St. Bart's / St. Kitts / Nevis     Turks & Caicos

IYRS      Maine     Tall Ships Festival    Chesapeake

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Seven-Day, Six Night Itinerary: March 6 - 12, 2008 / April 27 - May 3, 2008

Day 1:  Arriving in St. Martin, it is but a short drive along the calm lagoon of Simpson Bay to Marigot. Near the crystal clear waters of Marigot Bay, you’ll have time to explore this charming blend of the Mediterranean and the Caribbean that is the hallmark of this French colony. Besides great shopping—the entire island is duty free—you can enjoy wonderful dining along the bistro-lined wharfs at Port Royale, just steps away, or take a short expedition to the beachfront scene at Grand Case, the gastronomic center of St. Martin.

s

Day 2:  Breakfast will be served while we sail to Tentamare, where

depending on the weather (Captain’s choice) we will stop for snorkeling

and lunch or continue onto St. Bart’s. Once clear of Tentamare - we’ll

set sail for a glorious reach across the Caribbean Sea - the green peaks off of Morne du Vitet just visible on the horizon. By late afternoon we’ll be furling sails as we glide into the protected harbor of Gustavia, the

principle town on St. Bart’s. After checking into St. Bart’s we’ll immediately head ashore to take in the sights and sounds of this sophisticated French port, where shopping and food are the best in the Caribbean.

Day 3:  Awakening amongst the mega yachts off Gustavia, savor breakfast at anchor off Corossal Beach. Today you may sail to the anchorage at Columbier Bay, where you can spend the day enjoying the isolated beach accessible only by boat. Or you may choose to stay ashore for the day in Gustavia. Arrangements can be made for sport fishing, diving excursions or a private tour of the island. Be sure to check out the unique boutiques that St. Bart’s is famous for—don’t forget your wallet! By early evening Arabella will be dropping her sails as we return to Gustavia. This evening we will enjoy a wonderful dinner in a building that was built in Bali, called Eddie’s.

Day 4:  Sunday morning starts out with a short sail over to St. Eustatius, or Stacia.  Nicknamed “The Golden Rock” as a tribute to its duty free status during the late 1700’s, it was a trading post for merchants trying to avoid the red tape and taxes imposed by the British in both the American colonies and England. This small, tranquil island boasts natural treasures such as lush botanical gardens and ancient, dormant volcanoes. Duty free prices and few tourists mean great values on imported goods. Diving is exceptional thanks to crystal clear water and the protection of marine park reef preservation efforts.  Dinner will be on board this evening with your shipmates.

Day 5:  Queen of the Caribbean, Nevis takes you back in time when stress was just a word, not a way of life. With natural vegetation that is unparallel, green and serene, Nevis is truly one of the remaining unspoiled places. From the top of the 3,232 ft. Nevis Peak to the depths of the clear waters offshore, there is a world of flora and fauna to be explored. In the mountains, the comical green vervet monkeys chatter and scamper. Stroll around and see the architecture of eras gone by: churches, windmills and refurbished Great Houses. There is no shortage of exciting adventures awaiting you in Nevis. Dinner is served under a canopy of stars to the sound of rolling waves as we visit the world famous Sunshine’s for a night of BBQ, dancing beachside to Caribbean Reggae.

 Day 6:  The day begins at sunrise as we leisurely sail

 the short distance to our next tropical paradise St.

 Christopher. St. Kitts remains uncrowded and

 unspoiled. The atmosphere here is luxuriant and

 seductive. Nature lovers will thrill at the intoxicating

 natural beauty of its tropical rain forest areas, lava

  formations and seaside lagoons. Visit Brimstone Hill

  National Park one of the best preserved historical

  fortifications in the Americas or ride the St. Kitts' scenic railway called “The Sugar Train”. Quaint shopping areas and beautiful Colonial architecture give this corner of paradise a charm all her own.

Day 7:  After a farewell Captain’s Brunch aboard, you bid farewell to the sparkling waters and lush islands and passengers disembark in St. Kitts, enjoying the final moments and memories of their cruise.

Liat and WinAir both fly in and out of St. Kitt’s and St. Martin, so inter-island flights are available for booking. You may also fly directly out of St. Kitts and Nevis to the US.

www.liatairline.com Phone: 869-469-5238

www.fly-winair.com Phone: 869-469-5302

St. Bart's, St. Kitts and Nevis (long itinerary) 

Eight-Day, Seven-Night Itinerary:  February 7 - 14, 2008 ONLY

Day 1:  Arriving in St. Martin, it is but a short drive along the calm lagoon of Simpson Bay to Marigot. Near the crystal clear waters of Marigot Bay, you’ll have time to explore this charming blend of the Mediterranean and the Caribbean that is the hallmark of this French colony. Besides great shopping—the entire island is duty free—you can enjoy wonderful dining along the bistro-lined wharfs at Port Royale, just steps away, or take a short expedition to the beachfront scene at Grand Case, the gastronomic center of St. Martin.

