why you should visit the Caribbean

White sand

turquoise water teeming with fish, and lush tropical jungles. These are the images most people conjure up when they think about taking a cruise. Cruises to the Caribbean are some of the most popular itineraries it's no wonder these images and cruise vacations have become so closely linked. While there is plenty of truth to the stereotypes and the iconic images of sun, surf, and sand, cruises to the Caribbean have even more than those to offer their passengers.

Why the Caribbean?

1. Easy and flexible In cruise terms, the Caribbean is a close, easy trip providing plenty of flexibility for vacationers. Whether looking for just a short four-day getaway or wanting to settle in for three weeks of paradise, there are cruise lengths and itineraries for nearly every schedule and budget. Because the Caribbean is so popular, cruise lines offer literally dozens of different trips. For example, Celebrity Cruises has over 40 different itineraries to choose from with 35 ports in varying combinations. Princess has 4-day routes for those wanting a quick trip or 20-day routes for those with more time.

2. Postcard-worthy beaches While many people familiar with the Caribbean know of Seven Mile Beach in the Grand Cayman or Grand Anse Beach in Grenada, virtually every port has a beautiful beach shore excursion available for visitors.

With more than 5,000 islands marking the Caribbean and only 2 percent of them inhabited, it's not surprising that many cruise companies have procured some of them as private beach resorts for their guests. Passengers on Princess can spend the day relaxing on the beach of Princess Cays, an exclusive private island retreat. Or, if traveling on Holland America, they can catch some rays at Half Moon Cay. While the beaches are beautiful, there is no reason for people to actually stay on the beach if they're looking for something a bit more active. he Caribbean offers visitors some of the most amazing snorkeling and scuba diving sites in the world. For example, Turks and Caicos is home to one of the world's largest networks of coral reefs, including The Wall. The Wall is a reef that drops 7,000 feet straight down, although between the reef and the shore the water is only waist-deep, making it not only a spectacular site but also a great spot for beginning snorkelers and divers.

3. Colorful wildlife Whether viewing the coral reefs and brightly colored fish through their snorkeling mask, bird-watching from a kayak, or spotting monkeys while trekking through lush tropical jungles, travelers in the Caribbean have a generous number of opportunities to appreciate the wildlife. Cruises stopping in St. Marteen or Aruba can visit a butterfly farm. Passengers making port in Antigua can experience one of the Caribbean's most significant bird sanctuaries at Great Bird Island. Finally, visitors to Barbados should definitely include a trip to the wildlife preserve in order to check out the famous green monkeys. While most Caribbean cruise itineraries include plenty of the above, there are more than just beaches to be enjoyed in this part of the world.

Here are a few other reasons to book that vacation. 1. Unique experiences Passengers on Royal Caribbean have the opportunity to compete in an actual race on a shortened America's Cup course in St. Maarten. They receive a quick lesson from professional sailors and then man the Stars and Stripes, one of the most famous sailboats in the world. People on Holland America cruises who may not be ready to take control of their own ship can opt to take a sunset cruise by catamaran in Aruba. Or, vacationers on Crystal Cruises who may be tired of traveling by sea can shake things up and explore Grand Cayman by helicopter, soaring over stunning beaches, colonial neighborhoods, or even a turtle farm.

2. Delicious food Fresh fruits and freshly squeezed juices may be safe and predictable expectations while in paradise, but the deliciousness doesn't stop there. Sample the Creole cuisine in Grenada. Flavors are enhanced by locally grown spices. Real foodies can also check out Celebrity Cruises' excursion to Fairview Great House and Botanical Gardens on St. Kitts. There passengers will sample regional dishes, prepared right in front of them, while listening to the cook discuss the history of the island and its food"a unique melding of African, European, and Indian cooking techniques.

3. Interesting history and cultural experiences Cruise passengers in the Caribbean can take in a performance of live Calypso music, bike through St. Maarten, which is the smallest land mass divided into two countries, or tour the 18th-century rum-producing Westerhall Estate in Grenada. One shore excursion in Roatan Island, Honduras provides visitors with the unique memory of watching traditional dances of the Garifuna people in Yubu then visiting Jonesville, a village built on stilts over the water.

Shoppers looking for something a little different in Curacao will appreciate the floating market in Willemstad. This is just the briefest introduction as to what passengers can experience on a Caribbean cruise. People wanting a break from an endless winter, or just wanting a time out from "real life" during the summer will delight in any of the numerous options to choose from. Cruisers shouldn't let the fear of being safe or predictable stop them from sampling a fresh guavaberry on St. Maarten. The fresh fruit really is an incredible treat.

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