Archive for the 'Caribbean Cruises' Category

Caribbean cruises are the most popular of all cruises, accounting for nearly 50 percent of cruise ship capacity placement. The extensive region, which is bounded by the South American coast, Central America, Mexico and North America, is made up of many nationalities, typically characterized by a laid-back, no-worries attitude.

Cruises in the Caribbean often visit three to six ports on a weeklong itinerary. Eastern Caribbean itineraries depart South Florida for visits that may include the Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. John. A Western Caribbean cruise vacation typically visits Key West, Mexico and either the Cayman Islands or Jamaica.  Read more... (323 words, 1 image, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)

Most of us understand that you get what you pay for in life. If, for instance, you find something in the bargain bin, you are not entirely surprised if it doesn’t stand up to hard scrutiny or use. Well, times being what they are, we have had to readjust some of our thinking on the values that are now available in the luxury cruise market. We would never equate a vacation with Regent Seven Seas Cruises with a found item from the bargain bin, but we would say that the incentives that Regent is offering are some of the most attractive we’ve ever seen for a luxury cruise.  Read more... (537 words, 1 image, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)

While we probably won’t have the time to sign up for this particular global tour with Cruise West, we can’t help feeling a large twinge of envy for up to 120 lucky souls who will be departing with the Spirit of Oceanus from Singapore on March 6, 2010. What a wonderful trip it’s going to be: 242 ports, 59 countries, all part of a 335-day circumnavigation, returning to Singapore on Feb. 3, 2011.  Read more... (314 words, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)

Comprised of nearly 700 islands and cays, the Bahamas are situated only about 60 miles off the coast of Southeast Florida. Bahamas cruises typically depart Fort Lauderdale or Miami for short cruises to Nassau or Freeport, but a Bahamas cruise vacation may also visit the private islands operated by many cruise lines. Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and others all operate private islands for the exclusive use of their cruise guests.

On a typical cruise to the Bahamas, ships often dock in Nassau’s busy harbor. Be sure to visit the Straw Market or for a beach escape, head over to Paradise Island and the Atlantis Resort. You’ll notice a British ambience mixed with Caribbean cool in the Bahamas, as the islands were formerly a British colony, until 1973 when the Bahamas became an independent nation in the Commonwealth.  Read more... (230 words, 1 image, estimated 55 secs reading time)

Don’t forget your passport, even if you are an American cruising to your friendly neighbors in Canada, the Caribbean or Mexico. New rules require passports, and your border crossings are likely to go smoother, too. It may sound counterintuitive, but officials say that border crossings actually move along faster when passports are required, and as of June 1, passports – or the new passport ID card – will be required for returning Carribean, Mexico and Canada cruise passengers, even U.S. citizens.

Good news for family cruising as shipyard construction continues in Germany on two new ships for Disney Cruise Line, and the first pieces of steel — including a mouse silhouette, appropriately enough — have been cut and are being assembled.  Read more... (233 words, 1 image, estimated 56 secs reading time)

U.S. President Barack Obama recently announced that travel restrictions to Cuba will be eased for people with relatives on the island, and that has generated some substantial guessing over when Cuba will be opened for general travel as well. It seems to be just a formality or two away, and when it does come to pass, cruise ships will probably be among the first to bring American tourists to the Cuba, which was, of course, a resort destination prior to the Communist revolution of the late 1950s.  Read more... (209 words, 1 image, estimated 50 secs reading time)

Bettina Fischer is living her dream — literally.

Interviewed on SeaDream I, anchored in the turquoise waters off the coast of Tortola, the 36-year-old from Bonn, Germany, says she spent quite a lot of time dreaming about her vacation (with her boyfriend) — and then proceeded to live the dream once on board.  Read more... (331 words, 1 image, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)

A sailing on SeaDream leaves many indelible images, but one of the most memorable for me, oddly enough, takes the form of a Tabasco bottle.  

After placing on my table a plate of sunny-side-up eggs and link sausage, Brian, the ever-smiling waiter, asked if I would care for anything else. When I requested Tabasco sauce, he returned with the bottle, then did something I was not expecting. He twisted the cap and gently placed it and the bottle on my table.  Read more... (361 words, 3 images, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

The second port of call on Regent Seven Seas Mariner’s World Cruise, Dominica. Mariner docked in the capital, Roseau, pictured here from the balcony of suite 834.