This increase is partly due to a vast numbers of cruising companies. As a matter of fact, cruising is a good introduction to sailing, and although they may always give you enough time to visit or be acquainted a certain region or island, they are nonetheless a great way to discover the best parts of the Caribbean, in a record time and at an affordable cost.

Here are three islands or islets you must visit at least once in your life. Luckily, there are also the number one spots for most cruise ships.

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Antigua and Barbuda

A beach for every day of the year.

Literally. Indeed, with Antigua and Barbuda’s 365 beaches, you could basically spend a year visiting a different beach every day. Not only you will discover never ending beautiful sand beaches, but also islands that have been inhabited for over 4000 years.

The most populous part of the country is Antigua, which is 14miles x 11miles. The perfect combination of mother nature and history and culture.

Bonaire

Where divers and snorkeling meet (or should meet!)

With its protected coasts, Bonaire has a very abundant sea life, making it a fairly unknown and untouched diving paradise. Although forgotten by many divers and snorkelers, who tend to choose Curaçao et Aruba, this island has become one of the favorite stops for cruise ships.

Other than diving and snorkeling, cruisers can visit Kralendijk, the capital of Bonaire, and its charming old pre-colonial houses, with pink, orange and green houses. Animals and plants lovers will leave the island with amazing pictures of giant cactus, pink flamingos, or those tropical wading birds.

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St. Thomas – US Virgin Islands

Shopping heaven of the Caribbean

Living at the rythm of coming and leaving cruisers and sailers, Charlotte Amalie has become a famed cruise ship port of call. This capital of the US Virgin Islands, located on St. Thomas island, is not only an appeal for its colorful houses with red tiles roofs, but also for the numerous boutiques and shops along Main Street and in Havensight Mall.

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There are many other popular cruise ports of call, such as St. Kitts and the British Virgin Islands. To learn more about the many Caribbean cruises ports of call, please visit Cheap All Inclusive Caribbean Vacation now.

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Caribbean Cruises – a diary

Day 5
The ship was sailing quietly between Cozumel and Grand Cayman. From the patio of our room, the night was hot and humid. We were really enjoy our time, still smiling about our fantastic dinner. The only bummer was that the trip was coming to an end. I joked that I really was hoping not to hit an Iceberg and see Celine Dion appear signing “My heart will go on”.

Of course, this is not the type of joke to do on a cruise ship, but hey, with the temperature of the water averaging 75F, the chance of an iceberg going our way was as high as seeing Celine Dion appear on the ship.

Day -1
At first, I was somewhat reluctant to go cruising, and worst, to tell people I was cruising. “I thought cruising was only for old people” frowned of my friend. But I have to admit that with the very laid back atmosphere, both of the cruise ship and the Caribbean, there was no more shame or regrets.

Although I don’t consider myself to be in my prime time, cruises are definitely not only for retired people. The ship is not filled with cheezy things to do, although it did felt good to sing out loud an extra cheesy song with thousands of other cruisers during the dinner after-party.

And unlike many think, you can leave your uptight tux and shiny dresses at home and dress casually the whole time (although having a few nice shirts or dresses around won’t hurt!).

Day 5
Well, at least our ship didn’t have a mandatory tux and shiny dress dress code for dinners. The ship by the way is huge, and can carry up to 2700 people on board, plus 1100 staff members, incredible!

Our cruise departed from Fort Lauderdale (like many Caribbean cruises), stopped in Key West, in Cozumel and in Grand Cayman before coming back to Fort Lauderdale. As newbies, we choose a fairly short trip, to see if we would enjoy it.

This trip was definitely long enough to tell us one thing: we love cruising. But definitely too short to enjoy everything the cruising on the Caribbean has to offer.

Jon, writer for Cheap All Inclusive Caribbean Vacations.

Fiction n˚1 Cruising is something from the past
Unlike many think, cruising business is better than ever. As a matter of fact, the market is growing every year, the biggest growing cruising market being the U.S. The popularity of cruises is so that more and more people now prefer cruises over all inclusive resorts.

Fiction n˚2 Cruising is only for an elite class and is always expensive
Okay, back in the Titanic days, cruising wasn’t meant for everyone. Only rich people were able to afford a ticket to cruise along the Mediterannean sea or the Caribbean sea. But since, the cost of cruising has drastically dropped with the affordability of air flights. Cruises lines where then able to offer affordable packages for everyone. Moreover, the ships being bigger, they can welcome more people on board, leading to a decrease in price. Newer cruise ships are real palaces of lights and glass and can accomodate over 5000 passengers! Moreover, just like almost every type of travelling, you can take advantages of early bookings or last minute bookings, where you can save up to 50% of the regular cost.

