Caribbean Introduction

A cruise around the islands of the Eastern Caribbean offers great variety, from very small, sleepy ports with gingerbread houses and exquisite beaches, to much bigger, more commercial destinations favoured by shoppers in search of some of the best bargains around in jewellery, precious stones and electronics.

There are numerous colonial influences, from the prim and proper Barbados, once part of the British Empire, to the designer shops and boulangeries of Guadeloupe and Martinique, both of which still belong to France. Everywhere you go, the locals will speak their own patois mixed with either French, English or even, in St Maarten, Dutch.

These are all superb destinations for an active cruise, with every water sport imaginable on offer as well as some fantastic hikes, from gentle nature walks through the rainforest to tough mountain trails. Explore the islands on foot, on horseback, by mountain bike or canoe - or simply relax on a coach tour. You'll never be far from a gorgeous beach, or a cheerful rum shack conjuring up the holiday spirit with the infectious beat of reggae.

The islands of the Western Caribbean offer plenty of contrasts, thanks to their English and Spanish colonial influences. Dominican Republic is distinctly Latin in feel, with colonial architecture and lively bars where you can dance the samba and merengue until the early hours. In contrast, Grand Cayman is neat, British and wealthy, thanks to its status as an offshore finance centre.

Cuba, meanwhile, is one of those must-see places, with its Hemingway heritage, hand-rolled cigars, vintage cars and magnificent architecture. Inaccessible to the huge American-operated cruise ships, it still has a slightly undiscovered feel compared to other islands.

Jamaica, home of reggae, also has its own inimitable style - laid back and friendly, with rum punch a-plenty, gorgeous beaches, dramatic scenery, great shopping and an interesting colonial past, the architecture of which is still very much in evidence.

Find out more information on your possible ports of call:

Antigua- Aruba. Bahamas- Nassau. Barbados. British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica. Cuba. Curacao. Dominican Republic- Dominica, Santo Domingo, Grand Cayman, Grenada, Grenadines, Guadeloupe. Jamaica- Montego Bay, Ocho Rios. Margarita Isla- Martinique. Puerto Rico. San Blas Islands- St Kitts, St Lucia, St Maarten. Trinidad & Tobago

Top Caribbean Cruises

Date	Nights	Itinerary	Cruise Line/Ship	Price
10/12/2010	7	Caribbean Cruise	Celebrity Century	£739pp
30/10/2010	9	Eastern Caribbean	Liberty of the Seas	£849pp
25/10/2010	8	Caribbean Cruise	Sea Princess	£889pp
40515	9	Western Caribbean Cruise	Carnival Liberty	£909pp
40516	9	Western Caribbean Cruise	Carnival Valor	£919pp
29/01/2011	9	Southern Caribbean	Adventure of the Seas	£929pp
26/11/2010	9	West Caribbean	Celebrity Eclipse	£949pp
18/09/2010	9	East Caribbean	Celebrity Solstice	£969pp
40557	9	Eastern Caribbean Cruise	Carnival Dream	£979pp
22/10/2010	11	3 Night Stay @ Marriott Village (Orlando) & Caribbean Cruise	Sea Princess	£979pp
25/10/2010	15	Exclusive - Caribbean Transatlantic plus £200 free spending money	P&O Oceana	£989pp
04/09/2010	9	East Caribbean	Emerald Princess	£989pp
12/11/2010	9	West Caribbean	Norwegian Epic	£989pp
02/10/2010	9	East Caribbean	Celebrity Solstice	£1009pp
02/01/2011	9	Western Caribbean Cruise	Navigator of the Seas	£1019pp
15/01/2011	9	East Caribbean	Freedom of the Seas	£1039pp
28/08/2010	9	West Caribbean	Celebrity Solstice	£1049pp
09/10/2010	9	East Caribbean	Norwegian Pearl	£1049pp
11/12/2010	9	East Caribbean - Balcony Stateroom	Celebrity Solstice	£1069pp
18/10/2010	15	7 Night Stay @ Marriott Village (Orlando) & Caribbean Cruise	Sea Princess	£1079pp
27/11/2010	9	East Caribbean - Balcony Stateroom	Celebrity Solstice	£1089pp
24/09/2010	9	East Caribbean	Norwegian Epic	£1089pp
10/12/2010	9	Southern Caribbean - Oceanview Stateroom	Celebrity Summit	£1129pp
18/03/2011	9	Southern Caribbean	Celebrity Summit	£1139pp
05/12/2010	13	Ultimate Caribbean	Celebrity Equinox	£1149pp
03/12/2010	9	East Caribbean plus $50 free spending money - Balcony Stateroom	Celebrity Eclipse	£1169pp
40504	12	Southern Caribbean	Noordam	£1179pp
40507	12	Eastern Caribbean	Maasdam	£1179pp
15/01/2011	14	Exclusive Price - South Caribbean	Explorer of the Seas	£1189pp
06/11/2010	14	South Caribbean	Explorer of the Seas	£1199pp
03/02/2011	12	Caribbean & Panama	Jewel of the Seas	£1229pp
04/12/2010	15	Caribbean cruise plus £200 free spending money	P&O Ventura	£1229pp
02/12/2010	16	Caribbean Panoramas Cruise	Norwegian Dawn	£1259pp
22/12/2010	9	Exotic Caribbean * Add a Drinks Package for £194p/p*	Thomson Dream	£1259pp
19/11/2010	15	Caribbean + £300 free spending money	P&O Ventura	£1339pp
17/02/2011	15	Caribbean & Cuba plus £75 free spending money or Transport/Parking	Fred Olsen Braemar	£1389pp
07/02/2011	15	Grand Caribbean Adventurer with $200 free spending money	Sea Princess	£1389pp
12/11/2010	15	Caribbean cruise plus £200 free spending money	P&O Azura	£1419pp
08/12/2010	12	Caribbean Cruise plus up to $200 free spending money	Cunard QM2	£1419pp
15/11/2010	15	Grand Caribbean Adventurer with $350 free spending money	Sea Princess	£1419pp
07/03/2011	15	Grand Caribbean Adventurer with $200 free spending money	Sea Princess	£1419pp
21/01/2011	15	Caribbean + £300 free spending money	P&O Azura	£1429pp
16/11/2010	12	Caribbean Cruise plus up to $200 free spending money	Cunard QM2	£1469pp
08/10/2010	16	Epic Caribbean	Norwegian Epic	£1489pp
13/12/2010	15	Grand Caribbean Adventurer with $200 free spending money	Sea Princess	£1549pp
17/03/2011	13	Eastern Caribbean Cruise plus up to $200 free spending money	Cunard Queen Victoria	£1779pp
19/12/2010	15	Coral Islands & Caribbean Gems * Add a Drinks Package for £338p/p*	Thomson Destiny	£1779pp
19/12/2010	14	Caribbean Christmas	Costa Atlantica	£2069pp