aboard Sea Cloud

TheSeaLesser
Antilles
Cloud
aboard
February 16-24, 2014
VICTOR
EMANUEL
NATURE
TOURS
David Ascanio, a Venezuelan birder and naturalist, has spent 28 years guiding birding tours throughout his native country,
Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, the Amazon River, Guyana, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Lesser Antilles, Cuba,
Costa Rica, Chile, and Panama. David combines superb birding skills with an astonishing command of bird vocalizations.
He has published a book for children about the songs of the birds of Venezuela. He is an excellent communicator, has a great
sense of humor, and is tireless in helping others find birds and wildlife. These traits have made him one of the most popular
naturalists/guides in the Neotropics.
Victor Emanuel started birding in Texas 65 years ago at the age of eight. His travels have taken
him to all the continents, with his areas of concentration being Texas, Arizona, Mexico, Panama, and
Peru. He derives great pleasure from seeing and hearing birds, and sharing with others these avian
sights and sounds, both the common and the more unusual. He initiated the first birding camps for
young people, and considers that one of his greatest achievements. Victor holds a B.A. in zoology
and botany from the University of Texas and an M.A. in government from Harvard. In 2004, he
received the Roger Tory Peterson Award from the American Birding Association, and the Arthur A.
Allen Award from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.
John Harrison is a travel writer and lecturer, and a native of Liverpool, England. He took First Class Honors in geography at
Cambridge University and a Masters Degree in planning at Liverpool University. John’s short stories have been broadcast on
the BBC and collected in book form. His first travel book, Where the Earth Ends, about South America and Antarctica, was a
Sunday Times Book of the Week. John has traveled to 60 countries on six continents, and has extensive cruise experience.
He has made radio programs for the BBC about Antarctica and Easter Island. His particular interests are the links between
real voyages and famous fiction, the remote cultures of southern South America, and the impact of exploration and conquest.
In 2002 John walked 700 miles through the Andes for his next book, Cloud Road, about the high sierra. He was the first
outsider some of those people had ever met.
Peter Zika is a field biologist from Seattle, investigating and describing new species of plants from western North America.
Working at the herbarium of the University of Washington, he is writing several chapters for new books on the plants of
California and the flora of North America, as well as conducting biological inventories of National Parks and Nature
Conservancy preserves, studying interactions between noxious weeds and native wildlife, and researching the diet of fruiteating birds. His interests in ecology have led him across the Tropics and into polar regions for the last 20 years. In addition
to teaching wetland plant identification, he serves as a ship’s naturalist on all oceans and continents. Peter has published
more than 90 scientific notes, articles, and books, as well as occasional photographs, cards, and reviews in the popular press.
The Pitons, St. Lucia © Shutterstock
Barry Lyon’s passion for the outdoors and birding has its roots in his childhood growing up in
southern California. He attended several VENT/ABA youth birding camps in his teenage years,
which ultimately led to his future involvement with Victor Emanuel Nature Tours. He holds a B.A.
from the University of Arizona at Tucson, where he studied history and political science, with an
emphasis on environment and development politics. Barry joined the VENT team as a tour leader
in 1995, and embarked on a travel-based career that has taken him to an array of worldwide
destinations. He has lived in Austin, Texas, since 2004 when he joined our office staff as an assistant
to company president Victor Emanuel. Barry’s years of experience and his knowledge of natural
history have provided him with a strong interest in conservation. He currently sits on the board of directors of Travis
Audubon Society, which emphasizes conservation through birding and youth outdoor education for urban children.
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Dear friends:
A
voyage on the Sea Cloud is like no other trip in the world. There is no vessel as beautiful or with
as storied a history. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours has chartered this amazing ship for a cruise in the
Lesser Antilles – beautiful, scenic islands that contain a host of wonderful birds and forests. This will be
our fifth visit to the Lesser Antilles aboard the Sea Cloud. On previous voyages we have seen all the
endemic birds of these islands, including the four spectacularly beautiful parrots: the bizarre, yellow
St. Vincent Parrot; the striking St. Lucia Parrot; the colorful Red-necked Parrot; and the huge purple
Imperial Parrot, one of the rarest parrots in the world. Theodore Roosevelt stopped in the Lesser Antilles
to seek out these parrots. The parrots alone are almost worth the trip.
Traveling aboard the lovely Sea Cloud is the best way to visit these islands. Your cabin will be your
home for a week of cruising. Each morning we will disembark on a different island to seek out the
special birds and enjoy the plant life, butterflies, and other aspects of the natural world. We will return
to the ship for a buffet lunch served on the Lido deck where dining is al fresco while enjoying the
delightful climate. In the afternoon, the ship will travel to a different island. Afternoon lectures on birds,
botany, and history will enhance your experience. One evening there will be a champagne reception
and a tour of the historic rooms, followed by a lecture on the ship's remarkable history. With her sails up,
the Sea Cloud is a breathtaking sight, never to be forgotten.
