Spotlight: Caribbean - Royal Caribbean Cruise

Spotlight: In 2013, we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. To celebrate, we booked a Caribbean cruise with some friends of ours who got married the same year. In preparation for the cruise, we got together to peruse the different options, then decided on one that appealed to each of us. We chose Royal Caribbean because it was the cruise line we felt most comfortable with. It might be a little more expensive than another line, but it has a much better track record. We also chose to go in the spring rather than over our actual anniversary (August) because late summer is hurricane season, and the last thing we wanted was to be on a cruise ship during a hurricane. The cruise we finally decided on was a one week vacation that started and ended in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with stops at five other islands. The fun part was then choosing which shore excursions we wanted to do. Once the details were decided, our anticipation grew daily as we counted down the days until our grand excursion.

Our cabin

Location: Our particular cruise started in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with stops at St. Thomas, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Antigua, and St. Croix. However, there are hundreds of other options to exotic destinations throughout the Caribbean. Many of these depart out of Miami.

Cost: The price of a cruise varies widely ($99-$2000+/person) based on factors such as location, number of nights, and time of year. Most week-long Caribbean cruises will run upwards of $500/person, but that doesn't include any shore excursions you will want to do.

Time: Most cruises are typically 3 nights or 7 nights. You can find some that are as short as one night, while others may be as long as two weeks or more. Having been on a few different cruises, I feel that one week is just about perfect.

Description: After boarding, the first thing you will probably do is a lifeboat drill so that you know exactly where to go in case of emergency. After that, you'll probably want to explore the ship to get a feel for what is available. Although each ship is different, there are several similarities. Most ships will have a few different pools and spas - each catering to different groups. There is usually a pool for little kids, another for families with teens, and another more tranquil one for adults, as well as a few different spas. There is often a physical fitness center where they offer classes like yoga and Pilates. Other common areas include: a movie theater, a live entertainment theater, a rock-climbing wall, a mini golf course, a basketball court, a shuffleboard deck, a jogging track, a youth program activity area, a video arcade, a casino, various lounges adjacent to various bars or dining areas (often featuring musicians or other entertainment), shops, a small library, small nooks to play cards, and club rooms for frequent cruisers. There are often shows or various competitions going on throughout the day at different areas of the ship.

Solarium swimming pool

on board entertainment

One of the several lounges on board

Main pool deck

     The main dining room offers "complimentary" meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). In the main dining area, though, dining is usually a formal affair - coats, ties and dresses. Even designated "casual" meals mean slacks, skirts and buttoned shirts. The menu usually has several courses, with about 4 or 5 choices per course. The items are often somewhat exotic in the sense that you wouldn't typically eat them at home. From my experience, they've all been delicious, so don't be afraid to go outside your comfort zone. Of course, if you don't want to dress up, or don't have the time for a multi-course meal (about 90 min.), you may want to try one of the less formal dining areas. These are usually cafeteria style, and serve mainly comfort food. The cafeteria is also where they often carve melons into works of art. Naturally, since three full meals a day may not satisfy your hunger, many ships offer a midnight buffet, where they pull out all the stops as far as food art and ice sculptures are concerned.

ice sculpture

food art

Eating dessert in the formal dining room

Rating: 4 1/2 stars (out  of 5)

Things You Should Know: - When you book a cruise, your passage covers your room, meals and most of the entertainment. A few things cost extra, particularly the shore excursions. Since for most people, these are often once in a lifetime experiences (unless you do a lot of cruises), I feel the extra expense is worth it.
-  Some of the unofficial dining areas on board may charge a fee depending on where and what you eat, but most are "free" with your cruise fare.
- Room service is often free except at odd hours.
- If you are celebrating a special occasion, the staff will bring you a special treat to help you celebrate.
- If you get seasick, you will probably want to make preparations ahead of time. My wife's doctor prescribed her pills, and she only needed them once. Our friend wore a patch during your cruise, but complained that it made her feel a little off-kilter at times. It also affected her balance for a couple of weeks after the trip.

Nearby: Barbados, Martinique, Dominica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts