember was thinking, I’ve never gone that fast on a sailboat. I think our top speed was 20.7. The sound of the boat and that hum going at that speed was just like, holy sh-t. Let’s just hold on.”

With the wind forecast to peak into the mid-20s, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta’s legendary around-the-island race is next on the to-do list. Big island, big breeze and it’ll be big-time fun, Altiere promises me when we meet at the beach and introduces me to Camille, another of his charter boat captains. She’s petite, and Altiere confesses he had miscalculated the wind forecast when lining up crew for the regatta.

“We will struggle a bit upwind because weight is very important,” he says, slapping a big hand on my shoulder and cracking a big smile. “But we will be very, very fast on the reaches.”

And he isn’t kidding.

To start our circumnavigation, the race committee dispatches us on a short upwind leg. Once we turn downwind and deploy the gennaker, we’ve got many miles of open-ocean high-speed tropical send. In these conditions, Altiere is in his element and sails right up to and past boats that got ahead of us on the upwind leg. Our top speed, according to my watch, is 22.9.

But every downhill has uphill, and way too soon we’re furling the gennaker, lashing it to the trampoline, rounding an orange tetrahedron, and pointing three bows into steep, wind-whipped waves.

“More trim!” is all I hear for the next hour, or “More speed!”

Each time, I pull with everything I’ve got, the rope shredding the palms of my cheap gloves. With only the leeward bow in the water, Cry Baby kisses wavetops, making this upwind slugfest that much more enjoyable as we short-tack the island’s coastline. After one final tack to port at the top of the island, Altiere gives us the command we’ve been waiting for: “Go gennaker, now!”

The moment that sucker fills, the daggerboard is singing, water is exploding through holes in the trampoline mesh, and we’re cruising at 20 knots. Altiere carves up and down following seas and reels in the boat to leeward of us as if it’s dragging a drogue. The three of us are pinned to the aft beam, weight back as far as it can possibly go. There will be no pitchpoling today. Lush green island to starboard, sparkling blue sea all the way to the finish. It’s heart-racing tropical sailing the likes of which I’ve never experienced.

Later, as I shuffle to a hotel shower, I get a pop-up alert on my Garmin watch that I’ve never seen before: “Recovery Time Delayed. A high level of activity today slowed your recovery.”

As if I need reminding.

The New Yorkers had a heck of time getting around, unaware of water pouring into an unsealed cockpit hatch, enough to have their Torquedo floating inside the hull. “We were hanging with everyone until we got to the top of the island,” Ferraro says. “But once we got around the top of the island, everyone just peeled away from us. We had no idea why.”

Hundreds of pounds of water sloshing around the center hull will do that to you.

Regatta organizers serve up a feast for the next day, with a full menu that includes a 20-mile distance race to Marigot Bay on the French side of the island, a windward-leeward race in the bay, and a return distance race. Our new crew for the day is 13-year-old local Optimist champ Sarah Micheaux, tiny and timid, but seemingly game for her first Diam outing. She speaks only French, so Altiere explains the ropes.

Before we even strike the line on a high-speed gennaker reaching start, Micheaux is shivering, puking, and white-knuckling Altiere’s leg. While redlining at 20 knots, he pats her on the back like a tender father, assuring her that all is well.

We round the reach mark with Micheaux out of commission, so he hands the tiller to me so he can go forward and rotate the mast by hand. It’s my first go at driving, and my tendency is to drive it like a monohull—oversteering through waves and feathering through the big gusts. Altiere corrects me and keeps goading me: “More speed. Even more speed. Good.”

All I have to do is bear away a few degrees, get the center hull unstuck, and the boat levitates with only the leeward bow punching through the waves.

“See?” he says. “Speed. Always more speed.”

After the ensuing and harried one-lap windward-leeward race in the bay, we’re lining up for the 12-mile return sprint, which is another shot-out-of-a-cannon gennaker start. Thankfully, this race has zero upwind sailing. This one’s a reach-fest, and this is why we reach through life.

“The sail back from Marigot was just epic,” Holmes says. “Just screaming. Unbelievably fun. We were finally starting to get a handle on the boat.”

On the fourth and final day, we’re back to buoy racing, and while there’s more tears than cheers on Cry Baby , the sort-of New Yorkers are feeling their mojo.

“We were in the mix,” Holmes says. “We had good starts, and we were with the group upwind. There are some cool photos of us kind of like leading the bulk of the fleet around the course—at least that’s what it looks like.”

Ferraro agrees that they were sharp upwind, “but downwind, we just couldn’t find the low and fast mode. We couldn’t figure that out.”

That’ll be next year’s challenge.

