A cruise offering from Smithsonian Journeys and PONANT

Set sail across the Windward Islands, exploring rainforests, snorkeling reefs, and encountering local history and culture in Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and beyond.

Select a Departure Date

Number of Passengers

Starting at: $6,130 * Price includes special offer Make a Reservation Ask Us A Question or Call 855-330-1542

The tropical Tobago Cays. Credit: PONANT/Margot Sib

View of St. Lucia. Credit: Corinne Kutz

Jungle waterfall, Dominica

Indian River on Dominica

Terre-de-Haut, Guadeloupe. Credit: Viktor Ruppert

Tobago Cays, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Credit: Bradley Wade

Mayreau. Credit: PONANT/Margot Sib

Saint George's, Grenada

Sea turtle in the Tobago Cays Credit: StudioPonant/Margot Sib

Bridgetown Wharf. Credit: Kathryn Maingot

Hawksbill sea turtles in Barbados Credit: Cedric Frixon

The Pitons. Credit: Scott Taylor

Cruising the Caribbean’s Windward Islands

From St. Lucia to Barbados aboard the 184-guest Le Champlain

9 days from $6,130

A cruise offering from Smithsonian Journeys and PONANT

Set sail across the Windward Islands, exploring rainforests, snorkeling reefs, and encountering local history and culture in Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and beyond.

Request a Brochure

Tour Details

TOUR BROCHURE

brochure

WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY

The ship was beautiful, the service was incredible, the speakers were very interesting, our cabin was very comfortable with plenty of room, the food was delicious!

- Smithsonian Journeys Traveler

JOURNEYS DISPATCHES

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Activity Level

Ocean-going cruise that may pull into a pier for embarkation and shore excursions and may use tenders at some ports. Excursions will be at a moderately active pace during the morning or afternoon. Some days will require early morning departures (8:30 or 9:00a.m.). Daily activities of three to four hours each day. Some touring is done on foot and includes standing and walking for periods of time (one to three hours) during outdoor activities and tours, city tours, and historic sites. Walking one to two miles will be over sometimes uneven terrain. Swimming and snorkeling will be from catamarans, speedboats and beaches.

Appropriate for: Travelers who are physically fit, lead active lives, are comfortable participating in several hours of daily activities, and expect some physical exertion.

2024 Pre-Cruise Extension

2024 St. Lucia Pre-Cruise Program: 3 days, 2 nights

With its dense, green, rain-forest-covered peaks rising from the turquoise Caribbean, St. Lucia is known throughout the world for its remarkably beautiful variety of landscapes and seascapes. It is also one of the most culturally diverse places in an area celebrated for its multicultural heritage. This specially designed program provides the opportunity to experience both of these aspects of a fascinating island.

Day 1 – St. Lucia

Arrive at Hewanorra International Airport, where you will be met and transferred to the northern tip of the island to the Bay Gardens Beach Resort, your home for the next two nights. Check-in time is 4:00 p.m. A local representative will be present at the hospitality desk in the afternoon to welcome you and answer any questions you may have. Relax and enjoy the many amenities of the resort before joining your fellow travelers for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at the hotel.

Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa

Day 2 – St. Lucia

Because of its history as both a French and British colony (control of the island changed hands between these two European powers fourteen times between 1639 and 1814) the creole culture of St. Lucia is a fascinating blend of English, French, African, and indigenous Caribbean language and traditions. Today's excursion begins with a visit to a local farm that is part of the international "FarmHer" movement to highlight and support the role of women in agriculture. Meet with the owner and learn about her entry into the business, and about the support she receives from her creole background, and, of course, sample some of the produce from the farm. Continue to Stony Hill, a private residence with a splendid tropical garden and panoramic views of Pigeon Island and Rodney Bay. Enjoy a guided tour of the garden led by the owner before returning to your hotel, where the balance of the day is at leisure, until dinner.

Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa

Day 3 – St. Lucia | Embark

Breakfast and check-out are followed by a day exploring the western coast of St. Lucia. Your panoramic tour begins with a drive through the town of Castries to a viewpoint overlooking the harbor of this busy port and capital city. Drive further south through lush valleys to the yachtsman's paradise of Marigot Bay, where you pause before continuing to Soufrière, home to the iconic Pitons of St. Lucia. Here you will enjoy guided tours of the Diamond Botanical Gardens and of Sulphur Springs Park, with views of the bubbling pools of sulphur that give Soufrière its name. Your final stop will be at Morne Coubaril Estate, a working farm that produces cocoa, coconut, and manioc and that preserves a sense of 18th-century life on a French creole plantation. Enjoy a delicious creole lunch at a local restaurant before transferring to the pier in Vieux Fort to embark your ship in late afternoon.

Your hotel:

The Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa is a luxury resort on the spectacular golden sands and crystal-clear blue waters of Reduit Beach on Rodney Bay. It boasts a large pool with a Jacuzzi in the middle, two ocean side restaurants, a fitness center, and a business center. The luxurious on-site La Mer Spa and Salon offers a variety of massages and couples treatments.

Your program includes:

2 nights at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa (or similar)
Transfer and luggage handling from the airport to the hotel on the scheduled program arrival day
Transfer and luggage handling from the hotel to the ship on embarkation day
Welcome Reception on Day 1
Dinner on Days 1 and 2
Breakfast on Days 2 and 3
Lunch on Day 3
Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary
Local English-speaking guide
Gratuities for the drivers and local guides

Your program does not include:

Transfer from the airport to the hotel on any day other than the scheduled program arrival day
Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program

Please note:

It is imperative that your flight arrival details are communicated at least 30 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the airport to the hotel.
Early check-in and/or late check-out are available depending on availability and at a supplement. An additional night is possible, upon request and depending on hotel availability. Please, contact reservations or your travel agent for further details.
The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar. US dollars and credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.
This pre-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.
Program is offered on a space available basis.
Program is subject to change without notice.

Ship

Le Champlain

Launched in 2018, Le Champlain is among a new fleet of luxury expedition ships launched by PONANT. These ships combine revolutionary design and a new standard of luxury.

Spacious, Ocean-view Suites and Staterooms
Each of the 92 elegant suites and staterooms features a private balcony, while Grand Deluxe Suites have a bay window and spacious private terrace. The deluxe, air-conditioned staterooms and suites (up to 484 square feet) have two twin beds that convert to one queen-size bed. Each cabin has a private bathroom with shower (bathtub in limited number of staterooms) and the luxurious amenities of a fine hotel, including individual climate control, satellite flat screen television, wireless Internet access, safe, minibar, full-length closet, writing desk/dressing table, and plush robes.

Chic and Casual Dining
International and regional cuisine are served in the stylish, spacious indoor-outdoor restaurant in a single, unassigned seating; at the casual pool deck grill; or from 24-hour room service. Continental and buffet breakfast, buffet lunch, afternoon tea, and a four-course dinner are served daily. Wine is served at your table during lunch and dinner and complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included throughout the cruise.

Spacious Public Areas, Intimate Atmosphere, and World-Class Service
The warm and inviting public areas accommodate all passengers comfortably. Enjoy sweeping views from the Observation Lounge and Main Lounge, both of which open to the outdoors, and lectures, cultural performances, or film screenings in the state-of-the-art theater. For your convenience, complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship.

The ship also features the first luxury underwater observatory, the Blue Eye, a multisensory underwater observation lounge that incorporates decor and technology to immerse you in the beauty of the ocean's ecosystem. Here, you can observe fascinating marine life through the large subaquatic windows while digital screens and the specially designed global listening system relay the sights and sound beneath the ocean surface.

Other amenities aboard ship are a Sun Deck, swimming pool, beauty salon, spa and sauna, fitness room, and two elevators. In addition, there is a three-level marina platform with complimentary kayaking and snorkeling equipment, as well as 10 easily accessible Zodiacs.

The highly trained, English-speaking international crew are personable and attentive, and the ship has an infirmary staffed with a doctor and nurse.

Respect for the Environment
The newest additions to a fleet that has been awarded the prestigious "Clean Ship" designation, a rarity among ocean-cruising vessels, these expedition ships are designed with energy efficient, advanced eco-friendly features that protect fragile marine ecosystems while providing a safe and comfortable voyage.

Le Champlain

Testimonials

WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY

The ship was beautiful, the service was incredible, the speakers were very interesting, our cabin was very comfortable with plenty of room, the food was delicious!

- Smithsonian Journeys Traveler

Reading List

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