Paradise ISLES
Take a Caribbean cruise to visit some of the world’s most glamorous islands
Relax in a hammock on a different perfect beach at every stop
THERE’S a reason why royalty, celebrities and the super-rich have always headed to the warm blue waters of the Caribbean for their holidays. It’s because it contains so many of the most beautiful, welcoming and memorable places on earth.
The island names themselves conjure up a world of glamour, excitement and adventure. Start the alphabet with Anguilla, Antigua and Aruba, run through the Bahamas and Barbados, and before you even get to the glorious Cayman Islands you’re in a dream world of emerald seas, wide white sandy beaches, rocky historic coves, lively marinas and port-to-starboard luxury. On a Caribbean cruise you may see the magnificent Pitons rise above the shores of St Lucia.
You can take in big-name ports on islands like foodie paradise Jamaica. You can focus on places like lively Trinidad and lovely Tobago or ultra-luxe high-glamour locations like St Maarten and St Barts, or Montserrat and Martinique. You can learn about lost Mayan worlds as you hug the coast of Mexico and its Central American neighbours – perhaps lying in a hammock on different picture-perfect beach at every stop. Or you may even go as far as the pink sands and white-roofed buildings of Bermuda.
The extra joy of a Caribbean cruise is that there is always something new to see. That’s why first-time cruisers never lose by picking the Caribbean. And why you’re likely to meet fellow travellers who can barely count the number of times they’ve sailed these historic seas before. So, whether you want guided tours of bustling local markets (with an order of legendary pirate tales on the side), or whether you want to be alone as you snorkel alongside a palm-fringed Robinson Crusoe-style island, you’re in luck. A Caribbean cruise offers it all.
Better still, you have plenty of choice when you pick your ship.
SPACIOUS SPAS
THE best Caribbean cruise liners vary in size, and while some people prefer smaller vessels, others like something bigger. You can expect a range of options every mealtime, from fine to casual dining, with a great deal in between. You can expect incredible entertainment at night and on sea days. Top-quality shows (often featuring former West End or Broadway scores and casts) are performed in theatres with better, more comfortable seats than you ever find on land. Nowadays you can expect a touch of class and individuality in the bars on board – the likes of rum punch from the islands (and rich local coffee) can often complement all the best international brands. There are best-in-class gyms if you want to get your pulse racing. And spacious spas and luxury treatments if you want to calm things down again.
Add this all up and it’s easy to see why Caribbean cruises continue to sell so fast. Families love the great value and endless entertainment. Couples love the peace and quiet of the classic Caribbean beach scene. Solo travellers love the chance to mix with like-minded fellow guests – or to simply find a cosy corner to sit in with a book and a drink.
Better still, there’s an ever-growing list of cruise routes to choose from. Some head east from departure points like Miami in Florida. Some sail south. All pass some of the world’s most iconic islands and beaches.
MAGICAL PORTS
PICK a trip that’s as long or as short as you choose and see as many magical ports as you want. Enjoy a night in a stunning hotel on shore at the start or end of your adventure. With the best cruise companies, your flights and transfers are all taken care of.
All the wrinkles of independent travel are ironed out. Your job is to relax completely – as you discover where legends are born, and why the Caribbean will always be the place to see and be seen in.
>> FEATURED CRUISE: Norwegian Cruise Lines has a seven-day Western Caribbean tour that departs from Miami and takes in the Roatán Bay islands in Honduras, as well as the best of Belize and Mexico. From £689pp. For more information, visit ncl.com