I have a secret. I don't like to cruise. I've gone on ONE cruise 10 years ago and it was the worst. vacation. ever. No need to name names or go into detail... cruising simply isn't the vacation style for me at the moment. Because of this, cruises are a tough sell for me. The only time I am comfortable suggesting this for a client is if they are new to Caribbean Travel and they can't settle on one to two islands for their first visit. In this case, cruising is a great idea! It can give you a synopsis of what every island has to offer and you can decide which one you want to return to for more. The downside to this idea is that you really can't judge an island by what you see at the cruise port. You MUST get as far away from the ship as possible, away from the noisy vendors and crowds. I've put together a list of my favorite Port Excursion Companies:
Chukka Caribbean - one of the most reputable tour companies in the Caribbean with outposts on Jamaica, Belize, and the Turks & Caicos. Highlights of this company are the horseback ride & swim.
Shore Trips is the largest provider of shore excursions catering to the cruise market. The neat thing about this company is they will package together excursions in multiple ports so you can plan more and save more!
Island Routes is a new company but owned by the same company as Sandals Resorts. They offer tours in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, & the Bahamas.
PS. You don't have to miss out on cruising the Caribbean if you live in Europe! There are many cheap flights when you fly Condor to the Caribbean!
