{"id":2734,"date":"2026-03-05T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/karibik-kreuzfahrt-reisebericht-st-lucia-barbados-drohne\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T14:43:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T14:43:48","slug":"karibik-kreuzfahrt-reisebericht-st-lucia-barbados-drohne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/caribbean-cruise-travelogue-st-lucia-barbados-drone\/","title":{"rendered":"Caribbean Cruise Travelogue: St. Lucia, Barbados & Drone Footage from the Air"},"content":{"rendered":"

Caribbean Cruise \u2014 Why the Eastern Caribbean Islands Left Me Speechless<\/h2>\n

There are trips you forget after two weeks. And then there are trips that burn themselves so deeply into your memory that you're still talking about them years later. My cruise through the Eastern Caribbean was definitely the latter. St. Lucia, Barbados, Martinique\u2014each island a world of its own, each arrival a new adventure. In this travelogue, I'll take you on a journey that changed me as a content creator and as a person.<\/p>\n

I had heard quite a bit about cruises before\u2014mostly from people who were either absolutely thrilled or dismissed them as floating mass tourism. The truth, as so often, lies somewhere in between. But one thing I can say in advance: The combination of ship and Caribbean islands<\/a> It's hard to beat, especially if you're out and about with a drone and camera like me.<\/p>\n

The route \u2014 From island to island through turquoise waters<\/h2>\n

Our route started in Barbados and took us via St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, and Guadeloupe before we returned to Barbados. Seven days at sea, five islands, countless impressions. Every morning began with a new panorama outside the cabin window\u2014sometimes the dramatic Pitons of St. Lucia, sometimes the colorful fishing boats of Martinique.<\/p>\n

What surprised me was how incredibly diverse the islands of the eastern Caribbean are. Barbados has a British influence, with perfect English and driving on the left. Martinique is like a piece of France in the middle of the ocean\u2014baguettes, croissants, and European prices. Dominica, on the other hand, is wild, untouched, and feels like stepping back in time. It's precisely these contrasts that make the route so exciting.<\/p>\n

St. Lucia \u2014 The Pitons from the air with a state-of-the-art travel drone (under 249g)<\/h2>\n

St. Lucia was the absolute highlight of the entire cruise for me. Even as you sail into the port of Castries, you can see the famous Pitons in the distance\u2014two volcanic peaks that rise like sentinels from the sea. But it's only from the air that you realize how dramatic this landscape truly is.<\/p>\n

I have state-of-the-art travel drone (under 249g)<\/a> I started right on the beach at Soufri\u00e8re and went up to an altitude of 120 meters. What I saw on the monitor literally took my breath away: the two Pitons, framed by dense rainforest, with the turquoise Caribbean Sea in the background. This picture has become one of my absolute favorite photos.<\/p>\n

Important note for drone pilots: St. Lucia doesn't have extremely strict drone laws, but you should check with the St. Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) beforehand. I had no problems flying on Soufri\u00e8re beach as long as I flew respectfully and not over people. The flying conditions were perfect\u2014hardly any wind, clear visibility, and warm updrafts that kept the drone stable.<\/p>\n

Sulphur Springs \u2014 The world's only drive-in volcano<\/h3>\n

After the drone flight, we headed to Sulphur Springs, the world's only "drive-in volcano." It sounds touristy, and it is\u2014but still impressive. You literally drive into a volcanic crater and see bubbling sulfur springs with hot steam rising from them. The smell takes some getting used to (think rotten eggs), but the experience is worth it. The mud baths right next door are a must\u2014you smear volcanic mud on your face and feel reborn afterward.<\/p>\n

Entry to Sulphur Springs costs approximately $7 per person, with the mud baths an additional $5. For the complete package of volcano, mud bath, and subsequent soak in the hot springs, this is an absolutely fair price.<\/p>\n

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Barbados \u2014 British flair meets Caribbean joie de vivre<\/h2>\n

Barbados was the starting and ending point of our cruise and deserves far more than just a transfer day. I was fortunate enough to spend a full day on the island at both the beginning and the end \u2014 and both times Barbados surprised me.<\/p>\n

The south of the island, around Bridgetown and St. Lawrence Gap, is lively, vibrant, and steeped in history. Bridgetown's UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town captivated me with its colonial architecture and bustling markets. Cheapside Market, in particular, is a feast for the senses\u2014fresh tropical fruits, local spices, and the warm hospitality of the Bajans (the people of Barbados).<\/p>\n

The east coast, on the other hand, is the complete opposite: wild, rugged, and deserted. At Bathsheba Beach, towering waves crash against massive rock formations\u2014a paradise for surfers and photographers. Here, I took some of my favorite long-exposure shots of the entire trip with my Sony A7 IV. The combination of the raw Atlantic and the soft evening light is simply unbeatable.<\/p>\n

Culinary delights of Barbados<\/h3>\n

Food in Barbados is a whole different ballgame. The national dish is flying fish with cou-cou (a kind of polenta made from cornmeal and okra). It sounds unassuming, but it tastes fantastic\u2014especially in the small rum shops found on almost every street corner. My tip: Oistins Fish Fry on Friday evenings. Freshly grilled fish, cold Banks beer, and live music right on the beach. That's Barbados at its purest.<\/p>\n

Regarding costs: Barbados is significantly more expensive than most other Caribbean islands. A main course in a typical restaurant costs between $15 and $30, a cocktail around $10-$12. In the upscale restaurants on the west coast (the so-called "Platinum Coast"), you can easily expect to pay $80-$150 per person.<\/p>\n

Drone footage from on board \u2014 tips and challenges<\/h2>\n

One of the most intriguing questions I'm frequently asked is: Can you fly a drone from a cruise ship? The short answer: No, not from the ship itself. The long answer: There are ways to still get spectacular footage.<\/p>\n

Launching drones is strictly forbidden on the ship itself\u2014understandably so, for safety reasons. But I had absolutely no problems at the harbors and beaches of the individual islands. My workflow was as follows: leave the ship, walk to a good launching point (ideally with a view of the ship and the coast), launch the drone, and capture the perspective that would be impossible from the ground.<\/p>\n

The best drone spots of my cruise:<\/p>\n