For many people, when they hear cruise travelling, they hear Caribbean, and it’s a true fact that 3 out of 5 cruise travellers name the Caribbean as their top destination choice at any time of the year. So here, Columbus Direct reviews their 5 top Caribbean Cruise Lines choices.
1. Disney Cruise Line
Many travellers have a misconception that Caribbean cruises are only for adults, a place exclusive for couples on retreats and beach cocktails. Disney Cruise Line proves this wrong, and also proves that the Caribbean is not only one of the most beautiful places in the world, it is also one of the most family-friendly places in the planet.
From the Virgin Islands to the Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line docks at all the usual ports including Bahamian Island, Disney’s very own private island. Here, the guests will find private family cabanas, a teen hideout, open-air massage areas, Disney character dance parties, and adventures in the port such as glass-bottomed boat tours and stingray interactions.
This cruise line offers a unique opportunity for the parents to rekindle their romance with the island’s free childcare that can be taken advantage of at the play area in Scuttle’s Cove.
2. Holland America Line
With their own Culinary Arts Centre, full-service spas and fantastic art collections, Holland America Line offers a lot of activities more than just being a holiday. The usual stopovers at the ports also offer a treasure of personalised craft activities. You can take a St. Barts yellow submarine tour where you can possibly discover a few shipwrecks. You can also visit a couple of local artists on St. Maarten’s.
Holland America Line cruise guests will be given exclusive access to Half Moon Cay, the line’s private island. This is a virgin island, with 98% of it untouched, meaning you can go horseback riding on a deserted beach or feed stingrays in secluded coves. There are a lot of beach and resorts pleasures to be had, too, which includes air-conditioned cabanas by the beach and the aqua park at the Half Moon Lagoon.
3. Norwegian Cruise Lines
Cruise guests of this line will be afforded the flexibility to personalise their holidays and create their dream holiday with the Freestyle Cruising, offered exclusively by the Norwegian Cruise Lines. You can take advantage of the Casinos at Sea with more over 200 table games, and Broadway Shows, and speciality dining at different fine restaurants. There are different activities to suit everyone’s desire.
The Norwegian Caribbean cruise itineraries feature 9 ships, 4 departure ports and fabulous excursions to the shore, which are all designed so that all guests can enjoy their island time. Apart from all these, there are also countless opportunities to experience pure joy while looking for green monkeys in Barbados, tour the historic Fort San Cristobal in Puerto Rico, and discover the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world off the Honduras coast.
4. The P&O Cruise Line
P&O is a veteran in cruising, dating back to 1837, and back then, there weren’t spas and celebrity chefs in the cruise line, they were just mail vessels that also happened to carry passengers, but they have had plenty of time to perfect cruising over the centuries. Despite their Black Tie Nights, P&O follows a casual attitude in its cruises, in keeping with the free living attitude of the Caribbean Islands.
The shore excursions are all designed to highlight the French, British, Spanish and Dutch cultural influences of the region, featured in the architecture, history, natural wonders and markets of destinations such as St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Antigua. Because the cruise departs out of Britain, guests will also enjoy several stopovers that include the Azores and a leisurely crossing of the Atlantic.
5. Regent Seven Seas Cruise Line
If some cruise lines tag themselves as all-inclusive, most of them are true to their word. It’s different with Regent Seven Seas however as when they say all-inclusive, they really mean it in every single way. Guests can enjoy the Antigua Champagne and Lobster Catamaran Cruise, and enjoy the waters and the dolphins at the Blue Lagoon Island Encounter with the Dolphins in the Bahamas, or sailing in St. Barts. Other activities include photo safaris, submarine excursions, stingray encounters, cave tubing, history tours and jungle walks. All you have to do is ask for a particular activity or amenity, and it will be provided to you.
There are many reasons why the Caribbean attracts millions of cruise travellers like a moth to a candle, and these include convenient departure ports, the pristine beaches, the Caribbean sun, the people and of course, the great deals you can get on Caribbean cruises these days.
