you’re seeking a vacation that has it all, then you should try Caribbean cruising. There are many different cruise lines that feature cruises to the Caribbean, including Holland America, Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean, and many more.You can find cruises that last for as little as three days or as long as two weeks. The islands of the Caribbean region are wonderful places to see, each with its own style and wonders to see, but all surrounded by the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean, and all with plenty of sunshine shining down on them. Happy smiling people who enjoy life welcome you to 
islands filled with many and varied tastes, smells, and sounds. In a very quiet way, the Southern Caribbean, probably the least known part of the region, but is becoming one of the most interesting. The islands of the Southern Caribbean, which translate roughly to those lying east and south of St. Maarten/St. Martin, have always been slightly more exotic than counterparts in the Western and Eastern Caribbean. Part of that is due to the very strong colonial influence that pervades many of these islands, a great percentage of which are still related to France, the Netherlands and the U.K. But in the immediate post-September 11 era, these islands, including Aruba, St. Berth’s, Curacao, Martinique, Dominica, Barbados, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Antigua, St. Kitts, St.Lucia and Nevis to name a handful, took a big hit. Cruise lines struggled to fill ships for a variety of reasons. San Juan has typically been a major 
port of embarkation for seven and 10-night itineraries, but its airlift is far more limited than those starting points in major cities in the continental U.S. like Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. As such, departures are often pushed back until 11 p.m., Royal Caribbean’s Serenades of the Seas is one example to allow for more time for day-of arrivals. Cruises to the Caribbean are very popular and to be honest it’s not surprising when you look at everything the area has to offer visitors. There are so many different islands here, and each one is different. Most cruises will opt to sail either around the eastern or western part of the Caribbean, and in both areas there is plenty to see. To the east are the British and American Virgin islands, St Lucia, Martinique, and Barbados, and in the west, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba and the Cayman islands. Each stop you make you’ll get to experience something different, a taste if you like of the culture, cuisine, music, and vibrancy that each island has to offer. Excursions will let you see a little of each island you visit, and you may find yourself swimming with dolphins, exploring caves, climbing waterfalls, and shopping in spice markets, especially in Grenada, the Spice Island.
When to go and how to save While you can find 
Caribbean cruises in every season, you’ll want to keep a few considerations in mind. First, the weather: The Caribbean is generally warm throughout the year, but the more northerly islands can become windy and chilly in winter, so you may want to opt for a Southern Caribbean itinerary at that time. In the Eastern and Western Caribbean in the fall, hurricane season sometimes plays havoc with itineraries. Fortunately, the captain usually has plenty of advance notice to alter course if necessary. The far Southern Caribbean is seldom affected by hurricanes.
Next, consider your budget. Winter is high season in the Caribbean, when frost-bitten northerners want to escape to warmer climes. Because demand is greatest then, winter cruises tend to be the most expensive—and the holiday season is especially pricey. 
Summer isn’t necessarily the season for the best bargains, however, since so many families travel then. You can usually land the best deals in spring or fall, and, perhaps surprisingly, right after New Year’s in the first few weeks of January—a fairly slow time for travel. But whenever you go, you’ll find the Caribbean to be one of the best values in cruising. Thanks to stiff competition and to the fact that you can avoid international airfares by departing from the U.S., Caribbean cruises have traditionally cost less than other destinations. And lately, as cruise lines have been increasing capacity and cabin supply has outstripped demand, prices have fallen further. All that adds up to bargains galore and means that, if you want to upgrade to higher-class cabins or ships, you may well find it more affordable to get on board. Now, all that’s left is to choose your cruise—and pack the sunscreen.
Click To View Photo slide show of a Caribbean Cruise.
Cruising the Mediterranean Are you thinking of going on a cruise this year? If you have never been on a cruise before you certainly should try one and if you have been on a cruise before you could take a crack at cruising the Mediterranean this timeIf you want to visit the best of Europe quickly and cheaply—with weeklong trips starting at less than $1000—cruising the Mediterranean is a pretty perfect option. Instead of carrying backpacks, searching for hotels, jockeying for train positions and packing and unpacking 
almost daily, you unzip your suitcase once—and let the ship and its pampering crew do the rest. Cruising at sea, calling into a different port every day or two soon becomes a way of life, so short cruises can be a little exasperating. A fortnight is all right but a month is much better. Imagine it, a different language and a different culture every day for weeks! The Mediterranean Sea is not thought of as a large sea, but it has to be the most diverse area in the world, because there are countries like Portugal, Spain and France to the northwest; the Middle East is represented by Turkey, Lebanon, and Israel. In the northeast; Arabic countries like 
Egypt and Libya line the northeastern shoreline of the African Mediterranean and Arabic/Berber countries like Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco bring us back to within miles of Spain on the northwestern African Mediterranean shoreline. There’s only one decision to make: east or west? A cruise to the eastern Mediterranean blends the ancient civilizations of Italy, Greece and Turkey with tempting beaches and cultural escapades, while the western Mediterranean is a fusion of some of Europe’s most prized destination, including Barcelona, Marseille and Rome. The port for Rome is also about an hour and a half bus ride away but then you’re in Rome. Where you can go 
to the Vatican Museum for a good look at the Sistine Chapel, the ceiling and upper walls painted by Michelangelo. From there, into St. Peter’s Cathedral, the largest in the world. From there go to the Trevi Fountain, in which you throw a coin, in the prescribed manner, into the Fountain. This insures your return to Rome. It has worked for some, then it is off to the Coliseum, which is a must see.
The Best Way to Plan a European Cruise Since you have to fly across the Atlantic, you should get the most out of that effort and expense. Therefore, I recommend you book the longest cruise you can afford — or book a shorter cruise along with hotel stays in the “bookend cities” of your itinerary.
The average European cruise is 12 nights, though they range from under seven nights to 
as many as 30. The length is up to you. What is more important is the price per day and the itinerary. You’ll find that there are even some bargains in European cruises. For example, you can book a five-day Royal Caribbean cruise on Navigator of the Seas, roundtrip from Barcelona to Marseille, Cagliari and Palermo for $1,089 minimum category per person. Or you can book a 16-day transatlantic cruise from Fort Lauderdale on Princess Emerald Princess, that also goes to Funchal, a Portuguese island, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Cagliari, Rome/Civitavecchia, Livorno, Marseille, and ends up in Barcelona for $929 minimum category, per person! So you get your transportation to Europe for “free” and all of those extra days enjoying the ship, including five more ports than the Navigator of the Seas. The choice of cruise line is not important, just get out there and take a big bite off the travel apple, sail the waves of the seven seas, especially the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, drift away and enjoy yourself, see and be seen. However, because of the unrest in the Middle East, I will say that it is very important and, it is best to check the security threat level of the Middle East Region before you finalize your cruise plans, or leave home. If you would like to know more before you go, see the Magnolia’s Travel News.
““Remember what Bilbo used to say: It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”” J.R.R. Tolkien
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust
“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” Lao Tzu
