Return to The Caribbean Islands

Getting To The Caribbean

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Whether you choose to fly or take a cruise, and your travel plans are flexible, you can seek out last-minute bargains. Another money-saving option is to pick off-peak flight times. Click on the links below for more specific information on getting to the islands of the Caribbean.
By Air
Cruises
Sailing or Yachting

Airlines
Once you’re in the Caribbean, you can island hop by way of one of the many small "feeder" Caribbean carriers. To get there however, you will want to rely on one of the airline companies listed below, all of which have regularly scheduled flights to the Caribbean.
From United States
From Canada and Europe
From Central and South America

Airlines servicing the Caribbean from the United States: Air Jamaica, ALM, American Airlines, Caribbean Sun Airlines, Cayman Airways, Continental, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, Lynx Air, Mexicana, North American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Pan Am, United and U.S. Airways.

Airlines servicing the Caribbean from Canada and Europe: Air Canada, Air France, Air Jamaica, Air Transat Holidays, AOM, British Airways, Condor, Iberia, K.L.M. Royal Dutch Airlines, LACSA, Luthansa, Martianair and Virgin Atlantic.

Airlines servicing the Caribbean from Central and South America: Aviacsa, Isleña Airways, La Costeña, Maya Island Air, Mexicana, Roraima Airways, Sol Air, Surinam Airways, Trans Guyana Airways, Travelair and Universal Airlines.

You can book flights to the Caribbean from anywhere in the world by using Getting Away's Airline Reservation System. You can also check the Airlines and Discounted Air Fare Information page of Getting Away for additional information on airlines and flights.

Cruises

American Canadian Caribbean - Bergen Line - Carnival - Celebrity - Clipper - Crystal - Cunard - Disney - Holland America - MSC Italian - Norwegian - Oceania - Princess - Radisson Seven Seas - Royal Caribbean - Silversea - Star Clippers - Windjammer Barefoot - Windstar - Yachts of Seabourn.
Cruises on any of these ships can be booked by using the Getting Away Reservation System.

Click on the links below for additional information on cruising to the Caribbean
Cruise Classes
Ships
Cabins
When To Go Cruise
Where To Cruise
Itineraries
Cost
What To Bring and What To Wear

Cruise Classes
There are currently four classes of cruises. The general breakdown of each of these class is as follows: Contemporary, Value or Budget, Premium, Luxury, and Specialty. The type of cruise you choose will determine how much money you spend. Or, to look at it another way, the cruise line you choose will determine the overall cost of the cruise. Below I have tried to group many of the cruise lines by class to better inform you as you are making your decision on just what company and ship you should choose, based on what you are willing to pay, and what you are expecting in your cruise. Not all cruise lines are represented in the list. If you have a specific question, you can contact the cruise line, ask your travel agent, or contact Jim at Getting Away. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com

Contemporary, Value or Budget - Carnival and Royal Caribbean are the industry leaders in this type of cruising, with almost 90% of the entire cruise industry. This is the largest class of cruising and it's characterized by reasonable prices and lots of excellent package deals.

Premium - Premium cruises are, as you might expect, generally more expensive. You will also find that the ships aren’t as large and the service is usually better, in fact it is often considered superior to that of a value cruise as the ratio of cruise staff to passengers is much larger. Ocean liners like Celebrity, Princess, and Holland America boast a larger wait staff for fewer passengers, and also provide some excellent premium cruises.

Luxury - If it is total luxury you are after, and cost is not an issue, you may want to consider a luxury class ship. Ocean liners like Seabourn, Windstar, and Cunard belong to this highest class and reputedly offer top-notch service and amenities. Luxury cruises come with a higher price tag, but the experience is considered to be worth the value.

Specialty - The ships in the specialty class, like the regional American Hawaii Cruises, typically sail to a unique, secluded destination, not the usual major Caribbean ports of The Bahamas or Jamaica. These ships may also offer specialized cruises for exclusive passenger groups such as gays and lesbians, senior citizens or singles. They also offer several different types of ships that are normally smaller that the large ships on the other cruise lines. Some of these companies offer sail and yachting cruises.

Ships
Ships come in all sizes, and they also range in theme, décor, and luxury. The size of the ship you choose can be a critical factor when booking a trip because some are too large to visit particular islands. As for the largest ships available, they are referred to as a Panama-class ship. This name derives from the Panama Canal because the ship is so large it can barely squeeze through the canal's borders. These enormous ocean liners, holding a maximum of 3,000 passengers, visit the major ports, such as Aruba, Barbados or The Bahamas. While these ships do offer their passengers a lot of extra amenities and things to do on board, you can sometimes be overwhelmed with the number of people aboard. I actually prefer the smaller ships where I can have a bit more privacy. If visiting a secluded island sounds appealing, try a smaller ship carrying no more than 300 passengers. These smaller ships, such as the Windstar Cruise Ships, generally avoid the larger ports the large ships visit and stick to the small harbors like those in the Virgin Islands.

Obviously, the larger the ship the more stable it will be on the ocean during periods of turbulent weather. A medium-sized ship may feel a shudder from a swell, but one of the megaships should be totally resistant. If you tend to get seasick, you might want to stick with one of the larger vessels. However, if you do choose one of the smaller ships, and have a tendency for seasickness, try to book a cabin near the center of the ship and not near the front of the ship.

Cabins
Okay, you have picked your cruise line and the ship on which you will sail. Now it is time to pick your cabin. The first thing you want to do is decide if you want to just go with "run of the ship" cabin or a "perfect" cabin. If cost is a prime factor, you will find that run of the ship cabins are less expensive because they are not assigned until the week of departure. With the run of ship option, you'll have the choice between an inside and an outside cabin and that is about it. You will not have a choice of exactly where on the ship your cabin will be located. If you select a perfect cabin, you are guaranteed exactly what you request and pay for. The select of a "perfect cabin" does not necessarily mean that you will have chosen the most expensive, just that you have picked the location on the ship that you prefer. Below are some general guidelines for selecting a cabin:
►Avoid booking cabins in close proximity to anchors, bars, casino, elevators, engine room, gym, nightclub, public rooms, stairways, pool and hot tub, theater, or thrusters. These areas can be particularly noisy. Be sure to ask if you are not sure when you are looking at the diagram of the ship.
►If you are traveling with young children, and you select an outside cabin, it is best to stick with one that does not have a balcony access for safety reasons.
►If you are subject to motion sickness, consider a cabin on the lower decks. The further into the middle of the ship you get, the less you'll feel ship movements.
►Confirm the view you’ll have in an outside cabin--make sure you're getting what you expect. You may want to request a view of the ocean.

When To Go Cruise
If money is one of the major factors for you when choosing a cruise, you will find that prices for the Caribbean are significantly higher between late December and early April as people feel the need to escape from the cold weather and snow of the north to the warmth of the tropical islands of the Caribbean. Cruises during spring and fall tend to be less expensive than those during the high season. Although you might think that you would not want to sail during the seasonal stormy season, the hurricane season should not be ruled out. You may find the ride will be slightly bumpy from the tossing of the seas, but this bit of uncomfort can easily be outweighed by the great deals you can find during this season. The most popular, and therefore most expensive, times to cruise are major holidays: New Year’s Eve, Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter. If you would rather cruise when there are less children running about the ship, pick September, October and November.

Where To Cruise
Selecting your island destination is one of the most important steps in your vacation planning. One of the best ways to go, especially if this is your first cruise to the Caribbean, is to choose a cruise that will stop at more than one island. This will allow for a greater chance to experience the different island cultures. Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa are primary departure ports from which you may choose to visit the Western or Eastern portions of the Caribbean. A Western Caribbean cruise might visit Key West, Cozumel or Jamaica. Sailing aboard an Eastern Caribbean cruise may include stops in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbados or St. Maarten. Some cruise lines even sail to the Southern Caribbean islands of Antigua, Martinique or Grenada.

Itineraries
One of the nice things about a cruise is that you can choose one that fits right into your time frame. Cruises can last from two days to two weeks. If it is your first cruise, you may want to start out with a shorter trip. During a two-day cruise, the ship may dock at one, two, or no ports. Popular stops for short cruises are Cozumel and The Bahamas. If you're a seasoned traveler, you will probably want a longer cruise, perhaps a seven-to-ten-day cruise. A longer cruise will allow for more island stops. Two-week cruises can either be booked as two seven-day, simultaneous trips or one 14-day voyage.

On almost all cruises, you will find lots of on-shore and ocean excursions. These are arranged by the cruise lines and include such things as snorkeling, scuba diving, horseback riding, golfing, and scenic tours. Each excursion is arranged by the cruise director and will likely cost an additional $25(USD) to $100(USD). You can either reserve an excursion when you book the cruise or wait until you board, but remember that spots for these activities are limited. Be sure to consult the cruise director about the length of time or the expected docking time for each port stop to plan ample time for sightseeing. I normally save my money and just explore on my own when the ship reaches port. However, I sometimes good a tour if it is something of real interest. Never - NEVER - book a tour where the main activity of the tour is shopping. You should never have to pay anything to find someplace to spend your money!

Cost
The cost of your cruise is determined by the type of cruise you choose (luxury level), length of cruise, and number of persons traveling. Just as with land tours, single occupancy rates are higher than double occupancy rates. Nearly everything is included in the cruise ticket fare: food, cabin, and onboard activities/entertainment. What may not be included are beverages, shore excursions and activities, final tip, and airfare, if not part of an air-cruise package. Also inquire about the amenities in your personal cabin when booking. Things like bathtubs and televisions are not common in most cabins; let the cruise line know ahead of time if you require these items and ask about extra fees for them.

What To Bring and What To Wear
Pack your suitcase for a nice sun-filled vacation. However, don't bring your entire closet of a lot of extraneous items as storage space in cabins is quite limited and you may not have room for it all. Recommended daywear includes a few bathing suits, breathable shirts, shorts or other cover-up item, flip-flops, sunglasses, and a hat for added sun protection. On almost all cruise ships, for the evenings, you'll want to wear clothing appropriate for the scheduled dinner class. Evening meals are classified as: evening casual, informal or formal. Appropriate evening casual attire consists of nice slacks and a collared shirt for men and a sundress or nice pants with a blouse for women. Also, denim is usually not permitted in the dining room. On a cruise, a suit and tie or cocktail dress qualifies as informal. For formal dinners, male passengers are required to dress in "black tie." If you have questions about what to wear, do not hesitate to consult the cruise director.

Sailing or Yachting
The Caribbean region is well known for its near-perfect sailing conditions. The water is always warm and there are plenty of beautiful islands to visit. Many people travel via yacht each year to the Caribbean to take part in annual races or simply enjoy the winter sailing season. However, before you set sail on your own, be aware of safety issues. Coral reefs grow near some islands and the Trade Winds may be unfavorable. Here are a few other things you will want to consider when setting your ocean course:
►The strongest currents and largest waves are most often on the northeastern sides of the islands, at the Atlantic Ocean. The waters of the Caribbean Sea are generally much calmer and make easier sailing.
►Avoid the hurricane season. The best time of the year to sail in the Caribbean is from January through March, although this is near the Caribbean's peak tourist season so prices will be higher on the islands.
►The summer rains and hurricane season, July through November, do not always make for easy sailing.
►f you’re inexperienced, or a first time sailor, the Virgin Islands or the Bahamas would be a good choice. These islands are near the U.S. mainland and can be an early stop on your journey to the Caribbean.

Click on the links below for lots of good information if you are choosing a charter
Choosing a Charter
Charter Companies
Choosing a Yacht

Choosing a Charter
Whether you book a charter within or near the Caribbean, or from a location along the southern U.S. coast, yachts are usually chartered on a weekly basis. Your yacht rental options are "bareboat," "skippered bareboat," or a "crewed charter." If you're an experienced sailor, you may decide to charter a bareboat, a rental boat with all the equipment needed to travel the Caribbean, but with no crew. If you wish to rent bareboat, you will need to prove your qualifications and you may be given a tutorial of the Caribbean area including reefs and safe harbors. Even if you believe you are a good skipper, the charter company may insist that you take a skipper for at least the first couple of days of your journey. After all, it is their boat. However, if the company insists you travel with a skipper it does not mean they will be paying for his services. You will want to be sure to work out payment details before you ever leave the dock. If you're not quite ready to do it on your own, go with a skippered bareboat. A skipper lends his sailing knowledge and expertise to your Caribbean journey, and is paid by the day.

