When it comes to pure escapism there are few places in the world more fitting than the Caribbean. Join the all-suite MS Hebridean Sky in Barbados and set sail on our voyage to Cayenne, French Guiana, through beautiful sub-tropical waters enjoying the perfect mix of cultural and natural wonders. Each place we visit has its own culture and this colourful mix of island personalities, varied terrain and fascinating cities makes for a marvellous break.
After island hopping from Barbados to Tobago and on to Trinidad, our unique cruise continues to Guyana, one of the least visited countries in South America which has an intriguing past and is home to a diverse array of wildlife. During our time here we will visit the magnificent Kaieteur Falls by plane, an amazing experience where you can witness the world’s largest single-drop waterfall. Continuing to Paramaribo, Suriname’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we will hear about the history of this former British settlement which was swapped with the Dutch for New York in 1667. The final country we call into is French Guiana where we will see the infamous “Devil’s Island”, tour the Guiana Space Centre, visit the botanical gardens and spend time in its vibrant capital, Cayenne.
The whole region is imbued with colour and culture with a tremendous mix of natural beauty and historical sites. Such a varied and comprehensive itinerary would be difficult to comprehend or undertake by any other means than a cruise aboard a small ship like the MS Hebridean Sky, in the company of just 100 or so fellow passengers and an expert onboard team. Our voyage offers an easy and comfortable way to explore the region rather than arduous, lengthy land travel. You can relax on board as we sail between beautiful islands and interesting ports of call with days spent witnessing the wonderful flora and fauna, admiring the beautiful scenery and learning about the colonial and often turbulent history of the region, returning each evening to the comfort and excellent service aboard the MS Hebridean Sky.
- Tobago's Rich History: Explore Fort King George in Scarborough and encounter Tobago's storied past, a land fought over multiple times by colonial powers.
- Guyana's Natural Splendor: Witness the breathtaking Kaieteur Falls in Kaieteur National Park, Guyana, where the water plunges 822 feet, outmatching even Niagara Falls in grandeur.
- Suriname's Cultural Mosaic: Discover the UNESCO-listed capital, Paramaribo, a unique blend of historic colonial architecture and peaceful coexistence of diverse religious communities.
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or [email protected]) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive and transfer to the MS Hebridean Sky. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we sail this evening.
After a relaxing morning at sea we arrive in Scarborough, the capital of Tobago and home to about one third of its population. A bustling town, the friendly atmosphere that greets us hides the tumultuous past of a town that has changed hands over 30 times in the past 150 years. We will visit Fort King George, built in 1779 during the many struggles between the French and the English over ownership of the island, before continuing to Plymouth and an eco-tourism estate in Arnos Vale, where we hope to spot some of the local hummingbirds.
Due to its location close to the South American mainland, Trinidad has a unique diversity of plant and animal species which we will discover today. From our berth at Port of Spain we will drive inland to the Maracas Valley and Yerette, home of the hummingbird. After an introductory talk we will explore the gardens where we can often find fourteen of the island’s eighteen species of hummingbird. Return to the ship for lunch and later this afternoon we head to the Caroni Nature Sanctuary, a mangrove swamp covering an area of 40 square miles. On arrival at the sanctuary, we will board a flat-bottomed boat and slowly travel along the peaceful waterways and lagoons admiring the beauty of the landscape and the variety of birds including the scarlet ibis, a large bright red bird which feeds and nests here and we hope to catch them as they return to their nests at sunset.
Spend a day at sea as we cruise towards the South American coast.
