Jewels of the Caribbean Sea (Heathrow Airport)

This Caribbean circuit begins and ends in Bridgetown, Barbados, covering a wide swathe of islands over 14 days aboard Ambassador Cruise Line’s Renaissance. After leaving Barbados, the ship calls at Scarborough on Tobago before heading north to Guadeloupe’s Pointe a Pitre, where you might catch sight of local markets and the 18th-century architecture of Basse-Terre. From there, Philipsburg in Saint Maarten offers an island split between Dutch and French influences, with beaches and casual harbourside dining.

The itinerary includes stops on Dutch territories like Willemstad in Curaçao and Oranjestad in Aruba, known for their colourful colonial buildings and desert flora visible just beyond town. Bonaire, less frequented by cruise ships, is a chance to see coral reefs protected by marine parks. Further on, Dominica’s Roseau gives a reminder of a quieter Caribbean experience, with steep hills and Botanical Gardens. The cruise finishes back in Bridgetown, a reminder of the island's British colonial past amidst sugarcane fields and street-side rum shops.

The ship Renaissance is compact enough to thread between islands comfortably, keeping pace with island time rather than rushing. This is a holiday for those who value a broad picture of Caribbean life, from lively ports to less visited bays, without changing ships or making long drives inland.

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