All About Cruises

Category: Southern Caribbean Cruises

  • A Few Must Haves For Tropical Cruises

    A Few Must Haves For Tropical Cruises

    Going on a cruise to a tropical locale is certainly a very popular way to spend your vacation. And there are many great experiences and adventures that you will want to enjoy. But there are a few items that you need to be sure to pack in order to take full advantage of all the fun on your next tropical cruise.

    The first item is something that most people are already aware of but might not bring in sufficient quantity. Sunscreen is a lifesaver when you are in any tropical area. If your skin is fair, you can get a sunburn in as few as 10 minutes of direct sun. Many travelers think that they will only need sunscreen for lounging by the pool, but sunscreen is recommended any time that you are outside. And don’t let the clouds fool you into thinking that you are safe. You can still get a sunburn from UV rays filtered through the clouds. Be sure to bring waterproof and sweatproof sunscreen, as the humidity will cause the lotion to run right off in just a few minutes. Most of the spray sunscreen will last longer than the lotion in humid weather. Also, wearing a hat will help to keep your scalp from getting burned which is very painful.

    One of the best things about being on a boat in the open sea is that there are very, very few bugs. Rarely will you encounter mosquitos or other biting insects. But as soon as the boat gets near land, you will find that bugs are everywhere. Even if you remain on the boat while it is docked, you will want to use some type of bug repellant. The sprays and lotions have the same issues as the sunscreen, but there are wristbands that are treated with bug repellant which work very well as long as you keep them out of the water.

    Also, the sun and salt air can be very hard on your lips. Having a good lip moisturizer or chapstick will make your tropical cruise much more pleasant. There are several brands that not only moisturize but also offer protection from the sun which is always a good idea.

    And one final item is baby powder. This is an important item to take with you when you go into town and decide to visit the beach. After walking in the sand, it is nearly impossible to get all of the sand off your feet and get your shoes back on. You can rinse the sand off, but then your feet are wet and hard to get into shoes. And either wet or with sand, your feet will develop blisters from your shoes. Instead, wipe off as much sand as possible then sprinkle the baby power on your feet. Then gently wipe your feet again. The baby powder will absorb the moisture and let you wipe away any remaining sand.

    Adding these few items to your packing list will help you to avoid sunburns, chapped lips, bug bites and blisters so that you can enjoy every moment of your cruise vacation.

  • 7 Spectacular 7-Night Cruises to Take in 2017

    7 Spectacular 7-Night Cruises to Take in 2017

    We’re excited about the scores of amazing cruises that we’ve already seen in 2017, from Galapagos excursions to Barcelona dream trips. It seems like there are at least a dozen voyages that we’ve marked on our “must check out” list, and some of our favorites are week-long excursions to fantastic destinations that we’ve been wanting to visit. To give you an idea of the cruises we’re eyeing for upcoming trips, we’ve rounded up some extraordinary journeys 7-night cruises we’ve spotted that offer opportunities for sightseeing and luxuriating on ships that are absolutely phenomenal.

    Here are 7 7-night cruises we think you should check out for 2017:

    1. Celebrity Xpedition – 7-Night Galapagos Inner Loop

    Celebrity Xpedition will have you sailing in comfort as you adventure throughout the Galapagos, with nature’s finest work all around. Celebrity Cruises is a celebrated cruise line that has earned several “” awards and designations over the years.

    2. Viking Sea – 7-Night Secrets of Southern Mediterranean

    Cruise with Viking Oceans cruises on a 7-night trip that that will allow you to see Rome, Malta, Tunis, Sardinia, Algiers, Valencia, and Barcelona. Your ship, Viking Sea, is a large vessel that’s ideal for extended excursions, as it offers impressive service as well as an immersive luxury experience.

    3. Celebrity Silhouette – 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruse

    Sail from Fort Lauderdale to San Juan, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten on Celebrity Silhouette, a stunning ship with many thoughtful public spaces and impeccable décor at every turn. Silhouette is a contemporary vessel and a standout in Celebrity Cruises’ popular Solstice Class of ships.

