Trip IdeasThe Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises, 3rd Edition
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About This Book
What's really included in your cruise fare? What cabins are the best—and the worst? What cruise line has the largest standard cabins, even at the lowest price levels? Which cruise line's ships have rock-climbing walls?—Fodor's The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises, 3rd Edition answers all these questions and many more! Linda Coffman, our resident Cruise Diva, has been dishing out cruise-travel advice for more than a decade and has the answers to all your cruise questions. An avid cruiser, she spends most of her time cruising in the Caribbean and knows all the inside info on all the ships and even the best things to do while ashore!
The San Francisco Chronicle sums it up best —"Fodor's guides are saturated with information."
- We make every effort to bring you the most accurate and thorough book possible. Plus we provide timely updates about cruising and the Caribbean at Fodors.com.
- You know you're getting the real scoop on Caribbean cruising because unlike other guidebooks, Fodor's relies heavily on a cruising expert who knows the industry inside and out
- We give you the planning tools you need to tailor your trip. We give options for all budgets. You make the choices.
-----------------------------------
With Fodor’s you get much more than a guidebook–we make it easy for you to customize your dream vacation.
Visit www.fodors.com to find up-to-date travel bargains, mini-guides to worldwide destinations, information on local festivals, dazzling drives, maps, vacation planning tips and much more!
And, for more insider secrets, visit “Travel Talk” and “Rants and Raves” online at www.fodors.com/forums to get advice from other travelers like you.
The San Francisco Chronicle sums it up best —"Fodor's guides are saturated with information."
- We make every effort to bring you the most accurate and thorough book possible. Plus we provide timely updates about cruising and the Caribbean at Fodors.com.
- You know you're getting the real scoop on Caribbean cruising because unlike other guidebooks, Fodor's relies heavily on a cruising expert who knows the industry inside and out
- We give you the planning tools you need to tailor your trip. We give options for all budgets. You make the choices.
-----------------------------------
With Fodor’s you get much more than a guidebook–we make it easy for you to customize your dream vacation.
Visit www.fodors.com to find up-to-date travel bargains, mini-guides to worldwide destinations, information on local festivals, dazzling drives, maps, vacation planning tips and much more!
And, for more insider secrets, visit “Travel Talk” and “Rants and Raves” online at www.fodors.com/forums to get advice from other travelers like you.
Table of Contents
About This Book............7
The Best of Cruising............8
Chapter 1: Cruising: The Basics............17
What Is Cruising? ............19
What's on the Ship? ............21
What a Cruise Costs............22
Ship Sizes............25
Types of Cruise Lines............27
Cruising Family Tree............28
Cabins............32
Cabin Fever: Typical Cabin Features............34
Itineraries............37
Keeping in Touch............43
Chapter 2: Planning Your Cruise............45
Doing Research............46
Planning for Your Special Needs............47
Paying for Your Trip............61
When to Book Your Cruise............63
Booking Your Cruise............64
Making Decisions About Your Cruise............70
Chapter 3: Getting Ready............81
Documents............82
Picking a Cruise Wardrobe............88
Picking Luggage............91
Packing............93
Chapter 4: Enjoying Your Cruise............101
Boarding............102
Tipping............107
Places You Should Know............111
Dining on Board............113
Entertainment............115
Casinos and Gambling............117
Shopping on Board............118
Health and Fitness............118
Staying Healthy............121
Days at Sea............125
Port Calls............126
Disembarking............128
Problem Solving............131
Chapter 5: Cruise Lines and Cruise Ships............137
Rate Your Cruise Ship............139
Types of Cruise Lines............140
About These Reviews............145
Azamara Cruises............146
Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest............150
Carnival Cruise Lines............152
Conquest Class............156
Spirit Class............158
Destiny Class............160
Fantasy Class............162
Celebrity Cruises............164
Solstice Class............168
