Caribbean nature voyage: Martinique – Sint Maarten

A small-scale ten-day nature voyage past rainforests, volcanoes and coral reefs, from Martinique to Sint Maarten, aboard the three-masted full-rigged ship Clipper Stad Amsterdam. Scientists and local experts travel with you and show you the Caribbean as few people see it. Excursions, lectures and workshops are included.

THE TRIP AT A GLANCE

Route: Martinique – Dominica – Îles des Saintes – Guadeloupe – Montserrat – Antigua – St. Kitts – Sint Eustatius – Saba – Sint Maarten
Departure: Wednesday 10 February 2027, 2:00 PM, Fort-de-France (Martinique)
Arrival: Friday 19 February 2027, 11:00 AM, Marigot (Saint-Martin)
Duration: 10 days
Ship: Clipper Stad Amsterdam, three-masted full-rigged ship
Experience: not required; a reasonable level of fitness is needed for the walks

Prices per person

Double cabin: € 8,950
Single cabin: € 14,219.50

A cabin with a double bed is available on request, subject to availability.

Included

✔ Cabin with private bathroom and air conditioning
✔ Breakfast, lunch and dinner
✔ Coffee, tea, soft drinks and the house selection of wine and beer
✔ Excursions and activities ashore
✔ Lectures and workshops on board
✔ Port and mooring fees
✔ Satellite wifi: 200 MB per person per day

Not included

✘ Flights and transfers
✘ Cocktails, spirits, specialty beers and exclusive wines
✘ Travel and cancellation insurance
✘ Personal expenses

THE NATURE OF THE CARIBBEAN, UNDER SAIL

The Lesser Antilles are an arc of volcanic islands, each with its own landscape and story. On this nature voyage you sail north from Martinique past ten islands, from the lush rainforest of Dominica to the steep slopes of Saba. You hike to craters, snorkel over coral reefs and learn how volcanoes, wind and sea shaped these islands.

The Clipper Stad Amsterdam is your floating home base. By day you go ashore by tender for excursions, between the islands you sail on the trade winds, and in the evening you share your impressions on deck or during a lecture in the longroom.

WHAT MAKES THIS NATURE VOYAGE SPECIAL?

This is no ordinary sailing cruise. Scientists and local experts travel on board, led by Dr Erik Meesters of Wageningen University & Research. Along the way they tell you all about the nature you see: how volcanoes shaped the islands, how a rainforest works, why coral reefs are so vulnerable and what traces maritime history has left behind, even underwater. In lectures and workshops on board you prepare for what you will see ashore. Excursions are included, and the group is small, so there is always time for your questions.

THE ROUTE

Martinique

Fort-de-France is the start or end point of the voyage. The French island is known for its rainforests, sugar cane fields and the Mont Pelée volcano.

Dominica

The ‘nature island of the Caribbean’, with untouched rainforest, hot springs and dozens of rivers. You visit Fort Shirley and take a boat up the Indian River through the mangroves. If you like, you hike to the Boiling Lake, a boiling crater lake, or snorkel at Champagne Reef, where volcanic gas bubbles rise from the seabed.

Îles des Saintes and Guadeloupe

On Terre-de-Haut you walk through a quiet French village with colourful houses and views over one of the most beautiful bays in the Caribbean. On Guadeloupe there is a hike to La Soufrière, the island's active volcano.

Antigua and Montserrat

On Antigua you visit Nelson's Dockyard, a fully restored eighteenth-century naval dockyard and a living piece of maritime history. On Montserrat you see what the eruptions of the Soufrière Hills left behind: the former capital Plymouth still lies under the ash.

St. Kitts and Sint Eustatius

On St. Kitts you visit Brimstone Hill, an impressive hilltop fortress with sweeping sea views. On Sint Eustatius, Statia to those who know it, you climb the Quill, an extinct volcano with a green crater full of rainforest. In Oranjestad you hear about the island's trading history and the shipwrecks off its coast.

Saba and Sint Maarten

Saba is a steep volcanic island without beaches, but with surprisingly rich nature. You walk towards Mount Scenery, the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and learn about the rich marine life of the Saba Bank. The voyage starts or ends in Marigot on Sint Maarten.

EXTRA INFORMATION

LIFE ON BOARD

Breakfast is served as a buffet. Lunch and dinner have several courses and are served on deck as much as possible in good weather, otherwise in the longroom. At sunset there are drinks with snacks. In the evening the ship usually anchors in a sheltered bay, where you can swim from the ship. You go ashore by tender.

