Seadream drops anchor in St. John

St. Johon is dotted with quaint coves and pristine beaches like this.

ST. JOHN, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – After a night of fine wine, French-style cuisine, late-night dancing under the stars on the top deck aboard Seadream 1, we made landfall today on this tiny Caribbean treasure that was formed by a volcano billions of years ago.

The former slave island that was discovered by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New World in 1493 is dominated by the Virgin Islands National Park, which occupies three-quarters of this lush island paradise.

I took a two-hour cab ride – cost $25 – around the island and the cabbie Earl was a fountain of information. He introduced me to the island’s delicate eco system, dominated by medicinal plants and rare species. Earl also took me to some of the island’s pristine beaches tucked away in the many coves that can be found in the national park.

The likeable Earl jokingly told me that Columbus called these the Virgin Islands because “the beautiful native women that were here to greet him refused to give him a date.”

Everyone on this island is just like Earl –friendly and warm to strangers.

St. John, the neighbour to the much better known St. Thomas, which is just a short ferry ride away, is a place where Hollywood types like Alan Alda, Harrison Ford and Mel Brooks like to hang out.

I’ll be writing much more about St. John at www.travelife.ca very soon so stay tuned.

Next stop on my Seadream 1 yachting adventure: St. Barths.

Cruise a "Seadream" come true

Seadream ships are in a class by themselves - first class all the way!

DATELINE: SOMEWHERE IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA – I don’t want you to be jealous, but for the next six days I’m going to be sailing on the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea in “my” yacht and visiting a bunch of “Virgins.”

I’ve told you before – mine is a dirty job but someone has to do it.

“My” yacht is the Seadream 1, one of two intimate sailing craft operated by the luxury cruise company of the same name that sails out of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Seadream makes you feel you’re the only one aboard its sleek yacht with a service level few others in the industry can match. The pampering I’ve been getting from staff makes me feel this really is “my” private yacht and I’ve invited 102 friends to come along for the ride.

The “Virgins” I spoke about earlier are the U.S. and British Virgin Islands I’ll be visiting on this Caribbean cruise, which started out in San Juan.

Seadream 1 and her sister ship Seadream II just returned from their summer runs in Europe and the staff tells us they’re glad to be back in the warm waters.

The food aboard the Seadream 1 is Michelin star worthy and the spa on this ship, featuring Thai massage therapists, would not look out of place in a 5-star Asian resort.

I’ll be reporting back daily on what’s happening aboard “my” yacht – that is if the “Virgins” don’t take me hostage.