THE CARIBBEAN; WHICH CRUISE IS BEST FOR YOU

The Caribbean; just say it. the images are instant, and evocative. Swaying palm tress, soft, powder white beaches. The seductive lilt of reggae. Rum, jerk chicken, and rickety wooden piers jutting out into a calm, blue sea under a permanently sunny sky. It's utterly seductive and, of course, much of it is a cliche.

And for sure, there are parts of the Caribbean that are still like that, though peace and quiet are becomig harder to find as more and more cruise ships move into the region, bringing ever larger crowds in their wakes. The tempo has certainly increased massively since I was first in the region, way back in 1981.

Generally speaking, most cruises from Florida go to either the eastern or western Caribbean on a week long round trip. While all of the islands across both have many common characteristics, there are a few pointers as to difference that might help you decided whether you want to go east, west, or indeed, do both.

In general, the islands of the western Caribbean, such as Grand Cayman, tend to have better beaches and less vegetation. They tend to be flatter, and are absolutely perfect for lovers of snorkelling. Jamaica is more mountainous than the others, and Cozumel has the amazing Mayan ruins that draw crowds of visitors each year.

The eastern side of the Caribbean tends to be more visually spectacular, with hillier islands gifted with more flora and fauna. But they are also more developed for traffic, and islands such as San Juan actually have four lane highways more reminiscent of LA than Shangri La. Yet the same island boasts the massive, Spanish accented fortresses of El Morro and San Cristobal, where even a short visit takes you firmly back in time to the fifteenth century era of pirates and conquistadors.

Islands such as St. Thomas and St. Maarten are highly developed for sophisticated, extensive shopping sprees. Beaches such as Magen's Bay at St. Thomas have been regularly voted as amongst the best in the world, and with very good reason.

Western Caribbean itineraries typically include more islands than sea days, while most eastern routes include at least one more sea day to and/or from Florida. Both sides offer a still exhilarating, energising holiday experience. And, while you do indeed get more crowds than a few years back, cruising the Caribbean- east or west- is still one of the most fun, full on joyrides that you'll ever get to make. Enjoy.