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Caribbean
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| Castries, Saint Lucia local time GMT-4 hrs | ||
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Temperature: 30°C (feels like 36°C) |
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| Weather data provided by weather.com® | ||
Combining cloudless blue skies with white sandy beaches makes the Caribbean the ultimate cruise destination. There are over 7,000 islands in the Caribbean lying between the southern tip of the eastern United States and the north coast of South America.
The Caribbean is an extremely popular part of the world for cruising all year round. Few destinations offer such an enticing combination of sun-drenched tropical splendour and cultural diversity as the Caribbean islands.
First time visitors to the Caribbean are often fascinated by the differences between the islands. This region has an unique blend of influences from Africa, Europe and Latin America, which make up a wonderful ‘patchwork quilt’ of cultures amongst a breathtaking backdrop of lush tropical jungles, fresh water caves, white-sand beaches, charming cities and ancient ruins.
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. The islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Barthelemy and St Martin are all Departments D’Outremer of France.
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 Guadeloupe and Martinique and Dutch in Curaçao. There is also a colourful dialect or patois, which shows influences from several European languages.
"High" season in the Caribbean typically begins in December and runs through April although many cruise lines will offer year-round itineraries. The months of August, September and October are particularly at risk from adverse weather as the hurricane season runs from June 1 – November 30 and peaks during these months. A cruise ship will alter its itinerary if affected.
Cruise itineraries are often divided into three broad areas:-
Eastern Caribbean Cruises
Of all the cruising areas of the world, the Eastern Caribbean offers the most choice. Cruises not only sail from the area's main Florida ports but also East Coast ports such as New York.
The Eastern Caribbean includes the British and American Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and St. Maarten / St. Martin. Many itineraries will also include a call in the Bahamas.
Western Caribbean Cruises
Turquoise waters and scenic islands make the Western Caribbean a snorkelling paradise and a treasure trove for Mayan archaeological ruins.
Typical ports of call include Belize, Cozumel, Grand Caymen, Key West, and Jamaica.
Southern Caribbean Cruises
The Southern Caribbean is the most exotic and diverse of the three Caribbean cruise areas. Aruba and Antigua offer the best beaches in the Caribbean and for scenery ranging from volcanoes to rain forests visit Martinique, St. Lucia and Guadeloupe
Other ports of call include Barbados, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Puerto Rico, St. Barth's and St. Kitts.
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