A few cabins are still available on this extraordinary cruise. We do not plan to offer this trip again
for several years. My co-leaders will include David Ascanio, Barry Lyon, John Harrison, and Peter Zika.
I hope you will join us for what will truly be the trip of your lifetime.
Best wishes,
Victor Emanuel
Lesser Antilles Itinerary
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Home / Antigua
Arrive in Antigua, board Sea Cloud in the afternoon and depart.
Monday, February 17
Guadeloupe
Tuesday, February 18
Dominica
All day on the most spectacular and biologically rich island of the Lesser Antilles. Disembark after breakfast
and travel a short distance to the Syndicate Estate. Walk easy trails through lovely forest looking for a host of
wonderful birds including Red-necked and Imperial parrots, as well as the gorgeous Blue-headed Hummingbird.
Spend time on a lookout at the wild Picard River Gorge looking for parrots and other birds. We may also spot
Lesser Antillean Flycatcher, Red-legged Thrush, Forest Thrush, Rufous-throated Solitaire, Brown Trembler, Scalybreasted and Pearly-eyed thrashers, Plumbeous Warbler, Antillean Euphonia, and Black-faced Grassquit. Resident
Broad-winged Hawks and Lesser Antillean Swifts are common and may be spotted overhead.
Return to the ship for lunch with the option of spending the afternoon onboard or returning to the forest for
more walks.
Wednesday, February 19
Dominica
Another half-day on Dominica with more opportunities to look for the parrots and other birds. Optional visit
to historic Fort Shirley. Spend time in the Syndicate Estate visitor center. For those interested in botany there will
be a guided walk to learn about the trees and other plants.
Return to the ship for lunch and depart for Martinique. Enjoy an afternoon lecture on history, botany, or
birds. If conditions are appropriate, the Captain may choose to unfurl some of the Sea Cloud’s magnificent sails.
Thursday, February 20
Martinique
Disembark in Fort-de-France and travel by coach to the scenic Caravelle Peninsula. This peninsula is among
Martinique’s greatest natural attractions, featuring a spectacular coastline and a national park that preserves the
last of the island’s unique dry forest. A ragged tongue of land that juts six miles out into the Atlantic Ocean on the
windward side of the island, the peninsula is covered in dry forest growing on low ridges and surrounded by
sparkling turquoise-colored bays. Our time here provides our best and only chance to experience the natural
history of this drier environment in the vicinity of the ruins of historic Chateau Dubuc.
The small national park here is home to two of the most endangered songbirds of the West Indies, the
White-breasted Thrasher and the Martinique Oriole. The oriole is found nowhere else in the world and is a widely
dispersed and reclusive species. The thrasher is shared only with St. Lucia.
For those who do not wish to visit the Caravelle Peninsula, we’ll offer a walking tour of Fort de France.
We will return to the ship for lunch, followed by departure from Martinique. We’ll spend another afternoon at
sea, cruising toward the island of St. Lucia.
Friday, February 21
St. Lucia
With an especially rugged terrain, St. Lucia may well be the most beautiful of the Lesser Antilles. Steep
canyons and mountain slopes rise dramatically right from the sea while lush plantations and forests thrive on the
moist slopes. Towering perpendicular peaks dominate the island’s heavily forested, mountainous interior.
This volcanic island is home to five endemic birds, more than any other island in the Lesser Antilles. The
gorgeous St. Lucia Parrot garners the greatest interest, but can be difficult to locate, while the other endemic
species – St. Lucia Pewee, St. Lucia Warbler, St. Lucia Oriole, and St. Lucia Black Finch – are more widespread and
generally easier to find.
Of St. Lucia’s many wonderful birds, the St. Lucia Parrot could be described as “first among equals.” Sporting
Martinique Oriole © Doug Wechsler / VIREO ● Purple-throated Carib © Gerry Ellis / Minden Pictures ● Forest Thrush © Doug Wechsler / VIREO
Disembark after breakfast on Guadeloupe. Visit the Guadeloupe
National Park in search of the bizarre Guadeloupe Woodpecker, a
species found nowhere else in the world and the only woodpecker in the Lesser Antilles. Walk trails through
lovely rainforest while seeing a variety of West Indian birds including, hopefully, the elusive Bridled Quail-Dove
and shy Forest Thrush. Time at the beautiful Gardens of Valombreuse will immerse us in a spectacular array of
flowering trees and shrubs and give us the opportunity to see the tiny Antillean Crested Hummingbird, as well as
Purple-throated and Green-throated caribs, two of the world’s most attractive hummingbirds.
