Choosing an eastern Caribbean cruise can become overwhelming with the many cruise ship lines sailing to many different ports in the Caribbean, and including the many choices in lengths of cruises. From a 3 day weekend cruise to a week to 10 days or more at sea, deciding on a destination can be challenging. You will find the clearest, most turquoise blue waters you will ever set your eyes upon anywhere in the Caribbean.

Here are 4 eastern Caribbean cruise destinations. Each one having its own unique characteristics and also sharing the enchanting tropical allure of the Caribbean.

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It was with the recent maiden sailing of the current World’s largest cruise ship, Freedom of the Seas, from Southampton docks that it dawned on me. Massive crowds flocked to see the huge Royal Caribbean ship set sail from Southampton for the first time and as we watched the ship from the little village of Hythe on the opposite side of Southampton Water, a friend said to me, “I bet people were stood here watching when the Titanic set sail.”

It was true though. For the first time since the 1960’s there seems to be a real enthusiasm about cruise ships again. It actually started about two years ago with the arrival in Southampton of the Queen Mary 2.

Its classic Cunard lines brought back memories of the great ocean liners of yesteryear; the Queen Elizabeth, the original Queen Mary, the Canberra, the original Oriana and even the QE2, which, although still a regular visitor to Southampton docks, had become such a familiar sight that nobody really batted an eyelid at her anymore.

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If you like the biggest of everything, then the new Royal Caribbean International cruise ship is for you! The Liberty of the Seas will be the second in the Freedom family of ships. And when she begins her duties in June, she will be the newest and largest cruise ship in the world. Among the amenities that will be included on this magnificent beauty will be the surf simulator; the wet and wild H2O Zone aqua park; whirlpools cantilevered112 feet above the ocean; an ice skating rink; a boxing ring; and a fabulous Presidential Family Suite which can sleep up to 14 people!

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The golden age of transatlantic ocean shipping and travel began long after Columbus’ trying to prove that the earth was round. After that time, ocean sailing vessels traveled to the new world on a rather infrequent schedule. It was not until the first ocean steamship, the paddle steamer “Savannah” crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1819 that a new era in travel heated up. Since that time, ocean cruises and ocean liners have become a thing of beauty and romance.

By the end of that century, and starting into the 20th century, ocean liners had established themselves as a status symbol for their companies and their countries on the ocean. A “battle” for ocean supremacy - Having the newest, largest

most extravagant ocean liner afloat - had begun!

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* Introduction *

Ever heard of a luxury hotel that moves every half hour?

You guessed it: it s a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, a mass of one hundred thousand tons, that glides on the ocean between Florida and the islands of the Caribbean on a regular basis.

Royal Caribbean International is the second largest cruise ship operator in the world with revenues in excess of $4 billion. It owns 28 ships with more than 65,000 berths on them and is growing. Here s their story.

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