As we glide through the neon turquoise waters toward shore in our Zodiac inflatable boat, I spot a waiter standing patiently on the ivory sands offering a tray of painkillers.
Not the medicinal kind, but the tantalizingly sweet rum cocktails linked to the British Virgin Islands that are scattered like jewels in this corner of the Caribbean Sea.
It’s a glamorous start to our week-long voyage on one of the boutique SeaDream Yacht Club line’s megayachts, which can accommodate up to 112 guests.
There are only 82 of us on our boat, which makes the atmosphere even more welcoming, as if we were at a big party on a houseboat.
We’ve arrived at Jost Van Dyke Island for today’s beach barbecue with Champagne and Splash Caviar, a SeaDream signature treat, as the crew serves up off-cut caviar from a floating surfboard in the shallow waters.
What a small world: Sara Macefield embarks on a Caribbean cruise with SeaDream. Above, Jost Van Dyke, one of the stops on her tour
It’s a cocktail like no other, and the first of countless “pinch” moments during a journey that takes us off the beaten track to the tiny glories of the Caribbean.
Take tiny Nevis, dotted with romantic hotels among the ruins of colonial sugar mills and home to American statesman (and star of the eponymous West End musical) Alexander Hamilton, or St Barts, celebrity nirvana, where designer shops and superyachts evoke an atmosphere of the French Riviera and the tropics.
Then there’s the rustic Gallic simplicity of the Iles des Saintes, a cluster of tiny outposts off the coast of Guadeloupe that are said to resemble St. Barthelemy before its jet-setting days.
For an extra touch of sparkle, we have our SeaDream 1 boat. It’s not the newest or most modern (it turns 40 this year), but I think its varnished wood and shiny brass give it a classic cruiser style, complemented by impeccable service from the lovely crew.
Sara is travelling on SeaDream 1 (pictured), a megayacht with capacity for 112 guests
Sara describes the SeaDream experience as “one big houseboat party”
From the moment I step on board with my husband Geoff, they know our names and remember them at all times. These details are impressive, along with the gifts displayed in our cabin.
One night SeaDream key chains, another glasses cases.
Days are spent on land or lounging by the pool.
Sara’s journey takes her to the Holy Islands, seen here, a group of small outposts off Guadeloupe.
Sara explores St. Barts, pictured, a celebrity nirvana where designer shops and superyachts evoke an atmosphere that meets the French Riviera and the tropics.
It’s an addictive routine, which becomes more interesting when the water marina comes into play and we speed around on jet skis or launch ourselves into the sea on the surprisingly steep inflatable slide.
One night we put on SeaDream pajamas embroidered with our names (another gift) to sleep under the stars on one of the luxurious sun loungers on the deck. It’s made up with a quilt and pillows, so we soon fall asleep to the sound of the waves.
I wake up at dawn, as we approach Montserrat, its outline illuminated by a bright crimson sky. Normally, you would never find me awake at such an ungodly hour, but this natural alarm call was a rare pleasure worth getting up for.