Millennium Class............170
Century Class............172
Costa Cruises............174
Costa Fortuna, Costa Magica............178
Costa Atlantica, Costa Mediterranea............180
Crystal Cruises............182
Crystal Serenity............186
Crystal Symphony............188
Cunard Line............190
Queen Mary 2............194
Disney Cruise Line............196
Disney Magic, Disney Wonder............200
Holland America............202
Signature Class............206
Vista Class............208
Rotterdam, Amsterdam............210
Statendam Class............212
Volendam, Zaandam............214
MSC Cruises............216
MSC Lirica, MSC Opera............220
Musica Class............222
Norwegian Cruise Line............224
Dawn Class............228
Jewel Class............230
Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Sun............232
Norwegian Spirit............234
Oceania Cruises............236
Regatta, Insignia, Nautica............240
Princess Cruises............242
Caribbean, Crown, Emerald, Ruby Princess............246
Coral Class............248
Grand Class............250
Sun Class............252
Pacific, Ocean, Royal Princess............254
Regent Seven Seas ............256
Seven Seas Voyager............260
Seven Seas Mariner............262
Seven Seas Navigator............264
Royal Caribbean ............266
Freedom Class............270
Voyager Class............272
Radiance Class............274
Enchantment of the Seas............276
Vision Class............278
Sovereign Class............280
Seabourn Cruise Line............282
Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn............286
Seabourn Legend, Pride, Spirit............288
SeaDream Yacht Club............290
SeaDream I, SeaDream II............294
Silversea Cruises............296
Silver Spirit............300
Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper............302
Silver Cloud, Silver Wind............304
Star Clippers............306
Royal Clipper............310
Star Clipper............312
Windstar Cruises............314
Wind Surf............318
Wind Spirit, Wind Star............320
Chapter 6: Ports of Embarkation............323
Port Essentials............324
Baltimore, Maryland............325
Charleston, South Carolina............332
Fort Lauderdale, Florida............340
Galveston, Texas............347
Jacksonville, Florida............353
Miami, Florida............359
Mobile, Alabama............367
New Orleans, Louisiana............372
New York, New York............382
Norfolk, Virginia............391
Port Canaveral, Florida............397
San Juan, Puerto Rico............405
Tampa, Florida............406
Chapter 7: Ports of Call............415
Going Ashore............416
Caribbean Essentials............417
Private Islands............422
Antigua (St. John's) ............426
Aruba (Oranjestad) ............433
Barbados (Bridgetown) ............439
Belize City, Belize............446
Bermuda............452
Bonaire (Kralendijk) ............462
Calica (Playa del Carmen), Mexico............467
Cartagena, Colombia............472
Colón, Panama............476
Costa Maya, Mexico............481
Cozumel, Mexico............482
Curaçao (Willemstad) ............488
Dominica (Roseau) ............495
Freeport-Lucaya, Bahamas............502
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands............508
Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands............515
Grenada (St. George's) ............520
Guadeloupe (Pointe-à-Pitre) ............526
Key West, Florida............532
La Romana, Dominican Republic............538
Martinique (Fort-de-France) ............542
Montego Bay, Jamaica............550
Nassau, Bahamas............555
Nevis (Charlestown) ............562
Ocho Rios, Jamaica............568
Progreso, Mexico............573
Puerto Limón, Costa Rica............579
Roatán, Honduras............584
Samaná, Dominican Republic............587
St. Barthélemy (Gustavia) ............593
St. Croix (Frederiksted) ............597
St. John (Cruz Bay) ............603
St. Kitts (Basseterre) ............608
St. Lucia (Castries) ............614
St. Maarten (Phillipsburg) ............621
St. Thomas (Charlotte Amalie) ............628
St. Vincent (Kingstown) ............634
San Juan, Puerto Rico............640
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic............646
Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala............652
Tobago (Scarborough) ............656
Tortola (Road Town) ............661
Trinidad (Port of Spain) ............666
Virgin Gorda............672
MAPS
Relative Ship Sizes............26
Baltimore............327
Charleston............334
Fort Lauderdale............341
