Frommer's Caribbean Cruises and Ports of Call 2002

by Sarna, Heidi

• ISBN13: 9780764564178
• ISBN10: 076456417X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-09-01
• Publisher: Pgw

Summary

A cruise is a complete vacation, so it2s important that you choose the one that2s right for you. Frommer2s Caribbean Cruises is the most user-friendly, opinionated, and informative guide you can buy before you set sail. Unlike other guides that try to cover cruises around the entire world in one volume, we focus solely on the Caribbean, so we can bring you much more in-depth coverage. Unlike those used in other guides, our rating system is simple. We break down the essential elements of a cruise experience (dining, activities, children2s activities, entertainment, service, overall enjoyment, and overall value), and rate them from "poor" to "outstanding." Photos of each ship combine with the text to give a better sense of the very real differences among the various lines. Most important, this is the only cruise guide that provides the real prices people pay for cruises, not just the rack rates. Other guides tell you that a seven-night cruise aboard Celebrity2s Mercury costs $1,795. You can pay that if you want to, but only Frommer2s tells you that the same cruise is selling for $895. We give both the rack rates and the discount price for every cruise in the Caribbean. This feature alone makes Frommer2s Caribbean Cruises by far the most valuable trip-planning book among cruise guides. Our author, a noted cruise expert who has personally checked out every ship sailing the Caribbean, offers candid and unbiased opinions on them all. She2s completely up to date, with all the latest developments and the newest ships. You2ll also get complete coverage of 34 Caribbean port destinations, with advice on how to spend your limited time ashore.

