If you enjoy travelling and visiting new places, I recommend a cruise. I have cruised the Mediterranean and the Baltic and my next cruise will be a Caribbean cruise. I am really looking forward to it. If you have never been on a cruise, start saving up now, because it is opulence like you have never imagined before.

Never having been on a Caribbean cruise before, I do not know how much the different Caribbean islands differ from one another, so I do not know how varied that cruise would be. However, I have cruised the Med and the Baltic and woken up to a different country every day and in both of those seas and every country is very different from its neighbours.

On our Baltic cruise we left from Southampton and cruised to Gothenburg in Sweden. From there we went to Helsinki and Leningrad (in those days). On the way back, we called into Copenhagen and the Tivoli Gardens. None of those countries was in any way similar to another or even Britain.

Similarly, my Mediterranean cruise left from Minorca in north eastern Spain going east to Sardinia and then north along the southern coast of Europe. Italy, France and Spain. The second week of the cruise left Minorca again and went to Sicily and then south along the northern coast of Africa including Malta.

The luxury on a cruise is almost indescribable to someone who has never been on a cruise. There is no standard higher than five stars, but the cruises I have been on offered superior levels of luxury than any five star hotels I have stayed in anywhere in the world.

Food and shore trips play a major part of cruising. The food is top notch with no mistake. Breakfast on a cruise liner is better than most Americans and most Europeans have for dinner. Whatever you want from prawns to steak, from exotic fruit to porridge. Lunch and dinner are even more lavish.

Shore excursions are well prepared too. They include a ferry from the cruise liner to the shore and then a coach trip by a local firm to the destination, which could be an historical site or a shopping mall. Most cruisers go on these trips, but some would rather stay on board and take advantage of the reduced number of passengers and the free food.

I went on every shore excursion and thoroughly enjoyed each one. The excursions are usually pricey though, but you are part of a trapped audience, so what can you expect?

I thoroughly recommend a cruise holiday to any and every one. You should go at least once in your life, but do not leave it until late in your life because you will want to go again.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with St Croix Hotels. If you are interested in St Croix Vacation Rentals in the US Virgin Islands, please click through to our site.

Departing February 20th, my cruise was full capacity with a total of 3,994 passengers.

The weather was unseasonably cold in Florida and the Caribbean.  Mornings were cool enough to wear jackets but mid-day yielded enough sunshine to get a sunburn without sunscreen.

As usual, the food was plentiful and choices many. I can’t put my finger on it, but I was disappointed in the overall food service on this trip.  Improvements were seen as the week progressed and it appeared to me that by weeks end it all came together.

As for anytime dining,  didn’t like it. I was given the option to change it.  The problem with anytime dining is that your waiter and serving staff don’t get the chance to know your likes/dislikes.

Past cruisers know that by your second dining evening, your wait staff know what you drink, how much and what kind of bread you like, etc.   Although you can request your same table and staff for your anytime dining, there are no guarantees.  Formal night seemed less special, we did not meet or see the captain in our anytime dining room during our dinner. 

Early in the trip, only two coffee makers were working for a shipload of coffee drinking morning guests. 

Lines were extremely long and slow during fun days at sea. The passengers were at fault too, in my opinion due to lack of communication as to where to get what in the lines.

 The yogurt/ice cream stations were in the path of main traffic and many spilled trays happened there.

My kudos to  the staff,  can’t blame them for rude passengers. Tempers seemed shorter than normal, maybe it was the cold weather. While in the gift shop a short time, I couldn’t believe the abuse the staff received just because the ship store did not have certain products passengers wanted. 

My cabin Steward, Josep, was absolutely wonderful.  Seemed like everytime we made a mess in the cabin, he knew it and cleaned up immediately when we left. I still think his cabin was across from ours and every time we left he could hear us.  He was the highlight of our stay and I cannot say enough about his attention to detail.

The seas were not friendly during the night, most of shows experienced a rocking ship. One night, we had 60 knot winds over the bow accompanied with rain. I could not open my balcony door the rain and winds were so strong.  Most evenings it was a light on/off rain. 

Our days were beautiful and dry. 

Will I go again? Not necessarily on the newest ship, largest ship, to Mexican ports of call, or during February..but I  will be cruising the caribbean again for sure. 

 I still have lots of stories to tell about this one.

Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean with Kingston as the capital city, and is located on the south shore of the island.

Since gaining it’s independence in1962 from the UK, it has become one of the largest tourists destinations in the Caribbean. Jamaica is a common stop with cruise ships stopping at different ends of the Island. My trips included  Royal Caribbean to Ocho Rios and Carnival stopped  in Montego Bay

Both offer an abundance of natural resources to visit as well as local fare of Museums and landmarks.

