Part One of “Caribbean Cruises – Paradise Awaits” covered the growing popularity of cruising and highlighted the Eastern Caribbean. Let’s move onto the two other areas of the Caribbean you might want to cruise to.

Western Caribbean A Diver’s Paradise

The Western Caribbean has a more tropical flavor than the Eastern Caribbean and is becoming increasingly popular with cruisers. Belize, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Cozumel and Costa Maya are among the most popular destinations in the West. Most ships that depart from Texas and Louisiana ports usually travel to this part of the Caribbean because it is so close and you will probably find the departure ports less crowded than ports like Miami.

Beautiful weather abounds year round but be aware that hurricanes can occur around the end of October to early November.

Snorkeling and scuba diving is world renowned and is perfect for those looking to spend their time engaging in water activities. Unique to the Western Caribbean are magnificent ancient Mayan temple ruins that are well worth taking the time to visit.

The Grand Cayman islands are easily the most popular destination in the Western Caribbean and are made up of three islands; Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Brac. As it is a British Territory there should not be any language concerns and because of their Westerly location the Caymans are normally hurricane free making them ideal to visit any time in the winter.

Southern Caribbean Unwind In Lush Tropical Beauty

Lastly, we have the Southern Caribbean which is considered to be one of the last unspoiled tropical regions in the world. Antigua, Barbados, Aruba, Costa Rica, Dominica and the British Virgin Islands are the major tourist destinations in the area and they are all equally beautiful.

The dead of winter is the best time to cruise the Southern Caribbean and since this part of the Caribbean is not as popular yet it is less crowded and less expensive. The Southern Caribbean attracts the traveler that wants to get away from it all for some well deserved peace and quiet.

As temperatures in the Southern Caribbean remain pretty constant and tropical storms and hurricanes are unusual this is a perfect cruise destination for anyone wanting to see unspoiled natural tropical beauty. The Southern Caribbean is a perfect place to relax and unwind in some of the most beautiful settings in the world and the beaches will not disappoint.

With so many choices it can be hard to decide on which part of the Caribbean to sail to but rest assured you can expect a vacation you will always remember. Whether you plan to dive, shop, or just bum around on some secluded beach enjoying the sun you will find the Caribbean is just what the doctor ordered.



Thanks to Mike Taylor for contributing this article to our Caribbean blog:

Crewed Yacht Charters Caribbean

Caribbean cruises are the most popular of all cruise destinations. And there are good reasons that they are the cruise destination of choice. Caribbean cruises offer you intriguing ports of call, beautiful white sandy beaches with azure blue water, all while enjoying the supreme service aboard your magnificent cruise ship. Caribbean cruises offer many activities for all age groups, so it makes a great family cruise vacation. And don’t worry about cruise terms, we’ve included it here.

During family cruise vacations there are activities all day long and they’re free. You have already paid for it in the price of Caribbean cruise. You get all your meals, your cabin, and entertainment included in the price of you family cruise vacation. This is one of the many reasons Caribbean cruises are such a great value.

The best aspect of Caribbean cruises is that once you board your ship you unpack once for the entire trip. No schlepping bags from airport to hotel over and over again. You will be in a new island almost every day with the travel between each port done at night, while you sleep. What could be easier?

Most of the top cruise lines offer Caribbean cruises. Royal Caribbean, Princess, Celebrity, Holland America and Carnival all offer a great variety of Caribbean cruise vacations. There are very formal Caribbean cruises or the fun and casual party cruise. Caribbean cruises are good if you are looking for adventure, golf or scuba cruises. Or maybe you would like to go on a relaxing cruise to enjoy the sea on a sailing cruise. You could plan a Caribbean cruise as a second honeymoon, even the first honeymoon, or a family reunion, or a special anniversary. You don’t even need an excuse to take a Caribbean cruise, do it just for fun. Or do it because there is five feet of snow and you need to see the sun and the sand.

Be sure to inquire about any discounted cruises for special groups, like teachers, police or fireman, or nurses. Many times a cruise line sees a certain cruise at a certain time of the year is filling up slowly so they offer special discounts to these groups. And if you belong to one of these groups band together, says as teachers from Pennsylvania and get additional discounts.

Now that you have decided to take a Caribbean cruise here is a glossary of terms used on Cruise ships. It’s the cruise terms or cruise lingo.

