Caribbean Cruises

Caribbean cruises are more popular than any other cruise destination. So what makes a Caribbean cruise so popular? Well, it is more than likely a combination of a number of factors including;

· Some of the best beaches in the world.

· Diversity of influences such as; British, French, Spanish and Dutch

Wide variety of itineraries from a wide selection of cruise companies.

· Clear Sea is teeming with marine life.

· Excellent duty-free shopping.

Warm weather all year.

The list goes on and on, so it’s easy to see why the Caribbean is the number 1 cruise destination.

The Caribbean Cruising area is so vast that it is usually divided into 3 separate areas; South Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean.

The South Caribbean is made up of Aruba, the Netherlands Antilles, Margarita, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, among many others. The islands on a Southern Caribbean cruise are close together and therefore cruise ships may stop at more than one per day, so the itinerary tends to be more hectic and fast-paced, making these cruises more suitable. for the experienced passenger.

The Western Caribbean includes Cuba, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamas. The cruises leave from a variety of ports, mainly Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale or Port Canaveral, all in Florida. Other ports that are sometimes used are Mobile in Alabama, Galveston in Texas, and New Orleans in Louisiana. Due to the distances involved, Western Caribbean cruises often include 2 days at sea and are therefore more relaxing and especially recommended for first-time cruisers.

The Eastern Caribbean Cruises normally depart from ports in Florida or San Juan in Puerto Rico, they offer more variety than the Western Caribbean Cruises as the Islands are very close to each other, which allows 3 or 4 ports of call at the same time. day. Most itineraries include St. Thomas, St. Martin, British Virgin Islands, Haiti, and the Bahamas. If you depart from Florida, you can start and end with a day at sea. Cruises to the Eastern Caribbean are best suited for the active cruise passenger or the more experienced traveler.

There are a plethora of activities you can partake in while you’re cruising or you can just kick back and relax. Aside from all the shore excursions possible on your Caribbean cruise, you won’t be short of anything to do while sailing between ports. From rock climbing to surfing, roulette to West End shows, there’s always something to do on board your cruise ship. Regular cruisers will be familiar with all the activities available, while I can promise first-timers they will be amazed at the facilities on offer on modern cruise ships.

The duration of the cruises to the Caribbean can be from as little as 2 days to 14 days or more. You need to decide what type of Caribbean cruise you are looking for, ie a relaxing cruise or a busy cruise, and then decide which area you would like to visit. Another thing you might want to think about is “cruise and stay,” where you start or end your cruise with a land stay, either in a city or a beach destination. If you choose this option, I would definitely recommend that you choose to stay at your land-based destination before and NOT after your cruise, the reason for this is that many people get so used to the level of service and care on the cruise. part of which are more disappointed with the land part of the vacation.