The recently launched small-ship cruise line Pearl Seas Cruises has drawn up an attractive-sounding itinerary for its first Caribbean cruising season in spring 2015.

The company’s brand-new vessel, the 210 passenger capacity ‘Pearl Mist’, will be deployed on a selection of cruises to some of the Caribbean’s most sought-after island destinations, including The Bahamas, the US and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Turks & Caicos, St Martin and Martinique. Each itinerary is designed to highlight what the company describes as “the most exquisite areas of the Caribbean which few people have the opportunity to experience”. The Grand Caribbean cruise, for instance, will take passengers to 11 distinctive islands including Jost Van Dyke, St Croix and Saba, with fascinating shore excursions in each place.

Concept

One of the key advantages of the small cruise ship concept – from the point of view of the host island or host port – is that, in the words of Pearl Seas Cruises, “we never overwhelm the local communities visited”.

A choice of seven-night, 10-night and 11-night Caribbean itineraries is being offered by Pearl Seas Cruises, running from February to May 2015 (see accompanying table).

Pearl Seas Cruises is the newest small-ship cruise line in the United States. It claims to have developed a new style of luxury small-ship cruising with an emphasis on comfort, safety and personalised service combined with a relaxing and intimate atmosphere on board. A unique selling point of the ‘Pearl Mist’ is that the new ship is designed to navigate sheltered harbours, rivers and protected waterways as well as the open sea.

The excellent ‘route availability’ of the ‘Pearl Mist’ will be amply demonstrated in the company’s inaugural season, commencing in June 2014, when Pearl Seas Cruises will be offering a range of cruises to New England, the Canadian Maritimes, the Great Lakes and the St Lawrence Seaway. The vessel’s maiden voyage will take the form of an 11-night, 12-day New England Christening Cruise up the eastern seaboard of the United States and Canada from Baltimore to Halifax departing on 25 June 2104.

The ‘Pearl Mist’ has been undergoing final outfitting by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland. The company has coined the phrase ‘Luxury Adventure’ to describe the style of cruising that goes with its brand-new vessel. The ‘Pearl Mist’ is intended to be a super-luxury vessel that, in addition, offers passengers the chance to experience the thrill of cruising in a small ship.

On the luxury side, the ‘Pearl Mist’ features very large and gracefully appointed staterooms, all with private balconies and full-sized bathrooms. Excellent food is served in the Grand Dining Room. There is also a choice of comfortable lounges, while other onboard amenities include a spa, a fitness center and a theater . Wireless internet access and flat-screen satellite TV are provided in every stateroom.

Intimate

In terms of passenger safety, too, the ‘Pearl Mist’ earns a high score, complying with all the latest maritime safety regulations. The aim of Pearl Seas Cruises is to create an intimate and congenial ambience on board its cruise ship, while offering the level of hospitality one might expect from a world-class hotel.

Speaking in December 2013, Timothy Beebe, Vice President of Pearl Seas Cruises, said: “As the New Year and the completion of the Pearl Mist draw closer, we’re getting increasingly excited to introduce the world to Pearl Seas Cruises. Complete with new Caribbean sailings, we believe the line’s unique itineraries and Luxury Adventure concept will appeal to many and we look forward to welcoming guests onboard.”

Caribbean cruise schedule

• Path of the Explorers – Southbound: 11-night cruise from West Palm Beach, Florida, to St Martin, departing on 21 February 2015
• Grand Caribbean – St Martin: 10-night round trip departing St Martin on 4 March 2015
• Caribbean Discovery – St Martin: seven-night round trip departing St Martin on 14 March and 21 March 2015
• Grand Caribbean – St Martin: 11-night cruise from St Martin to San Juan departing on 28 March 2015
• Grand Caribbean – Puerto Rico: 10 night-round trip departing San Juan on 8 April 2015
• Caribbean Discovery – Puerto Rico: seven-night round trip departing San Juan on 18 April and 25 April 2015
• Path of the Explorers – Northbound: 11-nights cruise from San Juan to Freeport, Bahamas, departing on 2 May 2015