 “I’m looking into buying one,” Holmes says, weeks later, back in the office and scheming with Young to go in on it with him. “It’s easy to get to St. Maarten, and from what I’ve seen, they have these cool regattas and beach parties, the sailing is amazing, and it all looks like so much fun. I think about that boat every day, so I definitely have to get back on it.”

Ferraro is hooked as well. “I can honestly say that after all the stuff that went on during the week, good and bad and stuff like that, even with all the chaos and stuff. That was still the most fun sailing I’ve had in a really long time.”

When, and if, they do get their hands on a Diam, there’s only one place they plan on putting it. “If you’re going to do it right, you gotta keep it in St. Maarten,” Young says.

And that’s how Altiere and his St. Maarten crew will get to 20 boats soon enough. If space on Kim Sha becomes an issue, no problem, he says. There are plenty of beaches on St. Maarten to spread the fun around.

“We’ll figure it out,” Altiere says. “I know we can make this work. The dream is real, and there is room for this kind of full-service experience. It’s a gateway to a sailing vacation.”

Sold. More speed coming my way.

• More: One Design , Print Summer 2024 , Racing , Sailboat Racing
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Princess Announces Largest Summer Caribbean Season Ever

• August 25, 2024

Princess Cruises announced in a press release its largest summer Caribbean cruise season for 2026.

The Regal Princess and Caribbean Princess will sail from Ft. Lauderdale/Port Everglades and Port Canaveral.

Bookings are now open, offering guests over 90 voyages to explore every region of the Caribbean from the two Florida cruise ports.

“Princess continues to expand access to our world-class premium experience now operating from eight North America homeports. With ships now departing from both Central Florida and South Florida, it’s easier and more convenient than ever to set sail aboard the iconic Love Boat,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president.

Highlights of the summer 2026 Caribbean season include:

From Port Canaveral:

• Six-day Eastern Caribbean with Turks and Caicos: Nassau, Amber Cove and Grand Turk – May 11, 2026
• Seven-Day Eastern Caribbean with Turks and Caicos: Nassau, Princess Cays, Amber Cover and Grand Turk – May 17, June 7, 28, July 19, August 9, 30, September 20, October 11, 2026
• Seven-day Western Caribbean with Mexico: Cozumel, Costa Maya and Roatán (Mahogany Bay) – May 24, June 14, July 5, 26, August 16, September 6, 27, 2026
• Seven-day Eastern Caribbean with Puerto Rico: San Juan, Amber Cove and Grand Turk – May 31, June 21, July 12, August 2, 23, September 13, October 4, 2026.

From Ft. Lauderdale:

• Eight-day Southern Caribbean with ABC Islands: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao – April 3, 2026. Guests can take advantage of extended port stays with More Ashore in Aruba and Curaçao, with more time to explore the islands.
• Seven-day Eastern Caribbean with Bahamas: Princess Cays, Amber Cove, Grand Turk – April 11, May 9, June 6, July 4, August 1, 29, 2026
• Seven-day Western Caribbean with Mexico: Cozumel, Belize City, Roatán (Mahogany Bay) – April 18, May 2, 16, 30, June 13, 27, July 11, 25, August 8, 22, 2026
• Seven-day Eastern Caribbean with St. Thomas: Princess Cays, San Juan, St. Thomas – April 25, May 23, June 20, July 18, August 15, 2026

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Cruise to the Caribbean and discover the cliff-diving, breeze-swaying, sand-between-your-toes, no-worries pace of island life. Hundreds of years of history have left jungle ruins from ancient times and vibrant colonial towns with brightly painted buildings reflecting a fascinating history.

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The City of Miami known as the “Magic City” is located in Southeast Florida, in Miami-Dade County on the Miami River, between the Florida Everglades and the Atlantic Ocean. Since its incorporation in 1896, the City has grown tremendously, transforming it into one of the world’s renowned centers where people can work, live and play while enjoying a high quality of life. The City of Miami, known for its diverse culture and ethnicities is the largest municipality in Miami-Dade County. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 362,470. By the year 2010 the population in the City is projected to rise to 390,191. Miami which is known as the Gateway to Latin America attracts a tremendous amount of foreign born people, resulting in a large Latin American population that includes Cubans, Nicaraguans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Puerto Ricans, Argentineans, Ecuadorians, Brazilians, Dominicans, Haitians and Mexicans. According to the 2000 U.S. census, the City has a 60 percent Hispanic population, a 22.3 percent African-American population and an 11.9 percent White/other population.

Basseterre is the capital of the Caribbean island federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. It’s the gateway to popular Saint Kitts beaches like South Friars Bay. At the city’s heart, Independence Square has an Italian-inspired fountain. Just off the Circus traffic circle, with its Victorian Berkeley Memorial Clock Tower, is the National Museum. In the stately Old Treasury Building, it explores the islands’ colonial past.

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St. Thomas combines the natural beauty of the islands with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is one of the most beautiful harbors in the world and the most visited port in the Caribbean. Elegant dining, exciting nightlife, and world-class duty-free shopping are abundant in Charlotte Amalie. The city's reputation as the shopping mecca of the Caribbean draws visitors from all over the region and around the world. A mountainous island, St. Thomas offers stunning vistas in almost every direction. While Charlotte Amalie is full of energy, St. Thomas also provides natural wonders such as the indescribably beautiful Magens Bay and stunning views of the Caribbean from 1,500 feet above sea level. Drake's Seat is particularly famous for its vistas. Sports and activities are abundant on St. Thomas. Golf enthusiasts will enjoy the George and Tom Fazio-designed Mahogany Run course. St. Thomas is also well known for its world-class yachting and sportfishing.

Perfect Day Coco Cay

There’s no such thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ vacation — especially on Perfect Day® at CocoCay®. Whether your ideal beach getaway involves larger-than-life thrills or unwinding at a peaceful waterfront chill spot, you’ll find there’s no right or wrong way to make the most out of your adventure when you hop onboard the best CocoCay cruises.

Onboard the Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas

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• Year Built: 2022

Double Occupancy Capacity: 5610

Icon of the Seas℠ brings on thrilling adventures for the whole family. From expansive balconies that invite the sea breeze to over-the-top family accommodations — a range of spacious rooms is designed with family comfort in mind. Enjoy all new Neighborhoods and the all new Thrill Island Waterpark. Enjoy 7 all new pools, a brand new Ice skating rink and well as a the brand new Aquadome.

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• Full-Service Spa
• Bars/Lounges
• Dry Cleaning/ Laundry Service
• Infirmary/Medical Center
• Wedding/Vow Renewal

Dining Room

Main Dining

Dining Room:  Share your favorite moments of the day over your favorite meal in the Dining Room. Each night onboard brings a delectably different three-course theme to taste your way around the world together — with rotating flavors from Jamaica to Jaipur and signature Royal Caribbean® recipes loved by all. Expand your palate with dishes like buttery escargot or fill up on familiar faves like spaghetti Bolognese. Or, dress up any evening with options like Maine lobster tail and filet mignon.

Empire Supper Club

Specialty Dining

Empire Supper Club℠:  Delve into decadence at Empire Supper Club — a new Central Park® restaurant that's putting on the ritz with a taste of old New York right onboard. Indulge in an evening of extravagance with an eight-course menu of premium American cuisine, carefully curated with expertly prepared plates from caviar to wagyu. Each dish is exquisitely paired with a beverage that will elevate your experience to next-level nouveau. Every detail is carefully crafted to provide you with an unforgettable night of lavish luxury that begins with thoughtful touches before you even take your seat.

Celebration Table:  Special occasions get the VIP treatment at Celebration Table — an all-new exclusive dining experience for you and 11 of your closest crew in AquaDome℠. Get the festivities started in your own personal lounge before sitting down for your meal. With sweeping ocean views, every seat is a window seat. Choose from American, Italian, Asian and seafood prix fixe menus — all served family-style along with a signature cocktail. Put your own personal spin on the evening with your choice of ambient touches and menu upgrades. Whether you're commemorating a major milestone or just want to treat your family to something unique, your celebration is customized to your taste.

Chops Grille℠:  Located in Central Park®, this signature American steakhouse is slicing up all-new ways to elevate your meal. On Icon of the Seas℠, the hallmark Chops Grille presents a new butcher's display with mouthwatering specialty cuts like high-grade wagyu beef and bone-in tomahawks. Watch through the open kitchen as seasoned chefs perfectly prepare your premium selection to your liking and serve it alongside your choice of savory sides — just be sure to save room for dessert.

Giovanni's℠ Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar:  Sunday supper is served every day at the new Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar. The menu highlights old world classics, including veal meatballs in sauce like they make in Sardinia and pappardelle served with rich radicchio cream. Save room for one of the hand-tossed pizzas delivered straight from the oven, and ask a sommelier on staff to suggest the perfect pairing from a wine list that ranges from Sangiovese to Super Tuscan.

Hooked Seafood℠:  If you want to snag a real taste of New England-style seafood, Hooked Seafood is the spot. Find your favorite coastal flavors like crispy golden Maryland crab cakes, melt-in-your-mouth Maine lobster rolls or just-shucked oysters and other raw bar favorites. And don't miss sweet dessert treats that beg to be savored for a decadent taste of summer.

Pier 7℠:  Pop on over to Pier 7 any time of day for beachside bites with a laid-back vibe. You'll find casual California cuisine to hook everyone in your crew. From surf and turf tacos to crispy, crunchy mango lime shrimp tostadas piled high, and even shareable platters. Plus, get your brunch on all day every day with indulgent dishes like smoked salmon benedict or a fluffy buttermilk pancake platter. Pier 7 packs all the flavors you crave and keeps you coming back for more.

