Caribbean Cruises This Summer

Have you ever wondered why the C word in Royal Caribbean is pronounced one way and in "Pirates of the Caribbean" another?  Maybe it's just me, but I can't imagine pronouncing them alike.

Whether you want to visit the Caribbean or the CaribbEan, it's easy to get there on a cruise. 

As with cruises to Mexico, Carnival dominates the Caribbean market. CCL leaves most of its fleet in Florida for the summer, but they also cruise to the Caribbean from New York and Baltimore, plus those from Galveston and New Orleans we mentioned in the prior post about Mexico. Carnival offers a great mass-market product with outstanding entertainment at affordable rates. Carnival Valor's outstanding itineraries, and in particular the 8 night Eastern Caribbean cruise that visits some newer ports, have generated a lot of interest this year, and Valor is one of Carnival's very best ships. 

Disney Dream offers some of the best cruises for families with young children in an assortment that includes shorter Bahamas to weeks in the Eastern and Western Caribbean.  This diversity with one ship makes availability scarce on each one, so don't delay to make this dream come true this summer.

My favorite line in the Caribbean is named after the region.  Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas competes with Disney and Carnival from Port Canaveral, and she can definitely hold her own, alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings.  RCCL also has extended cruises on on Explorer of the Seas from the New York area to the Caribbean and Bermuda, but the big excitement is about Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, the largest and most amazing cruise ships in the world.  They also alternate between Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. I have never had any product that generates this much excitement and repeat business.

In what I personally consider a mistake, the other cruise lines have abandoned the Caribbean just as they have Mexico for summer, although Norwegian Sky alternates 3 and 4 night cruises to the Bahamas, which technically isn't the Caribbean but fills the bill for a short escape to sand and warm water.  Carnival and Royal Caribbean also have some short Bahamas cruises, but for most of my clients, few of whom live in Florida, that's a short time to cruise after a long flight. 

Why should you go on a Caribbean cruise?  Beyond being a terrific way to spend time with loved ones and create lifelong memories, it is the opportunity to rediscover yourself and re-awaken your zest for life.