What's the best Caribbean cruise for January?

[Linda Mergel]

We moved to Florida last October and are interested in taking a cruise in January to the Caribbean (not Mexico) to experience the diverse tropical islands.  Which cruise line gives the most and diverse islands for a 7-day cruise?  Thanks!

[Marcia Raffel Levin]

First of all, if you are excluding Mexico, you are looking at Eastern Caribbean itineraries. They'll all include Nassau, some the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, etc;. The more ports, the less time at sea. If you are looking for the most islands, or a certain type of ship, the choices are many. January brings some of the Italian ships (Costa and MSC) so you can get a taste of Europe-accented cruising along with the Caribbean. Think Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines all offering new vessels and seven-day itineraries.

[Allan Lynch]

Cruising is a little more complicated that saying I want to get on board a ship and see islands. Ships variety greatly. That's why cruise lines say that the most successful cruises start with a trip to a travel agent. The agent can meet you and ask some questions which will help them guide you to the right cruise line and ship and itinerary. We don't know if you like a ship with lots of nightlife or if "we" includes kids or if you're a shopper or into extreme sports or or or...

I interviewed representatives from six major cruise lines and they all recommended potential passengers visit a travel agent first. The agents really can help make the right fit. And, they earn a commission from the cruise lines, so you're not paying for this information, nor are you paying more for the cruise. Think of the agent as a match-maker. You could hop on the first ship which docks, but that doesn't guarantee you have the best experience.

One thing to consider, is that some people will shave some money off their fare by buying a windowless inside cabin. While it's cheaper, you can really be cheating yourself of a great cruise experience by not having access to a balcony. You're going to warm-weather destination, so think of the joys of watching sunrises and sunsets, of twinkling lights at night or busy ports during the day. It's worth investigating the balcony.

Happy sailing. Most people who take a cruise, quickly become repeat converts.

[Leslie Richardson]

I agree with Allan that you should consult with a Travel Professional. Similar to hotels, not all ships and cruise lines are created equal. What one person considers 'the best cruise' may be the worst choice for you. Choosing a cruise is a very personal preference.

In general, the larger cruise ships will be limited to where they sail to due to their size (not all ports of call can accomodate the mega-ships). On the flip side, most of the smaller ships don't have all the 'bells and whistles' (ie., amenities) as the bigger ships. The age of a ship has a lot to do with what's available onboard as well - the newer ships have more innovative amenities and also have better/more stabalizers for a much smoother ride. Ultimately, the ship you choose is as much of a destination as to where the ship will be sailing.

[Billy Harper]

Hop a flight to San Juan and do a seven day cruise from there. More ports in one week.

[Linda Mergel]

I think that the idea of going out of San Juan IS the best plan for seeing a lot of islands, Billy. It's a family event....my husband and I (retired to Florida), my grandson who will be on spring break and my daughter and her husband who live in NY. We found a Celebrity cruise for mid-January that is very reasonable but we will go to a travel agent when everyone's vacation is firmed up. thanks to all for the help!

Billy Harper said:

Hop a flight to San Juan and do a seven day cruise from there. More ports in one week.

[Billy Harper]

Excellent choice! At our agency we feel Celebrity offers a great value for the price. Because you never know with Mother Nature, and you are meeting up with folks flying from New York, go in a day early.

[Crysia M. Cathcart]

make sure San Juan is not part of the cruise, just a take off spot, its rather dirty, and touristy

[StayInaVacationHome.com]

Make life easy have fun a 3 day cruise to the Bahamas with Royal Caribbean is a great way to start. I went last New Year great but we had a nasty cold spell.
Done many cruises with many companies but RC are the best value in my opinion.

[Cessy Meacham]

Do you have kids? ALLURE!!!!!!! Cruise with Shrek!