Many people's dream way to travel is to sail on a cruise ship, cross the ocean, and enjoy the beauty of the world.
I have always liked this way of traveling, traveling through more than 100 countries in the world, the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Arctic Ocean... They all left my footprints of the cruises I had seen them. Especially in many small island countries hidden deep in the ocean and inaccessible, taking a one-stop cruise is simply the best travel and vacation solution of a dream.
1. Route selection
I have not traveled abroad for a long time, at the beginning of the year the country optimized the entry and exit policy, I immediately made a strategy, at that time domestic travel information was still lagging behind, I on various domestic and foreign websites to inquire, thousands of choices, and finally chose to take the MSC Seaside cruise ship to start my new journey in 2023.
MSC is the third largest cruise brand in the world and the world's largest family-owned cruise line with a wealth of heritage and sailing experience. It has a total of 21 ultra-modern cruise ships, and in June this year, the latest MSC Mediterranean Goddess will also be launched, bringing the fleet size to 22 ships. Routes throughout Europe, South America, the Middle East, the Caribbean, hardware configuration is luxurious, routes are not too rich. In China's home port market, the Mediterranean Lyric and Mediterranean Splendor have also been here, and many friends have taken them.
My picks were to take the MSC Coastline, a 15-day Caribbean route from Barbados via Grenada, Saint-Gerry, Martinique (French), Guadeloupe (French), Sint Martin (Dutch/French), Antigua and Barbuda, Saint-Nepal, Dominica, St. Lu and finally back to Barbados.
These countries are very small, most of them have probably never heard of the name, and it is very, very difficult for Chinese tourists to arrive. My one-stop cruise can check in 11 niche countries in the South Caribbean, don't be too relaxed and pleasant, I'm simply too witty.
In 11 countries, you can enjoy different countries almost every day.
Enjoying the beauty of a large number of Caribbean island countries, as well as the blessing of various entertainment experiences on the MSC coastline cruise, this half month has made me truly have an unforgettable vacation.
2. Preparations
First of all, let's talk about the preliminary preparation, my route belongs to the islands of the Caribbean region of the Americas, some of which belong to French overseas territories, for tourists with Chinese passports, remember to apply for a Schengen visa including French overseas territories. Visa information is for reference only, real-time visa requirements remember to check before departure, subject to the cruise origin, destination country consulate and Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs public information.
At the same time, the small yellow book with more than 2 injections also needs to bring (including vaccine transcription information), or "international travel health certificate".
Remember to print the booked round-trip ticket and ferry ticket (there is an itinerary on the ticket) for reference, and the entry and exit customs will most likely ask. International travel insurance also needs to be purchased, remember to cover the date of departure from China.
UnionPay is not supported in the Caribbean, so you'll need to bring a Visa/Master credit card, as well as some USD and EUR cash. Barbados uses the Barbadian Dollar BBD; Martinique (France), Guadeloupe (France), Saint Martin (Netherlands/France), Euro EUR in 4 regions; The remaining six countries use the East Caribbean dollar XCD together.
To sum up, the information you need to bring includes - passport, valid visa, air ticket and ferry ticket, small yellow book/health certificate, travel insurance covering the departure date of China, Visa card/USD/EUR. During the convenient period, it is best to bring an Internet device, such as Roaming Superman.
3. Departure
There is no direct flight from China to Barbados, and it is necessary to transit in the UK/Netherlands/USA/Canada. Because I have a 10-year US visa/10-year add-on/5-year Schengen, I have more freedom in air ticket selection, and I finally transited through Canada and arrived in Barbados. Barbados and China are exempt from visas and enter the country with silky slippery.
In addition, the MSC coastline route can also choose to board the two French overseas provinces of Pegastinique or Guadeloupe, and there are many flights from Europe.
4. Embarkation - MSC Coastline
In recent years, it has not been convenient to travel abroad, I have not taken an international cruise for a long time, and this time I landed on the MSC coastline for the first time, and I was a little nervous and apprehensive. But it didn't take long for me to be overwhelmed by the luxurious treats and entertainment on the coastline and leave my apprehension behind.
First of all, the room is huge. MSC Coastline has various types of cabins to meet various needs, I booked a deluxe balcony room, I didn't expect the area to be so large, it is the largest cruise ship I have ever taken, the balcony + room area is about 22 square meters.
And the interior decoration is elegant and comfortable, many friends look at my circle of friends, and say that the feeling is not far from the star hotel.
The day after boarding the ship was a sailing day, so I explored the MSC Shoreline cruise ship. 20 decks, 7 restaurants, 16 bars, 17 entertainment facilities, 4 swimming pools, 5 fitness and spa beauty venues, 9 boutique shopping outlets... The coastline is simply a mobile town, and it feels like you have not been lost all day ~
The core atrium of the entire cruise ship is really gorgeous.
