A Taste of Paradise

Surf & Turf Steakhouse

As its name suggests, this speciality restaurant majors in the likes of marbled steaks and meaty lobster tails. You’ve also got other meat and fish options, as well as plenty to satisfy a vegetarian palate. This is one of the ship's speciality restaurants, so there's a charge to dine here – plus, we recommend you make a reservation in advance.

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Marella Discovery’s main eatery is a big, stylish venue, finished in the colours of the sand and the sea. Daytime meals here come with a side-order of sea views, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, and a grand double staircase leads up to a separate eatery. It also hosts The Great Musical Afternoon Tea. This weekly event brings the West End to Marella Cruises, with dishes inspired by famous musicals – like the ‘Vietnamese Melody’ beef tenderloin yakitori and the ‘On My Own’ petit choux. There are six teas to choose from, as well as a cocktail of your choice. Plus, the whole place is decorated with show posters and memorabilia.

Highlights of Antigua

Peek into Antigua’s colonial past on this whistle-stop history tour. This fully guided trip takes you from the quaint capital of St John’s, through the countryside to your first stop - The Blockhouse Fort ruins. Perched a whopping 500 feet above sea level, they’re a great viewing platform for the rest of the island. Look in one direction and you’ll spot Indian Creek, once home to Antigua’s first native tribe. Turn around, and you’ll catch a glimpse of the newer and much more glamorous home of Eric Clapton. Later, make your way to the island’s most southerly point, Shirley Heights. Back in the 18th century, soldiers used this as a lookout podium to spy on enemies and signal to nearby forts. The last, and arguably best, port of call is Nelson’s Dockyard, the world’s only working Georgian dockyard which are still in use today. Here, you can stroll through the old-fashioned Georgian buildings and even visit the original Naval Officer’s house.

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Sun & Rum

Cast adrift in the Caribbean, Antigua is ringed with a halo of white sandy beaches. Lapped by warm and clear waters, its soft sandy beaches are a perfect corner of paradise. And this taxi transfer from ship to shore – and back again – whisks you down to the beach so you can make the most of the warm waters, water-sports or bars. Or just take a stroll along the half-mile or so of soft sand. Just don’t forget to try some of the unlimited rum or fruit punch. Plus to make life easier, we’ll reserve you a sunbed on the sand, just don't forget your towel.

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Wacky Truck Waterfall & Rainforest Adventure

Dominica has been dubbed the ‘island of waterfalls’ and, with a nickname like that, it definitely wasn’t meant to be seen through a window. This is one of the Caribbean’s most unspoilt places, and this trip lets you tour the virgin landscape in an access-all-areas truck. Your journey begins with a drive through the rainbow-bright capital, Roseau. You’ll pause at the Morne Bruce viewpoint to get a bird’s-eye view of it, before taking a turn into the rainforest. You’ll spot the Wotten Waven Sulphur Springs and the Ti Tou Gorge as you travel through the tropics – if the latter looks familiar, it’s because it had a starring role in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean 2. There’s a crevice in the mountain here, where hot and cold water mingles in a plunging rock pool. There’ll be some time for a dip and, if you’re brave, you can swim further into the gorge to see one of the isle’s most beautiful waterfalls. Rum punch and fresh fruit will be served as you dry off.

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Wacky River Tubing

Get ready for a wet and wild adventure along Dominica’s longest and largest river. You’ll take your seat in a rubber tube ready to battle the currents, rocks and rapids of the Layou River. Feel the cool mountain breeze as you spin and twirl downstream, passing the every changing scenery of this amazing valley. A guide will be with you the whole time, and half-way through the adventure you’ll stop at a natural pool to wait for the others to catch up. This thrilling ride definitely isn’t one for the faint-hearted.

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St Pierre & Rum Distillery

This tour mixes local history with the local tipple. And the first stop is Balata Church. Don’t be surprised if this white-domed beauty looks familiar – it’s a scaled-down replica of the Sacré-Coeur in Paris. It’s then onto a rum distillery. You’ll not only get a tour, but a tasting session of Martinique rum. Next up is St Pierre - the Caribbean equivalent to Pompeii. In 1902 over 30,000 people were killed when Mount Pelee erupted. The museum relives the disaster and tells the story of a prisoner who managed to escape death by lava. Finally, there’s a little more history in store. Le Carbet is a small fishing village made famous in 1502 when Christopher Columbus landed here.

