Posts Tagged ‘Caribbean Cruises’

An unforgettable sunset on seldom visited Bequia

By WALLACE IMMEN for The Avid Cruiser

All right, so you’re an experienced Caribbean cruiser.

You’ve docked in places like Phillpsburg and Bridgetown so many times you qualify for frequent visitor status. You’ve slathered yourself in sun lotion on more palm-lined beaches than Columbus ever claimed. But I bet there are still big gaps in your Caribbean life list; places that hardly ever show up in cruise itineraries. Maybe it’s time to look into some islands off the well-churned cruise routes that are places that can only be visited by smaller ships. The experience is sure to be one that won’t have our friends saying “been there, done that.”

The Suite Life Comes To the Caribbean On Celebrity’s Solstice-Class Vessels

This winter, Celebrity Cruises has sent not one but all four Solstice-class ships to the Caribbean, offering sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Florida aboard Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox; Miami aboard Celebrity Eclipse; and departures from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey aboard the new Celebrity Silhouette.

Celebrity’s Solstice-class vessels are truly remarkable ships, and we feel they are some of the best ships afloat for cruising any destination. More than 85 percent of all accommodations feature private balconies, but Solstice-class goes so much further.

Being sailors ourselves, we were looking forward to our 7-day cruise on the Star Clipper.  She is one

Star Clipper

of three ships in the Star Clippers fleet.  As soon as I laid eyes on her I fell in love… she was docked in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, just across on another pier was a large Carnival Cruise Lines ship which made the Star Clipper look quite small and made me feel quite special to be going aboard. A four masted sailing vessel, she stood out and stood proud.

In December 2010, my husband Bill and I were lucky enough to travel to the Caribbean

Marriott Beach Place Towers

aboard the luxurious, six-star Seven Seas Voyager. Regent Seven Cruises is a spectacular, upscale cruise line with many wonderful included amenities.

Prior to our cruise we had an overnight stay at the Marriott Beach Place Towers in Fort Lauderdale. This beautiful hotel offered wonderful views of the water and beach. We had a nice lanai to sit and have our morning coffee and since we were so close, We walked on the beach and had breakfast at an outdoor restaurant.

Hamilton & ms Veendam

We just got home from our 7-day Bermuda cruise aboard Holland America Line’s ms Veendam. In spite of Earl and Fiona, we had smooth seas and good weather.  Bermuda was a new destination for us and we regret waiting so long to visit this colorful island.  One of the smallest territories in the world at 22 square miles, Bermuda’s population of 67,000 makes it the 3rd most densely populated place on earth. 

Recently I was lucky enough to travel aboard Holland America Line’s ms Eurodam, which made its debut in summer 2008, to the sun-filled Caribbean. I thought I would take a moment and let you know all the fabulous things activities I did while in the Caribbean.