Surrounded by dazzling and exquisite Swarovski crystal spiral staircase, handcrafted by Italian artisans.
And it's so lively, more than 4,000 passengers, men wear suit shirts, women are evening dresses, Caribbean cruise customs are really different, I feel that I have less formal wear.
The ship has a large number of sea-friendly spaces, various large and wide transparent boardwalks, and a stunning 40-meter-high "Bridge of Sighs", built for the sun and the sea.
There is also the longest zipline on the sea and a water park on the sea.
I experience the fun of watching the sea and playing in the water on different decks every day, which really fills the sense of vacation~
There are more than 20 restaurants and bars, the main restaurants, Ipanema Restaurant and Seashore Restaurant, elegant and sophisticated, lunch and dinner menus are different every day, free of charge. Formal attire is required for dinner. Eating every day and watching all kinds of costumes shuttling around is really pleasing to the eye. If you don't want to eat at a glance, the buffet restaurant - Marketplace Buffet Market Cafeteria can also go to eat for free at any time.
There are 3 paid restaurants, each with its own characteristics, namely Asian Market Kitchen, Ocean Cay, an ocean reef restaurant specializing in seafood, and the Butcher's Cut, an authentic American steakhouse. My favorite is the Asian Market Kitchen, an Asian fusion concept restaurant created by MSC and international culinary pioneer Roy Yamaguchi, after all, eating Western and Caribbean dishes in the main restaurant for 15 days in half a month is still a bit distressing for the Chinese stomach. The Asian Bazaar Kitchen offers a variety of Asian fusion dishes, Japanese food, sushi, innovative Chinese food, satisfying Asian stomachs.
I happened to be at an Asian restaurant I booked on my birthday, and I was swiping my phone while eating, and suddenly the restaurant staff gathered around with a big birthday cake and singing birthday songs. I didn't come back at first, I was confused, and when I reacted, I was super moved, a foreign country, and I can have strangers wish me birthday wishes, so warm, thank you to the crew of MSC.
MSC Aurea Spa & Beauty Center, which I also went to experience, is personally managed by professional therapists from Bali and is known as one of the "Top 5 Best Cruise Spas". Very professional, I want to give five-star praise, press it is really comfortable. Luxurious hardware, a variety of abundant shower facilities, and the private space of the exclusive spa.
Among other things, the full-size bowling alley, XD cinema, the invincible Technogym Fitness Center with the sea view, the Cruise Grand Theatre Fun Evening Show, the exclusive LEGO Sea Park under the MSC brand, and duty-free luxury shopping outlets on the sea are the entertainment towns of the sea.
5. 11 countries/regions along the route
Let's talk specifically about the 11 countries where I checked in along the Coastline.
Stop 1, Grenada
After all, it was the first stop, so excited, I got off the ship and took the drone and flew down.
The turquoise waters of the Caribbean, crisscrossing streets, colorful rooftops, forts, churches standing on top of hilltops, and a beautiful lagoon. St. George simply occupies all the characteristics that a small island capital might have~
Fort George, the fortress site at the top of the hill, is a must-see attraction in Grenada, with a ticket of 2 knives, using architectural elements from Europe and the Caribbean, including stone and brick construction, red roofs, narrow doors and windows, and thick city walls. But the main thing is the view overlooking the whole of St. George. The endless ocean on the left and the beautiful lagoon on the right can be seen as far as the eye can see.
The traditional market is of course also a must-visit, and the St. George's Market by the sea is also a must-visit. George's Market), which is divided into indoor and outdoor sections, sells a variety of local handicrafts and souvenirs, as well as snacks, and I chatted with the local residents. There is also a Chinese yakisoba shop on the main street, and I also ran over to chat with the hostess (I was really chatterbox), she was also surprised and happy, this country rarely sees tourists from the motherland.
After a long day of strolling, I found that although this country is small, it is quite interesting.
Grenada is a large immigration country (nominally), because passports are visa-free for all mainstream countries in the world (even China is exempt from each other), and you can also directly enter the United States for an E2 visa and go directly to the United States for long-term residence.
In addition, although it is a small area, it is the second largest producer of nutmeg in the world, and it seems that Chinese stew is also placed. In order to determine what the nutmeg looks like, I also went to the supermarket to find it.
Stop 2, Saint-Ger
When the curtains were opened in the morning, the MSC Shoreline cruise I was sitting on had landed in San Ge, and the sea view from the balcony was quite nice.
The small island of Saint-Ger may not be large, but it also has a beautiful view.
The whole is a mountain city country, and the streets are full of people and vitality.
