The site you want to visit is called Vacations To Go. This company not only offers special deals for just about anyone but you’ll get an even better deal if you happen to meet one or more qualifications: single, a teacher, policeman or woman, military, firefighter, EMT, or you are age 55 or older. Plus they have specialty cruises for families, honeymooners, special needs individuals, weddings, and more!

How can they offer the tickets so cheaply? Good question. Vacations to Go is what you call a clearinghouse for deeply discounted cruises. They are able to offer special cruise deals you would not believe because a number of years ago the company convinced the major cruise lines to drastically reduce the price of unsold cabins close to departure time.

The cruise lines were reluctant to provide “sale” prices that might undermine their business relationship with travel agents. What they decided to do instead was offer discounts on unsold cabins to the exclusive and confidential client list of Vacations to Go. You can be a member of this list by just signing up on their website (I’ve been on the email mailing list for a couple of months now. There’s no fee to sign up.)

To get an idea of the kind of savings you might find just cruise over to the site and check out their 90-Day Ticker. This service provides you with a list of last-minute markdowns. You just need to register.

I’ve always wanted to go on a Caribbean Cruise! Now that I know about this service and the amazing bargain prices offered, I will be taking one of these trips as soon as I have enough time. The price is no longer an issue.

For additional tips on saving money with cruises, airfare, and other travel expenses for Caribbean trips and elsewhere, you may want to read about how to save on airfare and more. So what are you waiting for? Click on the links. Find the best Caribbean Cruise Deal for you and make your dream come true. Do it now!

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What comes to mind when you picture traveling to a Caribbean Island for a vacation? Do you prefer quiet, peaceful, relaxing destinations or would you prefer a vacation with lots of sights, sounds, and nightlife? Would you like to spend time snorkeling or diving? Are you interested in finding some of the most highly rated beaches? Maybe your idea of fun is exploring the shops to find treasures not readily available at home.

The time you spend discovering the “best” island for you will be worth every minute. You will be much more likely to enjoy the trip of a lifetime! Here are some suggestions for the islands that might interest you most as recommended by some of the top travel experts such as Frommer’s, Fodor’s, and Travel and Leisure.

1. Best Caribbean Islands for Peace, Quiet, and Relaxation

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Virgin Gorda shows up often as a highly recommended island for peace and quiet. This island is dominated by protected parkland. Located in the easternmost side of the British Virgin Islands it is reachable by ferry from St. Thomas or Tortola. Vieques, located on the northeast side of Puerto Rico, is still rustic and relaxed. Anguilla is a tiny island with a population numbering only 13,000 or so. It is the northern most island in the Windward island chain (by St. Maarten). This is a place where even the rich and famous go for privacy and quiet.

2. Best Caribbean Islands for Nightlife

Aruba boasts 10 casinos each with unique shows, restaurants, and bars. In Barbados you’ll find lots of bars, pubs, restaurants, and dance clubs. St. Thomas is often listed as the island having the most active nightlife. St. Maarten/St. Martin has lots of dance clubs and restaurants each with a bar. Jamaica is a special favorite for their distinctive music and folkloric stage shows. Curacao has many casinos, gambling, and lively bars. Puerto Rico is well known for their dance clubs as well as casinos, cabaret shows, bars, and taverns.

3. Best Caribbean Islands for Diving and Snorkeling

The Caribbean offers many opportunities for diving and snorkeling. Some of the most well liked locations include the islands of Bonaire, Trunk Bay in the Virgin Islands, Antigua, Grand Cayman, Turks & Caicos, and Virgin Gorda.

4. Best Caribbean Beaches

In addition to the more widely known white sand beaches, the Caribbean islands also boast pink sand and black sand beaches. Which would you like to experience?

The black sand beaches are found on the volcanic islands of the Caribbean. These include St. Lucia, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Dominica. Pink sand beaches are formed by fine, white sand mixed with flecks of red plankton. The most famous pink sand beach of the Caribbean is a three-mile stretch of sand located on an islet of Eluethera Island. Another favorite pink sand beach is located on Harbour Island on the Bahamas. A famous powdery white sand beach seven miles long is located on Grand Cayman. This beach is lined with condos and luxurious resorts. Anguilla, on the other hand, has 33 smaller white sand beaches and is still relatively undeveloped. Canouan, a remote and tiny island, is one of the The Grenadines. On this island you may find one of the most secluded stretches of powdery white sand in the Caribbean.

5. Best Caribbean Islands for Shopping

The Bahamas are famous for their Straw Market with handbags, woven mats, hats, and more. St. Lucia and St. Maartin/St. Martin have lots of duty free shops. St. Barts is somewhat like the south of France with sophisticated shops filled with French and Italian fashions and other luxury goods. Barbados has strong ties with Britain so you will find bargains on British goods such as bone china and crystal from England and Ireland. Other great shopping islands include Antigua and Aruba.

This is just a short list of the many possible choices you have for a Caribbean Christmas vacation over the holidays or another time of the year. For example, some islands are better choices than others for hiking, sailing, and all-inclusive vacation packages. Check back for more articles and great links for the best Caribbean island resources online to plan your trip.