THE CLIPPER STAD AMSTERDAM

The Clipper Stad Amsterdam is a 76-metre three-masted full-rigged ship, built in the style of the fast clippers of the nineteenth century. She combines the atmosphere of a historic sailing ship with modern comfort. There are 14 guest cabins of about 11 m², all with a private bathroom, air conditioning and porthole, finished in mahogany and brass. The atmospheric longroom is where you eat, read and meet fellow guests, and the spacious deck is the place for the sundowner or simply enjoying the wind in the sails.

WHO IS THIS VOYAGE FOR?

For curious travellers who want more than sun and beach: nature lovers, walkers, snorkellers and anyone who enjoys learning from people who really know their subject. No sailing experience is needed. For the walks you need a reasonable level of fitness: some trails are steep and can be wet or slippery. You always decide for yourself how far you go.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Travel insurance covering medical costs, accidents and repatriation is mandatory. Cancellation insurance is recommended.
• Every guest completes a health declaration in advance. From age 75, a maritime medical certificate is required. You must be able to step over a threshold of about 60 cm and get in and out of the tender on your own.
• A valid passport is required. Check in advance what the countries visited require in terms of validity, visas and vaccinations.
• Please let us know any dietary requirements when booking.
• We recommend arriving one day before embarkation: the ship cannot wait for you.
• The weather sets the route: the captain may decide to motor, or to call at a port earlier or later.
• For Saint-Martin you need a passport, not an ID card. It must be valid for at least six months after your return.
• Bring sturdy walking shoes, a light rain jacket and your own snorkelling gear if you have it.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Are the excursions included?

Yes. On this nature voyage, excursions and activities ashore are included, as are the lectures and workshops on board.

How demanding are the walks?

There are walks of different levels. Some hikes to craters and volcanic summits are challenging, others are gentle walks through villages or along the coast. You choose what suits you.

Do I need sailing experience?

No. The crew takes care of the sailing. You are always welcome to help, but it is never required.

What is the weather like in February?

February is in the drier season of the eastern Caribbean: plenty of sunshine, temperatures of around 27 to 30 °C and a fresh trade wind. Short showers are possible, especially on the green volcanic islands.

How do I get to the ship?

You fly to Martinique (Aimé Césaire airport) and back from Sint Maarten (Princess Juliana airport). Flights are not included. We are happy to advise on the best connections.

Can I travel on my own?

Certainly. You can book a single cabin, or ask about the options for sharing a cabin.

How do I book this trip?

Send us a request through the booking form on this page. Together we will check availability, your choice of cabin and the next steps.

The trip description and route are indicative. The programme depends on weather, wind and sea conditions; the captain has the final say on the route and ports.

All services that make up your trip are provided by independent suppliers. When you book, you enter into a contract directly with the supplier, the ship, under the booking conditions of that ship. As an agent, our service consists of promoting the trips offered by the supplier and acting as a facilitator in obtaining a booking agreement between the customer and the supplier. In doing so, we are always at your disposal with our experience and service.

The Clipper is 76 meters long and has 31 sails with a total surface of 2200 square meters. The ship has an authentic squared rig, a sharp clipper bow and sails as a passenger ship under the Dutch flag. The Clipper has 14 luxury cabins, a spacious dining room (the longroom) for dinners and presentations and an outdoor bar. The Clipper Stad Amsterdam can be booked privately for luxury cruises and corporate events. In addition, you can stay on board for a luxurious cruise or an adventurous sailing trip.

WELCOME ABOARD

The captain and his 30 crew members would like to welcome you

ON DECK

On the upper deck you can imagine yourself on a historic clipper from the nineteenth century. The beautiful bridge, the three enormous masts, the lines on deck, the beautifully maintained teak woodwork, the crew that lifts the sails the way it did in the nineteenth century: everything breathes the atmosphere of the rugged, nineteenth-century seafaring. At the same time, the passenger sailing ship Stad Amsterdam also has the luxury of the 21st century in store for you.

While the crew keeps the ship on course, our hospitality crew serves delicious drinks and snacks from the bar on deck, prepared by our chef in his galley.

THE LONGROOM

The longroom has a spacious bar and a small library. There is room for 55 people during a served lunch or dinner. The warm woodwork, the many copper and the round staircase with ornate bars are reminiscent of the look of the legendary Cutty Sark. Of course, all modern audio-visual means, for presentations and the like, are available.

THE CABINS

The 14 guest cabins are located on the inner deck and all have a porthole. Each cabin has a telephone (with satellite connection) and air conditioning. They are equipped as standard for two people, but can easily be adapted for a stay with three or four people.

All cabins are equipped with a private bathroom with sink, shower and toilet. The finish with lots of wood and copper work gives the cabins a classic look. All cabins are similar in layout and have an area of ​​about 11 m².