Windstar Cruise: Classic Caribbean

Pastel-colored buildings and shops filled with tempting souvenirs herald your arrival to bustling Philipsburg. Situated near the harbor on the Dutch side of St. Maarten, Philipsburg owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus in 1493. Today, celebrated Front Street is home to a number of local Creole restaurants as well as jewelry stores, stylish boutiques, and lively casinos for visitors seeking an upbeat island experience.

Day 2: Barbuda, Barbuda

This picturesque island is what most cruisers are looking for but won’t find, because most cruise ships don’t stop here. (They can’t.) Life here is sleepy, laid-back, unspoiled — pick your adjective. There are a few ruins from plantation days, but mostly the entertainment is of the do-it-yourself variety: watching plumes of white spray splash up from the reef, collecting conch shells, or if you’re feeling ambitious, a trip to the Frigate Bird Sanctuary to watch the giant-winged avians harass other seabirds for their catches like the man o’ wars they’re nicknamed for. The only thing that can be really called grand (aside from the island’s beauty) is the 20-mile stretch of pink sand beach that greets us when we arrive.

Day 3: Roseau, Dominica

Get ready for a full day with plenty to do. Snorkel alongside brilliant parrot fish in the bubbly waters of Champagne Beach. Take a break to enjoy more than 150 species of plants and brilliant red-necked Jaco parrots at the botanical gardens. If you’re up for an optional hike, don’t miss Boiling Lake and the Valley of Desolation at Dominica’s Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 4: Pigeon Island, Saint-Lucia

The UNESCO site Pitons’ with their two majestic volcanic peaks and 24 miles of vibrant coral reef welcome you to St. Lucia. Nearby Pigeon Island National Park features impressive ruins of English forts, archaeological relics of Arawak Indians, and splendid beaches.

Day 5: Les Saintes, Guadeloupe

This is the Caribbean as you’ve always imagined it, with yacht-filled harbors set against volcanic mountains and endless stretches of palm-fringed beach. The underwater world here attracted the likes of Jacques Cousteau, but even novice snorkelers will enjoy exploring these impossibly blue waters.

Day 6: Basseterre, Saint-Kitts

With Georgian architecture situated against an irresistible backdrop of emerald green hills, Basseterre is one of the loveliest of the Caribbean’s small capitals. Beyond town, more than a quarter of St. Kitts has been set aside as Brimstone Hill Fortress national Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 7: Gustavia, Saint-Bathélemy

Affectionately known as St. Barts, the Caribbean’s most chic island adds a French flair to Riviera-like beaches and duty-free boutiques. Walk past gingerbread cottages in search of celebrities, shop for designer fashions, or sip the island’s signature ti punch as kite surfers fly by.

Day 8: Philipsburg, Saint-Maarten

Pastel-colored buildings and shops filled with tempting souvenirs herald your arrival to bustling Philipsburg. Situated near the harbor on the Dutch side of St. Maarten, Philipsburg owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus in 1493. Today, celebrated Front Street is home to a number of local Creole restaurants as well as jewelry stores, stylish boutiques, and lively casinos for visitors seeking an upbeat island experience.