Cruise through the Caribbean

Royal Caribbean is my top pick among cruise lines for for value and quality. With more than 170 destinations worldwide and an amazing array of exciting shore excursions and cruisetour options, they're reaching out to vacationers eager to try something new - whether it's glacier-trekking in Alaska, cave-tubing in Belize, biking through the vineyards of Dubrovnik, Croatia or experiencing the wonders of China.

Royal Caribbean's ships are among the most innovative and exciting in the cruise industry! Their fleet includes five classes: The Freedom, Voyager, Radiance, Vision and Sovereign.

I have personally traveled 6 times with Royal Caribbean. Their largest ship The Oasis of the Seas will be launched in late 2009 with over 5,400 guests and over 16 decks high.

If you have never been fortunate enough to take a cruise, the first thing to determine is the length of the cruise. This will then determine your destination.

If you are only able to take a 3 or 4 day cruise, then you will be limited to the Bahamas or Key West. A 7-10 cruise will give you many more options and cruise destinations. You then have the opportunity to explore more of the Western Caribbean or see the Eastern Caribbean which has been my favorite so far.

You also have to take into account what port you will leave from. If you have to fly, there are often flight packages. My favorite site for cruising is Travelocity.com
You can find everything you need related to cruises, flights and rental cars. They guide you in selecting the port, ship, cruise itinerary and give you special deals and travel incentives.

A lot of people are hesitant the first time about taking a cruise. I have found very few people that didn't like cruises but it might be a good idea to take a 3 or 5 day cruise the first time. The ports will not be as exciting but it will give you a taste of what cruising is all about.

If you live outside of a port area and need air fare, Travelocity allows you to search for the best deals. It very important to coordinate your boarding and disembarking time with the flight schedule. Many people get to the port city the day before and leave the day of return to port. You must make sure that you have plenty of time to board your plane and late afternoon is advised.

Normally the ships get back to port early morning but sometimes due to customs there are delays getting off ship. Usually, the cruise lines is accomodating for those leaving the same day of arrival back to port. Please let the ship know if this is the case. You might be able to do this when you book your fare.

Most of what you will need for your cruise is casual attire. The great thing is you can finally wear all those tropical styles that you probably wouldn't wear at home. Shorts, tshirts, and bathing suits are staples during the day. Ladies might want to bring along capris as well since they can be worn during the day or evening. Bring a pair of comfortable walking sandals or tennis shoes too.

There is always one formal night on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. For a seven night cruise, there are generally two formal nights. For women on formal night can be a gown or a nice pair of slacks with a classy top and jewelery. You will find many people wearing their jewelry purchases at dinner. This is the time when women can really get dressed to the hilt and feel elegant! Many women dress formally during the entire cruise. The other nights they can wear either a dress or pants. Capris can be worn as well.

Men do not have to wear a tux but you will see many dressed in tux attire. You can rent them on board and might want to check when you book your cruise on availability. If they don't have a tux, I still recommend a jacket. The rest of the dinners on the cruise are more casual but a nice pair of pants not jeans or shorts is advised.

If you don't want a lot of food or feel like getting dressed up, you can eat in the main dining room. Royal Caribbean has great food in the buffet area and at night the atmosphere changes and is really a lovely place to eat.

Sunscreen with a high spf is an absolute must. Buying it on ship will be far more costly. The sun is much stronger and you will find that you burn much faster in the Caribbean. You certainly don't want to ruin your cruise vacation with a serious sunburn.It is very important to drink lots of water on board and during your daily excursions.

Also, if you get seasick, dramamine, bonine or the wrist bands are essential to enjoying the cruise. Your doctor can also prescribe a patch to wear. It works well for sea sickness but can have side affects. I got very dizzy and had trouble speaking when I applied the second patch on a seven day cruise.

When traveling onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, there is always something to do. Don't worry about spending a day or two at sea. There is something to do for everyone.

Whether you are on a 3-4 day or 7 or more day cruise, you can either relax by soaking up sun by the pool or getting a fabulous massage. All their ships have great spas for nails, hair and massage. Their spa staff are excellent and mostly European trained. If you chose to use their spa services, it is recommended to book them early.

On the older cruise ships such as the Majesty of the Seas or the Sovereign of the Seas they don't have some of the more innovative amenities but still have lots to keep you occupied. Every night, they will give the next day's itinerary and the list of excursions that you can purchase for onshore activities and tours.

On the pool deck, there is usually some sort of activity going on with live island music and steel drums to add to the atmosphere.

Even the older ships have been equipped with a rock climbing wall which has become very popular and in demand. You will see this on the newer ships as well.

If the weather is bad, you can usually take in a movie, take in a bingo game or other activities that are always being held or simply relax in one of the many lounges with a pina colada, mai tai or rum punch. The drinks are normally fabulous and the pina coladas are for some reason much better on the ship. Something about the calypso music and a tropical drink!!!