    4. Jewel of the Seas – 7-Night Southern Caribbean Cruise

    Jewel of the Seas is heading from San Juan to St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St. John, Barbados, and St. Lucia in 2017. This beautiful and traditionally styled ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet features tons of wood, brass, and glass, and it’s a perfect ship for newbie cruisers and those who prefer a mid-sized vessel.

    5. Allure of the Seas – 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise

    Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas caters to all types of cruisers, from couples and adventurers to families and even wine lovers. In 2017, Allure of the Seas will take its fun atmosphere and eager passengers from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten.

    6. Liberty of the Seas – 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise

    Cruise with Royal Caribbean on Liberty of the Seas’ 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise and visit Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Falmouth, from your Galveston port. Liberty of the Seas offers great entertainment, including wonderful theater productions, and it has a stellar pool deck.

    7. Oasis of the Seas – 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise

    If you sail with Royal Caribbean on its Oasis of the Seas 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise, you’ll voyage from Port Canaveral (Orlando) to gorgeous locales including Labadee, Falmouth, and Cozumel. Oasis of the Seas is packed with thrilling activities, bars, and restaurants. It’s a large cruise ship that offers innovation and awesome energy throughout, and it’s a vessel that’s ideal for families.

    Have you been considering any of these cruises for 2017? Are you going on any other 7-night cruises that you can share with our readers? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

  • Caribbean Vacations

    The Caribbean is the most popular travel destination in the travel industry today. More ships sail to the Caribbean today than any other destination in the world. This means there is no shortage of departures just about any day of the year and prices are always affordable.The Caribbean is a popular cruise destination for many reasons. The Caribbean has amazing weather, dozens of exciting activities, spectacular scenery, and some of the most picturesque swimming beaches in the world. Caribbean vacations also offer exciting ports of call, unique shore excursions, and a wide variety of itineraries.

    There are four different types of Caribbean vacation travel cruises available:

    • Eastern Caribbean Cruise
    • Western Caribbean Cruise
    • Southern Caribbean Cruise
    • Deep Southern Caribbean Cruise

    Eastern Caribbean cruises usually depart from Florida, but longer cruises may depart from New York. Eastern Caribbean cruises sail to the Bahamas, Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, Tortola, San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Western Caribbean cruises may depart from Florida, Texas, or New Orleans and they sail to the Bahamas, Key West, Cozumel, Calica/Playa del Carmen, Costa Maya, Belize, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama.

    Southern Caribbean cruises may depart from Barbados, San Juan Puerto Rico or Ft. Lauderdale. Depending on the departure port, ports of call typically include St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua, Dominica, Martinique, San Juan, and Aruba. St. Thomas is probably the most popular port of call for Caribbean cruises.

    The most exotic type of cruise among the Caribbean cruises is the Deep Southern Caribbean cruise. Many Deep Southern Caribbean Cruises are port intensive, offering plenty of opportunities to explore or relax on the islands. Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, St. Maarten, Tortola, St. Kitts, Dominica and St. Lucia may be considered Southern and Deep Southern ports of call. Other Deep Southern Ports of call include Ocho Rios, Cartagena, Colon, San Blas, Puerto Limon, Costa Maya, and Cayo Levantado, to name a few. Deep Southern Caribbean cruises are typically longer as well.

    Depending on the type of cruise you choose, Caribbean shore excursions will have some similarities such as swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and sunbathing, but there are many Caribbean shore excursions are distinctly different. Tubing on the Layou River in Dominica, Stingray City at Grand Cayman Island, Hiking the El Junque Rain Forest in Puerto Rico, High Tea at Sunbury Plantation on Barbados, Walking Up Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica, and America’s Cup Yacht Racing on St. Maarten are just a few unique favorites among the many cruise excursion offerings.