Galveston............349
Jacksonville............354
Miami............361
Mobile............368
New Orleans............373
New York City (Midtown) ............383
Norfolk............392
Cape Canaveral............398
Tampa Bay Area............407
The Caribbean............418–419
The Mayan Riviera............420
Antigua............427
Aruba............434
Barbados............440
Barbados............441
Belize............447
Bermuda............454–455
Bonaire............463
Calica............468
Cartagena............473
Cozumel............484
Curaçao............489
Dominica............497
Freeport-Lucaya, Bahamas............504
Grand Cayman............510
Grand Turk............517
Grenadav............521
Guadeloupe............527
Key West............533
Martinique............544
Montego Bay............551
Nassau, Bahamas............557
Nevis............564
Ocho Rios............570
Northwest Yucatan/Merida............575
Puerto Limón............580
Roatán Island............585
Samaná Peninsula............589
St. Barthélemy............594
St. Croix............599
St. John............605
St. Kitts............609
St. Lucia............617
St. Maarten............623
St. Thomas............630
St. Vincent............636
Old San Juan............641
Santo Domingo............647
Santo Tomás............653
Tobago............658
Tortola............663
Trinidad............668
Virgin Gorda............673
Index............677
The Best of Cruising............8
Chapter 1: Cruising: The Basics............17
What Is Cruising? ............19
What's on the Ship? ............21
What a Cruise Costs............22
Ship Sizes............25
Types of Cruise Lines............27
Cruising Family Tree............28
Cabins............32
Cabin Fever: Typical Cabin Features............34
Itineraries............37
Keeping in Touch............43
Chapter 2: Planning Your Cruise............45
Doing Research............46
Planning for Your Special Needs............47
Paying for Your Trip............61
When to Book Your Cruise............63
Booking Your Cruise............64
Making Decisions About Your Cruise............70
Chapter 3: Getting Ready............81
Documents............82
Picking a Cruise Wardrobe............88
Picking Luggage............91
Packing............93
Chapter 4: Enjoying Your Cruise............101
Boarding............102
Tipping............107
Places You Should Know............111
Dining on Board............113
Entertainment............115
Casinos and Gambling............117
Shopping on Board............118
Health and Fitness............118
Staying Healthy............121
Days at Sea............125
Port Calls............126
Disembarking............128
Problem Solving............131
Chapter 5: Cruise Lines and Cruise Ships............137
Rate Your Cruise Ship............139
Types of Cruise Lines............140
About These Reviews............145
Azamara Cruises............146
Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest............150
Carnival Cruise Lines............152
Conquest Class............156
Spirit Class............158
Destiny Class............160
Fantasy Class............162
Celebrity Cruises............164
Solstice Class............168
Millennium Class............170
Century Class............172
Costa Cruises............174
Costa Fortuna, Costa Magica............178
Costa Atlantica, Costa Mediterranea............180
Crystal Cruises............182
Crystal Serenity............186
Crystal Symphony............188
Cunard Line............190
Queen Mary 2............194
Disney Cruise Line............196
Disney Magic, Disney Wonder............200
Holland America............202
Signature Class............206
Vista Class............208
Rotterdam, Amsterdam............210
Statendam Class............212
Volendam, Zaandam............214
MSC Cruises............216
MSC Lirica, MSC Opera............220
Musica Class............222
Norwegian Cruise Line............224
Dawn Class............228
Jewel Class............230
Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Sun............232
Norwegian Spirit............234
Oceania Cruises............236
Regatta, Insignia, Nautica............240
Princess Cruises............242
Caribbean, Crown, Emerald, Ruby Princess............246
Coral Class............248
Grand Class............250
Sun Class............252
Pacific, Ocean, Royal Princess............254
Regent Seven Seas ............256
Seven Seas Voyager............260
Seven Seas Mariner............262
Seven Seas Navigator............264
Royal Caribbean ............266
Freedom Class............270
Voyager Class............272
Radiance Class............274
Enchantment of the Seas............276
