For a winter cruise vacation, who can
resist the warm breezes, soft sand and swaying palms of the Caribbean? The
Caribbean lies close to North America, but offers a completely different world
of tranquil lagoons, coral reefs alive with colorful sea life, festive music
and spicy flavors. Now is the perfect time to explore your options for a winter
Caribbean cruise getaway.
The Eastern Caribbean includes the
American and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and St. Maarten/St. Martin. Many
Eastern Caribbean cruises also include islands that technically lie north of
the Caribbean, such as the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. This is a
well-developed cruise region with lots of welcoming ports and activities for
visitors, including beaches, watersports, boat tours, fishing, tours of
historic sites, hiking and duty-free shopping. You can embark from home ports
stretching from Miami to as far north as New York City; some cruises,
especially those that include Southern Caribbean ports, depart from San Juan,
Puerto Rico.
The islands of the Southern Caribbean –
including St. Lucia, Martinique, Barbados, Grenada and the ABC islands (Aruba,
Bonaire and Curacao) – tend to be a bit quieter and even more culturally
diverse then their Eastern Caribbean counterparts. Many of the islands retain a
strong colonial; for example, French-speaking St. Barth’s is like a little bit
of Paris dropped into the tropics (there are also interesting buildings left
over from its time as a Swedish colony). These islands offer a stunning variety
of landscapes, from the distinctive twin peaks (the Pitons) of St. Lucia to the
cactus-dotted hills and flat volcanic plain of Aruba. While it’s possible to
embark on Southern Caribbean cruises from northern homeports, more often they
depart from Ft. Lauderdale, Miami or San Juan.
The Western Caribbean is a family cruise
favorite, though it’s a lovely romantic and spring break destination, too. This
region includes Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Cozumel and the Caribbean
coastlines of Mexico and Belize. Mexico’s Costa Maya blends modern attractions –
such as dolphin adventures, zip lines and ecoparks – with impressive historical
sites, including the archeological sites in Tulum and Chichen Itza. There are
white sand beaches separated by rocky headlands; just off the coast is the
world’s second-longest barrier reef. This region is served by an array of
convenient homeports along the Eastern and Gulf Coasts, including Houston and
New Orleans.
To plan your winter getaway to the
warmth and sun of the Caribbean, talk with Anita, your travel professional.
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