| Going on a Caribbean cruise vacation can be a great | | | | a lot longer than Cane Garden. Do not be afraid to ask |
| way to satisfy your travel bug this year. The best part | | | | an expert. That's what they are there for! |
| of a cruise is that your travel accommodations, hotel, | | | | 3. Time it right |
| and entertainment are all wrapped up in one! Cruises | | | | The best deals can be found by booking six months in |
| take you to new and exciting places and you get to | | | | advance or under three weeks before you leave. |
| meet lots of interesting people along the way. | | | | Cruise lines like to fill up their rooms as far ahead as |
| Odds are you could blindly pick out a Caribbean cruise | | | | possible, but it is also possible to get great last minute |
| and probably end up having a good time. Just being out | | | | deals. Traveling in May and June after the snowbirds |
| on the high seas and breathing the fresh salty air is | | | | have left and before hurricane season hits is another |
| enough to revive even the most worn out workaholic. | | | | way to save some cash. |
| However, different people expect different things out | | | | 4. Bring the family or go it alone |
| of their vacations and a little bit of planning will go a | | | | Many cruise lines offer packages that are specifically |
| long way. Here are a few easy tips so that you can | | | | tailored for families, couples, or singles. An easy way |
| find the Caribbean cruise vacation that is right for you. | | | | to get the most out of your trip is to search for a |
| 1. Shop around | | | | cruise based on who you are traveling with. A lot of |
| As mentioned above, you could probably choose any | | | | lines will have activities specifically tailored for kids or |
| random cruise and have fun, but that doesn't mean | | | | mixers to get singles out there meeting one another. |
| you shouldn't shop around. The Caribbean is one of the | | | | Celebrity Cruises has a seven-night western |
| most popular and affordable places to go on a cruise | | | | Caribbean cruise that is specifically for families. It |
| which means that there are lots of cruise lines out | | | | leaves from Fort Lauderdale and has stops in George |
| there competing for your dollar. This keeps the prices | | | | Town, Cozumel, Costa Maya and Roatan. |
| low and means that there are a lot of different options | | | | 5. Port-heavy or not? |
| being offered | | | | Another thing to consider when planning your trip is |
| Celebrity Cruises offers a great deal on a 5-night | | | | whether you prefer to pack in a lot of different stops |
| cruise that leaves from Miami, docks in Roatan, and | | | | or if you would rather hang in the same place for a |
| then heads to Cozumel, Mexico. This is a great area | | | | few days. |
| for scuba diving and snorkeling. If you time it right you | | | | Royal Caribbean has a tour of the Southern Caribbean |
| might even be able to hit the Festival of El Cedral in | | | | that hits a lot of spots in just seven nights. It leaves |
| Cozumel. It runs for about five days at the end of April | | | | from San Juan and has stops in Bridgetown, Castries, |
| or the beginning of May and it features fairs, traditional | | | | St. John's, Philipsburg, and St. Croix. |
| foods, rodeos, music and more. | | | | 6. What amenities are you after? |
| Take your time and look around. Do some research | | | | Another thing to think about is what you want your |
| on the port cities where you will be docking. Some of | | | | boat to offer. If you are primarily interested in seeing |
| these places are more tourists focused, but many of | | | | the sights on land then you might not need to book a |
| them have unbelievable cultural experiences. | | | | room on a luxury liner. However, if you plan on |
| 2. Ask an expert | | | | spending long days at sea then it could be worth |
| You should still do as much research on your own as | | | | spending the extra cash and going on a boat that has |
| you have time for, but it can't hurt to ask an expert. | | | | a lot of amenities. |
| Call a travel agent, e-mail different cruise lines, and | | | | 7. What do you want to do at the ports? |
| check out multiple travel sites. If you talk to a travel | | | | Some people like to spend their time at ports shopping |
| agent and express to them what you are looking for, | | | | for souvenirs. Others want to avoid the tourists and hit |
| they will go on and on about options that might be right | | | | an obscure cultural destination. |
| for you. This does not necessarily mean that you have | | | | The town of Gustavia on the island of St. Barthelemy |
| to book through them, but it will certainly give you a lot | | | | is a stop on a 12-night cruise by Azamara Club |
| of good ideas. | | | | Cruises. It offers great hiking opportunities, museums, |
| The best thing about talking to someone in the industry | | | | and restaurants. Decide what you want to see ahead |
| is that they know all the little details. Odds are you | | | | of time to make the most out of your time at a |
| have never heard of the small eastern Caribbean | | | | destination. |
| island of Tortola, but that is one of the stops on a | | | | Caribbean cruise vacations can be a lot of fun, and |
| seven-night cruise by Norwegian Cruise Lines. Sure, | | | | with the right amount of planning they can turn into the |
| you could just show up there and enjoy one of their | | | | trip of a lifetime. Just take the extra time to do your |
| white sand beaches. But an expert might give you a | | | | homework and decide what you really want from |
| tip that Cane Garden Bay is one of the hottest surfing | | | | your trip and you will be in for a cruise you will never |
| spots, or that the break at Apple Bay can hold a swell | | | | forget. |