The most recognizable attraction in the capital, Kingston, Black Church, also known as St. George Methodist Church. George's Anglican Church）。 The Black Church takes its name from its black exterior, built of concrete and lava limestone, and is very domineering. The interior also has beautiful stained glass windows and ornate decorations that are worth seeing.
However, my biggest impression of Shengge is that the density of children is too high, and it is a school in two steps. It's really full of kids and schools.
Even the Black Church, the capital's most eye-catching attraction, has set aside 1/3 as an elementary school. I don't know if all Caribbean countries send children to study here, or the fertility rate of this country is really amazing.
Stop 3, Martinique
Martinique is one of the most high-profile countries in the Caribbean. This French overseas territory is very beautiful, with a strong French flair and tropical scenery. The MSC Coastline route I chose will make a total of 2 stops in Martinique along the way.
Martinique, a large overseas province of France, has the same laws and status as France itself, except that it is not geographically located in Europe. In addition, Napoleon's wife was born here, the Empress of France that year.
Because there is European homegrown aid (transfers?) ), so Martinique's economic outlook and temperament are significantly richer than those of neighboring Caribbean countries. The fashion of street stores has also increased.
In addition to McDonald's, there is also French Lorefour I was shocked, I didn't expect that even Galeries Lafayette had it. The supermarket is full of fruits and vegetables, French desserts, and contrasts with supermarkets in the countries surrounding the Caribbean.
By the way, Martinique's plants feel huge, and for the first time you see avocados as big as grapefruit, locals eat them with bibimbap. Taro is even as big as a coconut, and I didn't recognize it when I saw the locals buying it in pots, and the locals called the taro directly Chou de Chine or Dachine, which means "Chinese cuisine", but the local word refers to Chinese cabbage.
In terms of architecture, Martinique has a city library "Schoelcher" worth seeing, the architectural style is unique, and the interior is also very grand and gorgeous. The collection contains a large number of books and documents on the Caribbean Sea.
My local French shooting champion friend in Martinique drove me to the most famous rum winery in Martinique, famous for its rum.
As soon as I got off the car, I was still a long way from the winery, and I could smell the soft smell of wine in the air, and I was shocked, and for the first time I felt the physical version of the wine aroma that was not afraid of the deep alley.
I also learned that rum is made from sugar cane in the mountains, and my friends said that when they went to school, the school would organize a hands-on experience of how to make rum.
I also drank rum for the first time in Martinique, and I had only eaten rum ice cream before, and I always thought that the wine I paired with dessert must be the taste of red wine, but I didn't expect that the rum taste was white wine, a little spicy.
Stop 4, Guadeloupe
The fourth leg of the voyage, took the MSC Coastline cruise to another large French overseas province, Guadeloupe. Like Martinique, the MSC Coastline makes a total of 2 stops in Guadeloupe.
I came twice and felt the two heavens of ice and fire.
The first time I came was on Sunday, European countries genetically, stores are closed, I understand, what I didn't expect was that even McDonald's had a weekend holiday, and the whole city was empty.
However, the romantic art scene of mainland France is amplified here, and it is also infused with warm Caribbean colors. Except for the church walls, no one dares to make a second time, all the walls on the street are all kinds of graffiti, free self blooming and expression, all styles. Traveling in Guadeloupe is like walking through a colorful comic book.
The second time I came, it just happened to happen to run into the local carnival, wow, lucky~
I always thought that the French were not early, but I didn't expect that the carnival that started at 1 p.m., and at 9 a.m., the streets were already full of men, women and children with their own benches.
As soon as the Latin music was played, the drums were beaten, and the enthusiastic girls jumped all the way and exploded~
Stops 5 & 6, Sint Maarten (Dutch/French)
Left-handed France, right-handed Holland. Stops 5 and 6 are the only places in France and the Netherlands with a land border, St. Martin.
The MSC Shoreline cruise ships will land at the terminal Philipsburg in St. Maarten. If you want to go to Saint Martin, France, you can take a bus, there is no hard border between the two countries, the same bus system, and you can walk around casually.
However, the road conditions are average, it is not far away, but the speed is not fast, including the waiting time, it takes about 1 and a half hours one and a half hours one way.
But St. Martin's best known worldwide should be its shaved airport, the kind that flies with the 机️ scalp. It is also directly accessible by bus.
Basically, you can see a small plane landing in 10 minutes.
The visuals of a big plane like KLM would be quite impressive, but I had other activities scheduled for the afternoon and didn't wait, a little regretful. But I still took good photos.
Stop 7, Antigua and Barbuda
Stop 7, Da Antigua and Barbuda, a small Caribbean island nation where the British royal family loves to come for vacations.
As soon as you get off the cruise, you can feel that this is a warm and colorful country.
In addition to the development of tourism, the star product of agriculture, black pineapple, is also painted on the national emblem.
