Caribbean Cruises

There are quite a few things to consider when planning your first Caribbean cruise. Obviously the first things that come to mind are the great time you’re going to have on board the cruise ship, and all the different places you will visit while cruising around the Caribbean. While these points are perfectly natural and valid, there are a few other things to consider when you’re in the initial Caribbean cruises planning stages.

1) The first thing you want to decide on is how long you intend to go for. Caribbean cruises are offered in a wide variety of lengths, the most popular being 3, 4, 7, and 10 day cruises. Budget-conscious travellers may wish to just choose a 3-4 day Caribbean cruise, make a few stops, and then go home. For those looking at longer cruises of a week or more, remember that you will be at sea for the majority of the time, and you must ask yourself how much you will enjoy that. Even a giant cruise ship, with all its amenities, can start to wear on you after a few days. Choosing Caribbean cruises that stop in many ports and interesting locations can help to alleviate those kind of problems.

2) The second consideration is your age group and what kind of cruise you wish to be on. For example, a student in college or university looking for some fun over spring break is looking for a considerably different vacation than a family looking for a cruise with a relaxing atmosphere and child care features. Be sure to look into the appropriate cruise lines to ensure that your Caribbean cruise is just perfect for your needs!

3) The next thing you need to start looking at is the different Caribbean cruises packages available for the locations you wish to visit. There are many cruiselines, and often they visit the same places, but there will be many subtle differences. They will not all visit the same islands, the lengths of Caribbean cruises will vary, as well as the size and features of the cruise ships themselves. Obviously price is always a consideration as well.

4) Once you have decided your budget, time, and cruise features, it’s a matter of finalizing all your decisions. Choose your favorite cruise and book it. Now you will have to start thinking about shore excursions. You can often just see a Caribbean cruise port through excursions booked with your cruise line, or on your own. Many ports offer easy access to town. Some ports however, the cities are a bit more remote and will require planning ahead of time as you will need to arrange transport and possibly accommodations. It can be quite exciting to get away from the tourist areas and experience island culture directly, but you will need to plan accordingly.

Planning your first Caribbean cruise can be a daunting task to some, as there are mountains of options to choose from. It’s important to find a good travel agency which will take the time to look for good packages for you, and provide you with information so that you can make the best choice possible. Ask around among your friends, family, and coworkers as well. Chances are that many of them have been on a cruise before and can offer valuable advice and suggestions that will improve your Caribbean cruise experience.

There is simply too much to see all in a single cruise though, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t think you can fit in everything. This is a vacation after all, and you should relax and enjoy your time.

Georges Silva for Caribbean Cruises