We will spend two and a half days in Guyana, South America’s only English speaking country. Georgetown was called Longchamps under the French and Stabroek under the Dutch, so it comes as no surprise that the tree-lined streets are a wonderful mix of colonial styles. During our time here we will enjoy a half day city tour which will include St Georges Cathedral, St Andrew’s Kirk and the Stabroek Market. Once described as a ‘bizarre bazaar’, the market offers every conceivable item from household goods and gold jewellery to fresh meat and vegetables brought to town on the river daily. We will also fly to the Kaieteur National Park where the mighty Kaieteur Falls plunge 822 feet to the bottom of a rocky gorge. Five times the height of Niagara Falls, an amazing 30,000 gallons of water per second crashes to the depths below and witnessing this spectacle is an amazing experience. There will also be the opportunity to tour the extensive botanical gardens where we may see many of the resident birds including the blood-coloured woodpecker, pearl kite and red-bellied macaws.
Spend a day and a half in the capital of Suriname, Paramaribo, located on the banks of the Suriname River. The city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and during our guided tour we will see the many historic colonial buildings and tree-lined avenues. This is a city of many colours and cultures and one of the few places in the world where mosques, Hindu temples, synagogues and Christian churches coexist peacefully side by side. Visit the city’s leafy park, Palm Garden which was created in 1682 and is home to more than 1000 palms, the waterfront and Fort Zeelandia, originally named Fort Willoughby by the British in 1651. We will also drive to the Commewijne District just outside of Paramaribo, a beautiful agricultural area of creeks, rivers and former plantations. Here we will take nature walks on the lookout for birds, monkeys and lizards before visiting the museum at Nieuw Amsterdam, an 18th century fort built to protect the city where we can also see the resident giant lilies.
Today we anchor off the Iles de Salut, an archipelago of three small islands and the site of the infamous French penal colonies. One prisoner, Henri Charrière, described the inhumane treatment and his escape in his autobiography “Papillion”. The most notorious of all the islands was the Ile du Diable, or “Devil’s Island”, where political prisoners including Alfred Dreyfus were held captive. Its rocky boundary and rough waters made it so naturally impregnable that even now it is completely inaccessible to visitors. We will spend the afternoon here and use our Zodiacs to visit Isle St Joseph or Ile Royale where many of the old prison buildings are still standing such as the guard’s quarters, prisoner’s cells and hospital.
Sail this morning into the capital of French Guiana, Cayenne, a melting pot of French, Asian, African and Brazilian cultures. From our berth we will drive to the Guiana Space Centre, also known as “Europe’s Spaceport”, which occupies a site of 75,000 hectares and employs more than 1,500 people. The location was chosen by the French Government in 1964, due to its proximity to the equator, and the site is still used for launching satellites and rockets for the European Space Agency. A tour of the site will include the control centre and the nearby space museum.
Disembark this morning and drive to Cayenne where we will explore the historic city and the botanical gardens. After lunch we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled indirect flight.
Arrive this morning.
Hebridean Sky
| Length | 90 metres |
|---|---|
| Built/refurbished | 1992/2016 |
Hebridean Sky has always been known for its effortless elegance, impeccable service and atmosphere of charm and camaraderie. Now we add increased adventure options and an on-site Passenger Service Representative. Hebridean Sky is the perfect blend of luxury and adventurous exploration. Is it a luxury ship? An adventure ship? It’s both! The vessel underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment in Sweden in Spring 2016.
ONBOARD DINING
Great expeditions require great food! We are pleased to offer daily changing breakfast, lunch and dinner menus with an emphasis on providing well balanced and nutritional cuisine. Our team of international chefs has boat loads of creativity and you are sure to experience a variety of interesting dishes throughout your voyage. The restaurant is located on Deck 2 and our service team looks forward to providing a memorable dining experience.
IMPECCABLE SMALL-SHIP AMENITIES
Returning from excursions, passengers enjoy complimentary refreshments, afternoon tea and all-day coffee in The Club, a gracious space for relaxation, surrounded by panoramic windows. Other Sea Explorer features include:
- Library with Internet access
- Lounge with audiovisual facilities
- Dining room
- Wraparound sun deck with Jacuzzi
- Exercise room
- Medical facilities with available doctor
- Elevator serving all passenger decks
- Swimming/zodiac platform
Please note deck plan may vary.
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