Some Caribbean journeys ask you to hurry from one island to the next. This one begins by doing the opposite.
Sailing from Miami to San Juan from 5 to 12 February 2027, the route gives you two full days at sea before the first port. That breathing room changes the shape of the week. You unpack once, learn the light on your terrace, and let the horizon do its quiet work before Sint Maarten appears.
The setting is EXPLORA III, the brand new ship joining the Explora Journeys fleet in summer 2026. She has 461 ocean-front suites, five heated pools, seven restaurants, 12 bars and lounges, and the sort of space that makes a ship feel less like a resort at sea and more like a private hotel whose view is always changing.
An Ocean Terrace Suite is the right home for the crossing. At 35 square metres, or 377 square feet, it has floor-to-ceiling windows, a proper sitting area and a private terrace large enough for breakfast, an afternoon book, or a drink as Miami falls behind
The current offer
From 29 July through 25 August 2026, Explora Journeys' An Invitation to Celebrate promotion offers up to 30% savings on best available fares, together with a 10% reduced deposit.
When you book this sailing through me, you will also receive a $300 onboard credit per person or*600 for two guests, to enjoy during the journey.*
Explore the complete sample journey from Miami to San Juan, then get in touch and I will tailor the sailing around the way you actually want to travel.
First, two days of open water
The first sea day is deliberately restorative. Breakfast can arrive slowly, followed by an Ocean Wellness ritual for two and a long afternoon moving between a heated pool, lunch at Shore Club on 11 and the privacy of your terrace. Dinner at Fil Rouge brings French technique to the evening without making it formal.
The second day has a little more movement. Chef's Kitchen hosts just 12 guests for a hands-on session in an ocean-front kitchen, then the afternoon opens again. There is time to read, swim or follow whatever catches your interest in the daily programme. At 19:30, Anthology provides a measured Italian finale before the first island morning.
This is the advantage of placing the sea days at the beginning. By the time you arrive in the Caribbean proper, you have already settled into the ship.
One island, two flags
EXPLORA III docks in Philipsburg at 09:00 and stays until 21:00, so Sint Maarten never needs to feel compressed. A guided circuit crosses from Dutch Sint Maarten to French Saint-Martin, following Simpson Bay Lagoon and the coast through Oyster Pond, Orient Bay and Grand Case.
Two languages, two administrations and two distinct rhythms share one compact island. Back in Philipsburg, Great Bay and Front Street fill the late afternoon, with the ship close enough to make returning aboard entirely effortless.
St. Barth by water
The next morning, EXPLORA III anchors off Gustavia. Tendering ashore puts you directly into the harbor, where low red roofs, polished boutiques and sailboats sit against steep green hills.
A catamaran follows St. Barth's rugged western coast to Colombier Bay, a cove reached only by boat or trail. There is time to swim in clear water, dry off on deck and return to Gustavia without sacrificing the pleasure of the town itself.
The 23:00 departure is one of the itinerary's best decisions. Lunch can linger into shopping, an afternoon aboard can become a change of clothes, and dinner can happen ashore beneath the harbor lights. Nothing about the day needs to be rushed.
Cane country and volcanic ridges
Basseterre brings a change in texture. St. Kitts rises green and volcanic behind the port, and the narrow-gauge scenic railway traces the landscape once shaped by the island's sugar estates.
From a double-deck carriage, the route opens onto cane country, coastal villages and views toward Mount Liamuiga. The experience is gentle but deeply connected to place, offering history and landscape without demanding an expedition. You are back aboard in time for lunch and a slow final afternoon by the pool.
A protected final island
St. John is the quiet conclusion the route deserves. Roughly two-thirds of the island lies within Virgin Islands National Park, leaving its hills forested and its north shore threaded with pale beaches and sheltered water.
A local guide leads through plantation ruins, cultural landmarks and overlooks before finishing at Maho Bay. Swim in the calm shallows, then return by tender to watch the island recede from your terrace as EXPLORA III turns toward Puerto Rico.
San Juan arrives the next morning. Blue cobbles, shaded plazas and painted colonial facades begin just beyond the harbor, ready for an onward stay or a final few hours before the flight home.