Jane Archer finds itineraries to suit all and sundry in these sunny isles
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Name three good reasons for taking a cruise in the Caribbean. Yep, too easy. Sun, sand and sea. But there are plenty more.
You could have said the choice of small luxury yachts or big resort-style ships, vessels that offer great entertainment for families, the chance to visit numerous islands on one holiday, interesting history and culture, or fun excursions.And with more new ships and itineraries coming along in the next 12 months, clients will be spoilt for choice.
Royal Caribbean International’s new Quantum of the Seas, which has a skydiving simulator and robotic barmen, will be sailing to the Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas from its New York base from November this year. Also in November, Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess will be sailing seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises after being christened in Fort Lauderdale.
Some of the most exciting new itineraries come from Thomson Cruises. This winter Thomson Dream will be sailing five different seven-night itineraries from Montego Bay, Jamaica, visiting numerous Caribbean islands as well as Panama, Colombia, Belize, Honduras and Costa Rica. Its former winter home port of Barbados is being filled by Thomson Celebration, which will be sailing three different seven-night itineraries.
P&O Cruises’ Adonia will also be based in Bridgetown, Barbados, this winter, sailing 15 and 29-night Caribbean, Central and South America fly-cruises that take in the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers, Panama, and Caribbean favourites including St Maarten, Saint Lucia and Grenada.
Royal Princess returns to the Caribbean for a second winter season with new 10-day itineraries that visit the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, while SeaDream Yacht Club has more Caribbean round-trip cruises from Barbados this winter, and new itineraries take its mega-yachts back to the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands after a break of several years.
Fast forward to October 2015, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Norwegian Escape will be offering year-round seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises from its Miami base that call at Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and Nassau in the Bahamas.
Best for families: Royal Caribbean International
Popular holiday wisdom maintains that if the kids are happy, the parents will be happy too. The facilities on Oasis of the Seas – aka the largest cruise ship in the world – will certainly keep them entertained, with clubs for babies, children and teens available from dawn to dusk.
After meeting DreamWorks characters – think Shrek, Princess Fiona, and Po from Kung Fu Panda – kids can go for burgers and fries in Johnny Rockets, have a go on the rock-climbing wall, Flowrider surf simulator or zip wire, and splash around in the water park. And while the offspring are having fun, mums and dads can relax in the tree-lined Central Park, grab some rays by the pool, get pampered in the spa and enjoy posh nosh in 150 Central Park.
How much? From £1,064 per adult and £544 per child under 11 cruise-only for a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise round-trip from Fort Lauderdale on Oasis of the Seas departing April 11.
cruisingpower.com
Best for luxury: Silversea
Whether your client’s idea of luxury is a small ship with just a few hundred passengers, ample space, suite accommodation, personal service, open-seating dining or not having to worry about buying drinks or tipping, Silversea, one of that select band of six-star cruise lines, has it covered. Five of the company’s ships will be sailing the Caribbean this winter.
The 296-passenger Silver Cloud will be there between February and April, sailing seven and nine-night cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Bridgetown and San Juan that visit islands such as Dominica, Tortola and Saint Lucia, as well as offering French chic in St Barts.
How much? From £1,950 cruise-only for a seven-day round-trip from San Juan on Silver Cloud departing March 13 including drinks and gratuities.
silversea.com
Best for entertainment: Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line upped its entertainment ante with Epic and the rise continues with Breakaway and Getaway. The latter is sailing seven-night cruises from Miami, which is just about enough time to see everything on board, from fast-moving ballroom in Burn the Floor, to musical Legally Blonde and even fireworks under the stars at Spice H2O.
Howl at the Moon is a new take on the traditional piano venue, with two pianists battling for attention. There’s jazz and R&B in the Grammy Experience, laughter in the Headliners Comedy Club, and magic with your meal in the Illusionarium.
How much? From £479 cruise-only for a seven-night Eastern Caribbean round-trip from Miami on Norwegian Getaway departing April 11.
ncl.co.uk
Best for value: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
If you were expecting to see a cheap cruise under this heading, you will be guilty of mistaking budget for value. This six-star ultra-luxury cruise line is not the cheapest, but with so many inclusions, clients pay more upfront, so they don’t have to fork out anything during their holiday – not even to use the internet if they book a Concierge or higher category cabin.
Seven Seas Navigator sails 10-night round-trip cruises from Miami stopping at St Maarten, Nassau, Saint Lucia, and St Barts, as well as ports in Honduras, Guatemala and Belize.
How much? From £3,469 for a 10-night Southern Caribbean round-trip from Miami on Seven Seas Navigator departing March 18 including flights, transfers, shore excursions, drinks and gratuities.
rssc.com
Best for being different: Star Clippers
Star Clippers excels at visiting off-the-beaten-track places as its tall ships can dock at small ports and anchor off spits of beach, but Star Flyer’s new Cuba cruises take the biscuit. An embargo imposed by the US after Castro took power in 1959 means American cruise lines (and that’s most of them) can only dream of visiting this Communist island.
Star Clippers’ week-long cruises, on Star Flyer, sail round-trip from Cienfuegos, and call at the colonial city of Trinidad and the beach resorts of Cayo Largo and Cayo Rico.
How much? From £1,220 cruise-only for a seven-night Cuba cruise round-trip from Cienfuegos on Star Flyer departing March 15.
starclippers.co.uk
