Star Collector: Lovely Leewards

The imposing façade of El Morro fortress is just one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in San Juan. Admire the colorful colonial buildings from your casually elegant ship, docked right in the heart of Old San Juan.

SEAD

Inhale the intoxicating aroma of the "Isle of Spice" as your eyes feast on what is widely claimed to be the most beautiful city in the Caribbean. Spend the day on 2-mile-long Grand Anse beach, and before you go, a taste of nutmeg ice cream is a must.

The only ships in port are those small enough to anchor alongside the yachts and fishing boats in Admiralty Bay. Bequia's whaling heritage is on display in the museum in pretty Port Elizabeth, or watch the island's famed model boat builders at work on their miniature masterpieces.

Mayreau is the smallest inhabited island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, covering just about 1.5 square miles with a population of only a few hundred people. Tucked between Union Island and the Tobago Cays in the southern Grenadines, it's known for its laid-back, off-the-grid charm—there are no airports, no banks, and only one small village (Old Wall) perched on a hillside.

This is the Caribbean as you've always imagined it, with yacht-filled harbors set against volcanic mountains and endless stretches of palm-fringed beach. The underwater world here attracted the likes of Jacques Cousteau, but even novice snorkelers will enjoy exploring these impossibly blue waters.

Established around 1689, Marigot is the attractive capital of French St. Martin, with its brightly colored houses, a lively open-air market, secluded beaches, and pretty waterfront promenade. Because of its tax-free status, Marigot is a popular center for duty-free shopping, where all of the world's most prestigious brands can be found.  Originally the area was marshy, and surrounded by mangroves. In the 1970s part of the bay was filled in to extend Marigot into a larger city with a marina. Overlooking Marigot is Fort St. Louis, the largest historical monument in St. Martin with an impressive panoramic view of the bay.

The imposing façade of El Morro fortress is just one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in San Juan. Admire the colorful colonial buildings from your casually elegant ship, docked right in the heart of Old San Juan.

CRUZ BAY, ST. JOHN, Virgin Islands (U.S.)

Affectionately known as St. Barts, the Caribbean's most chic island adds a French flair to Riviera-like beaches and duty-free boutiques. Walk past gingerbread cottages in search of celebrities, shop for designer fashions, or sip the island's signature ti punch as kite surfers fly by.

With Georgian architecture situated against an irresistible backdrop of emerald green hills, Basseterre is one of the loveliest of the Caribbean's small capitals. Beyond town, more than a quarter of St. Kitts has been set aside as Brimstone Hill Fortress national Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Pastel-colored buildings and shops filled with tempting souvenirs herald your arrival to bustling Philipsburg. Situated near the harbor on the Dutch side of St. Maarten, Philipsburg owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus in 1493. Today, celebrated Front Street is home to a number of local Creole restaurants as well as jewelry stores, stylish boutiques, and lively casinos for visitors seeking an upbeat island experience.

For an island comprised of a mere eight square miles, it's amazing how much there is to do on Jost Van Dyke. Visit the national park on nearby Diamond Cay, snorkel among swaying sponges and angelfish at Sandy Spit, or pilot your own boat around Sir Francis  Drake Waterway. After all that, you'll be ready for an evening drink on the beach - where you can admire your Windstar ship aglow in the harbor.

The  beautiful Bank Barrier coral reef wavers just beneath you as your ship makes the break to the bird sanctuary of Prickly Pear Island, so named because it is dotted with prickly pear cacti. Althought uninhabited, it does have a beach bar and water sports facilities. Not far away lies the curious assembly of house-sized boulders called "The Baths," which form huge underground pools and caverns

The imposing façade of El Morro fortress is just one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in San Juan. Admire the colorful colonial buildings from your casually elegant ship, docked right in the heart of Old San Juan.