Saturday, April 13, 2024

The Caribbean Small Ship Cruise Tours & Trip Packages

small caribbean cruise

Multiple dining options include the main restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the ship's wake and a steakhouse on the Lido Deck. For cocktails, head to either of two piano bars, the Dome Observation Lounge or the Atlas Lounge, just outside the lecture theatre. The windowed fitness center and spa area includes an ocean-view sauna and the infinity pool at the back of Deck 5 boasts killer views. There's an impressive spa, salon and gym with panoramic ocean views and several lounges for drinks (always included) and lectures. On board, many rooms are veranda suites measuring 356 square feet (including a private balcony), all with marble baths. The largest Grand and Owner's suites are massive multi-room affairs with huge private verandas.

Spain & Portugal: Flamenco & Tapas

Additionally, because of their size, the smallest Royal Caribbean ships can operate itineraries to places that aren't as easy for big ships to visit. Utopia of the Seas is expected to be roughly the same size as Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's second-biggest cruise ship. Except for a rock climbing wall, Grandeur of the Seas has none of the gee-whiz Royal Caribbean top-deck attractions found on newer Royal Caribbean vessels, such as skydiving simulators and giant water parks. For the most part, its top deck is lined with pools, whirlpools and sunning areas, as is typical for ships built in the 1990s. Are you looking for the most activity-packed, megaresort-like Royal Caribbean cruise ships at sea? Cruise ships generally head to the Caribbean as winter descendson Europe and North America, with high season running from Decemberthrough to February.

Island Windjammers

Ships are filled with stylish, adult-oriented bars promising a hopping scene late into the night as well as hipster venues like a colorful karaoke lounge. Onboard entertainment is inventive and often edgier than what you might see on traditional-style cruises. The 342-passenger Wind Surf features six decks, five masts and four types of cabins (all with windows only, no balconies). Accommodations range from 188-square-foot regular cabins to 376-square-foot suites. Known as Studio cabins, the tiny solo rooms in these complexes measure just 100 square feet. I particularly loved its futuristic "Jetsons"-like design and the multicolored mood lighting.

Best for Expedition Cruises

I spent 7 nights on the world's largest cruise ship in the smallest room. Take a look inside my cabin. - Cruise Blog

I spent 7 nights on the world's largest cruise ship in the smallest room. Take a look inside my cabin..

Posted: Mon, 08 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

These honest stories not only help you learn more about what it’s like but also help you pinpoint the best Caribbean cruise vacation. AdventureSmith’s Caribbean sailing vacations feature colorful flora and fauna, unique history, global cuisine and multicultural locals. Find your own paradise on Caribbean tall ship sailing cruises, Caribbean catamaran charters and more. Explore mangroves by skiff, kayak and stand-up paddleboard, right from your expedition ship.

Our luxury Caribbean cruise options offer top-notch guides and five-star onboard service. Consider one of our Caribbean tall ship sailing cruises aboard the historic Sea Cloud. Revel in French-inspired opulence aboard modern expedition ship Le Dumont D’Urville. Enjoy the luxury-meets-active feel of Le Ponant on her romantic cruises by small ship. Or opt for the luxury of an exclusive Caribbean catamaran charter aboard your private Belize charter yacht. Our experts are ready to help you find the best luxury Caribbean cruise based on your timeline and interests.

Be sure to visit Salt Whistle Bay, where the bath-warm Caribbean is separated from the churning Atlantic by a slim strip of sand. Captains of small ships have a bit more leeway than their peers on large ships. That means he or she might be able to arrange for a sunset coastal sailaway so you can snag some amazing pictures, or arrange to stay in port a little longer in order to maximize passengers' time. The schedule, as written in the brochure, can ebb and flow a bit to accommodate on-the-fly situations.

small caribbean cruise

UnCruise Adventures: Wilderness Legacy

Newcomer Ocean Victory is large for a small cruise ship, which allows it to offer more on its Alaska expeditions. The Atlas Ocean Voyages ship has terrific outdoor spots for remarkable views (not hogged by a helipad or stern and aft suite balconies), including a close-to-the-water spot on Deck 5 forward and a "secret" arc of deck on Deck 6 aft. Seabourn's large expedition team leads daily complimentary excursions, such as Zodiac sightseeing tours, shore walks, hikes, snorkeling and kayak outings.

