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6www.noble-caledonia.co.ukDay 1 London to Barbados. Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive and transfer to the MS Hebridean Sky in Bridgetown. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we moor overnight.Day 2 Bequia, Grenadines. Enjoy a leisurely morning at sea before arriving in Bequia over lunch. We have the afternoon on this delightful Grenadine Island which is totally unspoilt and a place of pure escapism with a charming old-world atmosphere. Only seven miles by two, it is a long way from the well beaten tourist track, a serene and peaceful island with some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. We will use the Zodiacs to land at Port Elizabeth where there will be some time to explore independently or wander to a nearby beach. Those feeling active may wish to make their way to Fort Hamilton offering views over the bay.Day 3 Fort de France, Martinique. Formerly Fort Royal, Fort de France is today the administrative capital and our base for a day in Martinique. This morning we will head to the Balata Botanical Gardens on the outskirts of the city and during our guided walk will see some of the 3000 varieties of plants and flowers. You may also take a walk across the suspension footbridge offering wonderful views over the gardens and towards the Pitons of Carbet. Return to the ship for lunch and either spend the afternoon at leisure or join a tour to learn about the island%u2019s important industries. The tour will begin at L%u2019Habitation Belfort, a banana plantation where from aboard an open tram we learn about the growing processes from irrigation to harvest of this important export crop. We will continue to the Clement Plantation House which is surrounded by fragrant sugarcane fields and beautiful gardens and is also home to a world famous distillery. After exploring the colonial house we can wander in the 16 acre grounds of tranquil ponds, tropical orchards and many varieties of plants. We end at the distillery where, since 1887, Clement Rum has been made and where we will learn about the traditional techniques and enjoy a tasting. Day 4 Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe. Known as the %u2018papillon%u2019 due to the butterfly shape of the two main islands, Guadeloupe offers a taste of France The Itinerarywithin the Caribbean. From our berth in Pointe-a-Pitre we will head to mountainous Basse-Terre which is home to the Guadeloupe National Park covering 17,000 hectares of tropical forest. A short walk will take us to the Crayfish Waterfall located in a charming setting in the forest. We continue to the Valombreuse Botanical Gardens, a six hectare site with the largest collection of tropical flowers in Guadeloupe where we will find orchids, palm groves, hoyas, anthuriums and strelitzia also known as the %u201cbird of paradise%u201d due to its unique shape. Return to the ship for lunch and an afternoon at leisure to explore Pointe-a-Pitre independently with its colonial architecture and vibrant market.Day 5 Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius. In the 18th century the port of Oranjestad was a major player in the trade between Europe and the new world. Today the island of Sint Eustatius maintains a low key existence and has avoided the modernisation and development of its neighbours. We will explore the small town including the 17th century fort and the museum with information on slavery, colonial relics and historical artefacts. Meanwhile, those feeling active may wish to take the strenuous hike to %u2018The Quill%u2019, the 600 metre hill that dominates the landscape. This afternoon is at leisure for further independent exploration or maybe to relax on a nearby beach.Day 6 Falmouth Harbour, Antigua. We will anchor this morning in picturesque Falmouth Harbour, located on the south coast of the island, and use our Zodiacs to land. We will enjoy the views from Shirley Heights before heading to Nelson%u2019s Dockyard, beautifully located in the English Harbour. Here we will see the impressive collection of restored historic buildings which were occupied by the British Navy from 1707 till 1899. Return to the ship for lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure on board or maybe visit one of the local beaches. Day 7 Little Bay, Montserrat. Ask any Caribbean connoisseur about their favourite places and Montserrat will always be high on the list. After a relaxing morning at sea we will arrive at our anchorage at Little Bay over lunch. During our afternoon tour we will learn about the indigenous flora Island Hopping in the Caribbean aboard the MS Hebridean Sky 22nd January to 2nd February 2027caribbean island odysseyWhen it comes to pure escapism there are few places in the world more fitting than the Caribbean, particularly during the UK%u2019s winter months. Escape the cold at home, join the all-suite MS Hebridean Sky in Barbados and set sail on our island hopping voyage through sub-tropical waters. Each island we visit has its own culture and this colourful mix of island personalities, varied terrain and lifestyles makes for a marvellous winter break. We will explore historical sites and forts of the Spanish, Dutch and British colonial periods combined with the pretty ports, pastel painted towns, wonderful beaches and the flora and fauna of the region. In addition to our included excursions, we have allowed time for individual exploration of the islands and opportunities to relax on some beautiful beaches and swim in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.With the MS Hebridean Sky as our base and just over 100 fellow travellers on board, we can show you a very different world to that inhabited by the mega-cruise ships. By and large we will head for the smaller, less visited islands including Bequia, Sint Eustatius and Montserrat, and have the advantage of being able to berth or anchor off the more remote islands, putting our Zodiacs to good use to land on pristine beaches and explore otherwise unreachable places. This is in direct contrast to the cruise juggernauts in the region which spend an age disembarking their passengers and can only visit a limited number of ports which can accommodate their size. There really is a world of difference between the two and on occasions when our paths cross with one of these gigantic vessels, we appreciate the benefits of being aboard a smaller vessel.AntiguaMontserratBequiaBarbadosSt LuciaDominicaGuadeloupeLEEWARD ISLANDSWINDWARD ISLANDSCARIBBEAN SEAMartiniqueSint EustatiusGrenadines