Aft is the rear or near the rear of the ship Amidships is the middle of the ship Bow is the very front of the ship Bridge is the navigational control center Colors are the national flag flown by the ship Deck Plan is an overhead diagram of the cabins and the public rooms Dock is where your ship will “park” when in port Forward faces the front of the boat Gangway allows you access on and off the ship Knot is a nautical mile Leeward means out of the wind Pitch is how much the ship will roll (not very much, if at all) PAX is cruise terms for passengers Book a cruise is to make a cruise reservation A Cruiser is you, the passenger Port is the left hand side of the ship while facing forward (bow). Easy to remember since port and left have four letters Stack (sometimes called smoke stack) is the ships “chimney” Starboard is the right side of the ship while facing forward (bow). . Stateroom or berth is your cabin Steward’s are personnel on the ship for your cabin and dining room Stern is the very back of the ship Daily Activity Log lists the various activities on board Now that you can know your Cruise terms, all you have to do is call your cruise travel agent and book one of the many Caribbean cruises that are offered. Book as a family cruise vacation, your honeymoon or anniversary or just because you want to experience Caribbean cruises.

Happy Cruising!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.



Thanks to Mary Hanna for contributing this article to our Caribbean blog:

Caribbean Cruise Discount Vacation

Are you still single and you just can’t seem to find that special someone in your life? Do you love to bask in the sun, or simply to have a good time while also being waited on like you were a King or Queen in his or her own castle? If this truly describes you, then you would sure to fall in love with a Southern Caribbean singles cruise. Southern Caribbean singles cruises offer everything you could ever ask for, such as entertainment, music, food, drinks, and with plenty of like-minded single people. Be it whether you’re a single man or a single woman, there’s someone out there for you and, who knows, you may just meet that special someone on a Southern Caribbean singles cruise.

You don’t have to be worried about being shy on a Southern Caribbean singles cruise. You have to apprehend that everyone else on that ship is just like you, they’re single and also looking for that special someone. Southern Caribbean singles cruises have all sorts of activities that are by and large couple oriented. That means to say that you will be paired with someone else during the activities. If you’re a man, you’ll more often than not be paired with a woman and vice versa. It’s certainly a great way to meet people as you both laugh, trying to compete against other couples, who might also be complete strangers as well.

Next, after the activities, you and that person can meet afterwards for a couple of drinks or you can even have dinner together in the dining hall. There’s just so much to do that it’s almost like being in your own private resort. There’s no better way for you to meet someone than on a Southern Caribbean cruise. So, book one today and see what you’ve been missing all this time.

Generally, the boat will dock on one of the Southern Caribbean islands in order that you can embark on a entirely different adventure. You can mingle with the locals, doing shopping in the stores or just sightseeing, all with that special someone that you may have just met. At times, true love connections do happen on Southern Caribbean singles cruises, both on and off the boat, but the best attitude for you to have is to go in and just having fun. Don’t be expecting too much so that you’re not let down. There’s sure to be someone out there for everyone and you may or may not find them on a singles cruise but it’s for sure that you’ll have the time of your life.

And if you have been considering a tropical vacation to escape from the cold and snow of winter, maybe a western Caribbean cruise is just what the doctor ordered. You be able to book a western Caribbean cruise through most of the major cruise lines, since this is a popular destination for many who would like taking vacations on the high seas. The cause that makes a western Caribbean vacation interesting is that you may get to discover a number of countries and a wide variety of their cultures. Not only will you have that opportunity to enjoy the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean, you may also discover yourself sailing to destinations such as Mexico and South America. Some even include fun American ports like Key West and New Orleans. You are guaranteed to find something to suit for everyone on a western Caribbean cruise.

In view of the fact that many of the ports on a western Caribbean cruise are out of the country, do be sure that you allow plenty of time to apply for a passport if you do not already have one. Many cruise lines are already requiring passports for travel, in preparation to the changes to travel laws that will take effect at the beginning of 2008. Once you have prepared yourself with the right documentation, you can therefore begin to shop for your western Caribbean cruise based on the ports that you would like to visit and the type of ship that will offer the most for you and your family.

While most of the ships tend to adhere to high quality in service and dining, and for some are better suited to single or married adults and others cater to families. If you are planning to bring children along on your western Caribbean cruise, do ensure that you book a ship that is child-friendly and offers plenty of programs and activities so that to keep the kids busy and happy.

Cruise planning will need to take additional preparation in comparison to other types of vacations for the reason that of the many different activities that are being offered. For instance, dining onboard usually requires dress-up clothing and may even include a couple of nights of formal wear. The pools that are on the ship as well as the many beautiful beaches that you will be visiting will require appropriate apparel and equipment, and parties and activities on the ship will also have their own dress code as well. Most ships forbid shorts, tank tops and swim suits in the dining rooms, and various have even stricter dress codes.

Therefore do make sure that you are well aware of clothing requirements before boarding your ship, and pack accordingly. Since sightseeing is also an accepted activity at many destinations, comfortable walking shoes are definitely an absolute must as well. With simply a bit of advanced planning and organization, you can definitely board your ship with the confidence that you are ready for anything as you set sail on your exciting western Caribbean cruise.



Thanks to Cindy Heller for contributing this article to our Caribbean blog:

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