Return to the ship for lunch and depart for Dominica, the nature island of the Lesser Antilles. Enjoy an
afternoon lecture on history, botany, or birds.
St. Lucia Parrot © S. Lousada / VIREO ● St. Lucia Warbler © Doug Wechsler / VIREO ● Red-legged Thrush © Doug Wechsler / VIREO
an indigo face, piercing orange eyes, and green breast and belly feathers overlaid with a dusting of scarlet, there
is no other parrot that resembles this one.
We will arrive at the Quilesse Forest by 6:00 a.m. where, on many days, the birds perch conspicuously at the
forest edge to preen and warm up before dispersing to feeding areas. Besides parrots, this area has also proven
productive for the lovely Purple-throated Carib, St. Lucia Warbler, Scaly-breasted and Pearly-eyed thrashers, and
St. Lucia Black Finch.
Later in the morning, we may walk a section of the Des Cartier Trail that penetrates the heart of the forest.
Here, among giant broadleaf trees and other tropical hardwoods, we will have a chance to experience the essence
of a tropical island rainforest.
We have options for how we’ll spend the afternoon. For the birders, we’ll offer a trip into the hills above
Soufrière to visit the Edmund Forest Reserve. The view here is dominated by Mt. Gimie, the highest peak on the
island, while a blanket of lush rainforest sprawls over the valleys below. Groves of tree ferns are especially large
and luxuriant on these upper ridges, and the frequent cloud cover supports a profusion of epiphytes and mosses
on the trees. We will sample various sections of the road, and everyone will have a chance to enjoy the scenery
and search for the comical Gray Trembler, Scaly-naped Pigeon, St. Lucia Pewee, Rufous-throated Solitaire, Scalybreasted Thrasher, Bare-eyed Robin, and Lesser Antillean Saltator.
Those interested in non-birding activities may visit Diamond Falls and Botanical Gardens on the Soufrière
Estate, as well as the collapsed crater of a nearby volcano where we’ll see bubbling sulfur springs filled with
volcanic soil.
In the late afternoon we will depart St. Lucia, sailing by the famous “Pitons” on our way out of the harbor at
Soufrière. Among the most recognizable landforms in the Caribbean, the Pitons are giant volcanic plugs, conical
mountains of solid igneous rock that rise like sentinels along the bay’s southern end. There are two pitons, Gros
Piton and Petit Piton, both of which tower over 2,500 feet above the sea. There will be plenty of opportunities for
photography.
Saturday, February 22
Morning at Sea / Afternoon St. Vincent
We’ll spend the morning hours at sea today en route to St. Vincent. Conditions permitting, the captain may
set Sea Cloud’s majestic sails for a couple of hours of true sailing. This is a rich tradition for any trip aboard this
unique vessel and always a real crowd pleaser. We may also have the opportunity to take in a lecture before
disembarkation.
We will have parts of two days to experience the island and visit some of its best birding areas. The Vermont
Forest, a government-protected natural area, preserves an exquisite expanse of native rainforest while the
national botanic garden offers birding on the edge of Kingstown.
We will disembark the ship after lunch for an afternoon visit to the Vermont Forest, famous as the home of
the highly endangered St. Vincent Parrot. This parrot is one of the most beautiful members of this exotic family
and we have a good chance of viewing them.
Our goal is to get our first looks at the St. Vincent Parrot, but we’ll also spend a couple of hours exploring the
edge habitats that fringe the larger forest above. We will position ourselves at different places to watch for any
parrots flying over, particularly later in the afternoon when the birds are more inclined to form flocks before
heading to nighttime roosts.
Other birds we may see include the Grenada Flycatcher, Lesser Antillean Tanager, Scaly-naped Pigeon,
Mangrove Cuckoo, Brown Trembler, and Lesser Antillean Bullfinch.
We’ll return to the ship in the late afternoon.
Sunday, February 23
Morning St. Vincent / Afternoon at Sea
Return to Vermont Forest and hike a 1¾ mile trail to the parrot lookout, enjoying the huge forest trees and
other vegetation. Search for the elusive, strange Whistling Warbler, another bird found nowhere else in the world.
Visit the St. Vincent Botanical Gardens.
St. Vincent marks the northernmost point for a number of species that barely enter the Caribbean, and the
bounty of flowering and fruiting trees that grow here make the botanical garden an essential stop for finding
these birds. Common Black-Hawk, Eared Dove, Grenada Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, and Bare-eyed Thrush
are all fairly easily found. Other key birds occurring here are Green-throated Carib, Caribbean Elaenia, Gray
Kingbird, Tropical Mockingbird, and Bananaquit (all dark St. Vincent variety). Furthermore, the garden hosts an
aviary designed especially for St. Vincent Parrots. All the parrots that live here are former caged birds recovered
by the government and turned over to the botanic garden for study and propagation. While viewing parrots
under these circumstances is vastly different than seeing free-flying birds, our visit does represent an excellent
opportunity to see an endangered species up close and note the remarkable plumage coloration.
