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Philipsburg, St. Maarten to Philipsburg, St. Maarten

Dive, dine, and delight in iconic Caribbean island destinations during a far-ranging Caribbean loop that conveniently begins and ends in Philipsburg on St. Maarten. Cruise a kayak through sapphire waters near Little Bay, Monserrat, and peer at shadowy fruit bats suspended throughout coastal caves. Drift and spin in a floating tube on a rainforest stream outside Roseau on Dominica prior to sipping rum cocktails mixed with tangy tropical juices. Feast on green bananas and salt cod -- known as green figs and saltfish among locals -- during a delicious walking food tour of Castries' little-known gastronomic havens on St. Lucia. Step aboard a private speedboat chartered for hours of uninterrupted snorkeling amid bright blue tang, curious parrot fish, and cute spotted trunk fish offshore from Anguilla's most exclusive and remote coastlines. Sample local conch fritters paired with chilled lager in Windstar's lively VIP section at Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke.

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Day 1: Philipsburg, St. Maarten

Pastel-colored buildings and shops filled with tempting souvenirs herald your arrival to bustling Philipsburg. Situated near the harbor on the Dutch side of St. Maarten, Philipsburg owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus in 1493. Today, celebrated Front Street is home to a number of local Creole restaurants as well as jewelry stores, stylish boutiques, and lively casinos for visitors seeking an upbeat island experience.

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Day 2: Basseterre

With Georgian architecture situated against an irresistible backdrop of emerald green hills, Basseterre is one of the loveliest of the Caribbean’s small capitals. Beyond town, more than a quarter of St. Kitts has been set aside as Brimstone Hill Fortress national Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Day 3: Roseau

Get ready for a full day with plenty to do. Snorkel alongside brilliant parrot fish in the bubbly waters of Champagne Beach. Take a break to enjoy more than 150 species of plants and brilliant red-necked Jaco parrots at the botanical gardens. If you’re up for an optional hike, don’t miss Boiling Lake and the Valley of Desolation at Dominica’s Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Day 4: Castries

The capital and largest city of St. Lucia is a bustling port where shoppers flock. Most of the city’s historic buildings were destroyed in major fires between 1785 and 1948 but you’ll see the beautiful, scenic backdrop of Morne Fortune (elev. 2,795 ft.) and the bustling harbor. Visit the Castries Market for handicrafts, fruits and vegetables, see the murals painted by a local artist and housed in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and check out one of the many restaurants or Derek Walcott Square.

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Day 5: Anse Mitan

Martinique offers a delightful and distinctive blend of French and Caribbean influences, with a bounty of historical sites, museums and a wide array of excellent shopping. Be sure to take a tour of the beautiful Jardin de Balata Botanical Gardens with exotic plants from around the world and a treetop walkway affording mountain views.

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Day 6: Les Saintes

This is the Caribbean as you’ve always imagined it, with yacht-filled harbors set against volcanic mountains and endless stretches of palm-fringed beach. The underwater world here attracted the likes of Jacques Cousteau, but even novice snorkelers will enjoy exploring these impossibly blue waters.

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Day 7: Charlestown

This capital of Nevis with its narrow streets and brightly painted Victorian and Georgian stone buildings is full of colonial history. Alexander Hamilton lived here as a child and you can see the ruins of the Hamilton Estate. Lovely Pinney’s Beach is nearby and a group of volunteers work at night tagging sea turtles here and on the other beautiful beaches. Walk the main street and check out the Museum of Nevis History, St. Thomas Lowland Church and the Nevisian Heritage Village to name a few of the historic sites here.

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Day 8: Virgin Gorda / Prickly Pear, British Virgin Islands

The beautiful Bank Barrier coral reef wavers just beneath you as your ship makes the break to the bird sanctuary of Prickly Pear Island, so named because it is dotted with prickly pear cacti. Although uninhabited, it does have a beach bar and water sports facilities. Not far away lies the curious assembly of house-sized boulders called “The Baths,” which form huge underground pools and caverns.

Please note: only guests with shore excursions booked through Windstar can be tendered to Gun Creek.

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Day 9: Jost Van Dyke, Great Harbour

For an island comprised of a mere eight square miles, it’s amazing how much there is to do on Jost Van Dyke. Visit the national park on nearby Diamond Cay, snorkel among swaying sponges and angelfish at Sandy Spit, or pilot your own boat around Sir Francis Drake Waterway. After all that, you’ll be ready for an evening drink on the beach — where you can admire your Windstar ship aglow in the harbor.

