CRUISING the CARIBBEAN
Boasting an array of colourful islands with distinctly different characters, the Caribbean is tailor-made for a cruise holiday
Wherever you drop anchor, you’ll join the party A cruise delivers an enriching cocktail of experiences
WHEN the concept of cruising came about, there was one place in the world that was seemingly made just for holidays at sea: the Caribbean. Scattered throughout the glinting turquoise waters, basking in year-round tropical sunshine, is a cornucopia of tiny nations, each offering a rich history, colourful culture and an abundance of palm-fringed beaches to entice visitors.
By some artful twist of fate, each of those islands is perfectly spaced from the next so as to make them an overnight sail away, so holidaymakers can transfer seamlessly between one destination and the next as they slumber. If there was ever a more perfect proposition for a cruise holiday, than the idea of waving goodbye to one idyll at dusk and waking the next morning in yet another version of paradise, then it has yet to be found.
Most of the 700 or so islands, islets, reefs and cays in the region are skirted with ribbons of shimmering white sand lapped by the warm waters, and many cruise lines have their own private beaches on the larger islands for the exclusive use of their guests while in port. It goes without saying that, especially in the winter months, the idea of leisurely days lapping up the sun, with the occasional cooling dip in a crystal clear sea, holds huge appeal for Britons huddled up in the UK.
True, a holiday in a single resort may be able to offer that. What it can’t do, though, is offer an ever-changing pick ’n’ mix of destinations, dipping travellers’ toes in the waters of local life and culture. A cruise delivers an enriching cocktail of experiences, a mouthwatering tasting menu of the multitude of nations in the region.
MELTING POT OF CULTURES
VISIT Barbados – the birthplace of rum, thanks to a wealth of sugar plantations – and learn about the island’s British heritage, a legacy of its colonisation, early in the 17th century. Head to the renowned Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica and discover how the island gave birth to reggae music in the 1960s. Be transported back in time in Havana, Cuba, where vintage Cadillacs still rule the roads, and follow in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway, who made the city his home in the 1930s. Or venture out of town to a tobacco plantation, where artisans still hand-roll the island’s world-famous cigars.
Hike through the rainforests of Antigua or climb the twin peaks of the ‘pitons’ on St Lucia for a bird’s-eye view of this lush island. Immerse yourself in the Gallic charms of Martinique, offering a gastronomic blend of French and Creole fusion fare for epicureans.
That’s just for starters. There’s a wealth of other destinations to explore, some with Dutch or Hispanic colonial history, others offering a true melting pot of cultures. You’ll be able to snorkel alongside stingrays and kayak to hidden coves. You’ll sample delicious seafood and drink sundowners to the sounds of calypso. From Aruba to the Virgin Islands, wherever you drop anchor, you’ll join the party, as locals welcome you to their home with a warm smile.