• Half board – All breakfast (includes tea and coffee), 12 meals (combination of lunch or dinner)
• Use of all facilities on board including snorkelling gear, paddle boards, kayaks, board games
• All bedding (pillow, duvet, bedding)
• All tender trips during the voyage, to and from the boat
• Full crew, plus tuition

BOARD CASH (in EUROS OR USD)

• €150pp board cash for water & waste fees
• 12-14 meals ashore (at guests expense)
• Tea/Coffee/Alcohol (cash honesty bar)
• Wash or swim towels
• Use of sleeping bags for sleeping on deck (only if you want!)
• Any local taxes including departure and landing tax – are estimated to be between €100-200 per person. If there are places guests want to go that have a landing tax, the cost will be split between those that want to go and added to your honesty tab.
• Domestic flights
• Insurance
• Crew and tour leader tips

Life on board

Authentic tall ship sailing

Florette and her crew always try to combine traditional classic sailing while immersing guests in the natural landscapes ashore; volcanoes, ancient culture and the specialities of the regional Italian cuisine. Florette invites you to get involved with her traditional sailing. With an original rig, it is certainly an all-hands-on-deck approach – which is surely part of the magic of this adventure sailing holiday.

Sailing Florette is a true family affair. Captain Ron is the 2nd generation to run and sail Florette with his family after his parents bought the boat back in the ’70s. Ron was brought up on the boat, as he is now doing with his family. Alongside Ron and his wife Nicole, Florette is fully crewed with experienced and knowledgeable sailors. Nicole is also the boat’s chef, cooking up fabulous cuisine, so you won’t be going hungry after a day of sailing and exploring.

Have fun!

Florette commands attention wherever she sails with her traditional wooden hull, decoratively carved transom and impressive sail rig. Sailing with her is part of the magic of this adventure holiday and is a huge part of the experience. She also has sea kayaks, stand-up paddle boards and snorkelling gear for guests to use at no extra cost. There is also fishing gear available which is used to catch fresh fish for supper!

Sleeping and relaxation

Florette is one of the larger boats in our fleet so she has ample space both above and below decks. Her Captain and family live aboard but they have their own separate quarters. Guests can enjoy private cabins in combinations of 2-3 berth bunks. All cabins share a total of four toilets and three showers with another shower on deck for a rinse-off after some sea swimming. For Caribbean voyages only, those under 30 have the chance for a truly authentic Caribbean pirate experience to stay in a hammock! Each hammock will be allocated a seaman’s chest for any belongings and will strung up in the saloon between 21:00 and 8:00.

A generous saloon, bar and eating area sit below decks with a traditional wooden finish. Above decks there is a large cushioned area for relaxation, sunbathing or sleeping beneath the stars (bring your own sleeping bag if this is something you fancy!). An alfresco dining area sits mid-ship, perfect for lunches in the sun or dinners at sunset.

Please check the What’s Included tab for a breakdown of the ticket price and the board cash.

Pointe du Bout, Martinique

St Georges Bay, Grenada

Your sailing area

Martinique to Grenada, Caribbean

The island of Martinique is a delightful cultural blend of French and West Indian influence and a great place to extend your Caribbean sailing holiday. Christopher Columbus landed on the island in 1502, after a 21-day trade wind passage he christened the island as Martinica. The north of the island is mountainous with an abundance of dense rainforest, home to the active volcano Mont Pelée offering the adventure of numerous hiking trails. The beaches in the north are a silvery grey thanks to the fallout of historic volcanic ash while those in the south remain that quintessentially soft white Caribbean sand the islands are known for. The south features steep hills with quaint meandering streets lined with colourful houses. The gardens of La Savane are well worth a visit and the main town of Fort-de-France has many sweet cafes and boutique shops to explore.

Florette will be moored or anchored in the picturesque Pointe-du-Bont, ready to welcome guests aboard. As with all our sailing holidays, Florette will make the most of the Caribbean trade winds sailing and island hop from Martinique through the Windward Islands of the Grenadines island chain before finishing in Grenada. The list of islands below is to give an idea of what awaits your Caribbean sailing holiday but the wind will always dictate the route and there are just too many islands to make one list. 

St. Lucia

The volcanic spires that make the island of St Lucia are a spectacular landmark in the Windward Islands and provide a breathtaking anchorage in Piton Bay. The villages that dot the coastline are predominantly traditional Caribbean fishing towns, lined with volcanic beaches and some great snorkelling and diving opportunities. The interior of the island is home to dense rainforest with varying levels of hiking trails if you fancy walking to gain a dramatic vantage point of the bay!

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

The Windward Islands in the Caribbean are made up of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a chain of tiny idyllic islands providing a plethora of picturesque anchorages.

St. Vincent

An intriguing island covered in dense jungle, and rolling hills and lined with black volcanic sandy beaches. Discover the set used for the Pirates of the Caribbean movie and explore waterfalls just a short walk from the beach. Spend some time here snorkelling, swimming and kayaking the coastline full of natural rock formations and archways.

Tobago Cays

Tobago Cays is a true underwater paradise. Peer off the side of the boat into crystal clear waters and you’ll be rewarded with colourful shoals of fish and fascinating coral reefs. You could spend days here kayaking and exploring. There is a turtle sanctuary nearby so swimming alongside turtles and stingrays is almost guaranteed. Run a line off the boat to catch a Red Snapper or two and take it ashore for a beachside BBQ where star-gazing as the night draws in is a real treat for the eyes!

The island of Carriacou belongs to Grenada but lies within the Grenadines island chain. There are so many tiny uninhabited islands surrounding Carriacou with miles of sandy white beaches and coral reefs, that you won’t be short of anchorages and places to relax away from the big cruise ships! Sit back with a fresh coconut drink as you enjoy the sunset while watching pelicans dive-bomb into the water for their supper.

Bequia

The island of Bequia (pronounced beck-way) directly translates into “island of the clouds”. One of the prettiest islands in the Grenadines, you’ll certainly see why it’s top of the anchorage list. Seemingly untouched by mass tourism, the island retains its authentic Caribbean charm with friendly locals and a truly relaxed way of life.

Finish on the island of Grenada. It is said that St. Georges Bay on the island is one the most picturesque bays in the Caribbean. The south of the island is home to crater lakes, swimming spots under waterfalls and sweet-smelling cocoa and spice plantations. There are plenty of white soft-sand beaches, with palm trees swaying in the breeze and quirky beach bars serving up the very best spiced Caribbean rum! Grenada is also home to the 14th natural wonder of the world – the underwater sculpture park. Created 20 years ago by local artists to encourage coral growth and attract new marine life to the area. Grab your snorkel and fins and discover this underwater paradise – you might even be joined by a sea turtle or two.