Cruising the Caribbean

Oasis of the Seas

2009-12-30T07:27:00.000-08:00

The following is a letter from the CEO of Leisure Travel Enterprises.

To all of our Friends and Family,

WOW! Royal Caribbean coined the term and the Oasis of the Seas fit the bill!
WOW! Winner, Triumph, Sensation and Knockout!
WOW! No better word can describe the experience you feel while sailing on the Oasis!

Royal Caribbean invited My Cruise Outlet to join Oasis of the Seas on her inaugural sailing departing on December 05, 2009, 7-day eastern Caribbean itinerary.

Our experience? WOW!

I have sailed on hundreds of ships over the last 25 years and the Oasis raises the bar higher then ever projected. She is truly spectacular. Veteran cruisers will be WOWED by every detail that went into creating this maritime masterpiece.

Oasis is truly an experience that just keeps on giving. Every time you enter one of the 5 neighborhoods (Central Park, The Boardwalk, The Royal Promenade and let’s not forget the Pool & Sports Zone), a different bolt from the blue awaits you. I can honestly say that 7 nights on the Oasis without porting would work just fine for me.

Specialty Dining aboard the Oasis is not only tops on the Ocean, but rather it competes with the premium dinning offered around the world. 150 Central Park, Chops Grille, Solarium Bistro, Izumi, Chef’s Table, and my personal favorite, Giovanni’s Table, are just the start of the culinary adventure that awaits you while on-board the Oasis of the Seas. If you go for a quick bite at Windjammer’s Marketplace, stop by Seafood Shack on Broadway, or just crave a Milk Shake at Johnny Rockets, the presentation and the quality is brilliant.

The ship is far from traditional and I highly recommend you call one of My Cruise Outlet’s Oasis specialists to help plan your trip. My Cruise Outlet’s entire staff has been personally trained on how to deliver you the best experience at sea.

Check out one of these Oasis of the Seas links to see exclusive photos. These pictures our not artist renditions; they were strategically taken by MyCruiseOutlet.com to help you make the decision that Oasis of the Seas is ideal for you and your family.

Now get out there, plan that cruising vacation you and your family not only need but also deserve!

Don Iorio,

CEO, Leisure Travel Enterprises

www.mycruiseoutlet.com www.passport2anywhere.com www.mcointerline.com

Royal Caribbean WOW SALE

2009-10-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

Book any Royal Caribbean Cruise sailing from December 1, 2009 forward and receive up to $200 On Board Credit - Hurry this offer is only good for bookings with deposits made October 6 and 7, 2009.

World's Largest Cruise Night

2009-10-04T05:13:00.000-07:00

Thinking about a cruise?

What about a trip to the islands?

Got Questions?

Now is the time to ask those questions!

October is the National Cruise Vacation Month featuring a Virtual Cruise Night, where you can find special deals, low prices, and free perks when you book your future cruise.

Try a western Caribbean cruise to Cozumel, Jamaica, Belize, and Grand Cayman. Eastern Caribbean cruises can include the ports of St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk, and Nassau.

My Cruise Outlet is offering additional savings during the month long Virtual Cruise Night. Give them a call for more information!

Jamica

2009-05-05T12:27:00.000-07:00

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Jamaica a small island in the Caribbean with a population of 2.8 million people is known for its Jamaican Banana Cream Rum, parties and beaches. And now will be known as a safer Caribbean Island. Police in Jamaica plan to install dozens of surveillance cameras in the popular tourist town of Ocho Rios.

Superintendent Gary Griffiths says the cameras will be installed in public places such as bus stops this year. Cameras also will be set up in small nearby towns where tourists sometimes visit.

Cameras already have been set up in Kingston, Montego Bay and May Pen.

What's Hot: St. Kitts

2009-03-11T19:34:00.000-07:00

St. Kitts

Why: St. Kitts' is located squarely between the Eastern Caribbean cruise destination ports(Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) and the Southern Caribbean cruise destination ports (Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia), making this surprisingly uncrowded island a top choice for all sorts of Caribbean cruise destination itineraries. Celebrity chose St. Kitts as well as San Juan and St. Maarten as their three Caribbean ports of call on their inaugural, seven-night itineraries of its brand-new, innovative, largest-of-the-fleet Celebrity Solstice. Sailing from Ft. Lauderdale, the Solstice is bringing more attention to itself and St. Kitts.

