Guadeloupe looks like a butterfly: its wings, Grande Terre and Basse Terre, are separated by a channel and has some beautiful, unspoilt beaches. Grande Terre is the liveliest part, with the market of Pointe à Pitre and roads joining together picturesque villages and sugar cane plantations. Centuries of French rule don’t seem to have influenced the locals’ philosophy too much: “it’s better to avoid something than to face something”.

The attractions of St. Maarten are endless: beaches, duty-free shopping, casinos, nightlife and more water and land sports than you can possibly try. And that’s just the Dutch side! The French half of this two-nation island offers exclusive boutiques, Gallic restaurants and blessed peace and quiet.

Antigua, as sweet as the sugar cane form the plantations, welcomes us in a warm embrace and giving us the opportunity to swim in its beautiful sea. We stop in the port of Antigua, an old colony where we can see the vestiges of the agricultural past of the island. Sugar is no longer the livelihood of this small nation, but you can still visit the old windmills of Fuerteventura. Take a dance class at the Shiva school of dance or catch a show of traditional dances from the Caribbean. Before the cruise resumes its course, enjoy a spectacular sunset on the beach, swim with the stingrays and admire the underwater fauna.

Kingstown is the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The port city is known for its Botanical Gardens, founded in 1765 and home to tropical plants and aviaries. On a ridge above the bay, the 1806 Fort Charlotte offers panoramic views of the archipelago. The city center has 19th-century churches such as St. Mary’s Cathedral. The lively Kingstown Market sells local produce. Popular Villa Beach is nearby

Guadeloupe looks like a butterfly: its wings, Grande Terre and Basse Terre, are separated by a channel and has some beautiful, unspoilt beaches. Grande Terre is the liveliest part, with the market of Pointe à Pitre and roads joining together picturesque villages and sugar cane plantations. Centuries of French rule don’t seem to have influenced the locals’ philosophy too much: “it’s better to avoid something than to face something”.