Caribbean Escapades

When planning our trip, we aimed to choose an itinerary that included as many ports as possible. Since we hadn’t spent much time in the Caribbean before, why not explore a variety of islands and ports? During our adventure on the Dinogo Breeze, we stopped in St. Maarten, Antigua, St. John, and the Dominican Republic. Each port offered a unique experience, from watching planes in St. Maarten to kayaking in the Dominican Republic, making our exploration of these stunning Caribbean destinations truly unforgettable.

Experiencing all four of these destinations in one journey was absolutely amazing. Honestly, I can’t fathom organizing a trip to these separate locations on my own, so I was incredibly grateful we chose to cruise! It allowed us to focus on enjoying ourselves rather than stressing about transportation, accommodation, and getting to the next destination. It couldn’t have been easier!

Our first stop was St. Maarten, which features both Dutch and French sides of the island. I must admit, this was the destination I was most eager to visit, and it certainly lived up to my expectations. Just a 15-minute stroll from the port, we discovered a fantastic shopping district in downtown Philipsburg that we enjoyed exploring. However, we were particularly excited about making our way to Maho Beach (located on the other side of the island) to witness the famous landings at Princess Juliana International Airport, situated just beyond the beach.

I had seen photos of the plane landings online for years and had always wanted to experience them in person, so we couldn't have asked for a better first destination. We hopped on an affordable local bus to Maho, and despite our worries about catching the right one, it turned out to be a breeze. We reached the beach in about 30-40 minutes, picked up some snacks and drinks, and found a perfect spot on the sand to relax.

Planes arrived at a steady pace, and words can hardly capture the thrill of the experience. There was a palpable excitement among beachgoers as we watched the aircraft soar just a few hundred feet overhead—what an incredible sight! We made some wonderful friends on the beach, and we really had to force ourselves to leave in order to return to the boat on time.

After our exhilarating day in St. Maarten, we chose a more tranquil experience in Antigua at Dickenson Bay. In contrast to our previous day, Antigua offered a serene atmosphere with only a handful of people on the beach—definitely no planes landing here! It was just a short ride from the port and featured the most stunning turquoise waters I've ever encountered.

On any trip, it’s beneficial to strike a balance between active days and leisurely ones, so we made it a point to mix things up. There were several local eateries along Dickenson Bay if you’re looking for a meal, and if lounging on the sand isn’t your style for long, you can also opt for a horse ride along the shoreline.

The same person who assisted us with the chair rental also managed our snorkel rentals—how convenient is that? After enjoying a traditional island lunch featuring fresh fish, we headed into the water with our gear. At the far end of Coki Beach lies the Coki Dive Center, and we were thrilled about the marine life we were about to encounter. Fortunately, there was plenty to see! Snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts will absolutely adore this location.

While we had explored each of the other three ports independently, we decided to go with a planned excursion for our final destination in the Dominican Republic at La Casa En La Playa, a beachside retreat that offered kayaks, snorkels, paddleboards, a chef, a bartender, and plenty of lounge chairs. After organizing our previous island trips—an enjoyable but sometimes daunting task—it was a relief to leave the planning to someone else this time.

Ultimately, our aim was to truly embrace the opportunity to explore as much as we could, and we were thrilled that each stop felt like an entirely new adventure for us.