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Caymanians didn’t wonder if Christmas would be “white.” They celebrated having a “white” Christmas every year with a Sand Yard. White sand was carried from the beach on moonlit nights. On Christmas Eve morning the sand would be raked into intricate patterns and decorated but could not be walked on until Christmas day. A footpath made of gravel and lined with conch shells was provided for guests. Many of the owners of the old Caymanian houses still maintain this unique tradition.

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Holiday food is a big part of the Christmas celebration in the Cayman Islands just as it is elsewhere around the world. Fresh meat used to be a very rare treat enjoyed on Christmas if possible. To maintain this tradition, fresh beef and pork, often cooked in the same pot, are the preferred choice for a Christmas meal today. In addition, both heavy and light cakes are served along with a Caribbean drink called Sorrel.

Santa Claus is an integral part of Christmas for Caymanian children but he makes his appearance in very different fashion from what we are accustomed to in the north. He arrives by airplane or by boat and not a sleigh.

The display of Christmas lights is a somewhat recent tradition in Cayman. Each year there is a competition with prizes in several different categories. These displays, which might include animated figures and intricate scenery, seem to be getting more extravagant each year!

To learn more about the Christmas customs and traditions of the Cayman Islands, I highly recommend you visit the website for the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. Here you’ll find more of the history of Christmas celebrations on the Cayman Islands along with a list of upcoming events and activities for this year’s Caymanian Caribbean Christmas.

Cayman Islands Christmas Decorations and Lights

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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.

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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.

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Here are 5 reasons to choose Jamaica for Christmas:

1. Jamaicans are generally warm and friendly. You can easily interact with the local people on your own or through a special program. For example, you might visit a Jamaican marketplace, attend a concert or participate in an organized Christmas celebration for the public. However, if you would like a little help in making arrangements for meeting locals there are two possible choices. One is the program Meet the People and the other is through a local business named Countrystyle.

2. In Jamaica there are a number of local Christmas celebrations. The two most well known celebrations are Grand Market and Jonkonnu.

For the Grand Market celebration, you will find markets in various places around the island where vendors sell sweets of all kinds including cakes and peppermint sticks along with balloons, small toys, and firecrackers. In addition to the sale of food and other items, these markets are community events with street dancing, crafts, and music.

Jonkonnu is a colorful Jamaican celebration with musicians and dancers dressed in masquerade who parade through the streets. These bands typically include a mixture of traditional and modern characters. Celebrations used to be common across the country but are now more often found in the rural areas.

3. Music is a big part of Christmas in Jamaica and Christmas caroling is still popular. You will hear traditional carols such as Oh Holy Night, Silent Night, and many more sung throughout the region. However, Christmas carols in Jamaica are often sung to a reggae beat!

4. Concerts with big-name Jamaican musicians are common at Christmas. Popular artists choose to stay home and provide music stage shows because of the high number of tourists and native Jamaicans who return to the island for the holidays. Some of the many singers you might encounter at Christmas include Shabba Ranks, Black Uhuru, Robby Shakespeare, Shaggy, Melody Makers, and Sly Dunbar.

5. Christmas is celebrated both religiously with church services and with parties much like those in the United States. However, some of the traditions we might be accustomed to have been modified to fit the local circumstances. Small children believe in Santa Claus but very few Jamaican homes have chimneys. So the Jamaican Santa shrinks in size to fit through the keyhole of the front door to a home! Also, if pine trees are unavailable, Jamaicans will often place their Christmas gifts under a willow tree.

Jamaica offers a lot to see and do at any time of the year. However, if you are willing to explore and you are open to colorful and festive traditions different from those at home, there are even more possibilities at Christmas. Enjoy!

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The cost of air travel and accommodations are up during what is called the high season. Traditionally this is considered to be mid-January til mid-April but prices actually peak around Christmas and New Year’s.

However, don’t let the cost of the travel put you off. By doing a little research you are more likely to find options that will fit your budget.  Also, this year may see a reduction in flights to the Caribbean for the first time in years because of the high cost in jet fuel. That may mean savings for you on the islands as they compete for your attention.

You might begin by comparing and contrasting the different islands. Each island has a distinctive cultural flavor and offers different opportunities for exploration, relaxation, and fun. Then check to see which of your favorite islands may be offering bargain rates this year.

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Christmas is a time of great joy and celebration in the Caribbean countries. Holiday celebrations vary from one island to another as each has it own unique history and customs. If you would like to experience some of the local Christmas traditions you will find that some of the islands have more to offer the visitor than others.

On the U.S. Virgin Islands Christmas is celebrated in much the same way as it is in America but with a definite Caribbean spin. For example Christmas carolers go out in the evenings but there are also something called “scratch bands.” These bands include banjos, saxophones, and drums and they play Christmas music.

In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Nine Mornings Festival is celebrated for the nine days before Christmas. You’ll find singing, recitals and other fun competitions in the town of Kingston and other forms of music and entertainment throughout the island.

Jamaica also celebrates Christmas in a manner similar to the United States. However, in Jamaica Christmas carols are often sung to a reggae beat. Native Jamaicans who have experienced Christmas in the U.S. feel that there are more Christmas festivities and opportunities to socialize then what is typical in America.

This is just a small sampling of what you might find for local flavor with a Caribbean Christmas. If on the other hand you are simply wanting to enjoy the sun and warmth without having to mingle and socialize, you will find many possibilities from fancy resorts to private villas to charming bed and breakfast inns and more. There is something for everyone.

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