Unless you have a billionaire’s budget, sailing around the Caribbean on a private yacht is probably out of the question. But opt for a small-ship cruise and you’ll still get white-sand beaches, secluded bays and lesser-visited ports almost to yourself without the eye-watering expense. Smaller ships can often sail to destinations the biggest vessels can’t reach and may be the only cruise ship in port, so you won’t be jostling for space at tourist attractions or on the nearest beach. Some will even be stocked with kayaks, jet skis or helicopters for fun straight from the ship, plus you can expect a friendly feel on board and ultra-personalised service. These are some of the best small-ship Caribbean cruises.
1. SeaDream Yacht Club
Gustavia in St Barts, a port of call for Sea Dream cruises
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Best for feeling like you’re on a yacht Pretend you’re a billionaire aboard your very own yacht by booking a SeaDream Yacht Club cruise. Sharing space with just over 100 guests, you can expect serious pampering, with alfresco movies, double Balinese sunbeds and all kinds of toys available to borrow, from jet skis to bikes for impromptu rides ashore. You’ll also visit all the ports the bigger ships miss, from the idyllic Terre-de-Haut in Guadeloupe to pretty Gustavia in St Barts, where high-end restaurants and boutiques cater to the island’s usual celebrity clientele.
The focus is on wellness in the Otium spa aboard Silversea’s Silver Dawn
Best for luxury Silversea’s Silver Dawn may welcome nearly 600 passengers on board but it’s still small fry when it comes to the mammoth cities-on-water offered by most Caribbean cruise lines. The difference is noticeable when it comes to on-board service, with almost one crew member per guest and a lavish all-inclusive package that includes 24-hour room service, a butler in every suite, champagne throughout the ship and one shore excursion per port per day. Silversea will even send a chauffeur-driven car to bring you to the airport from your home.
3. Emerald Cruises
Emerald Sakara calls at some of the Caribbean’s least-visited islands
Best for smaller ports Bigger is definitely not better when it comes to squeezing into some of the Caribbean’s smallest and most picturesque ports. Emerald Cruises’ sleek 110m-long Sakara holds just 100 guests (and 76 crew) so its Eastern Caribbean voyage can dock at some of the region’s least-visited islands. Mayreau Island is just one and a half square miles, has no proper roads and just a single unnamed village, but plenty of powder-soft white beaches you’re likely to have all to yourself. Be sure to visit Salt Whistle Bay, where the bath-warm Caribbean is separated from the churning Atlantic by a slim strip of sand.
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4. Seabourn
Martinique is among the islands you’ll visit aboard Seabourn Venture
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Best for longer voyages Launched in July 2022, Seabourn’s luxe, purpose-built expedition ship Seabourn Venture is normally found in the Antarctic or the Amazon. However, a handful of cruises on this 132-cabin ship visit some of the Caribbean’s most exclusive spots including glamorous, volcanic Martinique and the BVI’s beautiful Jost Van Dyke, named after a Dutch pirate. The ship continues on to far-flung locations including Rio de Janeiro and the Amazon basin for a real once-in-a-lifetime holiday. For a simpler round trip from Barbados, Seabourn’s bigger Ovation still welcomes only 600 passengers and feels equally exclusive with a Dr Andrew Weil spa, gourmet in-suite dining included and a champagne and caviar beach party to up the glamour stakes.
5. Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten’s MS Fram is a purpose-built expedition ship
Best for included shore excursions Group activities and trips in port can hike the cost of even the most budget-friendly cruise. Purpose-built expedition ship MS Fram from Hurtigruten has just 119 cabins yet doesn’t skimp on the extras with several shore excursions included on its Caribbean itineraries — almost unheard of on most cruise lines. These include a scenic drive round St Lucia’s rainforest-wrapped mountains and a tour of diving paradise Bonaire that includes a chance to sample the local cactus liqueur. The ship spends summer in the Arctic and winter in Antarctica, so you’ll need to act fast to book the Caribbean voyages on offer between seasons.
