Planning a Caribbean Cruise: Know What to Look for and What to Do

The Caribbean is one of the most popular destinations for cruisers. This is because of the amazing weather, the beautiful oceanic views and variety of destinations found in the Caribbean. If you are planning a Caribbean cruise you may not be aware that cruises to this area of the world are generally split into three categories: Eastern Caribbean cruises, Western Caribbean cruises and Southern Caribbean Cruises. You will typically need to select a cruise based on the destinations found in one of these Caribbean zones.

Planning a Caribbean Cruise - Selecting Your Destinations

One of the first things that you will need to consider when planning a Caribbean cruise is what ports of calls you want to visit. Common Western Caribbean ports of call include: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Belize, Haiti, Cozumel, Mexico, the Grand Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Key West, Florida. Common Eastern Caribbean ports of call include: Miami, Florida, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Haiti and the Bahamas. Your final set of ports of call are for cruises that tour the Southern Caribbean and include: Puerto Rico, Aruba, St. Lucia, Columbia, St. Thomas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbados, Panama, St. Maarten, Antigua, Jamaica and Dominica.

Planning a Caribbean Cruise - Cruise Lengths

Because of the popularity of Caribbean cruises and because the travel window for this area is so large, you can find Caribbean cruises that last any where from three days to over two weeks. The length of the cruise that you select need to factor in how much time you have available and how much money you want to spend. Short cruises are a great for anniversaries or quick get-a-ways, while the longer cruises are better suited for people who really want to treat themselves to an amazing adventure.

Planning a Caribbean Cruise - Planning Air Travel and Secondary Travel

After selecting your cruise you will want to make arrangements for your secondary travel needs. You will first need to plan for your air travel to and from your launching destination. When selecting a flight make sure to leave yourself plenty of time to get from the airport to the dock before your ship set sail. To cut down on your pre-cruise rush you can fly into the city the day before you ship launches and then stay at a hotel that night and take a cab or shuttle to the docks the next morning. Other secondary travel arrangements that you may want to book ahead of time include car rentals and guided tours.

Planning a Caribbean Cruise - Accessibility and Health Issues

If you have mobility issues or health concerns then you will need to plan for these things ahead of time. Generally you will want to request accessibility help and special meals when you book your cruise. Most cruise lines will be willing to accommodate special dietary needs if they are given prior notice. Each cruise line will have its own rules for special requests, but generally you will want to provide the requests in writing at least six months before your ship sets sail.