What is the Best Caribbean Cruise Line and Route?
Caribbean cruise trips are all the rage these days. Considering the range of amenities and facilities, the varied ports of call, and the selection of activities on offer, Caribbean cruises are pretty good value. They offer much more than any one Caribbean resort can provide, and can be great fun regardless of what the weather is like. Modern cruise liners are huge and may usually handle rough weather in stride without the passengers on board even noticing. The popularity of Caribbean cruises has led to several cruise lines operating in the area, as well as several different routes to choose from. So how do you decide which cruise line and route?
Firstly, let's take a look at the Caribbean cruise companies on offer. The big names are Royal Caribbean, Princess and Norwegian, also it makes sense to look at these three first. They've made their names according to their reputation of reliability, service and range of amenities, services, activities and routes. The pick of those would have to be Royal Caribbean. They have the largest and most modern fleet of cruise ships in the Caribbean, and, despite normal fares being a tad expensive, have some surprisingly cheap Caribbean cruise package deals especially in the off season. However if you are planning your vacation for a high season, book well ahead of time as Royal Caribbean is often sold out months beforehand. Norwegian is also a great cruise line along with a little cheaper than Royal Caribbean, while Princess is another good option for those looking for a deal. There are several other Caribbean cruise operations that actually work on theme-based cruises, for example Celebrity, which may suit certain travelers' tastes.
Now, onto Caribbean cruise routes. Generally cruises take place in a certain area of the Caribbean, visiting the ports of call particular to that region. Basically, the Caribbean Sea can be divided into Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern areas. Depending on the length of the cruise, one or a few of these regions could be explored. There are also cruises just to one destination, such as Bermuda or the Bahamas (both of which are technically not actually area of the Caribbean, but close enough!). Personally, I think the Eastern and Southern routes would be the most interesting. The Eastern routes usually stay in at fantastic places for example Antigua, St Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla, all of which are steeped in history and have the friendliest people. These routes could also take you through the French and Netherlands Antilles, which have their own distinctive cultural atmosphere and magnificent sights. The Southern cruises also get you to magical islands for example Trinidad, Tobago, Curacao, Aruba, Barbados and Bonaire. Those with enough time and money can easily combine these two regions into one cruise, seeing what I consider to be the best of what the Caribbean has to offer!
Cruise
Firstly, let's take a look at the Caribbean cruise companies on offer. The big names are Royal Caribbean, Princess and Norwegian, also it makes sense to look at these three first. They've made their names according to their reputation of reliability, service and range of amenities, services, activities and routes. The pick of those would have to be Royal Caribbean. They have the largest and most modern fleet of cruise ships in the Caribbean, and, despite normal fares being a tad expensive, have some surprisingly cheap Caribbean cruise package deals especially in the off season. However if you are planning your vacation for a high season, book well ahead of time as Royal Caribbean is often sold out months beforehand. Norwegian is also a great cruise line along with a little cheaper than Royal Caribbean, while Princess is another good option for those looking for a deal. There are several other Caribbean cruise operations that actually work on theme-based cruises, for example Celebrity, which may suit certain travelers' tastes.
Now, onto Caribbean cruise routes. Generally cruises take place in a certain area of the Caribbean, visiting the ports of call particular to that region. Basically, the Caribbean Sea can be divided into Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern areas. Depending on the length of the cruise, one or a few of these regions could be explored. There are also cruises just to one destination, such as Bermuda or the Bahamas (both of which are technically not actually area of the Caribbean, but close enough!). Personally, I think the Eastern and Southern routes would be the most interesting. The Eastern routes usually stay in at fantastic places for example Antigua, St Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla, all of which are steeped in history and have the friendliest people. These routes could also take you through the French and Netherlands Antilles, which have their own distinctive cultural atmosphere and magnificent sights. The Southern cruises also get you to magical islands for example Trinidad, Tobago, Curacao, Aruba, Barbados and Bonaire. Those with enough time and money can easily combine these two regions into one cruise, seeing what I consider to be the best of what the Caribbean has to offer!
Cruise
