Cruising is a popular way to visit the Caribbean and, with a little thought, it’s easy to see why. You don’t have to worry about finding a place to stay, searching out decent restaurants for every meal or scratching your head over activities. If you think cruising might be a good choice for your Caribbean getaway, read on.

Is Cruising Right For You?

If you’ve never cruised before, take some time to decide if cruising could be a good fit for your situation and personality. For many families, the all-inclusive nature of cruising can’t be beat. There’s no need to worry about finding activities for the kids or worrying if the restaurant will have chicken nuggets on the menu. Upsides of cruising are the fact that cruises are easy to budget and the focus is usually on pampering and relaxation. For many individuals, this sounds like heaven in itself. For others, who may be more interested in delving into local culture, trying out new dishes and avoiding the crowds, a cruise may not be a good fit for their trip to the Caribbean. Some people might even be afraid to go on a cruise as they think that something bad might happen. Luckily if something does happen, then you can easily get the compensation that you deserve by using a law firm like Naylor Law.

Types of Cruises

There are three basic types of Caribbean cruises, which vary in the ports of call that the ship stops in. Eastern Caribbean cruises generally stop at St. Maarten, San Juan and St. Thomas, as well as the cruise ship’s private island. St. Thomas, a member of the U.S. Virgin Islands, feels less like an island getaway and more like a full-fledged state, equipped with all the annoyances of home. Puerto Rico offers a more colorful port of call, with a bit more culture and tropical rainforests.

Western Caribbean cruises generally are a week long and stop at Key West, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. Key West, that quirky, most southern point in the continental U.S., offers charm and cute seafood restaurants. Cozumel, the largest island in Mexico, offers beautiful snorkeling and diving opportunities. Jamaica offers a cultural feel distinct from most other Caribbean islands, with its African heritage and laid-back nature.

Have a bit more time on your hands? Cruisers who have 10-to-12 days to devote to their vacation may be interested in a southern Caribbean cruise. These cruises generally have more ports of call. Stops often include Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Curacao, Grenada, Martinique, St. Bart’s, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.

Booking Your Cruise

Carnival, Norwegian, Princess, or Disney – these are just some of the cruise lines to choose from. You should do your research to make sure that you’re booking a cruise with a solid reputation, on a line that specializes in the type of service you’re looking for.

Different cruise lines have different reputations and approaches to service. Carnival, for example, is often considered the “fun” cruise line, while others, like Royal Caribbean and Princess, offer larger ships with more amenities. Some cruises are focused on high-end service and a price tag to match, while others are geared towards families. None of the cruise lines are very cheap, but each offers something unique. Fine dining or casual atmosphere; set schedule or flexibility – there’s a cruise line to fit most types of travelers. Find one that fits the vacation that you’re looking for and you’ll be sure to have an ideal trip.

Sources

Fodor’s

CruiseSavvy