Barbuda By Day

From our Excursion feature in the December issue to our glowing trip reports here on the blog this month, you've been reading a lot about lovely Barbuda lately – and naturally you're ready to go check it out for yourself now. But in case you're a little short on the $1,000-per-night starting rate at the island's luxe Lighthouse Bay Resort, we thought we should mention that you can also enjoy the island's pristine, 17-mile beach and a taste of the resort's delish dining without ever checking in. Chart a course on your own vessel and drop anchor near the resort's beachside Lagoon Café for a bite and a signature cocktail...all of the island's beaches are public. Sans sailboat? You can also hop a ride from Antigua on one of the island's many day-trip charters for a modest fee. Since you're out of excuses now, be sure to share your trip report and photos on our Facebook page after you go!

Setting Sail

February marks the beginning of regatta season in the Caribbean — pictured is a shot from the St. Croix Regatta, running from February 19 to 21 — and as a total sailing neophyte, I’m eagerly reading every tidbit I come across regarding these sailing spectacles. In 28 short days I’ll be testing the waters, so to speak, when I head to St. Maarten to participate in the 30th annual Heineken Regatta from March 4-7. Growing up in landlocked Kansas, I had little exposure to the big blue sea, neither did I get into sailing in Wisconsin, where I went to school, and I've yet to be on a boat here in Florida. Which seems ridiculous. I suppose it took the lure of getting to sail in an actual race, all the Heineken I can handle (believe me, they'll be sorry) and a trip to beautiful St. Maarten to convince me to climb aboard. I'm not sure if I'll make captain in my days on board or I'll be swabbing decks, but either way, I can't wait. If you want to join in the fun, the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino is offering a "Regatta Retreat" special where you'll get a free night for stays from March 3 to 8, as long as you book four nights. Rates start at $290 per room, per night. Surf over to www.sonesta.com/stmaarten and use booking code HR10. See you there!

Free WiFi in the Bahamas

Thanks to the new social networking site CruiseTube, cruisers who stop at the at Bahamas Festival Place ship terminal in Nassau can stay connected for free with complimentary Internet access. Just sign up for a free CruiseTube profile in advance of your sail and you'll also be able to interact with other cruisers and industry insiders to swap photos, videos and stories from your travels at sea. The site also works with your existing Facebook page, so you can stay in touch with all the cruisers you meet long after the voyage ends. For more information, check out www.cruisetube.com.

Free Condos in St. Maarten...Seriously

So let's say you have a multi-million dollar mega yacht (I mean, who doesn't?) – and let's also say you're a big fan of cruising around the Caribbean. You're reading this blog, so at least that second part is probably true. Now the obvious question is, where to dock the thing on your many jaunts to St. Maarten? Lucky for you, big spender, the folks over at the luxury Porto Cupecoy village have an idea – and it's a cool one. To celebrate the grand opening of the property's new marina complex in December, your purchase of one of the 11 mega yacht slips will also get you a free residence valued up to $500,000! Yes, a free half-million dollar condo. I wouldn't make that up.

To check out the available marina slips and take photo and video tours of the rest of the 182-unit Porto Cupecoy property, just surf over to the promotion page on their site. And since we know you love free stuff, don't forget to visit our own contest page, then enter our two new social media promotions – the Facebook Fan Frenzy and the Win a Stay at Coconut Bay Contest – for your chance to win free vacations in St. Lucia and Bermuda!

Affordable Luxury in the Grenadines

If you find yourself with a little free time this Fall, Young Island Resort in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has an idea for how you can spend it. Between now and October 31, if you book either the Lover's or Sail Away package for seven nights, you'll get your eighth night free plus a complimentary upgrade to an all-inclusive stay, so all your meals, drinks and snacks will be on the house. And if you book a Luxury or Duvernette cottage for your stay, you'll also enjoy free round-trip airfare between Barbados and St. Vincent.

The Lover's package starts at $3,430 per couple and includes accommodations in an ocean view room, airport and ferry transfers, a spa voucher and daily fresh fruits and flowers in your room, while the Sail Away package includes five nights of resort accommodations before taking to the high seas for two nights aboard a private 44-foot yacht. With the Sail Away option, you'll also cruise to Bequia and Mustique for snorkeling and sightseeing all included in the rate of $4,320 per couple.