We will be back on board the ship for lunch. The remainder of the day will be dedicated to relaxation as Sea
Cloud makes its way to Barbados. We hope to enjoy some sailing time this afternoon and attend a final lecture
presentation.
Monday, February 24
Disembark in Barbados / Flights Home or to Trinidad
A few spaces remain available on our Antigua,
Montserrat, and Barbuda pre-trip, February 12-16,
and our Trinidad post-trip, February 24 - March 1.
The Ship: Considered a masterpiece of shipbuilding, the four-masted Sea
Cloud is widely regarded as the world’s most beautiful sailing vessel, with
towering masts, full rigging, and polished wooden decks. The ship offers
32 cabins that host a maximum of 64 passengers. All cabins are
immaculately appointed, elegantly designed, and contain private
facilities, telephones, and a small safe. Below decks, cabins 1-10 date from
the ship’s original construction; each features individual design and
decoration, ornate furniture, walk-in closets, expanded bathroom areas,
and large windows. Public areas include a formal restaurant, expansive
spanker (viewing) deck, lido deck (with canopy), and lido bar. Other
amenities include a gift boutique and a passenger communications
system comprised of direct-dial satellite telephone, GSM cellular phone
service, fax, email, and internet access.
Capacity: 58 guests in 30 cabins including two Owner’s Suites.
Registry: Malta.
Overall Length: 360 feet. Built in 1931 by Wall Street businessman E. F.
Hutton for his wife, Marjorie Merriweather Post, Sea Cloud carries 30
sails measuring a total of 32,000 sq. ft.
Public Areas: The covered Lido Bar is a superb place to congregate and
enjoy the outdoors. The open-air “Blue Lagoon” is a wonderful place to
relax. There is a sumptuous lounge, and guests are welcome on the “open
bridge” to learn how Sea Cloud is navigated and sailed.
Meals: Served in single seatings, meals focus on local and Continental
cuisine. Wines are included at lunch and dinner. Refreshments are always
available.
Technical Information:
Built: 1931
Length: 360 feet; Beam: 50 feet; Draft: 17 feet
Gross Tonnage: 2,532
Engines: 2 SKL Diesel engines
Total Sail Area: 32,000 sq. ft.
Number of Sails: 30
Speed: 10 knots
Crew: 60
Flag: Malta
Captain’s & Lido Deck
Promenade Deck
Main Deck
Cabins
The Main Deck cabins have antique and period-style furniture. These
cabins are the ship’s original cabins, including the Owner’s Suites
originally occupied by E.F. Hutton and Marjorie Merriweather Post.
Cabins on the Promenade and Captain’s Decks have modern, stylish,
comfortable furniture.
Original / Deluxe Category B: Original and deluxe cabins, #5, 6, 9,
10. Located on the Main Deck, these large cabins, originally occupied
by guests (and the nannies, #9-10) of the owner, have a mix of bed
types, decorative motifs, and bathrooms with bathtubs. All have
portholes. $10,895.
Category 5 - Solo: #14-17: Upper and lower single beds and a
porthole. $9495. (sold out)
Original / Deluxe Category B: Original/deluxe cabins, #3, 4, 7, 8.
Located on the Main Deck, these very large cabins, originally
occupied by guests of the owner, have a mix of bed types, decorative
motifs, and bathrooms with bathtubs. All have portholes. $10,895.
Category 3: #18-25: Cabins have two single beds, a window and
showers. $8995.
Category 2: #32-37: Cabins have two single beds, a window and
showers. $9395.
Category 1: #30-31: Cabins have a queen-size bed, a forward-facing
window and showers. $9595. (sold out)
Owners’ Suites / Deluxe Category A: Original owners’ suites #1-2:
These incomparable suites were occupied by Marjorie Merriweather
Post (#1) and E.F. Hutton (#2). They have king-size beds and grand
marble bathrooms with bathtubs. $11,895.
Category B • Cabin 3
Category B • Cabin 6
Category 2 • Cabin 37
Category B • Cabin 5
All Sea Cloud photos © Sea Cloud Cruises
Antillean Crested Hummingbird © Claude Nadeau / VIREO
VICTOR
EMANUEL
NATURE
TOURS
PRSRT STD
US Postage
PAID
Austin, Texas
Permit #1501
2525 Wallingwood Drive, Suite 1003
Austin, Texas 78746
 Victor Emanuel Nature Tours  VENTBIRD
800. 328. VENT (8368) ■
512.328.5221
St. Vincent Parrot ©Krystyna Szulecka / FLPA / Minden Pictures
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info@ventbird.com
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