Covington vacation advisor Tracy Carr shared a luxury yachting experience on SeaDream Yacht Club with her brother, a first-time traveler.

I had booked myself on a solo Caribbean cruise on the 112-guest SeaDream Yacht I. While visiting my adult brother, Chuck, I mentioned it and he said, “I’ll go with you, Sis.” I was shocked because Chuck had never had a passport, never left the U.S., never even flown in an airplane! I beamed from ear to ear with a happy heart and thought, “Chuck, just wait till you see what you’ve been missing!”

The cruise itinerary was a 7-night sailing through the French West Indies, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Just a few days prior to our departure, SeaDream cut the itinerary to only five nights. Of course, SeaDream handled all the changes and I didn’t have to worry about a thing. Since our airline tickets were locked in, SeaDream arranged the first two nights accommodations for us in Barbados at the lovely Sandy Lane Hotel. Spoiler alert… this was definitely not a hardship.

Sandy Lane Hotel, Barbados

Sandy Lane is considered one of the best of the best in the Caribbean – elegant and exceptional. It has only 113 oversized rooms and suites, plus one stunning 5-bedroom villa. There are also four restaurants, a state-of-the-art spa, 45 holes of golf, and a full tennis facility. A mahogany grove surrounds the hotel and it overlooks a long crescent of white sand beach – paradise. We caught glimpses of the mischievous Barbados Green Monkeys flying through the trees and took several sightseeing tours of the island. Tracy’s tip: Sandy Lane offers complimentary Fast Track service through Immigration upon arrival at the airport, as well as complimentary packing and unpacking service.

Luxury Yachting Aboard SeaDream

On day 3, we boarded the gorgeous SeaDream Yacht I for an unbelievable adventure. All staterooms are ocean view. We had twin beds, a sitting area with a small sofa and table, a writing desk and a comfortable bathroom. Chuck, who is 6 feet tall, said the shower was ample. A welcome gift of personally monogrammed pajamas was waiting in our cabin – a very nice touch.

You can expect highly personalized service aboard SeaDream – there are 95 crew members to take care of only 112 guests. Cruise rates include open bar and gratuities; the cuisine is fresh, local, and gourmet. Our cabin was in a perfect location – close to the spa, fitness center, piano bar, the small casino, and library. At the Watersports Marina Platform, you can enjoy all kinds of personal water toys on sea days.

On deck, SeaDream has Balinese Dream Beds where you can watch the hypnotic ocean by day and stargaze by night. Yes, I did the sleep under the stars until we had a short bout of rain at 2 am. It’s hard to fathom just how bright the stars truly are. Tracy’s tip: Reserve your overnight deck bed as soon as you get onboard to make sure you get an opportunity to sleep under the stars.

Our SeaDream Itinerary

Bequia is the northernmost and largest of the Grenadines. The beaches are clean with beautiful reefs for snorkeling. One of the many highlights was swimming with stingrays – Unbelievable! The island has a strong maritime history and there’s a nice boat museum worth a visit. Tracy’s tip: The Lobster Pizza at Mac’s is to die for!

At Tobago Cay, it was all about the water. We took a private catamaran on an exclusive sail-away to the Nature Reserve where we snorkeled and swam with the turtles. The weather was perfect and the water is truly TURQUOISE BLUE. The return trip to the ship was great fun with drinks, music, and dancing. Once back on board SeaDream we had the opportunity to play with the jet-skies and other toys from the Watersports Marina.

At Rodney Bay, St Lucia we opted for the 5.5-mile hike through Cactus Valley, along the rugged Atlantic coastline where wild horses roam. Afterward, at Marjorie’s Bar, we watched the gentleman shinny up palm trees to get coconuts for our refreshing coconut milk. Tracy’s tip: Surfing in St. Lucia is best on the Atlantic coast – the waves are phenomenal.

Mayreau is the smallest inhabited island of the Grenadines, only 1.5 square miles. It was here that we really felt the yachting lifestyle with SeaDream’s signature Champagne & Caviar Splash. Tracy’s tip: DO NOT pass up this memorable and exclusive SeaDream experience! As Chuck said, “It’s an experience to behold!” In addition, we had a gourmet Beach BBQ served on bone china, with island music, dancing, and more snorkeling. Everyone had great fun!

Click the play button above to see SeaDream’s luxury yachting. Watch for the exclusive Champagne & Caviar Splash on the video at the :27 mark!

Cobblers Cove, Relais & Chateaux, Barbados

At the end of our sailing adventure, we spend the night back in Barbados at the boutique Cobblers Cove, Relais & Chateaux. It’s a unique, 40-room English Country House on the west coast near Speightstown. The guestrooms each have a unique name. They are huge (starting at 560 sq. ft.) and beautifully decorated. The gardens are impeccable, food is spectacular, and service superb. Tracy’s tip: If you are there over the holidays, try to attend a Cobblers Live event that includes a MasterChef gourmet dinner, live entertainment, and dancing.

My Takeaways

I can only say that experiencing the personal touches and sublime service of the SeaDream luxury yachting lifestyle was fabulous but seeing it through the fresh eyes of my brother who had never traveled was remarkable. It was so rewarding to show him how fun and easygoing luxury travel can be. Our first true trip together was full of laughter and memorable bonding moments that we will both cherish for a lifetime.

To learn more about SeaDream or plan your own journey, contact Tracy at Covington Travel.