Explore to inspire, a PONANT podcast
PONANT's cruises
The genesis of a new tropical itinerary
José Sarica opens his exploration notebook to us. To design future cruises, the Director of Expedition Experience R&D travelled extensively throughout the northern Caribbean, from the Bahamas to the Dominican Republic passing through the Turks and Caicos Islands. Behind the scenes of creating a Caribbean voyage.
What are your objectives during a scouting trip, and specifically for this one in the Caribbean?
The primary objective is to find the central theme, the story that we will reveal to our guests. To achieve this, dialogue with local communities is essential, because at PONANT EXPLORATIONS, we are committed to building long-term relationships. The aim is to showcase their heritage and work with local stakeholders using local resources, and where our logistics simply support these initiatives.
I then focus on selecting experiences, from the most contemplative to the most athletic. This allows each guest to immerse themselves in the destination through activities that suit them. The northern Caribbean offers a wide variety of landscapes (beaches, mangroves, coral reefs, caves, botanical gardens) ideal for hiking and scuba diving, as well as a fascinating history, from First Nations to colonisation, with sites and museums to visit, and picturesque towns providing atmosphere and shopping.
Can you tell us more about this story?
For example, I discovered that many remains of the islands’ earliest inhabitants are still evident. In the Dominican Republic you can find rock paintings created by the Taíno people, while in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Arawak peoples of Amerindian origin were present as early as prehistoric times. This was followed by the period of colonisation and slavery on cotton plantations. Then we have the golden age of piracy 17th and 18th centuries.
The Bahamas that I discovered are far from the cliché of crowded tropical beaches. The coastline is undeniably beautiful, but there are also abundant mangroves.
Your scouting began in the Bahamas. What did you discover there?
The Bahamas I discovered are far removed from the cliché of crowded tropical beaches. The coastline is undeniably beautiful, but there are also abundant mangroves. There is a real “Pirates of the Caribbean” atmosphere! You stroll among mangroves, explore secret caves with stalactites, discover cenotes of a mesmerising blue, and land on sandbanks at low tide…
On the beach at Staniel Cay, I also had an unusual experience in which a group of remarkably relaxed wild pigs delighted in taking to the water and frolicking with the bathers! It’s unexpected and amusing, and I think our guests will head back home with some great photos!
What was your favourite spot during this scouting trip to the northern Caribbean?
Without hesitation, the Turks and Caicos Islands! Perhaps because it is a British Overseas Territory, but there is a distinctive atmosphere of quiet elegance and refinement. It’s a contemplative, soothing Caribbean, where time seems to stand still. The beaches are stunningly beautiful, often deserted. I even plan to have the ship stop in front of a sublime little uninhabited island. And below the water… it is simply dazzling.
You are on the third-largest coral reef system in the world, after those of Australia and Belize.It is the most beautiful I have ever seen, despite my travels in Indonesia and the Seychelles. A forest of gently swaying corals and algae, purple gorgonians, hundreds of fish, green turtles gliding past you, and sometimes bottlenose dolphins approaching out of curiosity — it is extraordinary!
How will guests experience the seabed exploration?
Everyone, regardless of their level or physical condition, will be able to enjoy the spectacle. With mask and snorkel (and a flotation belt to avoid damaging the corals), through scuba diving supervised by the onboard diving instructor, or on a glass-bottom boat excursion — it is magnificent, and you can even stay dry!
Tell us about the third island you visited: the Dominican Republic…
Here, you encounter Hispanic culture, with a strong African influence. There is an almost electric energy in the air, something contagious. I met incredibly warm and welcoming people, including Philip Bresinsky, my local contact during the trip. A creator of tailor-made journeys and a true expert on the island, he introduced me to genuinely off-the-beaten-track locations, such as the future port of call in Monte Cristi. This small town is a real gem, with colourful Victorian houses, an amazing clock designed by Eiffel, and a national park with remarkable geological formations! PONANT EXPLORATIONS will be the first company to visit Monte Cristi – this is an exclusive opportunity.
One of the Dominican Republic’s best-kept secrets is certainly Samaná Bay, in the heart of Los Haitises National Park. From mid-January to mid-March — for which certain departures will mean our ships will be in the area — whales come here to give birth in these warm waters after their long migration from the Arctic and Canada. You can go out to meet them aboard small boats. For those lucky enough to experience it (and especially for me, as a trained marine biologist) it is truly unforgettable.
What would you like guests to take away from this journey?
To take their time, allowing themselves to be surprised each day by new encounters and new atmospheres, and understanding Caribbean cultural identity, which is ultimately the common thread of these journeys. The three destinations of the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Dominican Republic offer three very different faces of the Caribbean that I invite you to explore, far from the beaten path.
Crédits photos : ©AdobeStock ; ©iStock ; ©J. Sarica
Head for the northern Caribbean
Discover new itineraries from the Bahamas to the Dominican Republic aboard PONANT EXPLORATIONS ships