The five-masted Royal Clipper accommodates just 227 passengers
Best for cruise and stay Make the most of a holiday in paradise by staying as long as possible. Banish the jet lag with seven lazy days poolside in Barbados then board the Royal Clipper, a five-masted ship that resembles a traditional tall ship and holds just 227 passengers. The billowing sails will add a real sense of nautical romance to your voyage to ports including St George’s in Grenada, Tobago Cays in the Grenadines and Kingstown in St Vincent, home to one of the oldest botanical gardens in the western hemisphere.
7. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Guests on Seven Seas Navigator benefit from a generous all-inclusive package
Best for all-inclusive You’ll want for nothing on an ultra-luxurious Regent Seven Seas Cruise which has one of the most generous all-inclusive packages on the high seas. Forget lukewarm buffets and think 24-hour room service, unlimited drinks, free minibar, all-suite accommodation, wi-fi, an extensive lecture programme and unlimited shore excursions. Four of the ships sail to the Caribbean — opt for Seven Seas Grandeur, which carries 744 passengers and offers itineraries that take in the chic beaches of St Barts, Bonaire’s colourful capital Kralendijk and postcard-perfect Martinique.
8. Scenic Ocean Cruises
Guests on Scenic Eclipse can get a bird’s-eye view of the Caribbean from one of the ship’s helicopters
Best for gadgets Built to navigate Arctic waters, Scenic Eclipse is as high-tech as it comes below deck, but the 228 passengers don’t miss out on state-of-the-art trappings either. The ship comes equipped with all you’ll need to explore Caribbean ports, with kayaks, Zodiacs, e-bikes and paddleboards. Fancy a bird’s-eye view of the brilliant blue waters below? Eclipse has two helicopters on board to give guests a real bucket-list experience.
9. Ponant
Mayreau Island is one of the destinations you’ll visit on Le Ponant
STUDIO PONANT
Best for an ultra-exclusive experience Ponant offers the most intimate cruise of all on their iconic, three-masted yacht Le Ponant, which holds just 32 guests. It was the first sailing ship in the world to be awarded the Relais & Châteaux label in 2023, and its regular seven-night Caribbean itinerary includes a host of shore excursions. Visit a turtle sanctuary in Bequia, try traditional dance lessons on Mayreau Island or join a guided tour with a local naturalist in the Tobago Cays, known for turtles, turquoise waters and kaleidoscopic coral reefs.
10. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Evrima brings a touch of Ritz-Carlton luxury to the Caribbean
Best for shorter cruises The very first yacht from the Ritz-Carlton hotel chain launched in 2022 to bring its high-end service and fine dining to the seas. Two more yachts are due to follow before 2025 but the company’s Evrima will remain its smallest, with fewer than 300 passengers. This has regular sailings in the Caribbean starting at just four nights for those looking for a quick escape. Offering a round trip from San Juan, it minimises sailing time with a stop each day in the British Virgin Islands’ Virgin Gorda, St Maarten and St John in the US Virgin Islands. Just enough time to wind down and top up the tan.
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The Tennessee Titans will spend parts of the next 10 days on the road, logging a total of nine nights in Tampa and Atlanta on a preseason road trip for joint practices and preseason games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons. It won’t be the busiest slate; the Titans will only practice three times with two games in between, meaning there will be four off days. But it’ll be a stretch spent together, and, crucially to coach Brian Callahan, it’ll be a stretch where opponents will be able to start forming their opinions about the Titans.
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“One of the things I’m really looking for is what do those teams say about us when we leave?” Callahan asks rhetorically. “What do they say about how we played, the intensity we practiced with? Those are all things we get to go make an imprint of what our team can be this year.”
