Travel Tips & Trends

What's new in Caribbean cruising

The Caribbean is the world's most popular cruising ground, hosting nearly half of the worldwide cruise capacity. The following are some of the latest developments on large and small ships.

Azamara Cruises

Azamara makes its Caribbean debut in winter 2008 with 14-night roundtrip cruises from Miami on the Azamara Quest. Itineraries are a combination of lesser-known ports. In early 2009, Azamara Journey will offer two 12-night Caribbean itineraries from Miami.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Imagination has undergone a multimillion-dollar enhancement and will shift to three-day Bahamas and four-day Western Caribbean cruises from Miami, beginning in September. Also in fall 2008, Carnival Destiny moves to Miami for year-round four- and five-day cruises, and Carnival Fascination will begin sailings from Jacksonville.

Celebrity Cruises

The new Celebrity Solstice will launch in December, offering seven-night Caribbean cruises from Ft. Lauderdale. The ship will feature an industry first: a top deck seeded with a real grass lawn.

Crystal Cruises

Starting in October, Crystal's new 12-day itinerary combines the Caribbean with Bermuda. The voyage from New York to Miami has stops in Bermuda, the Netherlands Antilles, Antigua, the Dutch West Indies and Grand Cayman. Other itineraries include the Panama Canal and a roundtrip "Holiday Treasures" cruise from Miami.

Cunard Line

Queen Mary 2 will return to the Caribbean in November with an eight-day itinerary from New York to Ft. Lauderdale, with stops in St. Kitts, Grenada and Bonaire.

Disney Cruise Line

For 2008, Disney Wonder has a new musical based on the movie "Toy Story," with articulated puppets and inflatable costumes including a nine-foot dinosaur.

Holland America Line

This cruise line continues to focus on longer, port-intensive cruises ranging from seven to 20 days, but three-day Bahamas getaways are also available. Fall 2008 sees the arrival of the new Eurodam, which will sail one three-day itinerary and then begin seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises from Ft. Lauderdale.

Princess Cruises

New for 2008 are two 14-day itineraries: on Grand Princess calling at Curacao, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and the Dominican Republic, and on Royal Princess to less-visited ports. Crown Princess will sail an enhanced seven-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary, and the new Ruby Princess will debut in the Western Caribbean.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Seven Seas Navigator will sail a new 14-night itinerary, including Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Barts, San Juan and Grand Turk.

Contact a travel agent for more information on Caribbean cruises.