Fiction n˚3 Boring on board…
The biggest worry is probably to get bored on board. But did you know that most cruise ships have many pools, restaurants, bars, dance clubs, movie theatres, tennis courts, gymnasiums, and even shopping malls… It is actually difficult to get bored on board! Plus, most of the time, you will visiting new towns, new countries, new ports. Cruises allow you to travel the best places in the world, without the inconvenience of traveling with your suitcase, or of booking new hotels and finding transportation.

Fiction n˚4 Only old people take cruises
Until recently, cruise lines were targeting an older market. But nowadays, travelers are younger than ever. Families and honeymooners now represent the main customers. In the U.S. only, the average cruise traveler age went from 60 to 45 years old…

Fiction n˚5 Cruise ships are always colossal
If you prefer the intimacy and ambiance of a smaller group, without the constant movement of thousands of people around you, you will be happy to learn that cruise lines also offer medium size ships, which offer a more private type of cruise.

Fiction n˚6 Everybody gets seasick…
Even if you easily get motion sickness during car rides or flights, it is unlikely you will get sick on a cruise ship, due to their enormous size and their stabilizing systems. There can be some rougher parts of the ocean, and if, unfortunately, you do feel seasick, medication can be provided and will make you feel better in no time.

For more information, please visit Cheap All Inclusive Caribbean Vacations now.

Suggested reading : Caribbean Cruises – 5 Ports of Call

St. John’s – Antigua

St. John’s is the capital of Antigua, a small island in the Lesser Antilles with a strong British influence. It has 45 000 inhabitants (about 50 % of the island’s population) and lies at sea level on a sheltered northwestern bay. Most cruise ships dock at Heritage Quay. The city is pretty laid back – especially on Sundays, when most shops are closed for the day – and locals are usually friendly, sometimes wary. You’ll find shopping opportunities at Heritage Quay’s and Redcliffe Quay’s historic, restored warehouses. You can also spend some time at the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, or climb the hill to the massive St. John’s Anglican Cathedral. There are important historic sites and beautiful beaches beyond the capital. Antigua also offers a fairly wide variety of sports, including golf, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkelling, deep-sea fishing, and windsurfing.

Bridgetown – Barbados

Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados, an island in the Lesser Antilles archipelago well known for its British-flavored heritage and posh luxurious resorts. This friendly Caribbean city of 100 000 inhabitants has plenty to fill a day, with museums, beaches, shopping, and historic sites to keep you busy. Away from Bridgetown, Barbados boasts beautiful natural scenery, historical monuments, and outdoor activities.

Road Town – Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Road Town is the capital of the British Virgin Islands and sits about midway along the southern shore of Tortola, the archipelago’s main island. Unlike Antigua and Barbados, where the British legacy is clearly evident, the BVIs are surprisingly void of any reminders that this is a British territory. Tortola has few historic sites, but for those whom absolutely need their archaeological fix, check out the ruins of Ft. Burt at the western edge of Road Town and the intriguing collection of artefacts recovered from the wreck of the Rhone at the Old Folk Museum, and discover the modest grandeur of a governor’s house at the Old Government House Museum. You can also take a self-guided tour through the Botanic Garden. Shopping on Tortola is not a major activity, but you’ll find many shops showcasing original wares – from English china to West Indian art to wicker and rattan home furnishings. Away from Road Town, you can explore the island’s natural landscape or relax on its deserted beaches.

Ocho Rios – Jamaica

Ocho Rios is a town on the north coast of Jamaica, a favorite for North American honeymooners. Once a fishing village, it now caters to tourists and is the island’s cruise ship capital, welcoming a couple of ships every day during high season. Since there are not many things to do in the city itself aside of shopping, passengers usually sign for shore excursions, including tours to the Dunn’s River and to the White River, as well as horseback rides along the beach and through the surf. There are also excursions to Dolphin Cove, where you can play and swim with dolphins. If you just want to lie back, you can rest at one of Ocho Rios fabulous resorts.

Gustavia – St. Barthélemy

Gustavia is the capital of St. Barthélemy, a hilly island with gorgeous, quiet beaches. There aren’t many points of interests in the city itself, but you can always take a tour at the Municipal Museum, which has exhibits on the history and ecology of the island. A duty-free port, St. Barths is a shopper’s delight, with 200-plus boutiques selling beachwear, accessories, jewellery, and casual wear.

By Michael Young, writer for Cheap All Inclusive Caribbean Vacation.