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Day 10: Gustavia

Affectionately known as St. Barts, the Caribbean’s most chic island adds a French flair to Riviera-like beaches and duty-free boutiques. Walk past gingerbread cottages in search of celebrities, shop for designer fashions, or sip the island’s signature ti punch as kite surfers fly by.

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Day 11: Philipsburg, St. Maarten

Pastel-colored buildings and shops filled with tempting souvenirs herald your arrival to bustling Philipsburg. Situated near the harbor on the Dutch side of St. Maarten, Philipsburg owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus in 1493. Today, celebrated Front Street is home to a number of local Creole restaurants as well as jewelry stores, stylish boutiques, and lively casinos for visitors seeking an upbeat island experience.

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Day 12: St. John's

St. John’s is a city of Old World charm and elegance which lingers in the varied architecture of Georgian, Victorian, Vernacular, Romantic and International flavors. The picturesque seafront where tiny, colorful boats are moored, the cheerful wooden buildings carefully refurbished to retain their original features, the vibrant Market Street offering vegetables, fruit and fish and the duty-free Heritage Quay shopping area provide a delightful atmosphere to captivate you. Sites to see include St. John’s Cathedral with its white Baroque towers, the Botanical Garden, St. John’s Antigua Lighthouse, and Fort James.

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Day 13: Road Bay

With its protected shoreline, calm surf, spectacular coral reefs and sugar-soft beaches, Road Bay has become a destination for boaters, with its delightful restaurants, bars, and shops. Anguilla has some of the most beautiful sunsets and delicious rum punch to be found in the Caribbean. It is also home to Cuban tree frogs, red-footed tortoise, green iguanas and five species of bats. Worth checking out is Wallblake House, a heritage plantation house and museum said to be the oldest building on the island and located nearby.

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Day 14: Virgin Gorda / Prickly Pear, British Virgin Islands

The beautiful Bank Barrier coral reef wavers just beneath you as your ship makes the break to the bird sanctuary of Prickly Pear Island, so named because it is dotted with prickly pear cacti. Although uninhabited, it does have a beach bar and water sports facilities. Not far away lies the curious assembly of house-sized boulders called “The Baths,” which form huge underground pools and caverns.

Please note: only guests with shore excursions booked through Windstar can be tendered to Gun Creek.

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Day 14: Soper's Hole

Arrive at the boardwalk of Pusser’s Landing and mingle with other yachtsmen in the utterly charming marina at Soper’s Hole. Find a deserted stretch of beach to kick back and ponder this tiny port’s rich heritage of romance, pirates, and adventure. An evening departure features a once-in-a-lifetime romantic sunset Sail Away.

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Day 15: Soper's Hole

Arrive at the boardwalk of Pusser’s Landing and mingle with other yachtsmen in the utterly charming marina at Soper’s Hole. Find a deserted stretch of beach to kick back and ponder this tiny port’s rich heritage of romance, pirates, and adventure. An evening departure features a once-in-a-lifetime romantic sunset Sail Away.

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Day 16: Jost Van Dyke, Great Harbour

For an island comprised of a mere eight square miles, it’s amazing how much there is to do on Jost Van Dyke. Visit the national park on nearby Diamond Cay, snorkel among swaying sponges and angelfish at Sandy Spit, or pilot your own boat around Sir Francis Drake Waterway. After all that, you’ll be ready for an evening drink on the beach — where you can admire your Windstar ship aglow in the harbor.

VIEW THE JOURNEY

Day 17: Gustavia

Affectionately known as St. Barts, the Caribbean’s most chic island adds a French flair to Riviera-like beaches and duty-free boutiques. Walk past gingerbread cottages in search of celebrities, shop for designer fashions, or sip the island’s signature ti punch as kite surfers fly by.

VIEW THE JOURNEY

Day 18: Philipsburg, St. Maarten

Pastel-colored buildings and shops filled with tempting souvenirs herald your arrival to bustling Philipsburg. Situated near the harbor on the Dutch side of St. Maarten, Philipsburg owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus in 1493. Today, celebrated Front Street is home to a number of local Creole restaurants as well as jewelry stores, stylish boutiques, and lively casinos for visitors seeking an upbeat island experience.