How to be as royally rested as a Caribbean queen – or king...

PALM trees sway in the tropical breeze. Sparkling, sapphire-blue waters promise adventures above and below the waves.

Colonial ports painted in pastels beckon with a kaleidoscope of colourful markets, old forts and pristine, moon-white beaches.

There’s nowhere else quite like the gorgeous Caribbean, where the islands brim with warm hospitality, a love of colourful carnivals and a distinctly laid-back vibe.

You can do as much or as little as you like here, with activities such as swimming with dolphins (or even pigs in the Bahamas!), snorkelling, zip-wiring, discovering Unesco sites or just relaxing on the beach with a rum punch in hand.

Perhaps the most rewarding way to experience the Caribbean is on a luxury all-inclusive cruise, where you can leave your wallet locked away, knowing that everything is included as you sail around a necklace of glorious islands.

On this type of cruise, items that you would normally pay extra for, such as speciality dining, all drinks, gratuities, wi-fi, flights and transfers, all come within the price.

EXCURSIONS INCLUDED

IN PARTICULAR, it is worth looking for cruises that offer unlimited, free shore excursions in every port of call. These will range from the adrenaline-filled, to the relaxing, to the culturally enriching.

This important inclusion is a huge advantage at the moment, as shore excursions on standard cruises are usually charged separately in US dollars. Since the pound has fallen dramatically recently, excursions have become more expensive. But by cruising all-inclusively, it’s easy to keep control of what you spend ashore.

Fantastic excursions, available daily at no extra cost, might include a tour of Antigua, visiting the famous English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyard, named after Horatio Nelson. This naval base was built in 1725 to shelter ships patrolling the West Indies to maintain England’s sea power. One of the most popular attractions in the eastern Caribbean, it is still in use today.

In Bridgetown, Barbados, you could find yourself in a real submarine, with big viewing areas all around, fully submerged in aquamarine waters on an Atlantis adventure.

There are amazing views as curious, exotic fish peek in at you and sea fans sway over colourful coral formations, while you journey underwater to a shipwreck.

An adventure jeep tour from St George’s, Grenada, could see you swimming in the warm waters of a mystical sulphur pond in a former volcano. Surrounded by chirping birds, nutmeg trees, rainforest and gurgling streams, you’ll understand why local legends tell of its healing and soothing powers.

Or in Colon, Panama, there’s a chance to

LIFE OF LEISURE: Relaxing in a hammock on a glorious beach in the Caribbean. Inset: An indigenous Embera Indian in Panama encounter Embera Indians, members of a proud tribe that has maintained its rich heritage and traditions.

Cruise guests arrive in a jungle village by motorised canoe to interact with these gracious people, meet the chief and watch native dances.

This insightful kind of travel can be a life-changing experience – and all the richer when free, included excursions allow you to make the most of every moment ashore.

PINNACLE OF ELEGANCE

BACK on board, an ultra-luxury cruise ship, carrying between 490 and 750 guests, is the pinnacle of elegance and grace.

These all-suite and often all-balcony ships offer spectacular gourmet restaurants and an enviable staff-toguest ratio.

It’s a sumptuous world, where guests’ every wish is met with personalised service – and highly trained chefs put their heart and soul into making every meal more delicious than the last.

This intimate style of ship is small enough that you never experience a queue, and large enough that you can get lost in a bestseller without interruption or distraction.

The newest vessels are among the most luxurious ever built, with more than an acre of marble, hundreds of crystal chandeliers, Versace place settings, and thousands of pieces of art, even including a Picasso or two.

And because of their size, they can visit smaller, more interesting ports that other ships can’t reach.

So luxury, all-inclusive cruising can be the perfect way to see the Caribbean islands, which are captivating, charming, and pulsing with the rhythm of life.