Tourist visits to the Bahamas have decreased by nearly 5 percent this fiscal year as the global recession batters the vast Atlantic archipelago’s key industry, the prime minister announced Wednesday.

Hanalei Bay on Kauai was selected No. 1 on “Dr. Beach” Stephen P. Leatherman’s 2009 list of top 10 beaches, which was released Friday.

What To See And Do In St. Thomas

Located in the Caribbean, the 32 square mile island of St. Thomas is a popular cruise stop destination.  If you are planning a Caribbean cruise that includes St. Thomas you may be wondering how you can make the most out of your port of call.

There are a number of different ways.  Many require a small amount of research and planning ahead. Your cruise daily news will give you a detailed explanations of your land excursion options and those that will apply to you when you are in port.  Remember, your time is limited and you don’t want to miss your departure.

The easiest way to make the most out of your St. Thomas excursion is to decide what you want to do and see before you arrive there.  The good news about researching St. Thomas is that it is a popular destination.

Many of your co-passengers will have probably visited the island before and can offer fantastic advice.  I suggest you get to know your cruise passengers for the best tips.  And of coarse, there is always the ship’s crew.

In addition to researching your St. Thomas destination online, there will be plenty of information provided at the shore excursion office during your cruise. It is important to remember that land excursions booked by the ship fill quickly and the staff know where and what is safe for your travel.  Heed their advice wisely for an enjoyable experience.

With so much to offer and so little time… some activities may include, but should not be limited to boating, swimming, hiking, biking, or scuba diving.  Some of the beaches to visit on St. Thomas are Morning Star Beach, Brewers Bay Beach, Megan’s Bay Beach, Coki Beach, and the very popular Sapphire Beach.

If you are not into the physical aspect of water sports, take a taxi ride along the island as great alternative, the world famous beaches are breathtaking.  Remember though, etiquette on the island is to greet your stranger or taxi before asking questions or for help.

Staying onshore, I suggest you try the St. Thomas Skyride to Paradise Point. Not only is it home to the famous Bailey’s Bushwacker, the photo opportunity offers the best views of Charlotte Amalie Harbor and neighboring islands. Be sure to stop by the bird show while browsing the quaint shops.

Only steps away from the dock and plenty of duty free shopping at the Havensight Mall & Pier accommodates for a stress free port of call.  Many of the same shops are located in the bustling downtown area.

Planning your shore excursion ahead of time will help make sure you get the most out of your short stay on this beautiful island.

With the Swine Flu outbreak and our cruise in February 2010, will our cruise be worth the risk or will this flu go away by then? In my earlier post, it discussed the many different destinations you can choose for a Caribbean cruise. For our annual cruise in 2010, we booked with stops all along the Mexican eastern coast. Wanting to take in the sites of the ruins, rain forests, and local fare, we were excited as some of the ports of call would have been new to us. Recent cancellations from cruise lines to the Mexican ports now have us and many others re-thinking our destinations. Reports of one major cruise line choosing not to visit the scheduled Mexican ports of call left many passengers furious.  Passengers felt that $20 was not enough compensation.  Quite controversially, some passengers felt the decision not to visit the Mexican ports was the cautionary thing to do. Hopefully, the Swine Flu will be contained and over by the time we cruise in February and Mexico will be included in our trip.  Either way, cruising the Caribbean is still awesome.

Britain’s Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has joined MSC Cruises in saying it will steer clear of the waters around Somalia — a decision that effectively means the line is dropping the Middle East.

Officials didn’t name the ship on which the woman sailed but did say she had traveled through San Diego.