    Once you have decided which Caribbean vacation is for you, length of cruise (anywhere from 3 days up to 15 days or more), and the types of things you would like to do on your cruise, it’s time to select a cruise line. Choose any of the following cruise lines to book your Caribbean Cruise. Please click here for a directory of all cruise line websites. You can also contact your local cruise travel agent. Scroll through for information about discounts and deals.

    Carnival Cruise Lines
    Celebrity Cruises
    Costa Cruises
    Crystal Cruises
    Cunard Line
    Discovery Cruise Line
    Disney Cruise Line
    Holland America Cruise Line
    MSC Cruises
    Norwegian Cruise Line
    Oceania Cruises
    Princess Cruise Line
    Regent Seven Seas Cruises
    Royal Caribbean
    The Yachts of Seabourn
    Windjammer Barefoot Cruises
    Windstar Cruises

    To score deep discounts and deals on your Caribbean vacation travel cruise, visit any of the following popular discount cruise websites or discount booking search engines to check out the lowest prices on cruises, to shop and compare, and you can even book your Caribbean cruise right online.

    Kayak.com
    Expedia.com
    Orbitz.com
    Travelocity.com
    CheapTickets.com
    VacationsToGo.com
    Cruise411.com
    Cruise.com

    To find out more about discount cruises, you can visit any number of cruise review websites to read reviews from real passengers, with real experiences. While there are man cruise review websites to choose from, some of the most popular (and reliable) cruise review websites include:

    Cruisecritic.com
    Cruisereviewsonline.com
    Cruisereport.com
    Cruisedirectonline.com
    Cruisemates.com

  • Christmas Cruises

    Just about every cruise line has special Christmas Cruises each holiday season. Of course, most Christmas cruises are headed for hot places, but the cruise lines try to keep the atmosphere onboard as “Christmassy” as possible. These theme cruises typically include Christmas decorations, Christmas music, Christmas themed meals, Santas, and more. While Christmas cruises will offer much in the way of holiday spirit, guests can still gamble, club hop, relax at a spa, swim, and sign up for fun excursions.

    Just a few of the best Christmas cruise this year include Norwegian Cruise Lines 9-night Southern Caribbean Cruise, Carnival Cruises 8-night Western Caribbean Cruise, Celebrity Cruises 8-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise, and P&O’s popular Calypso Christmas and Magical Mediterranean.

    To book a Norwegian, Carnival, of Celebrity Christmas cruise, just click the cruise line above to go directly to the official website to get started. P&O Cruises’ Calpyso Christmas and Magical Mediterranean cruises depart on the 17th and the 20th (CC) and19th (MM) of December. *Descriptions of each cruise are as follows:

    *The Caribbean’s laid-back charm and idyllic islands are certain to make your Christmas go with a swing. Exchange the frantic festive rush for lounging by the pool with a good book, relaxing on deck with a Planter’s Punch and exploring a different island almost every day and feel the Christmas spirit mount!

    2010 cruises:

    -Aurora R016 departs 17 Dec 10 for 23 nights
    -Ventura N031N departs 17 Dec for 15 nights, Ventura N031B departs 17 Dec 10 for 28 nights and Ventura N031C departs 18 Dec 10 for 28 nights
    -Oceana E027 departs 20 Dec 10 for 14 nights

    Combine all the magic of Christmas with some stunning destinations in the Mediterranean on this Arcadia holiday. From the piazzas and fountains of Rome to the chic Riviera atmosphere of Cannes and the buzz of Barcelona where you’ll see in 2011, you’re sure to have a Christmas and New Year to remember.

    2010 cruises:

    -Arcadia J022 departs 19 Dec 10 for 17 nights

    To book a P&O Christmas cruise for this year or 2011, visit the official P&O Cruises website at
    www.pocruises.com. If you are feeling a little adventurous and you want to book a P&O cruise last minute, you are in for a treat. At this close to the departure date, your cruise could cost up to 75% less than regular price. Please visit the website or simply call P&O cruises at 0845 678 00 14 for details.