Day 2:  After breakfast and once sails are hoisted, we’re off on a sparkling broad reach towards the beckoning shores of Anguilla. A member of the British Commonwealth, Anguilla is known for its exquisite hospitality and stunning beaches rated #1 worldwide.  Clearing into Road Bay, we’ll drop anchor at Sandy Ground, a charming Caribbean outpost of Mother England. Once ashore, trips to the day spas at Cuisin Art Resort or Malliouhana can be easily arranged, or a tour of the islands’ signature beaches with a stop at the Valley to purchase Anguilla crafts. At Sandy Ground you can tour the Pyrat Rum Factory fed by natural springs behind Salt Pond. This evening we’ll eat at the Barrel Stay, perhaps joining our shipmates for some live music and post-dinner entertainment.

Day 3:  Breakfast will be served while we shift our anchorage to nearby Scrub Island or Tentamare, where we’ll stop for snorkeling and lunch. Once clear of Windward Point and Scrub Island, we’ll set sail for a glorious reach across the sparkling Caribbean Sea—southward bound for St. Bart’s—the green peaks off of Morne du Vitet just visible on the horizon. By late afternoon we’ll be furling sails as we glide into the protected harbor of Gustavia, the principle town on St. Bart’s. After clearing customs we’ll immediately head ashore to take in the sights and sounds of this sophisticated French port, where shopping and food are the best in the Caribbean.

Day 4:  Awakening amongst the mega yachts off Gustavia, savor breakfast at anchor off Corossal Beach. Today we’ll sail to the anchorage at Columbier Bay, where you can spend the day enjoying the isolated beach accessible only by boat. Ashore for the day in Gustavia arrangements can be made for sportfishing, diving excursions or a private tour of the island. Be sure to check out the unique boutiques that St. Bart’s is famous for—don’t forget your wallet! By early evening Arabella will be dropping her sails as we return to Gustavia. This evening we will enjoy a wonderful dinner in a building that was built in Bali, called Eddie’s.

Day 5:  Sunday morning starts out with a short sail over to St. Eustatius, or Stacia.  Nicknamed “The Golden Rock” as a tribute to its duty free status during the late 1700’s, it was a trading post for merchants trying to avoid the red tape and taxes imposed by the British in both the American colonies and England. This small, tranquil island boasts natural treasures such as lush botanical gardens and ancient, dormant volcanoes. Duty free prices and few tourists mean great values on imported goods. Diving is exceptional thanks to crystal clear water and the protection of marine park reef preservation efforts.  Dine at a seaside bistro overlooking the famous harbor and Arabella.

Day 6:  Queen of the Caribbean, Nevis takes you back in time when stress was just a word, not a way of life. With natural vegetation that is unparallel, green and serene, Nevis is truly one of the remaining unspoiled places. From the top of the 3,232 ft. Nevis Peak to the depths of the clear waters offshore, there is a world of flora and fauna to be explored. In the mountains, the comical green vervet monkeys chatter and scamper. Stroll around and see the architecture of eras gone by: churches, windmills and refurbished Great Houses. There is no shortage of exciting adventures awaiting you in Nevis. Dinner is served under a canopy of stars to the sound of rolling waves as we visit the world famous Sunshine’s for a night of BBQ, dancing beachside to Caribbean Reggae.

  Day 7:  The day begins at sunrise as  

  we leisurely sail the short distance to

  our next tropical paradise St.

  Christopher. St. Kitts remains

  uncrowded and unspoiled. The

  atmosphere here is luxuriant and

  seductive. Nature lovers will thrill at the intoxicating natural beauty of its tropical rain forest areas, lava formations and seaside lagoons. Visit Brimstone Hill National Park one of the best preserved historical fortifications in the Americas. Quaint shopping areas and beautiful Colonial architecture give this corner of paradise a charm all her own. 

Day 8:  After a farewell Captain’s Brunch, passengers disembark in St. Kitts, enjoying  the final moments and memories of their cruise.

Liat and WinAir both fly in and out of St. Kitts and St. Martin, so inter-island flights are available for booking. You may also fly directly out of St. Kitts and Nevis to the US.

www.liatairline.com Phone: 869-469-5238

www.fly-winair.com Phone: 869-469-5302

~Turks and Caicos ~

May 10 - 16, 2008

Day 1: Grand Turk

A short two hour flight from Fort Lauderdale delivers you to an island retreat undiscovered by the masses. Blessed with miles of unspoiled white sand beaches, legendary turquoise waters and a colorful history, Grand Turk is truly one of the Caribbean’s secret gems.