What's there: Sugar cane still grows in leafy green patches within the natural beauty of St. Kitts that goes beyond its pretty coastal areas to include more inland greenery. White sand beaches and their surrounding waves attract sunbathers, swimmers, water-skiers, windsurfers, snorkelers, and divers. Caribbean cruise tours often include the island's rainforest and dormant volcano, home to monkeys and exotic birds, along with unusually shaped lava deposits are the main attraction at Black Rocks. Other cruise tours include a touch of human history with a tour the former British barracks at Brimstone Hill Fortress and then go to Bloody Point to honor the memory of thousands of Caribs, who were massacred by Europeans. For a day trip, Caribbean boat cruise to sister island Nevis takes travelers to an even less crowded haven of reefs and beaches.

Best Caribbean Snorkling Ports

2009-01-18T12:29:00.000-08:00

Belize

Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve
Glover’s Reef is one of the Caribbean’s rare atolls, lying some 30 miles off the Belize coast and forming a large, protected link in the vast Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (locally called the Belize Barrier Reef). Created in 1993 and named a World Heritage Site in 2000, the reserve encompasses the entire atoll, down to the 100-fathom line, with no-take areas where grouper spawn, and zones that allow sustainable indigenous fishing or snorkeling and diving. Inside the atoll’s 80-square-mile lagoon, 700 coral patch reefs provide endless snorkeling and common sightings of turtles, sharks and rays. The Wildlife Conservation Society operates a research station on Middle Caye, and visitors can stay at a rustic eco-resort on Long Caye .

Sapodilla Cayes Marine Park
At the southern end of Belize, 40 miles offshore from Punta Gorda, the 14 sandy isles of Sapodilla make up the elbow of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef as it bends toward Honduras. Extensive spur-and-groove coral formations (including elkhorn) run seaward of the islands, and atop the reef crest and inside the lagoons, corals grow almost to the surface, providing limitless shallow snorkeling. Endangered hawksbill sea turtles nest on Hunting Caye, and it’s common to see turtles as well as nurse sharks, rays and all the ornamental reef fish. Accommodations in Punta Gorda, such as the Coral House Inn, can arrange local guides for the trip out to the cayes.

Bonaire

Bonaire National Marine Park
Bonaire gets — and deserves — a lot of credit for its commitment to the protection of its marine environment. The Marine Park, which surrounds the island from the high-water mark down to 200 feet, was pioneered by a diver (the famous Captain Don Stewart) back in 1979 and has been supported by diver contributions since 1990. There’s great snorkeling around most of the island (look for the yellow shore-dive markers), but standouts include Sorobon in Lac Bay, 1,000 Steps, Karpata, and Klein Bonaire. In some places, the hard corals grow right to the surface, and there are still healthy stands of elkhorn swarming with fish. The annual fee is $25 for divers, $10 for snorkelers.

Little Cayman
Bloody Bay Marine Park
With its tiny population and scant development, Little Cayman has seen virtually no human-caused damage to its reefs — and marine park status ensures continued protection of one of the world’s most spectacular underwater attractions: Bloody Bay, on the north coast. Snorkelers here have the rare opportunity to swim over a coral cliff. Floating in the clear water at a site called Three Fathom Wall, you watch fish milling around the bottom in 18 feet of water. Fin a few yards north, and the bottom drops straight down 1,000 feet. The walls of Bloody Bay are festooned with healthy creatures - tangles of rope sponges, gigantic barrel sponges and webs of soft corals.

Dominica

Soufriere/Scott’s Head Marine Reserve
As if swimming inside a volcano isn’t cool enough, snorkelers visiting the southern tip of Dominica can toast to the success of this marine reserve by floating in Champagne — one of the Caribbean’s most unique sights. Volcanic gases gurgling up through the rocky seabed give the shallow dive site its name, and you can join parrotfish and juvenile tropicals swimming though the bubbly backdrop. Another great snorkel spot in the reserve (established in 1998 after a campaign by local high-school students) is the top of Scott’s Head Wall, on the rim of a submerged crater, with views of supersized gorgonians, sponges and brain corals. $2 park fee;

St. Lucia

Soufriere Marine Management Area
SMMA is often noted as one of the world's most successful marine parks at bringing together various stakeholders, including local fishermen, landowners and water-sports operators. Established in 1995, the park covers two terrific snorkeling areas. At Anse Cochon (Bay of Pigs), patch reef starts in just 5 feet of water, and snorkelers often spot turtles and eels. Farther south, beneath the gaze of St. Lucia’s famous Pitons, Anse Chastanet Reef is the island’s best fish-and-critter-watching spot. Coral Gardens offers a unique view: Look down to see healthy reef; look up and Gros Piton towers above you. Park fees are $5 for divers, $1 for snorkelers.

