Barbados & Southern Caribbean luxury Silversea cruise

Your first full day in Barbados brings one of the island’s signature experiences, a catamaran cruise along the south coast. This is a good way to see the island from a different angle, with calm water, coastal views, and the chance to pause for swimming and snorkelling in clear Caribbean shallows.

Today is left free to enjoy Barbados at your own pace. The south coast is an easy base for a gentle beach day, but there’s also plenty to see if you want to explore. You may wish to head into Oistins, where the fishing village atmosphere gives you a glimpse of everyday Bajan life, or spend time along Carlisle Bay, where the sea is often calm enough for swimming and snorkelling.

Barbados rewards taking things slowly, and today gives you space to do exactly that. You might opt for a scenic drive inland or along the coastline, or use the day to enjoy a little more of the island’s food and drink culture. There’s a strong sense of place here, from rum shops and roadside stalls to the island’s polished but unpretentious beach culture.

Your final full day in Barbados is another opportunity to shape the day at your own pace. Choose to enjoy another relaxing day by the pool, or explore a little further afield before embarking on your cruise tomorrow.

This morning, you’ll say goodbye to Little Arches as your private driver transfers you to Bridgetown. Make your way to board your Silversea cruise, where your butler can help you settle into your suite. As the ship sets sail under starry skies, you might enjoy a nightcap in the Panorama Lounge.

Bequia’s natural marina will greet you on arrival. The island is just 11 km (seven miles) long and home to only 6,000 residents. You might like to join an open-air 4X4 tour, which takes in Port Elizabeth’s rum shacks, Hamilton Fort, and views of Mustique in the distance. After an active morning, you could unwind with a massage at the ship’s spa, or with caviar and live piano music in the Venetian Lounge.

Grenada brings a richer, greener feel to the itinerary. St George’s sits in a harbour backed by steep hills, and the island’s interior is known for spice plantations, rainforest, and waterfalls. The capital itself has a compact, colourful feel, while the wider island is often associated with nutmeg, cocoa, and small-scale plantation landscapes. Depending on how you choose to spend the day, you may look inland toward the spice-scented hills or stay closer to port and enjoy the views over the horseshoe-shaped harbour.

A sea day is a welcome opportunity to let the journey breathe. This is the day to enjoy the ship at its own pace, whether that means time on deck, a leisurely lunch, the spa, reading in a quiet corner, or simply watching the horizon shift throughout the day.

Bonaire has a distinctly different feel from the islands before it. Kralendijk is a low-key capital, but the real interest here lies in the island’s natural environment, especially its salt pans and the southern coastline. Bonaire is closely associated with marine life and birdlife, and the landscape around the salt flats can feel dramatic in its simplicity, with vivid colour contrasts between the water, the salt piles and the sky. There may be opportunities to look for flamingoes in the salt-pan area or to explore the marine-focused character of the island.

Willemstad is one of the most visually distinctive stops on the voyage. The waterfront is known for its brightly painted Dutch-Caribbean buildings, while the historic districts on either side of the bay give the city a strong sense of character. A walk through the UNESCO-listed centre and across the Queen Emma Bridge takes you into the colourful streets of Punda and Otrobanda, where heritage architecture, market life and street art combine with a lively sense of everyday city rhythm.

Your second sea day offers another chance to enjoy your time on board. You might choose to spend time on deck, enjoy the dining options, take a quiet moment in the library or simply watch the colours of the Caribbean shift through the day.

Saint Kitts pairs a compact capital with a striking natural backdrop. Basseterre has colonial-era traces and a working-island energy, but the island’s strong appeal lies in its scenery with volcanic slopes, green interior views, and a coastline that can feel both historic and relaxed. Choose to head inland toward Brimstone Hill, explore plantation-era heritage or simply enjoy the shoreline and harbour setting. Saint Kitts is one of those ports where it's worth balancing history with views, because both are very much part of the island’s identity.

Martinique introduces a French Caribbean note to your journey. Fort-de-France is a lively capital with markets and a stronger urban pulse than many of the smaller islands. Beyond the city, the island is known for its tropical gardens, rum heritage, and the dramatic north, where Mount Pelée dominates the landscape. There may be opportunities to explore the capital’s historic streets, sample Creole flavours or look further afield to the island’s volcanic scenery.

Saint Lucia is renowned for its scenery, and Castries is the gateway into an island shaped by mountains, rainforest, and dramatic coastal views. The capital itself has a lively market atmosphere and a strong sense of everyday island life, while the wider island is famous for the Pitons, rainforest experiences, and viewpoints that make up the landscape. Depending on conditions and how you wish to spend the day, there may be opportunities to explore the capital or head into the lush, green interior.

This morning, Silver Spirit arrives back in Bridgetown, and you disembark after breakfast. Once ashore, you'll be transferred privately to the airport for your return flight to London.

Arrive home today to complete your journey.