Callahan envisions this road trip as an opportunity for his players and coaches to get closer, continuing the ongoing trend of Callahan emphasizing connection and togetherness as team-building tacts. It’s also an opportunity to get ready for the long road trips the Titans will have to endure in the fall; the Titans travel to Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas and San Francisco this season, with the Raiders and Cardinals trips coming in back-to-back weeks.
The players seem to be bought into the idea. Receiver Calvin Ridley says the trip will go a long way toward bringing the team together. Rookie tight end Gunnar Helm says he’s looking forward to getting closer with his teammates. And offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr., in his first year with the Titans, plans to take advantage of the closeness.
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“I do think it’s a great time for us to bond us a team,” Moore said. “Spend some time on the road. Get to know each other a little bit better, spend a lot more time with each other and just come together.”
Practicing with the Buccaneers presents a long list of challenges. Coach Todd Bowles’ defense blitzes at one of the highest rates in the league, which should test quarterback Cam Ward and the offense’s readiness. Quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Bucs’ talented receiving corps, led by Mike Evans, will be a huge test for the secondary. And then there’s the Florida heat. The forecast calls for mid-90s temperatures and extreme heat with a “real feel” of 104 degrees by the time practice is going to be ending.
When asked if he has any advice for enduring the Florida summer heat, cornerback and Florida native Jarvis Brownlee Jr. said to keep hydrated. And then he repeated his advice four more times.
Another underrated element is these joint practices, and preseason games, will be the Titans’ first opportunities to experience unfriendly environments. Having enemy fans around isn’t high on the list of reasons to go on these trips, but it’s a factor.
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“It’s gonna be us against everybody for the next 10 days,” Helm says.
A road trip is the best kind of liberation — you (and your loved ones, if you so choose) plus the open road and limitless possibilities. Still, to optimally embrace that freedom, some upfront planning is required. These practical tips will ensure the trip is all you hope it will be.
Plan food stops before you leave
Just because you can see those golden arches from the highway doesn’t mean you must stop at that McDonald’s. Much of the country’s tastiest food is located just off the road, in what can seem like unsuspecting locations. “Some of the best expressions of regional food flavors and unique culinary styles can be found in gas stations,” said Frank Beard, a traveling sales rep, to Condé Nast Traveler. “Just because a place has four walls and a gas pump doesn’t mean they can’t do something different.”
Drive no more than 5 hours a day
“If you are planning a trip where you are going to drive, say, 12 straight hours to your destination, just fly if at all possible,” said American Weekender.“It’s not worth wasting an entire day of your trip in the car when you don’t have time to explore.” Clichés exist for good reason, so remember: The journey is indeed the destination. Stop at the dinosaur park you saw from the road. Sleep in, if the mood strikes. And relish the chance to break up the drive with an overnight stop.
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“Stopping overnight in the middle has made my driving days infinitely better over the last half-decade,” said Ben Mesirow at Thrillist. “Every leg of the trip feels more manageable, and even if you have to sacrifice one night at the destination, it’s more than worth the trade-off to arrive calmer, happier and ready to enjoy your vacation.”
Prepare for possible roadside emergencies
One certainty of road trips — and driving in general — is that at some point, there is going to be a car malfunction. Two arguably essential tools to have stowed in your auto are a portable jump starter for a stalled engine and a portable air compressor for pumping tires. “If you’re driving alone or in remote areas where car trouble will really ruin your day,” these mechanisms are “game changers,” said frequent traveler Rachel Engen to Outside magazine.
Give your car the gift of a checkup
Auto maintenance either comes easily to you or it never crosses your mind until those pesky dashboard lights start blinking. If you’re the former, skip ahead. If you’re the latter, gather your strength and get all that maintenance done before you hit the road. “Check the oil, fluid levels, battery and tires,” said Lonely Planet. “Make sure you have air in your spare tire.” Obvious, yes. But obvious is best — especially if you follow through.