Tortuga Rum Cakes Coconut 33oz


These are the best rum cakes that I have ever tried. I have bought these many times on my cruise travels. They can be bought on board and in the Cayman Islands.

Tortuga makes six different rum cakes: Banana, original, pineapple, keylime, coconut, and coconut rum cake. They are all good. You might even decide to do a sampler pack. They keep up to 6 months since they are vacuum packed and can be kept longer in the freezer.

You can also
Order them here. Enjoy a slice of heaven! Tortuga Rum Cake is made using a special premium five year old Tortuga Rum, Walnuts and a variety of other ingredients. Rum is the only preservative used in this product.

Tortuga Rum Cakes are so moist and flavorful. Try them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I am sure you will not be disappointed!

Sat Fort Lauderdale, Florida -- 5:00 pm
Sun At Sea -- --
Mon George Town, Grand Cayman 7:30 am 4:00 pm
Tue Cozumel, Mexico 10:00 am 7:00 pm
Wed At Sea -- --
Thu Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Travelocity.com

Grand Cayman is a shoppers paradise. They offer duty free shopping for many desirable items such as jewelry, liquor and cosmetics. Be aware that the cayman dollar floats against the dollar but is about 25% higher than the U.S. collar.

Cozumel is very laid back and not much to do other than diving, drinking and eating. You can rent a car and tour the island during your time on the island.

Day Port of Call Arrival Departure
Sun Miami, Florida -- 5:00 pm
Mon At Sea -- --
Tue San Juan, Puerto Rico 3:00 pm 11:00 pm
Wed St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 8:00 am 6:00 pm
Thu Philipsburg, St. Maarten 8:00 am 6:00 pm
Fri At Sea -- --
Sat At Sea -- --
Sun Miami, Florida 7:00 am --

Travelocity.com

San Juan is a very old and extremely interesting city. Old San Juan, which is the part you will see in port is rich in history and culture. The main part of Old San Juan is filled with cobble stone streets and picturesque buildings dating back to the 16th century.

When deciding on your itineray in San Juan you must keep in mind how much time you actually have when you get to port. A lot of the cruises arrive in mid to late afternoon. So, if you want to do a rain forest tour, you might not have the opportunity.

If you have a full day in port, I would recommend the El Yunque National forest. Located 40 km. from San Juan. Definitely worth the trip and the very likelihood of getting drenched.

El Yunque is one of the oldest reserves in the Western Hemispehre with over 240 species of trees and plants.

Bring your raincoat with you as El Yunque gets more precipitation than any other rain forest in the world with over 240 inches per year. The showers are thankfully short and there are plenty of shelters within the rain forest.

If you decide not to go to El Yunque, you might want to try the Bacardi Rum Factory. Bacardi does not charge for the tour but if you book it through the tour operator you will pay around 25-50. You can get some great rum that you will not see normally in your liquor store at bargain prices. Be aware of what you are allowed to bring back to the States or you will get charged duty.

Another place of interest is the 16th century fort San Felipe del Morro. Declared a World Heritage site by the United Nations in 1981, it receives over two million visitors per year.

If you are not into history or getting wet, the shopping in Old San Juan is fantastic. You can find nice quality silver jewelry at relatively good prices.

Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the most popular shopping port. It was once a haven for pirates and now is a popular port of call receiving over 1 million cruise ship visitors per year.

At only 33 square miles in size, St Thomas is a very picturesque ride that can be accomplished by renting a car or taking a tour of the island. If driving, be aware that one drives on the left. A very mountainous island, St Thomas has breathtaking vistas in every direction.

The absolute favorite drink on a cruise ship is a Pina Colada. I enjoy Pina Colada occasionally, but when I am cruising, I cannot seem to stop drinking them. They taste better due to several factors.
The cruise ships use light and dark rum and have the recipe down to a science.

Also, the tropical island music that you hear while on the ship and sunshine adds to the craving I have for Pina Coladas from the minute I board. There are plenty of waiters there to greet you with trays of the wonderful coctail.

Important update regarding sea travel:

* For domestic travel which includes: the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico, a passport (valid or expired) is highly recommended.

* In the absence of a passport, a birth certificate (original or certified copy), plus laminated picture ID card issued by a federal, state, or local government agency is required. Note: Baptismal papers and hospital certificates of birth (except for new borns) are not acceptable.

* For U.S. Naturalized citizens, in the absence of a passport, Naturalization papers (either original or notarized copy) plus a picture ID card issued by a federal, state, or local government agency is required.

* A voter registration card or Social Security Card are not considered to be proof of citizenship.

* Children under 16 years of age do not require a picture ID.