7 Night The Caribbean Under Sail Aboard Le Ponant Cruise from Fort de France

Located on the western coast of Martinique, Fort-de-France will amaze you by the splendour of its bay, a magnificent cut-out in the coastline, considered as one of the most beautiful in the world. At the harbour mouth on its strip of land, Fort Saint-Louis overlooks the capital city of Martinique. If you climb up to it, you can see some breath-taking views. Saint Louis Cathedral and the Schoelcher Library bear witness to a secular history, intimately linked to the island's story. Why not try some fresh coconut at the colourful Grand Marche. Two really pleasant places you can take a breather in are the Garden of Balata and the Aime Cesaire Park right in the heart of the city.

In the heart of the Caribbean, Bequia is the second largest of 32 islands that make up the country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. You will love the lively and picturesque atmosphere of Port Elizabeth, the island's main town. From the port, a promenade lined with beautiful traditional houses, landscaped gardens, and small restaurants runs along the shoreline. It leads to Princess Margaret Beach, a wild beach where Princess Margaret herself has stayed and which seems to emerge directly from the tropical forest. From rainforest to lush meadows and long stretches of sand, Bequia will offer you a natural setting that is conducive to lovely walks and to spending time on the beach.

West of Carriacou, the northernmost island in the state of Grenada, is Sandy Island, a spit of sand set in the bewitching Caribbean waters. Known for its powdery white sand and small lagoon with crystal-clear waters, this wild islet, dotted with coconut trees, offers a natural setting for swimming and snorkeling. The abundant and colorful marine life promises memorable and thrilling encounters. Listed as a marine protected area, the site is also a hunting ground for numerous pelicans. Enjoy a fascinating show as they circle above the water before diving suddenly to catch their prey.

Among the string of paradisiac islands with their sandy beaches that form the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines archipelago, Mayreau is the smallest. Its peaceful and idyllic atmosphere, far from the madding crowd, invites you to relax. On shore, enjoy a shaded and fully equipped beach from which to go snorkelling if you'd like to observe the colourful fish around the coral sitting at the foot of the rocks that stretch across the bay.

Deserted bays, long stretches of golden sand, turquoise waters, and endless coral reefs - Union Island is without a doubt one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. Overlooked by soaring peaks, this strange little strip of land owes its nickname of "the Tahiti of the West Indies" to its volcanic silhouette and its large swathes of greenery. When you call here, you will discover what the locals consider to be "the best-kept secret in the Grenadines" - Chatham Bay. Surrounded by hills and valleys carpeted in tropical rainforest, sheltering many sea turtles, this delightful half-moon of sand is, each day, the setting for the tireless ballet of the numerous pelicans who inhabit the island.

Scattered between St. Vincent and Grenada, the Tobago Cays comprises five little islands: Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Baradal, Petit Tabac, and Jamesby. This rosary of uninhabited cays in the southern West Indies is a marine park whose turquoise lagoons provide a home and safe haven for some outstanding marine fauna, including peaceful green turtles. Girded and united by a coral reef, these secluded islands are a peaceful paradise for divers, swimmers, and snorkellers.

Linked to St. Lucia by a sand causeway, Pigeon Island has been a designated national park since 1979. On this wild and pristine land, you will be inspired to take pleasant walks amid the tropical vegetation and through a magnificent tree-filled garden. You will also be irresistibly drawn to the two pretty little sandy beaches nestling on the southern side and bathed by crystal-clear waters. While snorkelling, be sure to explore the underwater world that is teeming with life, along the rocks lining this peninsula's coast. You will thoroughly enjoy the calm and beauty of this place, which is really conducive to simply relaxing.

You will sail off the coast of the Pitons in Soufriere Bay. The Pitons are two volcanic spires, covered in tropical rainforest, rising side by side from the sea - they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area's volcanic complex includes a geothermal field with sulfurous fumaroles and hot springs. In the marine area, coral reefs are home to very diverse fauna, including hawksbill sea turtles, pilot whales, and whale sharks, these harmless gentle giants that you will perhaps be lucky enough to observe by diving in the sea behind the ship.

Located on the western coast of Martinique, Fort-de-France will amaze you by the splendour of its bay, a magnificent cut-out in the coastline, considered as one of the most beautiful in the world. At the harbour mouth on its strip of land, Fort Saint-Louis overlooks the capital city of Martinique. If you climb up to it, you can see some breath-taking views. Saint Louis Cathedral and the Schoelcher Library bear witness to a secular history, intimately linked to the island's story. Why not try some fresh coconut at the colourful Grand Marche. Two really pleasant places you can take a breather in are the Garden of Balata and the Aime Cesaire Park right in the heart of the city.