Crewed charter yachts come with a skipper and full crew. On a crewed charter you need to remember that the captain is the one who calls the shots. You will decide on the itinerary but, if weather or any other obstacle threatens this itinerary, the captain will alter the route for safety purposes. On most charters you may choose between having the food provided by the charter company for an additional fee or buying it yourself before you set sail. I would suggest you leave this to the company and just tell them the types of food you enjoy. You also should know that it will be your responsibility (your money) to feed everyone onboard, including the skipper and crew.

Charter Companies
Charter companies come in all sizes. If this is your first time, choose one of the larger companies because are fewer guarantees with the smaller companies. For example, if the boat you had requested becomes unavailable, smaller companies may not have other boats for replacement. On the other hand, larger companies will most likely give you a similar or larger boat in that situation at no extra cost. Keeping this in mind, you may find that some of the better smaller companies often provide higher customer service. Be sure to check around and get recommendations.

Basically there are two "tiers" of charter companies that are not quality or service designations. In the first tier companies use the newest boats, often with the most extras. Boats older than four or five years are no longer used by first tier companies. First tier boats may include the auto pilot function, GPS systems, stereos, and cell phones. Be sure to check with the charter company for details. Second tier companies usually use older boats from the fleets of first tier companies. These second tier boats come with fewer extras and a lower price tag. If you are going to spend the money for a private charter, pick a company in the first tier as you might as well have the best trip possible. The Moorings and Sunsail are good companies that regularly sail the Caribbean.

If you choose to use a crewed charter you will want to be sure to choose one where you will feel comfortable and compatible with the crew. The best way to find the right crew for you is by using a charter broker. Brokers are like travel agents for chartering a boat and can often provide quotes from several different chartering companies. They also can help to match you up with the boat and crew that is best for you. The services of the broker is paid by the cruise company and therefore there can utilize their help at no cost. Brokers can also help you find a bareboat charter. There are two main charter broker trade organizations: the American Yacht Charter Association (AYCA) and Charter Yacht Broker’s Association (CYBA). You will want to be sure to charter from a company that is a member of one of these groups.

Choosing a Yacht
There is a lot of items to consider when choosing a yacht, with one of the most important being your budget. But the first you'll want to think about is the type of ship, not only as a budget consideration, but a comfort consideration as well. Comfort is very important. You might want to choose a boat with one more cabin than you actually need as this will give you added comfort. Travelers with children may especially want to consider that monohull boats are designed with thin, plywood walls that have a tendency to allow most sounds, including conversations, right through. This is not the suggested style for travelers looking for privacy. After you've chosen a ship, think about the extras you'd like to have on your journey. Larger ships will cost more for a charter. However, with more people onboard you'll need to choose a larger yacht – though this can also mean more people with whom you can split the cost. The most popular bareboat size is the three-cabin, two-bath monohull, which can be from 36 to 50 feet long.

Families, first time sailors and travelers that may be prone to seasickness may want to consider a catamaran. Catamarans experience much less roll in port and are considered to have much more comfortable cabins. However, well-traveled sailors who want to experience the adventure of the high seas might find a catamaran to be a bit lacking.

2007 Travel Alert - Passports Needed for Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and Caribbean. Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport. As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. Click here for the State Department Summary.  And, if you need a passport in a hurry, because you forgot to apply months ago when you should have and your trip is almost upon you, click on Passports In A Hurry, or on Passport Visa Express!

If you have something you believe should be added to this page of Getting Away, please contact Jim at Getting Away. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
 

Date this page was last edited: Saturday, August 02, 2008 17:10:43

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