Just surf over to the Young Island web site to book your private island vacation.

Sail the Caribbean Like Rupert Murdoch

When five stars just don't cut it anymore, it may be time to take to the high seas in a $40 million chartered megayacht. The newest member of the rental pool is the Rosehearty, a 184-foot sailing yacht designed by the famed Italian boat-builder Perini Navi (the company responsible for the outlandishly opulent, 290-foot Maltese Falcon, a vessel doubtless familiar to visitors of Antigua's Falmouth Harbour during Sailing Week). Owned by News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch, the Rosehearty (named after Murdoch's home in Centre Island, New York — also rentable) offers space for 10 charter guests (not including the crew of nine) in five suites created by French designer and decorator Christian Liaigre. It has an on-board gym, six sets of dive gear, and a pair of sailing dinghies (with instructor, of course). The tab for sailing the Caribbean like a media mogual? Try €220,000 a week (that's about $314,000 at current rates). Fortunately, for the rest of us, daydreams are still free.

Cruising with JetBlue

JetBlue.com probably isn't the first place you look when you're searching for a great cruise deal, but the airline is trying to change that this month. Just select a 4-, 5- or 7-night cruise from those listed on the airline's web site - with rates starting at just $189 per person - and members of JetBlue's rewards program True Blue will enjoy a $50 voucher toward a future flight.

The fine print? You have to book your cruise by August 24, then take the cruise and use the air credit between September 10 and November 7 of this year. The window is a little tight, but for travelers searching for big savings on Fall travel, this may be just the promotion to try.

Jump Ship in the BVIs

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If you ever find yourself cruising around the BVIs, you probably won't be in a hurry to get off the boat. But the latest promotion from the five-star Biras Creek Resort on Virgin Gorda makes a pretty good argument for dry land: When chartering a sail with Horizon Yacht Charters, you can Jump Ship for a night and get a taste of the luxury resort's offerings - including Garden Suite accommodations with a private outdoor shower, gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner, and use of the spa, pool, tennis courts and other amenities - all for the discounted rate of $575 double occupancy per night. The same rooms go for $700 in low season - $950 in high - so it's a pretty convincing reason to dock for a night or two and check it out.

Contact Horizon Yacht Charters or Biras Creek to set up your trip between now and December 17, then check out our other recent blog about mooring at Royal Plantation in the Bahamas.

SeaDream Yacht Savings

We must have San Juan on the brain this week (see posts below), but it's worth mentioning that SeaDream Yacht Club has just announced new low fares for five- to twelve-day voyages this spring when sailing from the old city. The fares - starting at $1,799 per person - could save you up to 63-percent off published brochure rates. The boutique cruise line offers a selection of Caribbean itineraries aboard a fleet of two luxury ships - SeaDream I and SeaDream II - both of which have a cozy, 50-odd cabin capacity and serve all-inclusive meal and cocktail plans. But get moving...the low rates are only good through May.

To read more about boutique cruises including SeaDream, check out our feature, Fantastic Voyages. Then surf over to the SeaDream site or call (800) 707-4911 to book your spring sail.

Give Land a Chance

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What's not to love about sailing through the Caribbean? There's the sun on your face, the wind at your back, and that intoxicating Titanic sensation you get from charting a course to any exotic destination you like. Out on the open water, it’s easy to feel that just maybe you really are the king of the world. (I like to act this scene out whenever possible on a ship, though I prefer princess). But whether your vessel of choice is a mega yacht or dingy, sometimes you need to give your sea legs a break.

The folks over at Royal Plantation know the feeling, and they're giving you yachties a convincing reason to get off the boat. Next time you find yourself adrift in the Exumas, drop anchor at the 50-acre private island resort and check out the Escape Offshore package, which buys you a five-course dinner at the Harbour Club, and includes unlimited wine, champagne, and premium cocktails. The tab? Just $100 per person...a price that could turn even diehard seafarers into landlubbers. With all the free drinks, though, please consider a designated captain for your return voyage.

Check out the Royal Plantation site to make a reservation:

www.royalplantation.com