SeaDream Yacht Club

Ports of call would include tiny towns and hidden harbors known only to private yachts and small ships like ours. Schedules would allow for dropping the Watersports Platform in turquoise bays and raising sails on the way to your next island rendezvous. And the laid-back island vibe would continue on board with a mouthwatering Signature Onboard Barbecue by the pool. Best of all, on every cruise there would be one day that was even more special than the rest, when you land on a secluded beach for Windstar’s Signature Beach Party, elaborate buffet and watersports included. The vessel has spacious cabins percent with private balconies -- along with three dining venues, a spa and water sports marina with activities including kayaking, paddle-boarding and diving. Cruises visit the line's private island of Motu Mahana, off the coast of Taha'a, where passengers are greeted with food, drink and live music.

This year's World's Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year's honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world.

Best Diving and Snorkeling in the Caribbean for Cruisers - Cruise Critic

Best Diving and Snorkeling in the Caribbean for Cruisers.

Posted: Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

On Royal Caribbean's biggest Oasis-class vessels, for instance, you'll find three separate main pool areas, a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and even a zip line. Inside the vessels, you'll find more lounges, bars, restaurants and shops than you can imagine — plus huge casinos, spas and showrooms with Broadway-style shows. The biggest Royal Caribbean cruise ship is the just-unveiled Icon of the Seas.

Not just a pretty ship, Seabourn Venture is tough, built to PC6 Polar Class standards for a focus on expedition cruising in the polar regions. The ship carries two submarines, as well as a fleet of double sea kayaks and 24 Zodiacs that can accommodate all guests at once. Royal Clipper also has impressive modern niceties for a ship of its size, including three small pools and an aft marina for easy access to complimentary water sports.

No. 5 Windstar Cruises rose five places since last year, as adventurers praised its three distinctive sailing yachts, including the Wind Spirit and Wind Star, both of which accommodate 148 guests. No. 2 Ponant also climbed five spots this year, winning over readers with an ever-expanding fleet of small ships. New on the list for 2021 is No. 10 Alaskan Dream Cruises, an Alaska Native–owned line that has a fleet of six ships, including the Kruzof Explorer, a Bering Sea crab-fishing vessel turned luxury-expedition yacht. The line's Dominican Haze five-night itinerary to Bimini, Bahamas and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, sails out of Miami on the 2,700-passenger Scarlet Lady.

In the winter, Royal Clipper island hops around the Caribbean, sailing round trip from Barbados to some of the lesser-known islands. During the summer, it cruises the Mediterranean along the French and Italian rivieras and explores the coast of Croatia and the Canary Islands. The ship attracts a loyal fan base thanks to its roomy size and cabins that open onto covered promenade decks (rather than a central interior corridor). It even features a hot tub on deck and an elevator, a rarity on older small adventure ships like this. High-tech toys, such as a remotely operated vehicle and underwater video camera, hydrophone, remote-controlled aerial camera and video microscope, allow guests to view footage of undersea life wherever the ships may be.

These include a scenic drive round St Lucia’s rainforest-wrapped mountains and a tour of diving paradise Bonaire that includes a chance to sample the local cactus liqueur. The ship spends summer in the Arctic and winter in Antarctica, so you’ll need to act fast to book the Caribbean voyages on offer between seasons. One of the nice things about smaller ships is that the chef and galley crew can focus on developing unique menus that often include ingredients from the ports you'll visit. This heightened emphasis on food is a welcome change of pace from some of the larger, mass-market lines. Chefs also tend to be more involved with passengers and it's common to be invited on a galley tour or go out to a local market on an island for an impromptu shopping trip.

Cruise among more than 700 islands, visiting secluded bays only accessible by small cruise lines in the Caribbean. Small ships carry anywhere from 62 to 300 passengers and can be anything from a luxurious and well-equipped yacht to a ship with billowing sails. Small-ship cruises in the Caribbean often place a significant emphasis on food. With fewer passengers onboard, chefs can focus on quality, offering gourmet dining experiences that feature local Caribbean ingredients and dishes. Some cruise lines also offer culinary-themed cruises, including cooking demonstrations, food-related shore excursions, and onboard culinary experts. IF YOU COULD DESIGN THE PERFECT ISLAND itinerary it would look a lot like these.

Silversea will even send a chauffeur-driven car to bring you to the airport from your home. Small-ship cruising in the Caribbean ranges from Star Clippers' sailing ships to a more premium option from Windstar, and all the way up the luxury stratosphere to Sea Cloud, Ponant and SeaDream Yacht Club. These tropical itineraries will generally cost more than similar voyages aboard mass-market lines, but those ships aren't visiting the lesser-known ports or offering freebies like wine and spirits.

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