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Kayaking Mangroves

Had your fill of sunbathing and swimming? This is one for the more active crowd. You’ll first travel to a nearby islet to pick up your kayaks. And with paddles at the ready, you’ll head off into the quiet mangroves. You’ll be in the water about 40 minutes, gliding under tropical canopies. And red and black mangrove trees sprout from the water. Guides are on hand to make sure you get the most out of the day and help you perfect your technique. Plus there’s plenty of time to chill with a fruit juice, or swim in the sea before taking the boat back to the ship.

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Discover Grenada

All cinnamon, cloves and allspice, it’s little wonder Grenada’s known as the Caribbean’s Spice Island. But they’re not the only treats that grow here. There’s plenty of citrus, bananas and cocoa beans, too. In fact, the menu of plants that call this place home reads like the ingredients for a Nigella recipe, so it’s easy to see how this place came to be one of the world’s leading spice suppliers. You’ll wind through the rainforest to the Grand Etang Lake viewing point. A giant volcano crater filled to the brim with cobalt water, it’s certainly easy on the eye. And its volcano-top location makes it all the more breathtaking. From here, you’ll travel to Annandale Falls, a fairytale paradise of cascading water, hanging ferns and dainty orchids that’s like a secret Caribbean garden.

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Rhum Runner

On the Rhum Runner, life is one big Caribbean party. It’s a catamaran-style cruise where steel drums and rum punch are the order of the day. First things first, you’ll set sail along the Spice Island’s gorgeous coastline with a guide giving you snippets of Grenada’s history as you go. You’ll enjoy free-flowing rum punch as you gently bob across the waves to Morne Rouge Beach, where you’ll have some free time to sunbathe. On the return trip, meanwhile, the fun really begins. They crank up the music for the Rhum Runner Limbo Competition, and serve a light snack of fruit, cheese and crackers along with more rum punch and soft drinks. This is most definitely the life.

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Pitons Cruise

Beaches. Mountains. Rainforests. Volcanoes. Springs. When it comes to natural beauties, St Lucia’s in a league of its own. This trip takes you on a tour of some of the island’s best bits and, because they can all be seen from the sea, you’ll get to enjoy them from the comfort of a catamaran. Setting off from Castries, you’ll glide along the island’s west coast, passing mangrove-lined beaches and lush forests. And then it’s time for the star of the show. As you enter Soufriere bay, the twin mountains of Petit and Gros Piton will rise out of the sea before you. Topping over 2,000 feet each, their summits have only been tackled by the most daring of climbers. We’ll circle the bay for some great photo opportunities, before heading to one of the scenic bays along the coast. We’ll make a quick stop, and you’ll be served snacks, drinks and get the chance to dive into the Caribbean Sea for a quick swim. Last up is Marigot, the most famous cove on the island. This was a favourite battleground of the English and French back in the 18th century and, more recently, was the setting of Dr Doolittle.

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Scenes of St Lucia

This short tour packs a lot in, so it’s a good way of ticking off St Lucia’s top attractions. It begins with a scenic drive up the Morne Fortune hillside. Translated as ‘hill of good luck’, it was a key battleground during colonial times. You’ll look out over thick, green vegetation as you get higher and higher, making your first stop at the colonial-style St Mark’s House high in the hills. From here, you’ll be treated to a panoramic view of Castries’ harbour and the Caribbean Sea. Next on the agenda is St Lucia’s one-and-only rum distillery. Here, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how the spirit is made, before enjoying a tasting session. Sip premium, spicy and crème liquor varieties, then head to the gift shop to pick up a bottle of your favourite. Your next stop is a viewpoint at the picturesque Marigot Bay, with its turquoise waters and velvety green hills. Last but not least, there’ll be time for a bit of retail therapy, as you call in at Caribelle Batik. This place is famous throughout the Caribbean for its batik prints, and you can see the artisans at work on the clothes and wall hangings.

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