Caribbean Cruises - Choosing a Caribbean Cruise Itinerary

2008-12-18T16:56:00.001-08:00

Caribbean cruises are the most popular cruise destination for travelers and we're here to help you find the best Caribbean cruise for you and highlight some of our most helpful Caribbean cruise reviews. Choosing where to sail - the eastern or western Caribbean - is one of the first decisions made when planning a Caribbean cruise vacation. Most cruise travelers select a 7-day Caribbean cruise for their first experience at sea. When you search the Internet or read cruise brochures, the most common itineraries offered are Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean. Which is better? The answer is either! It all depends on what your interests are, so in addition to selecting the right ship, you need to research the ports of call before you book. Both itineraries will provide cruisers with opportunities to sail, swim, snorkel, and shop. But there are differences. Let's take a quick look at the two most popular Caribbean cruise itineraries.

Eastern Caribbean Cruises
Most cruise ships sailing to the eastern Caribbean on 7-day itineraries embark from Florida. Ports of call on an Eastern Caribbean itinerary often include the Bahamas, St. Thomas, St. John (USVI), Puerto Rico, and perhaps St. Maarten/St. Martin. If you want less sailing (i.e. time at sea) and more shopping and opportunities to go to fantastic beaches, then an Eastern Caribbean itinerary might appeal more to you. The islands are relatively close together, smaller, and shore excursions tend to be more geared to beach or water activities.

Western Caribbean Cruises
Cruise ships sailing to the western Caribbean embark from Florida, New Orleans or Texas. Ports of call on a Western Caribbean itinerary often include Cozumel or Playa del Carmen, Mexico; Grand Cayman; Key West, FL; the Dominican Republic; Jamaica; Belize; or Costa Rica. If you look at a map, you will see that since the ports of call are further apart, more sailing is usually involved on a western Caribbean cruise. So you may have more time at sea and less time in port or on the beach. The ports of call in the western Caribbean are sometimes on the mainland (Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica) or at larger islands (Jamaica, Dominican Republic). Therefore, the shore excursion options are more varied. You can explore ancient Mayan ruins, hike the rain forests, or go snorkeling or SCUBA diving in some unforgettable locations.

If you are now thoroughly confused, that's okay, there are many Caribbean cruise destination to chose from! The Caribbean Sea Cruise is a cruise lover's heaven--blue seas, sunny beaches, and interesting ports of call. You will get all of these whichever direction you cruise. East and West are both great--and then there's the Southern Caribbean and Northern Caribbean, but that's for another day!

Top 10 Caribbean Shore Excursions

2008-12-18T16:40:00.000-08:00

1. Stingray City at Grand Cayman Island

A day on Grand Cayman Island is not complete without a visit to Stingray City. This shore excursion is one of the most popular things to do while on your Caribbean boat cruise and its reputation is well deserved. Visitors can dive, snorkel, swim, or just be marveled by these interesting creatures through the viewing windows of a glass bottom boat.

Top Picks: Stingray City at Grand Cayman Island - Grand Cayman Shore Excursion

2. America's Cup Yacht Racing on St. Maarten

Racing on a sleek, 12-metre America's Cup yacht is an exciting way to spend a half-day on St. Maarten. Nine participants serve as the crew of each of the two former America's Cup racing yachts, and the speedy boats zip through the water as they race around the harbor at Philipsburg. No previous sailing experience is necessary, but you will come away with a new appreciation of the thrill (and work involved) of sailing a racing yacht.
Pictures of the America's Cup Regatta shore excursion.