Izumi Hibachi & Sushi℠:  With fresh sushi selections and tempting teppanyaki prepared tableside, Izumi Hibachi & Sushi continues to dial up the Asian-inspired dining experience onboard. For the first time ever, the feast goes al fresco in the open-air Central Park®. Share bites from an extensive menu of maki and delight in the showmanship of an expert chef working right at your table. Sushi artists craft complex rolls and hibachi masters put on a high-energy spectacle of sharp knives — and sharper wit — that will have you laughing all night long. If you're on the go, the premier Izumi in the Park℠ window has a selection of signature rolls, nigiri, and Japanese sweets to enjoy anytime and anywhere.

Izumi in the Park℠:  Picture this: you're strolling through the open-air of Central Park®, craving a savory snack. There's Izumi in the Park — an all-day window for sushi and snap-worthy street foods inspired by Japan. Sample a selection of fresh nigiri, sashimi, seaweed salad and more, packed up in a portable box. You're already planning your return trip for the most photogenic ice cream onboard — a Taiyaki vanilla ice cream with strawberry drizzle and rainbow sprinkles served in an airy bubble cone. Whether it's a pre-dinner sweet treat or a mid-day sushi snack, this is your destination for fresh eats in the fresh air.

Basecamp℠:  Right in the middle of all the Thrill Island action, Basecamp is your family's headquarters to refuel between adventures. Choose from a variety of complimentary snacks like soft pretzel bites with cheese sauce, or splurge on next-level noshes like crispy shrimp bao buns. Tee up a round of drinks before putting around the mini-golf course. And with so many ways to fuel up between waterpark splashdowns, consider this your home base for bites you won't want to share.

Desserted℠:  Between all the adventures of Thrill Island, reward your whole crew for their bravery with over-the-top milkshake concoctions at Desserted. Towering with toppings and drizzled with deliciousness, these monstrous mashups are as snappable as they are sippable. And the cherry on top — adults-only options bring boozy milkshakes to the mix.

Casual Dining

Surfside Eatery℠:  Whatever your little ones are into right now, the Surfside Eatery has it — steps away from all the action. During the day, satisfy your breakfast and lunch cravings with a buffet of options from pancakes with chocolate chips and fruit toppings to colorful, fun-shaped pasta with marinara and cheese sauces. In the evening, bond over bites without ever having to leave your favorite part of the ship. And grownups can delight in delectable with elevated options that put a contemporary twist on all the kid's classics — so you can share memories without having to share plates.

Surfside Bites℠:  With tasty twists to pique new interests, Surfside Bites is your quick stop for sweet and salty noshes to refuel on the run. Snack on popcorn chicken and hot dogs before even drying off from Splashaway Bay℠. Power up after Playscape℠ fun with a burger and a side of mac and cheese. Treat the top scorer from the Arcade to chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon-sugar donut holes. And round out your time on the carousel with the neighborhood's very own Sprinkles putting its twist on vanilla, chocolate and strawberry soft serve.

Windjammer:  Windjammer is your complimentary go-to restaurant for tantalizing global flavors. Just-pressed panini packed with all your favorite meats and cheeses, flaky pastries fresh from the oven and omelets any way you like them. And hearty mains that run the gamut from crispy buttermilk fried chicken to braised Ho Chi Minh pork.

Pearl Café℠:  Nestled beside expansive windows with sweeping ocean views is Pearl Café. Stop by for a quick bite around the clock and settle into the scenery. You'll find a selection of freshly toasted sandwiches, ready-made salads, sweet treats and more to nosh on. Plus, cozy nooks where you can thumb through your latest page-turner.

Sorrento's:  There's nothing more satisfying than a great slice of pizza — and Royal Caribbean® has spent years perfecting the recipe at Sorrento's. Onboard the all-new Icon of the Seas℠, choose from signature pies piled high with toppings and oozing with melty goodness. Plus, a specialty pizza that's different every day of your vacation. And for the first time ever, pair your fresh-baked pizza with your favorite drafts on tap. Whether you're stopping by on your way through the Royal Promenade or refueling after breaking it down on the dance floor, Sorrento's serves up perfection in every slice.

El Loco Fresh®:  Give your taste buds something to go wild over. El Loco Fresh serves up Mexican fare that's insanely delicious. With classic mole sauce and tangy salsa verde topping beef burritos, carnitas and more, it's a fiesta of flavor from south of the border. The craziest thing about it is just how good it is.

Disclaimer regarding ship dining

• > Inside Stateroom
• > Ocean View Stateroom
• > Balcony Stateroom
• > Suite Stateroom

Interior staterooms include a wide array of amenities for your whole family to enjoy.

