The Caribbean is the second most popular cruising destination with UK passengers. The area offers all-year cruising and well over 100,000 Britons go cruising there every year.
The Caribbean stretches 2,500 miles in a gentle crescent from the tip of Florida in the north to the coast of Venezuela in the south.
First time visitors to the Caribbean are often fascinated by the differences between the islands. There was a thriving Indian civilisation in the Caribbean before the arrival of European explorers who fought hard for each country. The newcomers have all left their mark.
The islands of Guadaloupe, Martinique, St Barthelemy and St Martin are all Departments D'Outremer of France.
There are the Dutch Antilles islands, the US Virgin islands, the Spanish legacy in Cuba and Puerto Rica and British influences in islands such as Barbados, Jamaica and St Lucia.
This diversity also means there is a wide range of languages spoken in the Caribbean, English on many islands, Spanish in Puerto Rico, French in Guadaloupe and Martinique and Dutch in Curacao. There is also a colourful dialect of patois, which shows influences from several European languages.
- The average surface temperature of the Caribbean Sea is a balmy 29 degrees Centigrade. On land there is an average temperature of just over 25 degrees Centigrade all year round
- There are 7,000 islands in the Caribbean Sea, lying between the southern tip of the eastern United States and the north coast of South America.
- The area stretches for more than 2,500 miles, so cruising is the perfect way to experience as much of this part of the world as possible.
Volcanoes, Jungle and Beaches
The Caribbean has vast differences in its geography. Some countries such as St Lucia have dramatic extinct volcanoes. Barbados has an area affectionately known as Scotland. Antigua has 365 beaches - one for every day of the year.
St Barthelemy is so tiny that as light aeroplanes approach to land they appear to touch the tops of cars on a nearby hill.
Cruising variety
Cruising is a great way to sample a range of countries and landscapes within one holiday.
There is a multitude of cruising itineraries to choose from and different styles of ship to suit everyone and every age.There are cruises to suit all families, for people who like an active holiday, for those who prefer luxury and for those who are happiest in an informal setting.
Cruising value
Cruising offers excellent valuer for money - entertainment, all good and often an exhaustive choice of activities on board are all included in the price.
How do I get there?
Most Caribbean itineraries are fly-cruises, flying from an airport in the UK to a port in the USA, the Caribbean or Mexico. You can book a longer cruise that sails from and returns to a port in the UK.
