It’s Tough To Choose When Searching For The Best Caribbean Vacation
Are you looking for the best Caribbean vacation? Well the good news is there are many options the bad news there are many options but don’t stress i will try to break it down to some a few of my favorites, from seeing the Caribbean from a luxury cruise ship, to kicking it at a mega or boutique Caribbean resort.
Best Caribbean Cruises
Carnival cruise and Royal Caribbean offer some great cruises with many ports of call and a wide range of pricing. You can enjoy a all inclusive experience while seeing several islands. Let’s look at what these cruse lines have to offer.
Carnival Cruise has a awesome 7 day cruise that departs from San Juan , Puerto Rico aboard the Carnival Liberty with ports of calls in St. Thomas Virgin Islands , Barbados, St Lucia , St Kitts , and St Maarten , prices start at $409 pp as of 10/23/15 activities including: swimming, snorkeling, hiking, shopping and sightseeing.
Pro Tip
While visiting St John island make sure to take the Trunk Bay beach and snorkel excursion you’ll board an open air safari taxi for a relaxing ride to Trunk Bay, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the virgin Islands. While traveling you’ll have the opportunity to view and photograph spectacular sights alongside the Caribbean Sea. Stops include the Cruz Bay and Hawksnest Bay.
Royal Caribbean
Feeling like 7 days is just not enough why not try a 12 day Caribbean cruise departing from Cape liberty New Jersey.
I like this cruse because it visits not only some of my favorite Caribbean islands Grand Cayman , Haiti and Jamaica , but two islands off the mainland coast of Central America , Roatan Honduras , Cozumel Mexico , and a stop on the mainland of Mexico visiting Puerto Costa Maya. Activities are basically the same as the Carnival cruise. The price for the 12 day Royal Caribbean cruise start at $1,143 as of 10/23/15.
Pro Tip
While in Grand Cayman you must take the trip to Sting Ray City truly one of the best excursions in the Caribbean. I recently went to Sting Ray City to snorkel with these beautiful creatures and was amazed at how tame and friendly they where feel free to lightly touch or hold the stingrays they seem to really enjoy the attention.
Mega Vs. Boutique Resorts
Atlantis
Looking for a family friendly environment with countless activity and dining options then you must add Atlantis to your bucket list.
Construction began in 1994 on Paradise Island in the Bahamas to raise the mythical city of Atlantis from the sea. With over 3000 rooms and a price tag approaching 2 billion dollars Atlantis is truly the king of mega resorts. Boasting the world’s largest open-air marine environment of 11 million gallons, home to 50,000 sea creatures representing 200 species many lagoons and countless waterfalls, a spectacular Mayan Temple Waterslide complex, 6 swimming areas a Marina, restaurants for every taste and a 30,000 Sq Ft Spa it can be said that you will want for nothing at this spectacular resort.
Family Fun
Aquaventure is the largest water park in the Caribbean at a mammoth 144 acres and 20 million gallons. You and your kids can relax while floating down the mile long river, or if your heart can take it go down any of the 9 water slides including the 120 ft tower where guest will slide threw a tank filled with sharks.
Dophin Kay
Sea Lion and Dolphin Interaction
Ever wanted to hang out with a Sea Lion or jump in a interact with a bottle nose dolphin well here is your chance. You must tour the marine habitat and rescue center where you can get pics of yourself with these cool creatures. Atlantis world renowned dolphin habitat is world is a once in a life time family experience.
World of Wonders
Check out the southern stingrays at the sandy lagoon one of more than 50,000 amazing marine animals.
Have Teens
Teens get bored easy? why not send them to their own night club Crush 13-17 Yrs. It’s a very cool night club with live DJ and touch screen internet access and a a360 degree gaming stadium .It’s the place to be for cool teens. Hour of operation 9-1am.
Adult Fun
Atlantis Casino is considered one of the very best in the Caribbean and the place for the single set or hip mom and dad to get there groove on. Try your luck at the casino or just upstairs at the Aura nightclub In addition to Aura, you’ll find other popular nightspots throughout the resort, including Nobu, Dragons, Sea Glass, Plato’s, the Coral Lounge and The Moon Club. If you want your tickle bone tickled try Jokers Wild comedy club with today’s the most popular comics.
Dinning
Atlantis offers dinning from world class chefs to relaxed and easy snacks. If in the mood for Mediterranean try Todd English’s Olives, you can get a exotic Japanese offerings at Nobu and exquisite French creations at Café Martinique. For more Relaxed Dining Enjoy a variety of casual and flavorful dishes, including Italian and Bahamian entrees, seafood, steaks and sandwiches. Express Dining Choose from several fast, family favorites including burgers, hot dogs and the best pizza on the island or grab coffee, juice, ice cream and other treats to go.
Jade Mountain St. Lucia
Having been voted the number one Caribbean resort by Travel + Leisure world bests this exclusive boutique resort has arguably the best view of the Pitons, the twin 2500 Ft. volcanic peaks that are the symbol of St Lucia and a World Heritage Site sense 2005 Jade Mountain has a reputation for exclusivity, luxury and service. With your stay at Jade Mountain you also have full access to the sister resort Anse Chastanet’s with its restaurants, bars, boutiques, art gallery, spa, scuba, bike and water sports facilities as well as 2 soft sand beaches available and easily accessible to Jade Mountain guests by foot or resort shuttle at all times.
Dinning
Hungry try the Jade Cuisine at Jade Mountain Club. The Club sits nicely around the infinity pool and only serves guests so you don’t have to worry about a visitor getting your seat. The James Beared Award winning Chef Allen serves exotic fusion that celebrates Caribbean food. The menu changes threw out the season so you will be sure to experience the freshest ingredients. Enjoy the Jade club for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Cocktail? The Jade mountain bar sits next to the restaurant so you can enjoy the spectacular view. the bar opens at 9am so if you are like me you can catch a buzz early or hold out until the evening for cocktail hour or a glass of wine before dinner. There is live entertainment on selected evenings, ranging from one of the island’s foremost jazz musicians to a classical acoustic guitarist.
Activities
Feeling like a bit of exercise to burn off those gourmet meals then try one of the popular hiking tours led by the resorts trained guides. The most popular tour is the Anse Mamin Plantation Walk, which visits the lush coastal jungle adjacent to the resort’s second beach, Anse Mamin. Guests are sure to be fascinated by the guide’s narrative on the ruins of an historic sugar plantation and a great variety of tropical foliage and birds. From the vantage points on this walk you can see some of St Lucia most beautiful views.
Pro Tip: Another must see is the world’s only drive in volcano. Sulfur Springs has been made famous due to the ability of tourists to literally drive up to the edge of the springs. Until the mid-1990s, tourists were able to walk right up to the end of the tar-colored pits until a guide named Gabriel fell through the crust into a pit and received third degree burns over most of his body, the formation of what is now known as Gabriel’s Hole has restricted viewing to a platform a few hundred feet away. Just a short walk away tourists can enjoy a cooler hot springs it’s also a great place for a mud bath .The mud baths are believed contain healing agents so give it a try and see if it eases any pains.
Hopefully this has given you a great starting point as to what is the best Caribbean vacation from seeing the islands from the deck of a cruise ship to mega food and activities or a exclusive romantic boutique experience. I say try them all life is short and the Caribbean is wonderful.
Stephen Kent.
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