NEWSDAY: CARIBBEAN ISLAND HOPPING OPTIONS TO EXPAND BY CONNECT CARIBE?
Trinidadian liner Connect Caribe has announced its ambition to connect all major islands of the eastern Caribbean via its ferry services, starting this year by servicing Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and Trinidad and Tobago. A second phase would include Martinique, Guadeloupe, St Maarten, British Virgin Islands and US Virgin Islands.
It needs to be stated these plans have been postponed previously. Should the shipping company finalize these routes, it would mean a landslide change in how the exotic beach destinations of the Caribbean can be enjoyed (and combined) by visitors without using an airplane.
At this point, St Maarten already is an island hopping hub with ferries to Anguilla, St. Barths, Saba, St. Eustatius (Statia) and St. Kitts. The latter in turn connects to Nevis. Other Caribbean ferry connections are mostly operated on an island to island basis down the Caribbean archipelago, for example from Martinique to St. Lucia and many others. At this point, no passenger shipping line connects the entire chain of Caribbean islands but for cruises. But even cruise ships clearly are selective as their vessel size and business model prevents them visiting off-the-beaten-path destinations.
“Gaps” in individual island hopping routes by ferry are currently served by inter-island airlines like Winair. If Connect Caribe lives up to its plan, the near future would provide the opportunity to connect all-inclusive resort and hotel stays on different islands, connecting the best regional things to do, shopping meccas, seafood destinations and best beaches represented by these warm winter getaways in one holiday. Budgeted visitors and backpackers would be able to select the cheapest Caribbean destinations to visit and combine those with a cost efficient boat ride.
Hub islands like St. Maarten would further connect to smaller surrounding islands, as would St. Vincent and Grenada to the Grenadines. Absent in Connect Caribes envisioned routes are western Caribbean destinations like the British and United States Virgin Islands, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the Cayman islands, put possibly this is considered a third phase.
The connection seemingly in the making is an interesting thought for sure. Connecting the best Caribbean islands befitting your personal preferences with only one ferry ride will however take more time than taking a regional plane from hubs like St. Maarten Airport. The distance from Trinidad to St. Maarten alone is 850 km. So whereas a Caribbean ferry trip sounds adventurous and will be a travel experience on its own, planning will be needed. Key will be to diligently select your preferred Caribbean vacation destinations and see what combinations are feasible measured in time, affordability and fun. A nautical Caribbean island hopping guide will direly be needed to explore all options when this plan comes into fruition
Back to Doing Business Menu of Visit St Maarten / St Martin
Back to Main Page of Visit St Maarten / St Martin