Vision Class............278
Sovereign Class............280
Seabourn Cruise Line............282
Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn............286
Seabourn Legend, Pride, Spirit............288
SeaDream Yacht Club............290
SeaDream I, SeaDream II............294
Silversea Cruises............296
Silver Spirit............300
Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper............302
Silver Cloud, Silver Wind............304
Star Clippers............306
Royal Clipper............310
Star Clipper............312
Windstar Cruises............314
Wind Surf............318
Wind Spirit, Wind Star............320
Chapter 6: Ports of Embarkation............323
Port Essentials............324
Baltimore, Maryland............325
Charleston, South Carolina............332
Fort Lauderdale, Florida............340
Galveston, Texas............347
Jacksonville, Florida............353
Miami, Florida............359
Mobile, Alabama............367
New Orleans, Louisiana............372
New York, New York............382
Norfolk, Virginia............391
Port Canaveral, Florida............397
San Juan, Puerto Rico............405
Tampa, Florida............406
Chapter 7: Ports of Call............415
Going Ashore............416
Caribbean Essentials............417
Private Islands............422
Antigua (St. John's) ............426
Aruba (Oranjestad) ............433
Barbados (Bridgetown) ............439
Belize City, Belize............446
Bermuda............452
Bonaire (Kralendijk) ............462
Calica (Playa del Carmen), Mexico............467
Cartagena, Colombia............472
Colón, Panama............476
Costa Maya, Mexico............481
Cozumel, Mexico............482
Curaçao (Willemstad) ............488
Dominica (Roseau) ............495
Freeport-Lucaya, Bahamas............502
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands............508
Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands............515
Grenada (St. George's) ............520
Guadeloupe (Pointe-à-Pitre) ............526
Key West, Florida............532
La Romana, Dominican Republic............538
Martinique (Fort-de-France) ............542
Montego Bay, Jamaica............550
Nassau, Bahamas............555
Nevis (Charlestown) ............562
Ocho Rios, Jamaica............568
Progreso, Mexico............573
Puerto Limón, Costa Rica............579
Roatán, Honduras............584
Samaná, Dominican Republic............587
St. Barthélemy (Gustavia) ............593
St. Croix (Frederiksted) ............597
St. John (Cruz Bay) ............603
St. Kitts (Basseterre) ............608
St. Lucia (Castries) ............614
St. Maarten (Phillipsburg) ............621
St. Thomas (Charlotte Amalie) ............628
St. Vincent (Kingstown) ............634
San Juan, Puerto Rico............640
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic............646
Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala............652
Tobago (Scarborough) ............656
Tortola (Road Town) ............661
Trinidad (Port of Spain) ............666
Virgin Gorda............672
MAPS
Relative Ship Sizes............26
Baltimore............327
Charleston............334
Fort Lauderdale............341
Galveston............349
Jacksonville............354
Miami............361
Mobile............368
New Orleans............373
New York City (Midtown) ............383
Norfolk............392
Cape Canaveral............398
Tampa Bay Area............407
The Caribbean............418–419
The Mayan Riviera............420
Antigua............427
Aruba............434
Barbados............440
Barbados............441
Belize............447
Bermuda............454–455
Bonaire............463
Calica............468
Cartagena............473
Cozumel............484
Curaçao............489
Dominica............497
Freeport-Lucaya, Bahamas............504
Grand Cayman............510
Grand Turk............517
Grenadav............521
Guadeloupe............527
Key West............533
Martinique............544
Montego Bay............551
Nassau, Bahamas............557
Nevis............564
Ocho Rios............570
Northwest Yucatan/Merida............575
Puerto Limón............580
Roatán Island............585
Samaná Peninsula............589
St. Barthélemy............594
St. Croix............599
St. John............605
St. Kitts............609
St. Lucia............617
St. Maarten............623
St. Thomas............630
St. Vincent............636
Old San Juan............641
Santo Domingo............647
Santo Tomás............653
Tobago............658
Tortola............663
Trinidad............668
Virgin Gorda............673
Index............677
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