Best Caribbean Christmas

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There are a lot of advantages to making your trip (especially a first trip) to the Caribbean a cruise trip. Have you considered all the possibilities? Here are 7 top reasons why a cruise may very well be your best choice for travel to the Caribbean.

1. First and foremost is the value you receive for the cost of the cruise. For one price you are paying for most of the expenses you will encounter on your trip. One fee pays for your cabin, meals (usually 1-2 meals a day at minimum), shipboard activities, and entertainment. In addition, if you live within a few hundred miles of the coast you can save on airfare. Cruises to the Caribbean depart from many U.S. cities including Baltimore, New Orleans, Galveston, New York, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, and Miami.

2. The Caribbean is by far the top cruise destination. This means you will have many choices for picking the cruise itinerary that suits you best.

3. Cruises are no longer just about bingo, shuffleboard, and entertainment that might have excited people a decade ago but not today. The three top choices for activities include intriguing educational opportunities, enjoying outstanding cuisine, and taking advantage of comprehensive fitness options.

Explore educational possibilities such as music classes, digital photography, acting, web design, pottery and many more. Enjoy delicious food everywhere you turn from buffets to ice cream parlors, pizza stands, food and wine festivals, and specialty restaurants. If you are concerned about overindulging then take advantage of the many ways you can get a workout. Most cruise lines offer gyms with the latest fitness equipment and pools. In addition you might find yoga classes, pilates, wave simulators, and more. There’s also plenty of excellent entertainment. Enjoy live music, disco, dance extravaganzas, gambling, or simply lounging on deck while taking in the sights and sounds.

4. Going on a cruise can be a great way to sample the various cruise destinations. Stops at different ports of call will give you first hand knowledge about different Caribbean countries so that someday you can plan a trip to your favorite place for a longer stay. The Caribbean Sea covers a huge geographical area extending in the north from the tip of Florida to the edge of South America in the south. On the western border is Mexico and Belize. And on the east you’ll find a string of islands with a wide diversity in cultural heritage.

5. It’s simple! A cruise ship is a floating hotel so you don’t have to do extensive research to find the perfect place to stay. And there is no need to make elaborate travel arrangements. An experienced travel agent can help you choose a cruise and then handle all the details. Or you could sign up online to be notified by travel agents when a cruise that best meets your specifications becomes available at a price you can afford. Try MyBestFareFinder or CruiseCompete.

6. Cruises are great for families. Many cruises offer special activities for kids. This includes designated areas of the ship where kids can enjoy a variety of fun supervised activities giving adults time to relax onboard or go sightseeing on their own at a port of call.

Cruises are great for couples. There are private activities for couples located away from the high energy and noise of kids. Some cruises are designated as adult-only. You can enjoy secluded beaches, spa services, or dining for two on your own private balcony overlooking the sea.

Cruises are great for singles. The best are those that specialize in providing service for the single traveler. For more information you will want to read “Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers.”

7. You have an opportunity to experience small privately owned islands that are not reachable any other way. Some of the cruise lines actually own the islands and the exclusive rights to the unspoiled beauty. Many people report that these private island get-aways are their favorite destination or port.

So take a look at the cruise opportunities available. Give a cruise a try and you just might get hooked. Cruises are for everyone.

Technorati Tags: caribbean, caribbean christmas, Caribbean cruise, cruise ship, lodging, travel

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Airfares are going up. If you are hoping to travel to the Caribbean for the Christmas season the time to book your flights is NOW! This year is unlike any we’ve experienced before. Bargain rates for flights over the holidays may no longer exist but the airline situation may create some unexpected bargain prices for you on the islands if you know where to look. Or you may want to consider revising your plans to take a trip before the holidays. There are a number of things to keep in mind.

With the high price of fuel, travel to certain locations will be harder to come by as airlines cut back on the availability of seats for unprofitable routes. For the moment there seem to be an abundance of empty seats available to such places as Europe, Florida, and the Caribbean during September. However this will not last long. U.S. carriers are expected to retire many aircraft. By the holiday season prices will be much higher especially when you include the additional fees for checked bags, pets and pillows or blankets on flights.

Travel for Thanksgiving and Christmas have traditionally been two of the busiest travel times of the year. For now there are still seats for the holiday season but that won’t last long. Some airlines are adding flights to the most popular destinations in the Caribbean. Virgin Atlantic Airlines, with flights from London, just recently added five flights to Jamaica. JetBlue is offering more flights to the top spots in the Caribbean from the United States.

However, even the islands that traditionally have had the most flights, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, are looking at a reduction in service overall. With fewer flights available, some of the islands may offer incentives to sway your choice of destination. It seems that Puerto Rico is actively pursuing this angle.

Unless you have a particular reason for needing to book your flight over the holidays and cost is not an issue, you can realize significant savings by traveling before the holidays or postponing your trip till after the high season ends in mid-April. If you have any flexibility, the month of September would be an excellent time to snap up the kind of bargain rate tickets for flights to the Caribbean that we may not see again for a long time, if ever.

Technorati Tags: airlines, caribbean, caribbean christmas, christmas, holidays, JetBlue, travel, Virgin Atlantic