We 'Splash' down on White Beach

The captain and crew of Seadream I enjoy a day at the beach with passengers.

JOST VAN DYKE, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS – The final day of my Caribbean voyage aboard the luxury yacht Seadream 1 was the best.

The sleek yacht anchored in pretty White Bay – one of the tiniest of British Virgin Islands where only a few hundred people live – and all passengers were delivered by zodiac to the island’s snow white beach for a barbeque and a “Cavier and Champagne Splash.”

The “Splash” has become a tradition on Seadream’s Caribbean voyages and judging by all the smiles, it’s a hit.

Copious amounts of champagne and Russian caviar are consumed under a cloudless sky before passengers return to the ship and are treated a few hours later to a farewell dinner featuring eight courses.

While on Jost van Dyke – no relation to Dick – we explored some of the many bars that line the beach and came across one called Foxy’s, whose owner, Foxy Collwell, has become a local legend because people can’t stump him when it comes to knowing the song lyrics.

“Name the song, any song – Foxy knows the words,” Seadream I’s activity director Jeff tells us and sure enough, Foxy belts out the words to every song we toss his way.

Seadream sure knows how to save the best for last.

Tomorrow, we’ll be back in San Juan and our adventure will be over.

What I liked about this voyage:

- The all-inclusive luxury – didn’t pay for anything onboard;

- The food – every meal, including breakfast was first rate;

- The service – well done and no tipping allowed;

- The onboard spa – these therapists are among the best I’ve ever experienced;

- The sports marina at the back of the yacht each day which featured seadoos and snorkeling;

- The 24-hour in room dining

- The accommodation – all cabins were excellent.

Overall, I give the Seadream experience an “A+” rating.

Job well done – especially the last day!

Yacht club welcomes castaways

Bitter End Yacht Club features a great sailing school.

VIRGIN GORDA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS – Our day on this British Virgin Island did not start out as planned.

Inclement weather prevented the captain of our Seadream I yacht from anchoring on Virgin Gorda’s South Sound, where we were supposed to visit the Baths – giant boulders spit out of a volcano billions of years ago that have been shaped into dramatic forms by the sea and surf along the shoreline.

Instead, we anchored off the island’s splendid North Sound and spent the day frolicking in the gentle surf off the Bitter End Yacht Club.

The yacht club welcomes millionaire sailors from around the world who willing fork over $1,000 a night to stay in chic villas perched on hillsides overlooking a North Sound filled with expansive sailing boats and lots of history.

It was in the North Sound where real life pirates of the Caribbean like Blackbeard, Bluebeard and Sir Francis Drake hid out in secluded coves and launched attacks against ships headed back to Europe with New World riches.

Christopher Columbus first sighted the string this chain of islands on his second voyage to the New World in 1493. He called them Virgin Islands in honour of the 11,000 virgin followers of St. Ursula who was martyred in the 4th century.

Although we started the day out on a sour note, the Bitter End was a sweet surprise.

Island offers visitors a cold shoulder

Snooty St. Barts is more Paris than Caribbean.

ST. BARTS, FRENCH WEST INDIES – Sailed into snooty Gustavia, the capital of St Barts, today and couldn’t wait to get back on board the Seadream I.

From the deck of my sleek Seadream I yacht, the Caribbean capital held much promise - I was impressed with the cotton candy coloured homes that cling to the side of the steep volcanic hills Gustavia is built around.

However, once ashore, I was less impressed.

Tourists appear to be an irritant to the residents of this South of France wannabe, whose U-shaped harbour is filled with million-dollar yachts owned by top French politicians, actors and sports stars.

The real estate in St. Barts ranks among the highest in the world and the corner store here is Louis Vuitton.

The euro is the currency in St. Barts and although most visitors arriving on cruise ships carry U.S. dollars, shopkeepers here refuse to accept the Greenback.

The narrow streets of this French West Indies outpost are always clogged with odd-looking cars and littered with dog poo – maybe that’s why the residents’ noses are always turned up.

St. Barts is the coldest place in the Caribbean – in terms of offering visitors a warm welcome and I cut my visit short.

Back on board the Seadream I, a loud cheer goes up when cruise director Jeff announces our next port of call will be the British Virgin Island town of Virgin Gorda – seems I’m not the only one happy to be leaving St. Barts.

San Juan, P.R. a real tourist gem

The Hotel El Convento is a San Juan gem.

DATELINE: SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – I arrived in this U.S. outpost yesterday and prior to boarding my Seadream yacht for a week-long cruise in the Caribbean Sea, I decided to tour the city’s Old Town.

Wow! This is Quebec City on steroids.

Being the second oldest city in the Americas, San Juan has plenty to offer history buffs like myself – lots of old forts and narrow streets crammed with colourful buildings; some dating back to the city’s very beginning in the late 1400s.

One of the most delightful places I discovered on my walking tour was the Hotel El Convento, a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property hidden away on Cristo Street across from the stately San Juan Cathedral. I wish I had known about this property before booking a room at one of the city’s newer, overpriced and undervalued hotels (no names please) near the airport.

The chic hotel started out as a convent back in 1651 and was saved from the wrecker’s ball in the 1960s, when it was turned into the delightful hotel property it is today. Go to www.elconvento.com to learn more about this treasure.

There’s many surprises awaiting you on the old streets of San Juan – San Francisco and Cristo were my favourite streets and very close to the city’s landmark old fort which offers visitors spectacular sea and city views.

San Juan is the Rodney Dangerfield of cities – it gets very little respect – but after spending a morning walking around this delight, I know I want to spend more time here.