Caribbean Cruises: Finding Exotic Close To Home

The Caribbean is the world’s number one choice for cruise goers, and it’s no wonder why. With their jaunts through clear blue waters, beautiful beaches, and tropical climates, today’s Caribbean cruises offer the vacationer a taste of paradise on Earth.

The peak cruise season runs through the winter months, when people are trying to find relief from the cold weather of harsher climes. Because more people are looking to travel in the Caribbean, cruise fares will be higher at that time. Some savvy travelers like to tour the islands in the early spring, when fares have come down, and the temperatures are still tropically mild.

The best part of taking a Caribbean cruise is the accessibility. There’s no need to go all the way to the South Pacific to find unspoiled tropic islands; you can find them right next to the USA’s front door, in the West Indies. This arc of islands, curving from the northern coast of South America to Cuba, just south of Florida, includes such lovely Caribbean cruise destinations as St. Lucia, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica. Adjacent mainland areas, like the Yucatan Peninsula, or the Gulf Coast of Mexico, are also sometimes included in Caribbean cruise packages.

On a Caribbean cruise, you’ll make port of call stops at these and other harbors, where you can taste the slow pace of life, and easy going nature of living in the tropics. Each island has a unique history, blending the cultures of the original inhabitants and the colonial-era powers to make an ambience like nowhere else in the world.

At each port-of-call on Caribbean cruises, you’ll be able to book tours of the island. You can choose from attractions such as historic forts, plantation recreations, and white sand beaches.

The Caribbean isn’t just about taking it easy on a slow boat, though. For the younger crowd, destinations like Cancun, Mexico, or Kingston, Jamaica offer a party atmosphere, and a non-stop carnival ambience. And at every port, cruise-goers can sample the local foods: conch chowders, fresh fish, and the famous West Indian rum. So give your next vacation a calypso beat, in the Caribbean.

By: Brian James