WHAT MAKES SEABOURNS CARIBBEAN SO SPECIAL..

Seabourn's ships are ideal for cruising the uncommon Caribbean - those islands and harbours - well off the well-worn path - beloved of yachtsmen and savvy connoisseurs. Recapture the laid-back charm and timeless beauty that earned the sea its reputation. Discover the delicious differences that distinguish each island culture from its neighbours. Anchored off a sun-blessed beach or hidden cove, your Seabourn ship deploys its watersports Marina (featuring kayaks, wind surfs and more) to become your own private island for the day. You can also indulge in Seabourn's signature "Champagne & Caviar in the Surf" barbecue on a picture-perfect beach, where guests will enjoy the ultimate of beach parties!

Barbados has retained many of the trappings of its British colonial heritage. Judges and barristers wear robes and wigs, police don helmets styled after London bobbies and cricket remains a national passion. Bridgetown even has its own Trafalgar Square with a statue of Lord Nelson. Barbados also has pristine beaches, powerful surf and crystal clear waters.

Beautiful beaches and clear waters vivid with colourful fish and corals provide the essence of a Caribbean paradise. Activities abound, too, from watersports to horseback riding on the beach.

The lovely little island of Prickly Pear gets its name for a habitat that favours this cactus species, and is known for long, exquisite white sand beaches. The ship will anchor off Prickly Pear where the crew gets set up to treat guests to a complimentary beach party.

Antigua is blessed with shining white beaches, and many of these have sprouted top-end resort hotels with golf courses and other amenities counted among the best in the Caribbean. A pleasant drive up through farms and tiny villages leads to the commanding fortress on Shirley Heights, from which visitors can survey the town and the harbour of Nelson's Dockyard across the island, once a haven for British frigates.

The smallest of the three major U.S. Virgin Islands, two-thirds of which is now included in the Virgin Islands National Park. St. John is now a great attraction for nature lovers and diving enthusiasts, with its small population living mainly from tourism.

Jost Van Dyke has a tiny population for old island families. The desire to continue in the old ways is strong here, and "Jost" looks much as it must have looked 100 or 200 years ago. This archipelago is pristine and traffic light free. Weather permitting, the captain will anchor in this idyllic location and deploy the Marina for a day of play in the sea and sun.

The tiny cluster of islets off the southern coast of Guadeloupe is what the doctor ordered, if he ordered an unspoiled Caribbean experience. No franchise duty free, no big hotels, no casinos. It is what much of the Caribbean used to be like. Stroll around the little town of Bourg de Saintes. Shop for real French cosmetics from the sidewalk vendors (!) Grab a seat and a beer and revel in the weather and the pace of the past.

Twelve-square-mile "Statia" is a tranquil place today, but in its heyday it was the most important depot for ammunition and other goods sent to the rebellious colonies of North America during their war of independence. In fact it was the first foreign place to recognize the United States, with a cannon salute in November of 1776. Later, its importance in the ongoing "Triangle Trade" between Africa, Europe and North America, gave it the nickname "The Golden Rock." Renowned for its superb underwater scenery, Stacia is also a favorite spot for ecotourists in search of remnants of unspoiled Caribbean nature.