    P&O Address and Hours:

    P&O Cruises
    Carnival House
    100 Harbour Parade
    Southampton
    SO15 1ST
    Tel: 0845 678 00 14 (from U.S. 011 0845 678 00 14)
    Fax: 023 8065 7030 (from U.S. 011 023 8065 7030)

    Opening times:

    Mon-Fri: 8.00 – 8:00
    Saturday: 9:00 – 5:00
    Sunday: 10:00 – 4:00

    Discount Booking Search Engines

    Kayak.com
    Expedia.com
    Orbitz.com
    Travelocity.com
    CheapTickets.com
    VacationsToGo.com
    Cruise411.com
    Cruise.com

    Sources

    *P&O Cruises, www.pocruises.com
    Cruise Compete, www.cruisecompete.com

  • Regent Cruise Lines

    Regent Cruise Lines, also “Regent Severn Seas,” is an award winning luxury cruise line. Regent Cruise Lines was named The World’s Best Small Cruise Line by the readers of Travel + Leisure Magazine and in 2003, it was awarded the same title by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler. Regent Cruise Lines’ six-star fleet features some of the most luxurious vessels in the cruise industry. The six-star fleet includes: Seven Seas Voyager, Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Navigator, Paul Gauguin, and Explorer II.

    The 700-guest Seven Seas Voyager is the world’s second all-suite, all-balcony ship featuring four main dining venues. Seven Seas Voyager is the second ship to feature a restaurant operated by Le Cordon Bleu of Paris. Considered one of the most spacious Regent vessels, Seven Seas Voyager features some of the highest space and service ratios at sea, and the suites are considered the largest “lead-in” suites in the industry.

    So, now you know all about the world’s second all-suite, all-balcony ship, but what about the first? Seven Seas Mariner is the world’s first all-suite, all-balcony ship and the first to offer dining by Le Cordon Bleu® of Paris. Seven Seas Mariner features four single, open-seating restaurants and like her sister, Seven Seas Voyager, Mariner accommodates 700 guests. Yet another spacious vessel, Seven Seas Mariner is one of the most spacious cruise ships afloat with a staff to guest ratio of 1 to 1.6. This means, personalized service fit for a queen.

    Seven Seas Navigator, one of Regent Cruise Lines most luxurious and exclusive vessels, accommodates 490 guests and has some of the highest space and service ratios at sea. Other features include all-suite, all -oceanview accommodations with marble baths and signature cuisine.

    The Paul Gauguin, specifically designed for sailing French Polynesia year-round, features spacious suites and staterooms (more than 50% with private balconies), a watersports marina, three open-seating dining venues and a spa. One of the major attractions aboard the Paul Gauguin is the ship’s troupe of Gauguines – part cruise staff, part entertainers and part storytellers.

    One of the least formal ships in Regent’s fleet is the Explorer II. Specifically designed for cruising through Antarctica’s icy waters, Explorer II is an exploration ship that will accept a maximum of 198 guests on Antarctica voyages, although the ship can accommodate 300. The ship is still considered upscale, but it falls on the “comfortable upscale” side of the spectrum. Think shiny wood, attractive artwork, and the feel of a country house.

    Regent Cruise Lines features a wide variety of exotic and historic destinations including: Alaska, Grand Asia/Pacific, Scandinavia & Russia, Bermuda, Caribbean/Mexico, Europe & Mediterranean, Africa & India, Tahiti & South Pacific, Antarctica, South America and Panama Canal. Regent Cruise Lines also features an extensive 115-night world cruise with 51 ports of call in 26 countries.

    Besides luxury accommodations, world class cuisine and stellar service, Regent Cruise Lines also features themed enrichment programs such as food & wine, active exploration and wellness, romance, art, design & cultures and photography.

