Caribbean Ports of Call: Northern and Northeastern Regions, 5th

by Kay Showker

• ISBN13: 9780762705474
• ISBN10: 0762705477
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 1999-10-01
• Publisher: GPP Travel

Summary

This guide shows you how to plan a carefree vacation at sea. It offers practical advice on selecting and buying a cruise and much more.

Author Biography

Kay Showker has won numerous awards for her coverage of the Caribbean. She was the first to receive the Caribbean Tourism Association Award for excellence in journalism. She writes for leading travel magazines and newspapers across the country, among them Travel and Leisure and National Geographic Traveler.

Table of Contents

List of Maps	p. ix
The Caribbean and the Bahamas Ports of Call	p. xii
Cruising and the Caribbean
The Unbeatable Combination	p. 1
How to Use This Guide	p. 2
The Pleasures of the Caribbean	p. 3
Locating the Islands	p. 3
Enter Columbus	p. 4
Caribbean Culture	p. 5
A New Cuisine	p. 6
A Wealth of Activity	p. 6
Diversity of Destinations	p. 7
The New Caribbean	p. 8
The Pleasures of Cruising	p. 8
Changing Lifestyles	p. 8
Onboard Activities	p. 9
A Moveable Feast	p. 10
Cruising with Children	p. 11
Family Reunions	p. 11
Ideal Honeymoon	p. 11
Preparing for a Cruise
Selecting a Caribbean Cruise	p. 13
Using a Travel Agent	p. 13
The Built-in Value of a Cruise Vacation	p. 13
Selecting a Ship	p. 14
Selecting a Cabin	p. 14
Other Cost Factors	p. 15
Cruise Discounts	p. 15
Selecting Shore Excursions	p. 15
Port Talks	p. 16
What You Should Know Before You Go	p. 16
Luggage and Wardrobe	p. 16
Documentation	p. 17
Mealtimes	p. 17
Requesting a Table	p. 17
Electrical Appliances	p. 17
Laundry and Dry Cleaning	p. 18
Hairdressing	p. 18
Religious Services	p. 18
Medical Needs	p. 18
Shipboard Shops	p. 18
Tipping	p. 18
Telephone Calls--Ship-to-Shore and Shore-to-Ship	p. 19
Caribbean Cruise Lines and Their Ships
A Guide	p. 21
Ports of Call
The Bahamas
At a Glance	p. 43
Distant Neighbors	p. 44
Fast Facts	p. 46
An Introduction to Nassau	p. 47
Port Profile: Nassau	p. 49
Budget Planning	p. 50
Drugs, Crime, and Today's Realities	p. 50
Author's Favorite Attractions	p. 50
Nassau Shore Excursions	p. 50
People-to-People	p. 51
Nassau on Your Own	p. 53
A Walking Tour of Old Nassau	p. 53
Nassau and Its Environs	p. 58
Shopping in Nassau	p. 61
Dining and Restaurants in Nassau	p. 63
Sports in Nassau and Environs	p. 64
Entertainment: Cultural Events and Nightlife	p. 66
Festivals and Celebrations	p. 66
Grand Bahama Island	p. 68
In Brief	p. 68
Sight-seeing	p. 70
Dining and Restaurants in Freeport	p. 72
A Drive around Grand Bahama Island	p. 73
The Out Islands	p. 74
Haiti
At a Glance	p. 79
A Magical Tapestry	p. 80
Fast Facts	p. 82
Haiti's Unique Culture	p. 83
Voodoo in Haiti	p. 83
The Birth of Haitian Art	p. 84
Festivals	p. 85
Cap Haitien	p. 86
In Brief	p. 86
Labadee	p. 87
The Search for La Navidad	p. 87
Excursion to Sans Souci and the Citadel	p. 88
Dominican Republic
At a Glance	p. 91
Land of Superlatives	p. 92
Fast Facts	p. 93
Budget Planning	p. 95
Author's Favorite Attractions	p. 95
Santo Domingo on Your Own	p. 95
Shore Excursions	p. 96
A Walk in the Old City	p. 97
A Tour of the New City	p. 101
Shopping	p. 104
Dining	p. 106
Evening Entertainment	p. 107
Sports in Santo Domingo and Environs	p. 108
Cultural Events and Festivals	p. 109
Casa de Campo (La Romana)	p. 109
Catalina Island	p. 110
Shore Excursions	p. 110
Saona Island	p. 111
Puerto Plata	p. 111
Shore Excursions from Puerto Plata	p. 113
On Your Own in Puerto Plata	p. 113
Playa Dorada	p. 114
Sosua	p. 114
Cabarete	p. 115
Puerto Rico
At a Glance	p. 117
The Complete Island	p. 118
Fast Facts	p. 120
Budget Planning	p. 121
An Introduction to San Juan	p. 121
Port Profile: San Juan	p. 123
Author's Favorite Attractions	p. 124
Shore Excursions	p. 124
San Juan on Your Own	p. 125
A Walking Tour of Old San Juan	p. 125
Shopping	p. 133
Dining and Restaurants	p. 135
Sports	p. 137
Entertainment	p. 140
Festivals and Celebrations	p. 141
San Juan Environs and East	p. 142
A Drive West of San Juan	p. 144
Cordillera Central and Panoramic Route	p. 145
Ponce--The Destination of Tomorrow	p. 146
A Walking Tour of Ponce	p. 146
Ponce Environs	p. 149
The Virgin Islands
At a Glance	p. 152
U.S. Virgin Islands	p. 153
Fast Facts	p. 156
Budget Planning	p. 158
An Introduction to St. Thomas	p. 158
Port Profile: Charlotte Amalie	p. 159
Author's Favorite Attractions	p. 161
St. Thomas Shore Excursions	p. 161
St. Thomas on Your Own	p. 162
A Charlotte Amalie Walkabout	p. 163
Driving Tour of St. Thomas	p. 168
Shopping	p. 170
Sports	p. 173
Dining and Nightlife	p. 176
Cultural Events and Festivals	p. 178
St. John: A Gift of Nature	p. 179
In Brief	p. 180
Shopping and Dining in St. John	p. 181
Sports in St. John	p. 182
St. Croix: The Sleeping Virgin	p. 183
Frederiksted	p. 184
Christiansted	p. 187
A Drive Around St. Croix	p. 192
The British Virgin Islands	p. 195
Tortola and Its Neighbors	p. 196
Virgin Gorda	p. 197
Anegada	p. 198
Sports in the British Virgin Islands	p. 198
St. Maarten/St. Martin and Its Neighbors
At a Glance	p. 200
The Dutch Windward Islands and Their Neighbors	p. 201
St. Maarten Fast Facts	p. 202
St. Martin Fast Facts	p. 203
Budget Planning	p. 205
Drugs, Crime, and Today's Realities	p. 205
Author's Favorite Attractions	p. 205
Shore Excursions	p. 205
Philipsburg: A Neat Dutch Treat	p. 206
Port Profile: Philipsburg	p. 206
Marigot: A French Delight	p. 207
St. Maarten and St. Martin on Your Own	p. 208
A Walk through Philipsburg	p. 208
A Drive around the Island	p. 209
Shopping	p. 212
Dining and Restaurants	p. 215
Sports in Philipsburg and Environs	p. 216
Nightlife	p. 218
Cultural Events and Festivals	p. 219
Saba: The Storybook Isle	p. 219
St. Eustatius	p. 221
Anguilla	p. 224
St. Barts	p. 226
A Walk around Gustavia	p. 226
A Drive around the Island	p. 227
Chart of Cruise Ships Sailing the Caribbean	p. 231
Index	p. 245
About the Author	p. 257
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