Cruising the Caribbean

If you want to visit the Caribbean the best method of travel is to take a cruise.  All of the big cruise lines sail year round in this area and they have short itineraries (4 days) to longer ones lasting up to 14 days.  Jumping off places include Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, New York and various ports in Florida.  Or, many cruises begin and end in Puerto Rico.  I've done both.  The only difference is the islands you will visit.  It is always a good idea to plan on arriving at your embarkation location the day before you sail, just in case there are unexpected delays.  That way you have a chance to explore for an extra day.  Through cruising, I've visited 17 of the islands in the Caribbean and found this a wonderful way to get a snapshot of each.  Some I have visited more than once and others I have no desire to see again.  

There are small ships and those that are like an entire city.  But do not think there is nothing to do.  There is something for everyone.  If you want to gamble, there are casinos in the evenings; horse racing and bingo during the daytime.  If you want to swim and spend time in the sun, there are often multiple pools, some that prohibit anyone under 18.  There are art auctions and wine tastings.  There are shops where you can spend a few dollars on trinkets to several thousand dollars on beautiful jewelry.  The entertainment at night is fabulous!  And of course, there are the port days.  

The advantage to cruising through the Caribbean is that the ships offer a huge variety of shore options that will satisfy every taste.  If all you want is to swim and go to the beach, that is always available.  There are party boats that will take you snorkeling and provide you with food and beverages following your snorkeling.  There are cultural tours that will allow you to see some of the history of the island.  There are shopping tours for those whose sole desire is to spend money!  And, there is much more.  Of course, you can also hire a taxi or a driver, or even rent a car, yourself, to explore the island.  The one challenge there is to make sure you are back by the time the ship sails.  The ship waits for you if you are on one of their shore excursions, but if you go off on your own, you are "on your own!"  If you miss the ship, it is VERY costly to get you to either the next destination or to the ship.  Of course, there are tour companies who book cruises, but then you are tied to the tour company's itinerary which may not always be appealing to you.  Cruising should be done independently!