Eastern Caribbean Escape
Round trip from Ft. Lauderdale, FL
February 14-25, 2026

What your sweetheart really wants for Valentine’s Day is a Caribbean getaway! Join us on an incredible dementia-friendly cruise and caregiver retreat as we escape winter and head to the Eastern Caribbean for 11 days of sunshine, stunning beaches, and colorful towns.

This voyage is dementia-friendly, offers supported travel options for seniors, can include special family rates for additional travelers in your group, and offers two hours of caregiver respite daily with option to extend. Tenders are used at some ports and accessible excursion options may be limited on this itinerary.
Valid passports for all travelers are required for this sailing; birth certificates are not accepted.

Where We’re Taking You

Pre-cruise: Welcome to Ft. Lauderdale! An Elite Cruises concierge will meet you at the airport and escort you to our group hotel so you have a chance to relax and enjoy the beautiful Florida weather before our cruise. Travelers who live locally are welcome to stop by the hotel to say hi, otherwise we’ll see you at the cruise port on embarkation day.

February 14: Welcome onboard the Koningsdam! Elite Cruises staff will handle your luggage and escort you through the cruise terminal to your ship cabin where you can get settled before a night on the town. Join us for a decadent dinner then take your sweetheart dancing at one of the many music venues onboard, or bring some bubbly back to your cabin to drink on your private balcony.

February 15: Half Moon Cay is everyone’s favorite spot, with white sand beaches and stunning blue waters. Spend the day here feeding the fish, taking a glass bottom boat ride, relaxing in a cabana, and enjoying a beach BBQ! A day on this award-winning private island is the perfect start to the perfect vacation.

February 16: This day at sea feature programs exclusively for our group with workshops and conferences for caregivers as well as respite/adult daycare where our staff takes over so caregivers can take the break they deserve. Respite activities can include music therapy, art, games, puzzles, movies, and more. Tell us what activities your loved ones enjoy and we’ll make it happen; our supported cruises are fully customizable so every member of your family gets to do something they enjoy and have a true vacation.

February 17: Charlotte Amalie is the capital city of St Thomas and our ship docks nearby the colorful colonial city center. Take advantage of the duty free shopping here or leave the city behind you as you head to one of the famous picture perfect beaches or keep the Valentine’s romance going on a champagne catamaran ride.

February 18: There’s a lot to explore on Antigua, including 365 beaches, and all of them are picture perfect. If lounging on a beach all day isn’t what your looking for, more active travelers can take a historic walking tour or even try zip lining! Whatever you choose to do, make sure you take advantage of your all-inclusive onboard package to have extra water with you because the Caribbean sun is strong!

February 19: The island of Martinique has had many famous visitors and residents (Christopher Columbus, Napoleon’s wife Josephine, and artist Paul Gaugin amongst others) and it’s easy to see the attraction. This French island is steeped in history, is an agricultural marvel, distills some of the best rhum agricole, and has some of the most dramatic views anywhere in the Caribbean. We’re looking forward to exploring everything this island has to offer and ending our visit with an ice cold rum cocktail…will you be trying a ti’ punch with us?

February 20: The volcanic island of Domenica is known for its hot springs and we cannot wait to soak in one of the natural mineral pools and let all our aches and pains melt away in the warm water. Or more adventurous travelers can get a glimpse of the local wildlife on a rainforest drive or whale and dolphine safari! Natural wonders are everywhere on Domenica, one of the last places in the Caribbean relatively untouched by tourism.

February 21: There are so many things to see and do on St Kitts that it’s impossible to choose just one! Should we explore the historic fortress, ride the coastal railway, visit the Nevis hot springs, or go on a snorkel safari? Or should we treat ourselves to another beach day because the average February temperature here is a glorious 83 degrees?

February 22: Sint Maarten is a unique island split between Dutch and French cultures which means only one thing: the food here is amazing. Take a tour of the island and explore the cafes and patisseries where decadent old world pastries await and make time to visit the many art shops and boutiques in both the Dutch capital Philipsburg and the French capital Marigot. Or take a once in a lifetime excursion on an America’s Cup winning racing yacht where you can learn how to sail a racing ship or just sit back and enjoy a very speedy ride across the surf. Wherever you decide to go on Sint Maarten we know it will be a spectacular day.

February 23-24: These days at sea give us another chance to enjoy caregiver workshops and respite sessions and take advantage of the ship’s amenities. You’ve had a busy week so treat yourself to a dip in the hydrotherapy pool at the spa, sip on a mango margarita by the pool, or check out the views from the Crow’s Nest café.

February 25: We’re back in Fort Lauderdale but leaving the ship doesn’t mean you have to go home to winter weather. Ask us about extending your trip with a post-cruise hotel stay.

We offer the following on each Elite Supported Cruise so you and your loved ones can enjoy life to the fullest:

• Two hours daily of caregiver respite with option to extend
• All-inclusive cruise which includes onboard dining, beverage package, and WiFi
• Group accompanied by medical professionals, including RN support 24/7, as well as trained support staff. Staff to family ratio is 1:1.
• Meet and greet at airport and escort to pre/post cruise hotel
• Transfers to/from cruise ship
• Luggage handling by Elite Cruises staff
• Group dinner seating plus 2 specialty dining experiences
• Events and programming exclusively for our group

Wheelchair accessible and mobility accessible staterooms are available on a first come first serve basis. All cabins on the ship can be retrofitted to be accessible with elevated toilet seats, shower chairs, and detachable shower heads at no additional cost. Arrangements can be made to rent assistive devices such as manual wheelchairs, scooters, power wheelchairs, etc.

Ask us about additional services to make your vacation truly stress free including:

• Transportation from your residence to your local airport
• Flights accompanied by an Elite Cruises staff member
• Private duty caregivers
• Private accessible transportation to/from cruise port
• Extended daily respite so caregivers can enjoy longer shore excursions or ship amenities while their loved ones have fun with our Elite staff
• Shore excursions accompanied by an Elite staff member for additional support
• Special event planning including birthday and anniversary celebrations or weddings or vow renewal ceremonies.

Caregiver Conferences & Support

Connect with other caregivers on our cruises and find the support you need with caregiver circles and educational seminars on caregiving managing, self care, diagnosis/prognosis, and neuroplasticity concepts and activities. These sessions are exclusively for our group and feature new guest speakers on each voyage as well as our team of professionals including Elite Cruises owner Kathy, a geriatric neurology nurse with adaptive technology certification. Additionally get the time to regroup, relax, and recharge with daily two hour respite sessions where our team will take over your caregiving duties and you have the break you deserve.

Koningsdam offers vacation experiences for all ages!

Create lifelong memories with all generations of your family on Holland America Line’s Koningsdam. Younger family members will enjoy dedicated activities and entertainment at Kids Club while adults unwind at Greenhouse Spa or at the casino. All generations can come together for some fun at the spacious Sea View Pool or at one of the many music venues on board.

For pricing and availability call

888-826-6836