Page 45 - AAA Magazine – AAA Ohio Auto Club – November 2018

Swedes, French and rum
Originally named Le Carénage by the French inhabitants of the island of Saint Barthélemy (also known as St. Barts), the capital city was renamed Gustavia to honor King Gustav III of Sweden in the mid-1780s. However, Sweden gave the island back
to France in 1878, and yet the name has remained. Because of the shallow port, the ship will have to anchor offshore here, but that also allows for a great excursion. Shortly after you tender from the ship, you will board your semi-submersible craft. Entering the vessel, you will notice that large windows provide you with a chance to observe underwater creatures and landscapes. Besides the myriad tropical fish and sea turtles, you also might glimpse a shark as the semi-sub
travels over the wreck of a ship that sank during a
1995 hurricane.
Back on land, make sure to try some of the food, where you will find a mix of Creole,
iStock.com/cdwheatley
Asian and, of course, French, and pretty much anything in between at the island’s nearly 80 restaurants.
As with most port stops in the Caribbean, you most likely will land in the capital of the island and St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, is no different. History, nature and culture all converge in St. John’s on the island of Antigua (Barbuda is another island about 30 miles north). There are plenty of beaches where you can soak in the rays or go snorkeling. The Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, less than a 1⁄2-mile walk from the cruise ship dock, is in the city’s old Court House, which was built in 1750. Or, take
in a rum tasting with savory Antiguan and Caribbean specialties to cleanse your palate between samplings. And, of course, you will have the opportunity to purchase the bottle you liked the best to take home with you.
No matter which cruise you pick, decide what you would do instead: Clear the snow off your windshield or brush the sand off your feet? Spending a few days bouncing around island paradises is the perfect getaway from the holiday rush.
John T. Garcia is the managing editor of AAA Magazine.
For travel planning assistance, visit your local AAA store or AAA.com/Travel
Photo: Oceania Cruises