Caribbean Cruises
Blackbeard, Columbus, Sir Francis Drake, those pirates of yore (well, technically Columbus wasn't a pirate but it just depends on your perspective), were the pioneer of cruising the Caribbeans. These days, cruise ships bring millions of visitors a year to the Caribbean, to the point where they have actually changed the islands themselves. Every port of call in the Caribbeans now caters to tourists. This doesn't mean that you can't get an authentic Caribbean experience but how much can you really see in just one day when a cruise ship disembarks?
Our recommendation if you choose to cruise is to view it as a sampler plate. Each island has a distinct personality and unique cultural heritage. On a typical 7, 10 or 14 day cruise, you will be able to visit about 4-9 islands, with many offshore excursions to choose from. By the end of your cruise, you should have a good idea about which island you would like to discover in more depth.
All major cruise lines offer Caribbean itineraries (some even have it in their names, i.e., Royal Caribbean), but remember that size does matter. Smaller ships can take you places bigger ships simply can't. However bigger ships will offer more amenities and entertainment options on-board. Finally, the Caribbean routes are highly competitive so do check out web specials for discounts on Caribbean cruises.