Interior (Category: V4)

• Our most budget-friendly option
• A cozy and comfortable retreat
• Perfect for long naps after an adventure-filled day
• One Royal King bed (can convert into two twin-size beds)
• Stateroom: 156 sq. ft.

Interior Plus (Category: Q2)

• Enjoy a deluxe closet and dressing area
• There's no such thing as overpacking in these staterooms
• Stateroom: 157 sq. ft.

Spacious Interior (Category: R3)

• Enjoy an interior stateroom with more space, at a great value
• One single sofa bed in staterooms with up to 3 guests
• One double sofa bed in staterooms with up to 4 guests
• Stateroom: 178 sq. ft.

Spacious Interior (Category: R4)

Central park interior (category: u5).

• In-stateroom window overlooking Central Park®
• Stateroom: 187 sq. ft.

Surfside Family Interior (Category: T5)

• In-stateroom window overlooking the Surfside neighborhood

Guarantee - Inside (Category: ZI)

Category: ZI This category can be booked for a special rate, guaranteed to you. Please note that the category is not associated at the time of booking with a specific stateroom, deck, bedding configuration or other particular settings. The assignment of an actual cabin will be performed during your check-in. The cabin can be anywhere on the ship.

Guarantee - Quad Interior Stateroom (Category: ZQ)

Category: ZQ This category can be booked for a special rate, guaranteed to you. Please note that the category is not associated at the time of booking with a specific stateroom, deck, bedding configuration or other particular settings. The assignment of an actual cabin will be performed during your check-in. The cabin can be anywhere on the ship.

Spectacular sights and amazing views from the comfort of your stateroom.

Guarantee - Oceanview (Category: YO)

Category: YO This category can be booked for a special rate, guaranteed to you. Please note that the category is not associated at the time of booking with a specific stateroom, deck, bedding configuration or other particular settings. The assignment of an actual cabin will be performed during your check-in. The cabin can be anywhere on the ship.

Ocean View (Category: N4)

• Budget-friendly with a view of the ocean
• Your very own in-stateroom window
• Great for families with small children
• Stateroom: 160 - 187 sq. ft.

Ocean View (Category: N5)

Ocean view (category: n1), panoramic ocean view (category: l5).

• Floor-to-ceiling in-stateroom window
• Soak in 180-degree ocean views
• Plenty of natural light
• One single sofa bed
• Stateroom: 258 sq. ft.

Guarantee - Quad Oceanview Stateroom (Category: YQ)

Category: YQ This category can be booked for a special rate, guaranteed to you. Please note that the category is not associated at the time of booking with a specific stateroom, deck, bedding configuration or other particular settings. The assignment of an actual cabin will be performed during your check-in. The cabin can be anywhere on the ship.

Enjoy the ambiance of our neighborhood balcony staterooms that overlook the neighborhoods or take in breathtaking views from your Ocean View balcony stateroom.

Guarantee - Neighborhood Balcony Stateroom (Category: XN)

Category: XN This category can be booked for a special rate, guaranteed to you. Please note that the category is not associated at the time of booking with a specific stateroom, deck, bedding configuration or other particular settings. The assignment of an actual cabin will be performed during your check-in. The cabin can be anywhere on the ship.

Guarantee - Balcony (Category: XB)

Category: XB This category can be booked for a special rate, guaranteed to you. Please note that the category is not associated at the time of booking with a specific stateroom, deck, bedding configuration or other particular settings. The assignment of an actual cabin will be performed during your check-in. The cabin can be anywhere on the ship.

Surfside Family View Balcony (Category: H5)

• Budget-friendly balcony stateroom
• Private balcony overlooking Surfside
• Perfect for people-watching
• Stateroom: 196 sq. ft.
• Balcony: 50 sq. ft.

Surfside Family View Balcony (Category: H3)

Central park view balcony (category: f5).

• Private balcony with views of Central Park®
• Perfect for nature lovers

Central Park View Balcony (Category: F1)

Infinite central park view balcony (category: if).

• Enjoy extra space and an expanded living area
• Becomes a balcony overlooking Central Park at the push of a button
• Total Stateroom: 250 sq. ft. (includes 50 sq. ft. convertible balcony)

Ocean View Balcony (Category: D1)

• Our standard balcony stateroom
• Pristine views of the ocean
• Private balcony with chairs
• Stateroom: 204 sq. ft.

Ocean View Balcony (Category: D2)

Ocean view balcony (category: d3), ocean view balcony (category: d4), ocean view balcony (category: d5), connecting ocean view balcony (category: cb).

• Balcony stateroom that connects to the room next door via a private foyer
• Get "double" the ocean views and space by booking both

Ocean View Large Balcony (Category: C5)

• Larger than standard balcony
• Extra square footage to relax on your balcony
• Balcony: 65 - 70 sq. ft.

Ocean View Large Balcony (Category: C3)

Infinite ocean view balcony (category: i3).

• Enjoy an expanded living area that becomes an oceanfront balcony at the push of a button
• Extra space and incredible views

Infinite Ocean View Balcony (Category: I1)

Family infinite ocean view balcony (category: ib).

• Transform your living space into an extended oceanside escape at the press of a button
• Plus a separate hideaway bunk alcove
• Great for larger families
• One double sofa bed
• Bunk bed with 2 twin beds
• Total Stateroom: 335 sq. ft. (includes 50 sq. ft. convertible balcony)

Guarantee - Quad Neighborhood Balcony Stateroom (Category: NQ)

Category: NQ This category can be booked for a special rate, guaranteed to you. Please note that the category is not associated at the time of booking with a specific stateroom, deck, bedding configuration or other particular settings. The assignment of an actual cabin will be performed during your check-in. The cabin can be anywhere on the ship.

Guarantee - Quad Balcony Stateroom (Category: XQ)

Category: XQ This category can be booked for a special rate, guaranteed to you. Please note that the category is not associated at the time of booking with a specific stateroom, deck, bedding configuration or other particular settings. The assignment of an actual cabin will be performed during your check-in. The cabin can be anywhere on the ship.

Exclusive experiences, inclusive amenities, luxury accommodations and more.

Guarantee - Suite (Category: WS)

Category: WS This category can be booked for a special rate, guaranteed to you. Please note that the category is not associated at the time of booking with a specific stateroom, deck, bedding configuration or other particular settings. The assignment of an actual cabin will be performed during your check-in. The cabin can be anywhere on the ship.

Junior Suite (Category: JS)

• Our standard suite for luxury on a budget
• Private balcony with two chairs
• Sea Class amenities
• Stateroom: 322 sq. ft.
• Balcony: 80 sq. ft.

Sunset Junior Suite (Category: JT)

• Aft-facing views from your private balcony at the back of the ship
• The layout of your suite depends on the stateroom location
• Stateroom: 322 - 330 sq. ft.
• Balcony: 115 - 130 sq. ft.

Surfside Family Suite (Category: SF)

• Separate cozy kids' room, and a convenient split bathroom
• Views overlooking the Surfside neighborhood
• Sky Class amenities
• One sofa bed that converts to a bed ideal for 2 kids
• Stateroom: 269 sq. ft.
• Balcony: 53 sq. ft.

Sky Junior Suite (Category: JY)

• Our standard Junior Suite with extra perks

Panoramic Suite (Category: VP)

• Floor-to-ceiling wrap-around panoramic windows
• Perfect for families
• Stateroom: 370 - 440 sq. ft.

Grand Suite (Category: GS)

• Ample space, including a living room and full bathroom with a tub
• "Grandest" suite in the fleet
• Stateroom: 431 sq. ft.
• Balcony: 108 sq. ft.

Infinite Grand Suite (Category: IG)

• Spacious suite with living room
• Living area that becomes an oceanfront balcony at the push of a button
• Total Stateroom: 533 sq. ft. (includes 102. ft. convertible balcony)

Sunset Suite (Category: SS)

• Ample space for lounging with views of endless blue
• Stateroom: 390 sq. ft.
• Balcony: 96 - 120 sq. ft.

Sunset Corner Suite (Category: SN)

• Views of endless blue are all around
• Enjoy a massive wraparound balcony
• Stateroom: 380 - 480 sq. ft.
• Balcony: 280 - 360 sq. ft.

Owner's Suite (Category: OS)

• Even bigger than our Grand Suites
• With extra square footage to use as you kick back and relax
• Stateroom: 658 sq. ft.
• Balcony: 190 sq. ft.

Icon Loft (Category: IL)

• Extra-large loft suite with spacious living area and balcony
• Upper-level master bedroom overlooks the living room
• Star Class amenities
• Stateroom: 838 sq. ft. (inclusive of the opening)
• Stateroom: 656 sq. ft. (excluding the opening)
• Balcony: 108 - 172 sq. ft.

Royal Loft (Category: RL)

• Expansive two-floor suite with ample space for everyone
• Most luxurious suite in the Royal Caribbean fleet
• One King-size bed with Matermoll Summer Mattress
• One Royal King Bed (can convert into two twin-size beds)
• Stateroom: 2,088 sq. ft. (inclusive of the opening)
• Stateroom: 1,482 sq. ft. (excluding the opening)
• Balcony (main level): 705 sq. ft.

Ultimate Family Townhouse (Category: UL)

• Sprawling adventure-filled pad with three levels of incredible surprises
• Race down the in-suite slide
• Two kids bunk beds
• Stateroom: 1,772 sq. ft. (includes net feature and bridge before)
• Balcony (main level): 410 sq. ft.
• Balcony (second level): 90 sq. ft.
• Backyard: 251 sq. ft.

• Ship Name: Icon of the Seas
• Year Entered Present Fleet: 2024
• Ship Class: Icon
• Maximum Capacity: 7,514
• Number of Passenger Decks: 20
• Officers' Nationality: International
• Ocean-View without Balcony: 276
• Ocean-View with Balcony: 1,815
• Total Inside Staterooms: 535
• Tonnage (GRT): 250,800
• Capacity Based on Double Occupancy: 5,610
• Country of Registry: The Bahamas
• Total Staterooms: 2,805
• Suites with Balcony: 169
• Crew/Hotel Staff Nationality: International

Available Dates & Prices

Departure date, inside stateroom, ocean view stateroom, balcony stateroom, suite stateroom, departure date - 11/02/2024, departure date - 11/30/2024, departure date - 01/25/2025, departure date - 02/22/2025, departure date - 03/22/2025, departure date - 04/19/2025, terms & conditions.

*Price shown is per person based on double occupancy and is valid for select stateroom categories only. Click on the Terms & Conditions link below for details.

†One Digital Costco Shop Card per room/stateroom, per stay. The exact amount of the Digital Costco Shop Card will be calculated during the booking process. The Digital Costco Shop Card promotion is nontransferable and may not be combined with any other promotion. A Digital Costco Shop Card will arrive by email approximately 10 days after the start of your cruise. Click on the Terms & Conditions link below for additional information

Ship's registry: The Bahamas

Digital Costco Shop Card

This booking includes a Digital Costco Shop Card which will arrive by email one to two weeks after you return from your vacation. The Digital Costco Shop Card is a convenient payment option in our warehouses and on Costco.com.

Ship Rating

An outstanding luxury cruise experience with an exceptional level of attention to detail. Expect superb service from all levels of officers and staff.

A very good quality all-around cruise experience aboard a ship that offers a range of facilities and services.

A decent, unpretentious cruise experience, with a moderate amount of space and quality in furnishing and fittings.

A modest quality cruise experience with less attention to detail and service.

Expect a very basic cruise experience with minimal attention to service, hospitality and finesse.

Offers some, but not all, of the amenities and services associated with the next highest star rating.

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I went on a joint 60th birthday cruise for me and 12 of my friends. It was surprisingly affordable and so much fun.

• I went on my first cruise with 12 friends from high school so we could celebrate our 60th birthdays.
• We had a great time exploring the ship, sharing meals together, and partaking in onboard activities.
• We skipped a lot of add-ons and the cruise was surprisingly affordable at under $800 a person.

I'd never cruised before — but when 12 of my friends from high school hatched a plan to celebrate our 60th birthdays on a four-night Royal Caribbean cruise , I immediately said yes.

Our group of 13 b ooked a four-night cruise on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas from Los Angeles to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico.

I didn't realize how fun, affordable, and meaningful it would be.

We had a blast on the ship

The Navigator of the Seas has a shopping promenade, a main dining room , a buffet, a café, specialty restaurants, an ice-skating rink, a showroom, a piano lounge, swimming pools, a gym, a spa, and so much more.

Given all that was offered, it's hard to imagine anyone not   having fun on the ship , but my friends and I had an especially fabulous time because we were together.

We ate, drank, laughed, swam, and talked, on repeat, for four days.

We danced until dawn — or at least until nearly midnight — in the nightclub. We belted every word to every song during '80s Night on the Promenade.

We cheered on our friends who competed in contests and pickleball tournaments, celebrated with a friend who won big at the casino, and so much more.

Each evening, we played cards in the Schooner Bar while a talented pianist and singer took requests all night.

We even received a visit from the ship's captain after we sent a note asking if he'd meet us during formal night. I'm not often tongue-tied, but I'd never met anyone who was responsible for steering a ship the size of a Las Vegas hotel before.

Related stories

I don't think I managed a single coherent sentence — but he was kind and gracious, and I now understand why captains are so often called "dashing" in Jane Austen novels.

Even better, the trip was surprisingly affordable

I thought all the fun we had would cost a lot, but I was wrong. Turns out a cruise can be quite affordable — as long as one is savvy.

We split double rooms with balconies and the trip cost about $793 per person, including taxes, fees, and port expenses.

I didn't feel any need (or even desire) to pay extra to eat at a specialty restaurant because all of the meals in the main dining room were so good.

We saved money on photo packages by using a tripod, asking other people on the ship to snap our pictures, and taking selfies. We didn't pay extra to book excursions and instead had fun exploring our two ports in small groups.

In Catalina, we walked along the promenade like we were teens again. In Ensenada, we went shopping, buying affordable souvenirs that will always remind us of our time together.

We're already planning our next cruise

Of course, the best part of the trip was our time together, which made it so meaningful. Our friendship, which was already special, strengthened, deepened, and grew.

I'm happy to say that we're already planning our next cruise five years from now.

We'll be 65, and I imagine we'll still be best friends, rocking our swimsuits, schmoozing with the captain, dancing at '80s Night, and once again, having the time of our lives.

Watch: Why it costs $1 million a day to run one of the world's biggest cruise ships

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Cruise to St. Petersburg, Russia

St. petersburg shore excursions, amazing experiences coming soon., sorry, there are no excursions for this port at this moment., things to do in st. petersburg.

Czars and Saviors

Front of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia

Located near the waterfront and housed in the former Romanov Winter Palace, the Hermitage Museum sits due north along Nevsky Prospekt from the Church of the Savior on Blood, St. Petersburg's other most iconic attraction.

Discover the Unusual

View of Saint Isaac's square in St. Petersburg, Russia

St. Petersburg's city center is overflowing with history — why not choose museums that offer something a little different? Visit the quirky Faberge Museum, dedicated to the work of Russian jeweler Carl Faberge. Or enjoy an interactive experience at the Museum of Emotions.

Imperial Excursion

Take a drive to some imperial palaces outside the city center. Under an hour away by car lies exquisite Peterhof, whose fountains alone are worth the price of admission. Cruise to St. Petersburg and go by train to the Baroque-style Catherine Palace — can you guess which Russian ruler often stayed here?

Local Cuisine

Russians flock to St. Petersburg because of its cosmopolitan vibe, but use your stop here to discover local cuisine. Head to the restaurant-rich Nevsky Prospect to sample borscht beet root soup (the cold version in summer), dumplings of meat ( plmeni ) and sour cherries ( vareniki ) or hearty beef stroganoff — yes, that's a Russian dish!

St. Petersburg's shopping options are as grand as its architecture. The luxurious Gostiny Dvor mall is an essential stop with your St. Petersburg cruise. If you're looking for a more down-to-earth experience, try your luck (and your Russian language skills) at Udelnaya Flea Market and bargain for one-of-a-kind antique samovars or imperial porcelain.

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Ready 4 The Storm: Saildrones sailing into the eye of hurricanes

by Charistin Clark

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Hurricane Beryl was a record-breaking major storms that formed in late June. The major hurricane brought devastation to the Caribbean islands, and parts of Mexico and Texas.

Data company Saildrone deployed one of their unmanned surface vehicles, or USV, into the outer edge of the storm. When it was a Category five hurricane, the USV collected incredible video and data that will help forecasters learn more about how these storms intensify.

"It is rare to even have a hurricane this early in June, to have a hurricane form in June," oceanographer Greg Foltz said.

Hurricane Beryl rapidly intensified in the eastern Caribbean and reached Category five hurricane strength in early July.

READ MORE | "Know Your Zone: A breakdown of changes made to local emergency evacuation zones"

"That's two weeks earlier than any other cat five hurricane recorded ever in the Atlantic," said Foltz. "So just a lot of records and a lot of extraordinary intensification and, you know, with this hurricane."

Hurricane Hunters flew into the storm to collect data, while NOAA and Saildrone sent their USV into the outer edge of Beryl.

Hurricane Hunters are collecting data to learn what's happening in the atmosphere of the storm. Saildrone's USV collects data from the surface of the storm.

"We measure winds and waves and the air temperature, humidity, the surface pressure, ocean currents, and wave height and period," said Foltz. "And we take pictures and videos. So quite a lot of good data kind of from the outer edge of the hurricane."

SD-1041 experienced harsh conditions even though it was about one hundred miles from the center.

"Winds about 50 miles an hour and gusts up to 60 miles an hour," said Foltz. "And this was on the very edge of the hurricane when it was cat five, so that, you know, you can imagine how big and powerful it was if we're a hundred miles away and we're getting winds of miles an hour and waves of 25 feet."

Collecting this data will help scientists learn more about what's happening at the surface of these storms.

READ MORE | "Ready 4 The Storm: How the Lowcountry dealt with storms throughout history"

"The more we can learn about how these storms begin, how they grow and intensify, are there things that we're measuring that might cause the track to change, you know, all of this data along with all that other information I mentioned before, you know, all that comes together to kind of tell that bigger picture and then it's gonna take some serious analysis to be able to say, okay, this storm, you know, is following the track of and will likely do this, and, and we wanna be more accurate with that," Brian Connon, Vice President of Ocean Mapping at Saildrone, said.

Because the end goal is to "protect people who live along the coast, give them more time for warning, so they can get outta the way," Connon said.

Protecting people faster, smarter and safer than ever before.