Top Picks: America's Cup Yacht Racing on St. Maarten - St. Maarten Shore Excursion

3. Exploring the Baths on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands

Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands has a remarkable geological rock formation on the western end of the island. Huge boulders are strewn all along the beach. Climbing, snorkeling, and exploring this geological phenomenon is fun for all ages.

Top Picks: Exploring the Baths on Virgin Gorda - British Virgin Islands' Shore Excursion

4. Tubing on the Layou River in Dominica

5. Buck Island Reef Snorkeling on St. Croix in the USVI

6. Hiking the El Junque Rain Forest in Puerto Rico

7. Mini-Submarine Ride Beneath the Caribbean

8. High Tea at Sunbury Plantation on Barbados

9. Dominica Champagne Snorkeling

10. Walking Up Dunn's River Falls in Jamaica

What's Your Favorite Caribbean Cruise Port of Call?

2008-12-18T16:30:00.000-08:00

Interestingly, these Caribbean cruise destination and ports are scattered all over the Caribbean. They each have tropical weather and are surrounded by beautiful waters. In addition, they each all have something special that makes them popular. Let's take a quick look at these ports.

• St. Thomas
It is not surprising that this island is a favorite of many Caribbean cruisers and a great Caribbean cruise destination. One of the three United States Virgin Islands, it has mountains, beautiful countryside, and gorgeous beaches. St. Thomas also has plenty of shore activities for all ages and exceptional shopping. No wonder it is the cruise lines' favorite Virgin!

• St. Martin/St. Maarten
This island in the eastern Caribbean is split between the French and the Dutch. Maybe that's why it is so popular--the island has something for everyone and is great for romantic getaways for couples as well as family friendly cruises! Most of the mega-ships cruising the eastern Caribbean port at Philipsburg, the capital of Dutch St. Maarten, but some of the smaller ships port at Marigot, the French capital of St. Martin, which has a smaller harbor. St. Martin/St. Maarten has great shopping, casinos, and good beaches. Some of the beaches on the French St. Martin side of the island are truly European, i.e. nudity is more prevalent. The island also has some interesting shore excursion activities such as the America's Cup Regatta.

• Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is due south of Miami and included on many cruise tours to the western Caribbean. The island is flat and covered with scrubland and swamp, making it not as attractive as other islands. However, Grand Cayman makes up for this boring exterior by offering great underwater adventures for visitors and an outstanding port experience for cruise ships. It has great shore excursions, great beaches, and good shopping. Divers and snorkelers will revel in its turquoise water, and a visit to Stingray City is one of the most popular shore excursions in the Caribbean.

• Aruba
Located in the southern Caribbean, Aruba is usually visited by cruise ships embarking from San Juan or other Caribbean ports. It's a little too far for a seven-day cruise from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale or other mainland ports. However, some cruise ships visit Aruba on longer, 10-day cruises. It is one of the most popular ports because of its spectacular beaches, continuous sunshine, gambling, and interesting landscape. Aruba is much drier than many of the other Caribbean islands, and the wind blows year-round. Two popular shore excursions are a four-wheel-drive jeep tour of the island or an Atlantis submarine trip, which will take you 150 feet under the sea.

• Bahamas
The Bahamas are really in the Atlantic but are included as a port in many Caribbean cruises, due to their proximity to the east coast of the United States. Nassau and Freeport are the two main ports of call. These islands are a great introduction to the rest of the tropical islands in the Americas because they are not as exotic as some of the more far flung islands. There's much to do on a Caribbean Bahamas cruise--great beaches, shopping, and activities. A visit to the Vegas-style hotel of Atlantis on Paradise Island is also a popular activity for cruisers.

• Cozumel
Cozumel is a small island off the Yucatan peninsula in the western Caribbean, and many ships port at both Cozumel and Playa del Carmen on the mainland. It has white-sand beaches,great snorkeling and diving, and some fantastic shore excursions leading it to become one of the most popular Caribbean cruise destinations. Cozumel is the gateway to the fascinating Mayan ruins at Tulum and Chichén-Itzá. We once did a shore excursion while docked in Cozumel that included a tour of Tulum and time for snorkeling at Xel-Ha lagoon. While Tulum is easily accessible and perched on the coast, a shore excursion to the magnificent pyramids at Chichén-Itzá will take a whole day. A Jeep trip into the interior jungle is also a fun way to see some of the Yucatan.

• Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios is the favorite stopover of Caribbean cruise ships porting in Jamaica. Jamaica is lush, green, and mountainous. It is also the third largest island in the Caribbean and is included on many western Caribbean cruise itineraries. Like Cozumel, Ocho Rios probably made the list of favorite ports because of its outstanding shore excursions. A visit to Dunn's River Falls is a popular trip, although you will find thousands of other cruisers there. Tubing the White River or horseback riding on the beach are two other outstanding activities available while your ship is docked at Ocho Rios.

• Curacao
Curacao is the largest of the Netherlands Antilles and is just 35 miles north of the Venezuelan coast. The island is desert-like, with cacti and divi-divi trees dotting the landscape. The capital of Curacao is Willemstad, which is one of the major attractions. Your cruise ship will dock at a huge pier within walking distance of Willemstad. The center of the city has been restored to its original storybook look, and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The floating pontoon bridge is also fun to watch, and the shopping is good, with over 200 stores in the city. Shore excursions are varied and include a trip to the 4,500-acre Christoffel National Park or a visit to the mystical underground lake in the Hato Caves.

The Caribbean is popular with cruise ships because of its spectacular weather and wonderful ports of call. Let us help you find the best Caribbean cruise for you! Every island in the Caribbean has some similarities and some differences. What's your favorite?

What's Hot: Tortola

2008-10-10T19:33:00.000-07:00

Tortola

Why: The capital of the British Virgin Islands struck a deal with Disney Cruise Line, adding itself to the family favorite's Caribbean cruise destinations for 2009. Tortola is long known for a being family friendly and welcoming Caribbean cruise destination. Caribbean cruises from San Juan, a popular port of origin for Southern Caribbean cruises include the always-popular St. Thomas and now Tortola due to its close proximity to San Juan. Tortola also serves as a Caribbean cruise tour port for day trips to nearby B.V.I. spots like Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda. In 2009, pretty much every Caribbean cruise liner you can think will have Tortola on an itinerary. On the port's busiest days (Wednesdays and Thursdays), you'll find up to five ships at the island at the same time!

What's there: Tortola appears to be the sleepy island but it is far from first impressions. It's a superb Caribbean cruise destination for water sports; snorkeling and diving sites are first-rate, and several underwater wrecks—including the RMS Rhone—are popular Caribbean cruise tours. The warm trade winds make this a sailor's paradise, and the other islands in the B.V.I. chain are just a short Caribbean boat ride away. Day trips, often called Caribbean cruise tours—especially to neighboring Jost Van Dyke (home of heavenly White Bay and its Soggy Dollar Bar) and Virgin Gorda (where you can explore the caves and pools of the famed Baths)—are plentiful and convenient.

Antigua1

2008-02-15T11:14:00.000-08:00

TINY Antigua, 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, is one of those famously paradisiacal islands that actually lives up to the hype. Pristine beaches (there are 365 of them, if you can believe the tourist brochures) fleck the coastline, and everywhere you look there is yet another exhilarating view of sea, cliff or tropical landscape.

More climbing, more stunning views, more military ruins — yes, you’ve done this already, but the hikes around Shirley Heights, just east of English Harbour, offer the island’s most exhilarating — and comprehensive — panorama of the sheltered bays and rocky coast of southern Antigua.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more gorgeous combination of white sand and thrashing surf than Half Moon Bay, on the eastern edge of the island. The beach, more than half a mile long and curved around a blue bay, has been sublimely isolated since Hurricane Luis destroyed the sprawling Half Moon Bay Resort in 1995. These days, there’s not a beach chair in sight, so you’ll have to sprawl on the pillowy sand while you appreciate the wisdom of those who decided to turn this priceless piece of real estate into a national park.

Like so many cruise ports, the St. John’s harbor area offers a monotonous lineup of characterless duty-free shops selling jewelry and perfume, and stands hawking “local” souvenirs imported from India and elsewhere. Ignore the guidebooks that implore you to go to these places and head straight to St. John’s Cathedral between Newgate and Long streets (268-462-0820), a 19th-century, twin-towered Anglican church with a cavernous dark pine interior; its stony bulk in relation to the modest town surrounding is remarkable. Sunday morning services are at 6:15 a.m., 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.