Debra R asked:


My husband and I are going on a 14 day cruise to the southern caribbean which includes the islands of st.lucia.antigua,st kitts,tortola,montego bay jam,grand cayman, aruba,bonaire,caracus venez, and grenada. Has anyone been to these islands? What is the best thing to do? beach,hiking or shopping? Any worries about safety? Any advice would be great. Please let me know the good or the bad exp. you had on any of these destinations.

Gloria

Cindy Heller asked:


A Caribbean cruise vacation would be the ideal way to relax and rejuvenate oneself. Or to spend quality time with family and love one. All too often, the seemingly perfect vacation can quickly turn into disaster as unexpected problems crop up or somebody’s expectation is not met.

The Caribbean seas offer a variety of scenery, cultural experience, fun and excitement. It is a favorite area for many cruise vacationers. The combination of the sunny climes, beautiful white sandy beaches and exotic tourist attractions is heady. There are 3 main areas, which the major cruise lines ply, the Western, Eastern and Southern Caribbean. The Western and Eastern Caribbean are easily accessible from the USA while many will choose a fly-cruise package for the Southern Caribbean.

Firstly, consult all travelling mates to ensure that everybody has the right expectation from the trip. Some may be looking forward to an adventure while other are keen on the historical stuff. Whether they are adult friends or your young children, make them part of the decision process. You can start by gathering information on the cruise packages. Assign some of these tasks to the young ones, they will appreciate the responsibilities. Read up on traveler’s review, the cruise liner’s website and finally consult your local travel agent. Your travel agent will probably be able to give you a discounted package, as the cruise business is highly competitive.

The next thing to consider after deciding on your cruise destination is to buy an appropriate travel insurance. This will prevent headaches over lost luggage especially if you are making a connecting flight. That is sure way to derail your holiday plan before it even started.

Almost everything is provided or available onboard the cruise ships but it will be prudent to pack some emergency supply. Below is a list of things to consider:

a. Valid passport with at least 6 months validity

b. Appropriate visa for the country to be visited

c. Emergency cash (Do not touch for the casino or shopping)

d. Credit card with PIN

e. Local currency

f. Currency conversion chart

g. Prescription medicine

h. On the counter medication for minor ailment like headache, diarrhea and sea sickness

i. Bug spray

j. Sunscreen, moisturizer, hat and lip sun block

k. Photocopy of your passport (in case your original is lost, it will be easier to seek assistance)

l. A separate photo ID e.g. driving license

m. List of emergency telephone number (Local emergency number should be available from the ship crew when making port calls. Have your local embassy or consulate contact numbers handy.)

n. Suitable clothing including warm clothing for night out on the deck.

o. Rubber sole shoe (Non-slip sole for ship use and comfortable enough for walking especially if you are sightseeing during port calls.)

p. Sporting gear (e.g. swimming goggle, tennis shoes etc)

q. A reliable watch. Preferably with dual or world time. (To keep track of time during port calls. You do not want to hold up the ship on departure.)

r. Alarm clock

s. Electrical socket adapter (for handphone charging etc)

t. Spare batteries and memory cards or films for your camera (you may be surprise at the number of shots taken.)

u. A small flashlight

v. Luggage lock

w. Duct tape (for emergency packing if you over-shop and killed your luggage bag)



Gina

Cindy Heller asked:


Are you still single and you just can’t seem to find that special someone in your life? Do you love to bask in the sun, or simply to have a good time while also being waited on like you were a King or Queen in his or her own castle? If this truly describes you, then you would sure to fall in love with a Southern Caribbean singles cruise. Southern Caribbean singles cruises offer everything you could ever ask for, such as entertainment, music, food, drinks, and with plenty of like-minded single people. Be it whether you’re a single man or a single woman, there’s someone out there for you and, who knows, you may just meet that special someone on a Southern Caribbean singles cruise.

You don’t have to be worried about being shy on a Southern Caribbean singles cruise. You have to apprehend that everyone else on that ship is just like you, they’re single and also looking for that special someone. Southern Caribbean singles cruises have all sorts of activities that are by and large couple oriented. That means to say that you will be paired with someone else during the activities. If you’re a man, you’ll more often than not be paired with a woman and vice versa. It’s certainly a great way to meet people as you both laugh, trying to compete against other couples, who might also be complete strangers as well.

Next, after the activities, you and that person can meet afterwards for a couple of drinks or you can even have dinner together in the dining hall. There’s just so much to do that it’s almost like being in your own private resort. There’s no better way for you to meet someone than on a Southern Caribbean cruise. So, book one today and see what you’ve been missing all this time.

Generally, the boat will dock on one of the Southern Caribbean islands in order that you can embark on a entirely different adventure. You can mingle with the locals, doing shopping in the stores or just sightseeing, all with that special someone that you may have just met. At times, true love connections do happen on Southern Caribbean singles cruises, both on and off the boat, but the best attitude for you to have is to go in and just having fun. Don’t be expecting too much so that you’re not let down. There’s sure to be someone out there for everyone and you may or may not find them on a singles cruise but it’s for sure that you’ll have the time of your life.

And if you have been considering a tropical vacation to escape from the cold and snow of winter, maybe a western Caribbean cruise is just what the doctor ordered. You be able to book a western Caribbean cruise through most of the major cruise lines, since this is a popular destination for many who would like taking vacations on the high seas. The cause that makes a western Caribbean vacation interesting is that you may get to discover a number of countries and a wide variety of their cultures. Not only will you have that opportunity to enjoy the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean, you may also discover yourself sailing to destinations such as Mexico and South America. Some even include fun American ports like Key West and New Orleans. You are guaranteed to find something to suit for everyone on a western Caribbean cruise.

In view of the fact that many of the ports on a western Caribbean cruise are out of the country, do be sure that you allow plenty of time to apply for a passport if you do not already have one. Many cruise lines are already requiring passports for travel, in preparation to the changes to travel laws that will take effect at the beginning of 2008. Once you have prepared yourself with the right documentation, you can therefore begin to shop for your western Caribbean cruise based on the ports that you would like to visit and the type of ship that will offer the most for you and your family.

While most of the ships tend to adhere to high quality in service and dining, and for some are better suited to single or married adults and others cater to families. If you are planning to bring children along on your western Caribbean cruise, do ensure that you book a ship that is child-friendly and offers plenty of programs and activities so that to keep the kids busy and happy.

Cruise planning will need to take additional preparation in comparison to other types of vacations for the reason that of the many different activities that are being offered. For instance, dining onboard usually requires dress-up clothing and may even include a couple of nights of formal wear. The pools that are on the ship as well as the many beautiful beaches that you will be visiting will require appropriate apparel and equipment, and parties and activities on the ship will also have their own dress code as well. Most ships forbid shorts, tank tops and swim suits in the dining rooms, and various have even stricter dress codes.

Therefore do make sure that you are well aware of clothing requirements before boarding your ship, and pack accordingly. Since sightseeing is also an accepted activity at many destinations, comfortable walking shoes are definitely an absolute must as well. With simply a bit of advanced planning and organization, you can definitely board your ship with the confidence that you are ready for anything as you set sail on your exciting western Caribbean cruise.



Jared