We take a look at some great options for Southern Caribbean Cruises. Maybe even a Bucket List cruise! www.buymeacoff... Holland America referral link: refer.hollanda... (not sponsored)
I love starting with a day or two at sea. Getting ready for a trip, packing, travel to the ship can all be exhausting. Nothing better than getting to the ship, sleeping in the first day and relaxing before the hustle of seeing the new places.
If you are going to see the Southern Caribbean, look at the February 22, 2025 7-day Windstar Star Pride (Barbados- Aruba) which ports at the ABC islands, St. Lucia, Tobago, Grenadines. The advantage of the Windstar cruises is that are more yacht like and can get into smaller ports. Also, they do NOT believe in sea days and minimize them. While they are generally more expensive than other cruise lines, I can get a suite on Windstar for less than a cheap inside cabin on the new RCCL mega ships.
You're absolutely correct. There are so many amazing youtube channels out there covering those very cool ships - so I'm trying to focus on something a bit different and more port-intensive. Unfortunately, the big ships often can't (or won't) do the really port intensive cruises. I wish they would though! Thanks for watching and commenting!!!
Hi I'm originally from Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹 but lives in the U.S. and I'm getting ready to go on a cruise to the Caribbean and I'm very excited thanks for the video.
Awesome! I've not had the pleasure of cruising on Virgin yet... but I'm looking forward to giving them a try as soon as I can! I hope you have an amazing time!!!
Wow!!! Super helpful!! I’m in the process of planning my first cruise! And I’m middle-aged! Lol, but better late than never! And it can be overwhelming to say the least! Thank you for your well. Done, informative work here!
In terms of Southern Carribean, I have been to Puerto Rico (2X), Aruba (5X), Curacao, St. Thomas(2X), St. Maarten, St Kitts, St (2X). St.Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia (2X), Dominica, Grenada, Trinidad, Tobago, and Barbados. I am looking to visit new islands, which is hard because cruises tend to repeat. My goal is to go to Bonaire, St. Croix, Antigua and Barbuda, Guadaloupe, Virgin Gorda, Tortola and Nevis. (I think I became your 1K subscriber :) )
Thanks for subscribing! (Still sitting at 999... So close!) I completely understand the challenge of trying to get to new places. You end up booking something that goes to a bunch of places you've been to get in just one new place. I can't imagine getting to Bonaire without getting another stop in Aruba at least. Good luck though! I think you can do it!!!! (We're wrapping an Iceland cruise now, but will be back in the Caribbean in a few months)
Good video. I noticed you did not mention the Celebrity Reflection 8-day to the ABC islands. I thought it might not have been sailing when you recorded this, but I’m going to go for it for December 2024. Hopefully it will be worth it and repeatable.
Thanks so much! And you're right, Celebrity had not released Reflection's schedule when I recorded this. However, look for Reflection's itinerary ratings this week! (I recorded it and it's currently available for channel members, but goes public on Friday I believe). I love cruising to the ABCs!
@@ThisistheCruise I actually find your ratings very interesting and how you have it split into two groups. I agree with you in that I want as few sea days as possible. I like that you cover the main possibilities, so I understand 2hat I have to choose from. As I was trying to think of the most important factors to me for a cruise. I think they are sailing date, duration, cost, ports, no. sea days, and more recently, what the ship offers as far as activities. Not sure that helps, but I thought I would share it.
If you were coming all this way down to New Zealand I think it would be good to find a cruise that goes to some ports in Australia as well. Also, make sure your New Zealand cruise goes into Milford Sound and/or Doubtful Sound. (fiords)
I just found this video as we are going on a princess cruise to southern Caribbean, 14 day from Ft. Lauderdale. Philipsburg, St. Maarten • Basseterre, St. Kitts • Castries, St. Lucia • Bridgetown, Barbados • St. George's, Grenada • Port Of Spain, Trinidad • Oranjestad, Aruba • Willemstad, Curacao. What do you think about this one? Just would like some feedback, I don’t want to feel like we are seeing the same thing over and over. Thanks
We're scheduled for a 9-day on Holland America's Rotterdam in February for the ABC islands + Half Moon Cay. We're actually looking forward to the sea days before our first port of call in Willemstad. We will be in Bonaire on our 25th anniversary!
My family loves snorkeling, and it's awesome here. I recommend getting off the ship and going to the booths along the water and booking the water taxi to Klein Bonaire. Stay on the taxi to the "second stop" and hop into the water for a long easy float with the current down to the pick up site. It's amazing, easy and beautiful.
@@ThisistheCruise we walked about five miles really enjoying the town itself. We stopped at a Dutch supermarket, Von der Groots on Industrial Rd. which was a blast. We really wanted to have lunch in town BUT it would have been cutting it short.
Love it. Never seems like there's enough time. But that's the trade off... The world is too big to spend time all in one place. (At least it is for me)
Don't believe the hype that HAL will take you to Key West. Sure, they will sell you on that but after you pay for the cruise, they will replace Key West with Bimini whici is one of the most boring cruise ports. We love Bonaire BUT when the cruise ship (NCL Epic) is only in port from 7am to 2 pm, you are very limited to what you can do.
Our first HAL cruise stopped at Key West. It's not one of our favs, but we do like it. I know that Key West is working on limiting cruise ships, so that could be a factor. There seems to be a lot of itinerary changes as different locations begin to be more "reductive" with how they manage the ports.
I more or less looked at itineraries about ten days or less (but not too short), and generally left from the continental US (again, generally). But THAT itinerary looks absolutely incredible. I did some quick research and am going to put together a video - it's definitely worth doing! Quick Q that would help me out, what country would you be traveling from? I'm trying to gauge the full-travel experience. Getting to La Romana poses some difficulties from within the US. It can be done, but it's not as simple as getting to South Florida or Puerto Rico. Surprisingly, there are actually more direct options from Europe.
Wanted to let you know that I put together a video rating these itineraries. Thanks so much for the question and bringing these itineraries to my attention! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ew-ZOIdnYx0.html