Devil's Island (French: Ile du Diable) is the smallest and northernmost island of the three Iles du Salut located off the coast of French Guiana. It has an area of 14 hectares (34.6 acres). It was a notorious French penal colony until 1946. The rocky, palm-covered island is 40 meters (131 ft) high. The penitentiary was first opened by Emperor Napoleon III's government in 1852 and became one of the most infamous prisons in history. In addition to the prison on the island, prison facilities were located on the mainland at Kourou. Over time, they became known collectively as "Devil's Island" in the English-speaking world, while they are known in France as the Bagne de Cayenne, Cayenne being the main city of French Guiana. Used by France from 1852 to 1946, the inmates were everything from "political" prisoners (for example, anarchist Clement Duval) to the most hardened of thieves and murderers. A great many of the more than 80,000 prisoners sent to the harsh conditions at disease-infested Devil's Island were never seen again. Other than by boat, the only way out was through a dense jungle; accordingly, very few convicts ever managed to escape. The May 30, 1854 law provided that prisoners would then be forced to stay in French Guiana following their release for a time equal to their forced labor time, or, for sentences exceeding eight years, for the remainder of their life. They were to be provided with land to settle on. With time, a variety of penal regimes emerged, convicts, being divided into categories according to the severity of their crimes and their imprisonment or forced residence regime. In 1885, a law accelerated the process, since repeat offenders for minor crimes could also be sent. A limited number of convicted women were also sent to French Guiana, with the intent that they should marry the freed male inmates; however, the results were poor, and the government discontinued the practice in 1907.The horrors of the penal settlement became notorious in 1895 with the publicity surrounding the plight of the Jewish French army captain Alfred Dreyfus who had been wrongfully convicted of treason and was sent there on January 5. The SeaDream yacht will anchor off near Ile Royal and offer tender service for those guests wishing to explore the island. Ile Royale (Royal Island) is the largest and westernmost island of the three Iles du Salut. As the largest island, with an area of 28 hectares, it was used as the centre for the administration when the islands were used as a penal settlement. With an elevation of 66 meters, the island is the highest of the group. It contains a museum and a hotel (L'Auberge des Iles du Salut).
Charlotteville is a small, quiet village on the northeastern tip of Tobago at Man-o-war Bay. It is a tiny fishing village surrounded by hilly rainforest that opens up to the Caribbean Sea. There are plenty of hiking trails that lead around the bay and up to the hills. For the energetic guest, try the hike to Hermitage or Campbelton Beach. One of the highlights of the area is the Buccoo Reef National Park. This reef has an incredible ecosystem that just should not be missed.
Accessible only by yacht and small sailboats, Mayreau is the smallest public island of the Grenadines, with an area of about .46 square miles and a population of less than 300, centered in an unnamed village on a hilltop in the southwest of the island—its highest point and a nice hike from Saline Beach, where SeaDream anchors. Surrounded by magnificent coral reefs and gorgeous beaches, Mayreau and its surrounding Tobago Cays waters sit in a nationally protected area that has experienced a resurgence of marine life, including turtles that swim and feed while you mingle with and observe them. Take in the flora and fauna and don’t miss some of the best snorkeling in the world. Perhaps the ideal spot to anchor, Saline Bay provides easy access to Saline Bay Beach and Salt Whistle Bay Beach, a rare double-sided beach.
Suites & Staterooms
*Single Supplement for this voyage is 200% for Yacht Club Deck 2, 3 and 4. For Commodore, Admiral and Owners Suite, a 200% single supplement rate applies.
Government, Port, Document Issuance, Handling & Service fees: $ per guest (included)
Please Note: Fares are capacity controlled and may change without notice. The fares are per person based on double occupancy. Single and third person rates are also available. SeaDream Yacht Club strongly recommends that all guests purchase travel insurance.
Yachting Land Adventures & Activities
Pre-Book Online for 10% savings
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Charlotteville - Angel Reef View & Snorkel
Description
Departing the SeaDream pier, enjoy a scenic and mountainous drive to the town of Speyside where a glass bottom boat awaits. Cruise out of the tiny harbor and down the emerald coast before heading out to Angel Reef, A favorite of divers around the world. Angel reef boasts of crystal clear water providing visibility up to one hundred feet and is Tobago's premiere snorkeling area . Your guide highlights points of interest and shares his knowledge of this underwater environment as you float over thousand year old coral formations, observe huge sponges and view world's largest single brain coral. See colorful reef fish and diverse marine life in their natural habitat, all from the comfort of the boat. After this informative overview, drop anchor and you are invited to snorkel, swim, or simply relax onboard. Cold drinks will be served before your return to Charlotteville and the yacht.
Notes
For your comfort please wear a swimsuit and bring a pool towel, sunhat and sunscreen.
A minimum participation is required to operate all Yachting Land Adventures and some have limited capacity. This program is booked onboard only so please make your reservations as soon as possible after boarding to avoid disappointment. All adventures and prices in the SeaDream Yachting Land Adventures program are
subject to change. Final pricing and departures times will be published onboard.
Duration
2.5 hour(s)
Price
59 (USD)
Prices are per person, in USD. Duration is in hours.
Testimonials
...We had a great time-best ever, and will be coming back...Charlie and I feel like we've been yachting with our "best friends". Hard to believe we didn't know anyone on the yacht 8 days ago-now we've met new traveling friends for the years to come. Mr & Mrs HoganWashington
This was a wonderful experience thanks largely to the size of the ship and the wonderful staff – they made it memorable. Mr & Mrs BoyleSouth Africa
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