All that the Caribbean has to offer..

Please share your experiences and some do's and don'ts for all of us who whish life could be just "an endless island-hopping..."

The absolute best way to enjoy the caribbean and "island hop" is to take a cruise. There are many different cruise lines out there and the length of time varies from 3-14 days. I have taken 6 cruises and had some of the best times of my life on them. I met amazing people, some of whom I will remain friends with for life. By taking a cruise, you get to see each island for anywhere from 4hrs to a day and can then decide if it is one you would like to go back to and maybe spend a week at. There are some that I would like to see again for longer periods of time, ( ie. Grand Cayman-I could spend a month there!) and others that, for me, although they were a beautiful island, once was enough.

I will say that if you take a cruise,

Some Do's are:

1.Stay with the tour groups.

2.Take out cruise insurance, in case you need to cancel for any reason.

3.Book the air/sea travel with the cruise- it saves time and hassle in the long run.

4.Make sure you have all your travel documents ahead of time-your travel agent will tell you what you need.

5.Use travellers checks... if lost or stolen they can be replaced easier.

6. Pack at least 1 change of clothes and 1 swimsuit along with any meds you take in your carryon luggage. Basically, anything you could not live without if it didn't make it onboard the cruise with you. If you take medication, make sure it is in its original packaging.

7.DO keep track of all your spending onboard the ship. When you board, you will establish an account, which you prepay into and be issued a cruisecard (like a credit card) that is used for all onboard purchases such as liquor, photos, tours, ect. Keep track of how much you spend daily. You will be surprised how fast you can go thru money especially if you add liquor to the mix.

Some DON'TS:

1. Don't go off by yourself/away from the groups. The cruiseline will warn you that this is not SAFE. People have been severely hurt by inadvertly travelling into the wrong areas of unknown countries.

2.Don't overpack. On a cruise-especially in the Caribbean, a majority of the time you will most likely be in swimwear. plan accordingly. After the first cruise I only took 3 short sets and my formal wear + swimwear for a 7 day cruise. It gave me the exta room for all the goodies I brought home!

3.Don't expect to stick to your diet. The food is FABULOUS! Expect to gain a pound a day! It's all good though. They have gyms on board along with plenty of other activities to work off the extra calories you will consume.

4.Don't forget to put money aside for tips. When you book your cruise you will receive a booklet on how much to tip who. On the last night of the cruise you will receive envelopes under your door to place your tips in. YOU DON"T have to tip what is in the booklet, only what you feel is appropriate, given the service rendered. If the service was fantastic, give more, if not give less.

5.Don't feel as if you HAVE to purchase any or all of the photos that the cruiseline takes of you. Yes they are wonderful memories. But if you don't like them, don't feel obligated.

6.Don't forget the cameras...especially the underwater ones. I always take the disposable cameras. If they get stolen or are lost, I am not out alot of money. My pix have alway come out great and you can have them put on a cd when developed to transfer to your pc if you want.

7.Don't plan on going to work the day after you return. If your cruise is over on sunday, take monday off. Trust me, you will want to sleep, unpack and get your film developed. Plus you will need to shop for groceries, ect....On second thought, take 2 days.....

Relax, enjoy and prepare to be pampered.... Oh yeah and plan to save money to do it again as soon as you get back, because 9 out of 10 people that I've talked to who have been on a cruise, couldn't wait to go on another asap.

Hope this helps.....

Another DON'T

Don't forget to forgo the elevators and only walk the stairs from deck to deck. No weight gain, excellent exercise and enjoyment of all the food you could ever want to eat!

Book any tour excursions ASAP. The good ones fill up way before the cruise even takes place.

I SO need a cruise right now! I'm bias and will only travel on Royal Caribbean line.