    If you are interested in booking a Regent Cruise Lines vacation contact your local cruise travel specialist or call Regent Cruise Lines to speak with a cruise travel expert directly at 877-505-5370. You may also visit the Regent Cruise Lines website at www.rssc.com.

  • Holland Cruise Lines

    Holland Cruise Lines is a luxury cruise line that covers all seven continents and offers nearly 500 cruises from more than 25 home ports. Because it sails to so many places, Holland Cruise Lines has the means to offer itineraries ranging from two days up to a whopping 108 days. Its no wonder Holland Cruise Lines is the most well-respected and highly recognized name in luxury cruising today.

    Holland Cruise Lines destinations include: Alaska, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest, the Panama Canal, and South America. Some of Holland Cruise Lines most popular cruises include: Australia/New Zealand, Asia sailings, the world cruise, the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, and Europe. Holland Cruise Line also offers winter sailings to the Caribbean from its homeport in New York City. Winter sailings typically take place aboard Holland’s 1,918-passenger ms Noordam (introduced in early 2006).

    Including the ms Noordaam, Holland Cruise Lines, also Holland America Cruise Lines or “HAL,” features a five-star fleet of 14 stunning ships ranging from the small and intimate to the large and luxurious. Holland America Line’s famous fleet includes: ms Amsterdam, ms Eurodam (to be delivered in summer 2008), ms Maasdam, ms Oosterdam, ms Prinsendam, ms Rotterdam, ms Ryndam, ms Statendam, ms Veendam, ms Volendam, ms Westerdam, ms Zaandam, and ms Zuiderdam.

    Excursions run the gamut from sightseeing and flightseeing to adventure tours, snorkeling, shopping trips, glacier tours, and more. Because there are so many ports of call for each destination and hundreds of land excursions, it would be tough to list them all here. But a good example of HAL’s exciting offerings is the Alaska cruise. Ports of call include: College Fjord, Glacier Bay, Haines, Alaska, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Alaska, Ketchikan, Alaska, San Diego, California, San Francisco, California, Seattle, Washington, Seward (Anchorage) Alaska, Sitka, Alaska, Skagway, Alaska, Tracy Arm, Alaska, Vancouver, B.C., and Victoria, B.C.

    Land tour excursions cover places such as: Alyeska, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Whitehorse, Yukon, Denali, Homer, and Dawson City, to name a few. Passengers will tour a plethora of parks and highlights such as: Gates of the Arctic National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kluane National Park, Nome and Kotzebue, Alaska, Prudhoe Bay, and Alaska Tombstone Territory Park.

    All Holland Cruise Lines excursions are on a first-come, first-served basis. Many tours have very limited availability, so advanced booking is highly recommended to avoid any disappointment. Requests for excursions that are fully booked are placed on a waiting list.

    Prices for Holland cruises vary greatly depending on a variety of factors such as season, destination, vessel, accommodations, length of cruise, departure port, excursions, number of passengers in your party and more. Accommodations play an important part in pricing, so it is important to keep in mind that there plenty of accommodation types to choose from. The following list ranges from the most expensive room type to the least expensive.

    ·Penthouse Verandah Suites
    ·Deluxe Verandah Suites
    ·Superior Verandah Suites
    ·Verandah Staterooms
    ·Large Outside Staterooms
    ·Large Inside Staterooms
    ·Large Standard Staterooms

    While some suites are more spacious and luxurious than others, all staterooms offer different levels of luxury and include: fine linens, Egyptian cotton towels and bathrobes, massage showerheads, and flat-screen televisions.

    To book a Holland Cruise Lines vacation, contact the cruise line directly at 1-800-426-0327 or you can book with a Holland Cruise Lines Travel Professional online at www.hollandamerica.com. Contact your local cruise travel agent or any of the booking search engines listed below for possible discounts and deals on a Holland Cruise Lines.

    Kayak.com
    Expedia.com
    Orbitz.com
    Travelocity.com
    CheapTickets.com
    VacationsToGo.com

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