Download everything you might need before departure
Picture it: You’ve entered your destination into Google Maps, and the app is guiding you smoothly there. Then, poof: Out goes the cell service. Avoid the abject terror that results and save everything you might need for offline use. That includes “Google Maps, trails, campsites and itineraries,” said Julia, the creator behind Julia Takes a Hike, to Outside magazine. Screenshots of reservations so “you don’t struggle to dig through email without Wi-Fi” is a wise idea, said Engen to Outside. “Make sure your music or audiobooks are downloaded too.”
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This article first appeared in the August edition of Powersports Business.
Summer vacation season has begun, and as Americans gear up for adventure, the high cost of air travel is fueling a road trip renaissance. According to a survey from GSTV, “83% of people said they plan to drive to their summer vacation destination, and 54% said they will drive instead of fly due to the rising cost of airfare.”
Powersports enthusiasts gearing up for summer road trips should ensure their vehicles are up to date on maintenance.
For powersports enthusiasts, a summer road trip may include trailering their ATVs and other on- and off-road vehicles to explore new trails, such as Iron Mountain Resort in Dahlonega, Georgia, Ride Royal Blue Resort in Pioneer, Tennessee, or Badlands Off-Road Park in Attica, Indiana. That is, of course, if their vehicles are up to the challenge.
Before hitting the dirt, riders need to ensure their vehicles are road-ready, and that can be costly. A rule of thumb in the powersports industry is that for frequent riders, an ATV should be tuned up every three to six months, and these costs can add up. For example, a tune-up for an ATV can cost between $100 and $400, while regular oil changes typically range from $30 to $55.
And let’s not forget those items not covered in a tune-up. For example, new tires, shocks, and batteries. According to ATVTires.com, some entry-level tires are priced from nearly $81 to $148 per tire, and for some high-performance tires, the prices go up to nearly $214 to $414 per tire. And remember to maintain those brakes. The price tag adds up quickly if you’re hitting the trails often and/or are covering the cost for the whole family. Keep in mind that maintenance and repair costs have surged in recent years, driven by rising prices across the economy.
For many, the upkeep costs may be too steep to handle without financing. The same applies to purchasing a new vehicle. According to the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index, anxiety about inflation, tariffs, and economic uncertainty is pushing consumer sentiment to its second-lowest level since the pandemic. Since January, sentiment has dropped by nearly 30 percent, with many Americans cutting back on discretionary spending.
But all hope of a powersports-filled summer isn’t lost. Like consumers, many dealerships may be feeling the squeeze as inflation rises and discretionary spending dips. However, many continue to be valuable resources for customers by showing them how, through financing, their services team can breathe new life into their existing vehicles. This includes financing everything from essential repairs and tune-ups to upgrades, new accessories, and even gas.
For small businesses that are not offering financing from companies such as Synchrony, this is the time to act. For businesses with existing programs, there is a good chance that many of your current and prospective customers are unaware that they can finance the upkeep of their vehicles. That means it’s time to begin promoting the full extent of these programs online and on-site in the dealership — in store windows, on the store floor, and more.
From there, educate your sales and services teams on the financing options. Make them your store’s financing experts, helping your customers understand how they can use these loans to maintain their current vehicles (and in doing so extend their lifespan) and upgrade accessories that may need replacement. For those riders with relatively new vehicles, be sure to educate them on the benefits of regular maintenance. For example, by financing more frequent tune-ups and replacing worn parts, riders can avoid more significant, and far more costly, repairs down the road. Financing can turn these proactive steps into easy-to-manage monthly payments, saving money and stress over the long haul.
This summer, powersports dealerships could be more than just a place to buy a new vehicle. They can become trusted partners in helping customers extend the life of the equipment they already own, allowing them to embark on their next getaway adventure and generate lasting memories.
Susan Medrano is the senior vice president and general manager at Synchrony Outdoors. With over 25 years of financial services experience, she leads Synchrony Outdoors within the Lifestyle platform. In this role, she provides general management and P&L accountability for Synchrony’s consumer business within the outdoors industries, including powersports and lawn and garden.