Black pineapple is one of the sweetest pineapple varieties in the world, there are many theories about the origin of the name, the seedlings are dark green / the sweetest when they grow to dark green (the color I bought is not exactly in season) / grow in black soil. I went to a roadside stall and bought one, the volume is not large, 50RMB a piece, so expensive. Tube peeling and sectioning. No need to gouge eyes, no hard core, no need to soak in salt water, eat directly. Wow, it is indeed sweet, delicious, and the pineapple flavor is rich and worthy of the national emblem~
Stop 8, Saint-Ni
Sunny, although not large, is not lacking in beautiful sandy beaches, rainforests, historical and cultural heritage and various water activities.
Before I came, I heard about Sheng Ni, and I knew that the passport taken by the actual controller of Qiu Jiangnan was here. The most well-known tourist resource of Shengni is actually the Sulphur Stone Fortress National Park, which was established by the Queen of England herself, a world cultural heritage site, and a model of a castle in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The castle is located at the top of the hill, and I took the bus to the bottom of the mountain by myself, and then hiked up, which took about half an hour.
Wow, it's so beautiful, the quiet sea breeze blows, like a palace left by the sea god in the world.
After the rain, the green lawn and blue sea are like a fairyland.
However, there was no bus down the hill from the castle, so I hitched a ride in a black guy's pickup truck and sat in the body of the car and went down the mountain. The first time I sat in the back of a pickup truck to see the world, the perspective was quite novel, and I said hello to people all the way.
Stop 9, Dominica
Dominica, this country name I always tend to confuse with Dominica.
The scenery is beautiful, and looking at the port from the balcony of the room in the early morning, like an oil painting, this is also the location of the movie Pirates of the Caribbean.
Some angles are very similar to Makoto Shinkai's anime.
Dominica is rich in bananas and has put them in the national emblem. I went to the supermarket to walk around, the variety is dazzling, the clerk brother introduced me one by one, which banana is fresh, which banana is cooking, what is the difference in flavor~ is that the size is really a little big, I hesitated to break 3 sticks to buy, 3RMB, it is really delicious, that is, too full, directly save lunch...
Stop 10, Saint-Loup
At first glance, what a peaceful mountain town.
The entire country of Saint Lou has a population of only 180,000, scattered among the mountains.
However, in this population, it has produced 2 Nobel Prize winners, one in literature, one in the economy, and the country that claims to have the most Nobel Prizes per capita, can only sigh at the education level of this small country.
Among them, Sir William Arthur Lewis won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1979, the first black person to win the Nobel Prize for non-peace, and the only black person to win the Nobel Prize for scientific research so far.
Stop 11, Barbados
The MSC Shoreline cruise I picked was Barbados (you can also choose Martinique and the like), so the last stop was back here, Rihanna's hometown.
I've been in the Caribbean for more than half a month and haven't gone swimming in the sea.
Back in Barbados this time, the first thing to do is to take a catamaran and jump into the sea to take a bath.
Lying flat on the roof of the boat, the sun, the sand, the music, the blue Caribbean Sea, the turtles, and the bikini girl, this is the Caribbean model. Rent another car and head north along Barbados' coastline, passing through colourful towns in the Caribbean breeze.
Haciendas, monasteries, rum distilleries, tropical gardens... Sitting and watching the clouds outside the sky, some beauty is heartbreaking.
6. Summary and Recommendations
If you want to explore the different customs and customs of China and appreciate the diversity of the mysterious world, the MSC South Caribbean route is still quite recommended. For example, my 15-day island-hopping trip to 11 countries/regions, except for no suites, all are high-fied, staying in the coastline double balcony room, per capita only spent about 15,000 ferry tickets, one-stop check-in, no need to travel and car. In addition, the Caribbean also has a route from Miami that will pass through MSC's private island, the MSC Marine Reserve, Ocean Reef, which is also a very interesting option.
In addition, MSC routes are all over the world, quite a few novelty and niche routes. In addition to the classic East-West Mediterranean route, there is also the Red Sea route: MSC is the only major cruise line to operate the relevant route. Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia are also cool to embark on a cruise in exotic countries.
By the way, the round the world route is also a route that MSC has always been popular, the current 121 days of global products departing in 2024 is almost sold out, and the 2025 round the world route has just started selling today, and I am already a little excited to chop my hand. MSC's official platform is carrying out spring promotion on overseas routes, you can pay attention to it, book overseas tours for summer and National Day holidays in advance, early bird tickets are cost-effective, squat to speed up chopping.
Finally, a little tip for everyone, when I take a cruise, I buy refrigerator stickers every country I visit. The walls of the cruise cabin are all metal, so the refrigerator sticker can be plastered all over the walls of the room, don't be too cool. The next time you take a cruise, you can also try it~