Rated among the top 10 dive destinations in the World, Grand Turk is surrounded by spectacular virgin reefs, blue holes, wall “dives” and authentic sailing ship wrecks, like the "Molasses Reef Wreck" (1513), the oldest known European shipwreck in the New World.

Grand Turk exudes an old world Caribbean charm with its Bermuda-style British colonial architecture mingled amidst the colorful, Caribbean-style local dwellings. Take a stroll along Front Street and sample a world famous conch fritter as you browse the many enchanting shops exhibiting local handicrafts.

You are welcome to board Arabella any time after four at the Town Dock. After cocktails and hors d’oeuvres onboard, you are invited to sample the nightlife of downtown Cockburn Town and savor a night of fine dining, enjoying the feast of extraordinary fresh local seafood. Arabella will remain at anchor in Grand Turk overnight to afford you plenty of time to take in all the sites.

Day 2: Salt Cay

After an exhilarating morning sail, we’ll set anchor just yards away from a 7000 foot vertical coral wall. World-ranked in the “best dive” categories, Salt Cay boasts honors as Top Dive Destination, Healthiest Marine Life and Top Underwater Photography Destination.

If diving is not your particular passion, consider spending the morning exploring the archaeological remains of the once thriving whaling industry or visit the living museum world heritage site of the ancient Bermudian “salt-rakers” from which Salt Cay draws its name. As early as 1645, windmills and donkeys were used to power water pumps to flood land-locked “flats” or “salt ponds.” Once the seawater evaporated, the salt was harvested.

Or you can always just relax on the secluded white sand beach and take a dip in the enticing aquamarine sea.

After lunch we’ll set sail for new horizons in an exciting downwind run, dropping anchor in a quiet cove in South Caicos. Here you can spend the evening exploring the quaint fishing village of Cockburn Harbor and feast on succulent cracked conch or lobster fresh from the surrounding waters.

Day 3: Middle Caicos

Setting our course north, we get underway at first light destined for the largest islands of the Caicos Island chain, known for their lush vegetation and mysterious natural coral caves.

Enjoy a day of bone fishing in the shallow clear waters or the calm backwaters between and to the south of the islands. Snorkel along the colorful exotic reefs in the Gin clear water. Or discover a hidden beach where your footprints will be the only ones seen for miles. 

Explore ancient Lucayan Indian sites that date back to the early 1400’s. Theorists believe that these islands were once the epicenter for many ancient Indian tribes that pread throughout the Caribbean and the “New World.”  

These pristine islands remain untouched and totally ignored by all but a handful of friendly native. Arabella guests have the privilege of being one of the very few able to experience this truly unspoiled paradise as nature created it.

Dinner will be BBQ onboard, our own “catch of the day” followed by a quiet evening stargazing under a canopy of glittered sky.  

Day 4: Caicos Cays

A magnificent sail downwind begins our day. It’s just a few short miles to our next “port of call,” a collection of small island jewels known simply as the “Cays". Miles of nature trails, alluring turquoise waters filled with an abundance of exotic marine life, and stretches of legendary white sand beaches make these islands popular with “day-trippers” from Providenciales and wealthy resort owners alike.

Local lore tells us that pirates used these isolated cays as refuge and hideouts to lie in wait to ambush passing merchant ships. Today they are a sanctuary for ospreys and iguanas, and millionaires.

Once you’ve had your fill of shell and sand dollar beachcombing along the white powder shores, we’ll shift anchorage. After evening cocktails, we’ll move nearby to the bustling and popular port of Providenciales to experience some of the finest in Caribbean island dining and nightlife.

Day 5: Providenciales

Nicknamed “Provo” (Don’t hurt your tongue, mon!), this island is the tourist and yachting center of the Turks and Caicos.

Our most “cosmopolitan” stop, in the Caribbean island sense, Provo offers many activities and excursions. Go for a horse-back riding adventure in the morning and bask on the 12 mile expanse of sugar sand beaches in the afternoon, re-hydrating in the hypnotizing signature turquoise waters. Rent a jet ski, take a diving class, or swim with the dolphins….

Provo offers excellent restaurants, shopping, golf and even a casino; yet the crowds remain small and exclusive, providing you the perfect anchorage to enjoy with gusto before the end of your extraordinary cruise aboard the Arabella.

Day 6: Mystery Day!

To Be Announced

Day 7: Turtle Cove Marina

Passengers disembark in the morning to catch flights from Providenciales.