When planning your offshore excursion, be sure that you don’t try to go it alone.  Recent activity with Canadian tourists getting caught in gunfire in inner city Kingston, confirm that there are some places you need a guide.

If your port of call visits Ocho Rios, you can tour Mystic Mountain for a breathtaking view of natures bounty.  There are several different options to visit the jungle.. from aerial lifts, slides, and rides.  Very family friendly and adventurous.

My trip to Dunn’s River Falls and Park was a blast, we chose the “party boat” tour.  Rum punch is served as soon as you board.  Fair warning, if you don’t like the famous  Jamaican tunes played very loud and a rough boat ride along the coast, this may not be for you.  In November, the scenic boat ride was rather rough but views were breathtaking.

On the party boat, you arrive at the bottom of the 600 foot falls. Unless you are planning on climbing the falls or getting to the top by stairs, your best bet would be a land tour.  During our visit, there wasn’t  much to do at the bottom of the falls except people watch, take photos, and soak in the sun. However, renovations were underway rebuilding damage from hurricanes.

I witnessed minor first aid administered at least three times in a couple hours from slips and falls on the rocks.  One was serious and the response and care given was impressive.

Climbing the stairs to the top, you will find many souvenir shops lined along the road.  As an alternative to climbing the falls, there are tours and taxis that provide stops to the top of Dunn’s River Falls.

With so many many beautiful and fun places to visit in Jamaica, such as dolphin encounter, white river tubing, horseback riding, beach, river, and jungle adventures, and tours to the famous Appleton Rum Factory and Blue Mountain Coffee factory, you definitely will want you to go back again.

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.

In the Caribbean there are so many cruise destinations to choose from, they are all similar, in one way or another.

If you are a first time island cruise traveler, or cruising with a group, the choice probably has been made for you.   Lucky you!  Depending on the cruise ship chosen, the island choices vary.

Cruise lines will generally visit the same island locations but will dock or tender passengers at different parts of the islands.  For example, in Jamaica, my cruise port-of-call was Ocho Rios and my sister’s was at Montego Bay, both part of a Western Caribbean Cruise itinerary but different cruise lines.

Some cruise lines have their own private island ports-of-call, some of the most beautiful unspoiled beaches and views I’ve seen.  Disney even has their own!

Checking with major cruise carriers can help to narrow down which islands you will visit.  Obviously, three and four day cruises limit your island destinations versus a longer trip.

Broken down into Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean Cruise destinations, the choices are many.   Some of the most visited islands are below.

Eastern Caribbean Islands are known for white sandy beaches and contrasting mountain terrain.

Strange as it may seem to some, the Eastern Caribbean Islands cruises include the Bahamas.  Other islands are St. Croix, St. John, Saint Maarten, St. Martin, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico and The Turks.

The Turks & Caicos Island is located in Atlantic Ocean. Not far south from the Bahamas, these two Caribbean islands are most noted for their beautiful beaches and underwater adventures.

The ocean water near the Turks & Caicos Island, is home to large coral reefs that attract tourists from around the world.  Shells on the end of the island near the pier at Grand Turk are plentiful, so wear your beach shoes.   If your cruise destination visits Grand Turk, you are in for a real treat.

St. John is located in Virgin Islands in the Caribbean.  Many claim that the St. John beaches are the best in all of the Caribbean.  St. John visitors are encouraged to visit Trunk Bay.  Trunk Bay is owned and protected by the United States National Park Service.

Although shopping onboard your cruise ship has some fantastic bargains, St. Thomas is a shopper’s paradise. Shopping is plentiful just steps off the dock.  Not far from the pier also is the cable car lift to Paradise Point.  Fantastic views of the islands  can be seen from the top.

Most Western Caribbean Island cruise packages include Jamaica, Cayman Islands, and Mexico.

Jamaica is home to wonderful beaches, including the world famous port at Montego Bay surrounded by mountain views.

While Jamaica has a number of beach resorts that are so beautiful it is often hard to describe, they are most well-known for their music and fun offshore activities.  If your health permits, a “party boat” excursion to climb the world famous Dunns River Falls is a must when cruising to Ocho Rios.

All three islands, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac are home to a number of popular beaches, the most popular Being Seven Mile Beach. Seven Mile Beach is located on the Grand Cayman Island.  It is not uncommon to see at least five ships in port at the same time. One of the most well-known beaches in the Caribbean, it is crowded with tourists. Try a scenic tour in a taxi, it’s definitely an experience!

The Southern Caribbean Island cruise destinations provides ports-of-call where you can explore ancient ruins, beaches, rain forests and many waterfalls in cities like Cozumel, Costa Maya, or Belize, Mexico.

If you have yet to visit the any one of the Caribbean Islands, make it cruise travel. You will get to enjoy more than one of nature’s beauties and pamper yourself getting there.