Table of Contents

List of Maps	ix
What's New in Cruising	1	(4)
Tell Us About Your Cruise!	5	(1)
In the News	6	(2)
The Best of Cruising	8	(608)
My Favorite Ships	8	(1)
Best Luxury Cruises	9	(1)
Best Cruises for First-Timers	9	(1)
The Most Romantic Cruises	10	(1)
Best Cruises for Families with Kids	11	(1)
Best Cruises for Singles	11	(1)
Best Party Cruises	12	(1)
Best Cuisine	13	(1)
Best Spas	14	(1)
Best Gyms	14	(1)
Best Internet Centers at Sea	15	(1)
Best Bathrooms at Sea	15	(1)
Best Soft-Adventure & Learning Cruises	16	(1)
Best Port-Packed Itineraries	16	(1)
Best Cruises for Snorkelers & Scuba Divers	17	(1)
Best Cruises for Golfers	17	(1)
Best Ships for Gamblers	18	(1)
Best Islands for Gamblers	19	(1)
Best Beaches	19	(1)
Best Islands for Serious Shoppers	19	(1)
Best Ports for Exploring on Your Own	20	(3)
Part 1: Planning, Booking & Preparing for Your Cruise
Choosing Your Ideal Cruise	23	(17)
When to Go	23	(1)
Choosing the Itinerary That's Best for You	24	(3)
Indulging Your Obsessions at Sea: Theme Cruises	26	(1)
Choosing the Ship of Your Dreams	27	(5)
Ship Size Comparisons Chart	28	(4)
Matching the Cruise to Your Needs	32	(8)
Family Cruising Tips	33	(7)
Booking Your Cruise & Getting the Best Price	40	(28)
Booking a Cruise: The Short Explanation	40	(1)
The Prices in This Guide	41	(3)
Price Comparisons: Brochure Rates vs. Discounted Rates	42	(2)
The Cost: What's Included & What's Not	44	(1)
Money-Saving Strategies	45	(6)
Average Cost of Onboard Extras	46	(2)
Price Protection: Making Sure Your Deal Is the Best Deal	48	(3)
Travel Agents vs. the Internet	51	(6)
Should You Worry About a Cruise Line Going Out of Business?	55	(2)
Choosing Your Cabin	57	(6)
Model Cabin Layouts	59	(1)
Reading a Ship's Deck Plan	60	(3)
Prebooking Your Dinner Table & Arranging Special Diets	63	(1)
Cancellations & Insurance	64	(3)
Onboard Medical Care	65	(1)
Clean Bill of Health	66	(1)
Putting Down a Deposit & Reviewing Tickets	67	(1)
Things to Know Before You Go	68	(5)
Passports & Visas	68	(1)
Money Matters	69	(1)
Packing	70	(3)
The Cruise Experience	73	(20)
The History of Cruising	73	(4)
The Birth of a Megaship	76	(1)
Checking in & Boarding	77	(2)
An Introduction to Onboard Activities	79	(2)
Introducing Onboard Entertainment	81	(1)
Shipboard Gyms, Spas & Sports	82	(4)
An Introduction to Shipboard Dining	86	(3)
Specialty Dining: Who's Got What	88	(1)
Shopping Opportunities on Ship & Shore	89	(4)
Part 2: The Cruise Lines & Their Ships
The Ratings (and How to Read Them)	93	(10)
Cruise Line Categories	93	(7)
Ships at a Glance	96	(4)
Evaluating & Comparing the Listed Cruise Prices	100	(3)
The Mainstream Lines	103	(143)
Frommer's Ratings at a Glance: The Mainstream Lines	104	(1)
Carnival Cruise Lines	105	(19)
Celebration/Jubilee/Holiday	113	(2)
The Destiny Class: Carnival Destiny/Triumph/Victory	115	(3)
The Fantasy Class: Ecstasy/Fantasy/Fascination/Imagination/Inspiration/Paradise/Sensation	118	(3)
The Spirit Class: Carnival Spirit/Pride/Legend (preview)	121	(3)
Celebrity Cruises	124	(17)
Celebrity Art: Take a Walk on the Wild Side	129	(2)
The Century Class: Century/Galaxy/Mercury	131	(3)
Horizon/Zenith	134	(3)
The Millennium Class: Millennium/Infinity/Summit (preview)	137	(4)
Costa Cruises	141	(10)
CostaAtlantica	146	(2)
CostaVictoria	148	(3)
Disney Cruise Line	151	(8)
The Disney Cruise/Park Package	152	(2)
Castaway Cay: A Well-Oiled Machine	154	(2)
Disney Magic/Disney Wonder	156	(3)
Holland America Line	159	(18)
Amsterdam/Rotterdam	165	(3)
Noordam	168	(2)
The Statendam Class: Maasdam/Veendam	170	(2)
Volendam/Zaandam	172	(3)
Westerdam	175	(2)
Mediterranean Shipping Cruises	177	(5)
Melody	180	(2)
Norwegian Cruise Line	182	(12)
Norwegian Majesty	187	(2)
Norwegian Sea	189	(2)
Norwegian Sky	191	(2)
Norwegian Sun (preview)	193	(1)
Princess Cruises	194	(16)
Princess Cays: Private Island Paradise	197	(3)
Crown Princess	200	(2)
The Grand Class: Grand Princess/Golden Princess/Star Princess (preview)	202	(3)
Pacific Princess	205	(2)
The Sun Class: Dawn Princess/Sea Princess/Sun Princess/Ocean Princess	207	(3)
Regal Cruises	210	(6)
Regal Empress	213	(3)
Royal Caribbean International	216	(23)
Getting the Royal Treatment on a Private Island	219	(3)
Majesty of the Seas/Monarch of the Seas	222	(2)
Nordic Empress	224	(2)
Radiance of the Seas	226	(3)
Sovereign of the Seas	229	(3)
The Vision Class: Enchantment/Grandeur/Rhapsody/Vision of the Seas	232	(3)
The Voyager Class: Voyager/Explorer/Adventure of the Seas (preview)	235	(2)
Explorer's Science Labs: No Mickey Mouse Science Need Apply	237	(2)
Royal Olympic Cruises	239	(7)
Olympic Voyager/Olympic Explorer	243	(3)
The Ultra-Luxury Lines	246	(58)
Frommer's Ratings at a Glance: The Ultra-Luxury Lines	247	(1)
Crystal Cruises	248	(8)
Crystal Harmony/Crystal Symphony	253	(3)
Cunard	256	(11)
Caronia	260	(3)
Queen Elizabeth 2	263	(3)
Preview: Cunard's New Queen Mary 2	266	(1)
Radisson Seven Seas Cruises	267	(12)
Radisson Diamond	271	(3)
Seven Seas Mariner	274	(2)
Seven Seas Navigator	276	(3)
Renaissance Cruises	279	(5)
R6	282	(2)
Seabourn Cruise Line	284	(12)
Seabourn Goddess I/Seabourn Goddess II	289	(2)
Seabourn Legend/Seabourn Pride	291	(3)
Seabourn Sun	294	(2)
Windstar Cruises	296	(8)
Wind Spirit/Wind Star	300	(2)
Wind Surf	302	(2)
Soft-Adventure Lines & Sailing Ships	304	(43)
Frommer's Ratings at a Glance: The Soft Adventure Lines	304	(1)
American Canadian Caribbean Line	305	(8)
Flexible Itineraries and Other Small-Ship Vagaries	308	(3)
The Grande Class: Grande Caribe/Grande Mariner	311	(2)
Clipper Cruise Line	313	(6)
Nantucket Clipper/Yorktown Clipper	317	(2)
Star Clippers	319	(10)
Royal Clipper	324	(3)
Star Clipper	327	(2)
Windjammer Barefoot Cruises	329	(18)
Randy Singles at Sea: Jammers Singles Cruises	334	(4)
Amazing Grace	338	(2)
Flying Cloud/Mandalay/Polynesia/Yankee Clipper	340	(2)
Legacy	342	(5)
Part 3: The Ports
The Ports of Embarkation	347	(35)
Miami & the Port of Miami	347	(8)
Fort Lauderdale & Port Everglades	355	(5)
Cape Canaveral & Port Canaveral	360	(5)
Tampa & the Port of Tampa	365	(5)
New Orleans & the Port of New Orleans	370	(10)
Galveston	380	(1)
San Juan & the Port of San Juan	381	(1)
Caribbean Ports of Call	382	(222)
Antigua	384	(8)
Don't Wear the Coral!	385	(7)
Aruba	392	(6)
Bahamas: Nassau & Freeport	398	(16)
Barbados	414	(7)
Belize	421	(7)
Bequia	428	(6)
A Quiet Grenadine Day on Union Island	433	(1)
Bonaire	434	(9)
A Passion to Preserve, a Sea to See	436	(7)
British Virgin Islands: Tortola & Virgin Gorda	443	(8)
A Slice of Paradise: Jost Van Dyke	451	(1)
Cozumel & Playa del Carmen	451	(10)
Curacao	461	(6)
Dominica	467	(8)
Dominican Republic	475	(5)
Grand Cayman	480	(5)
Grenada	485	(6)
Guadeloupe	491	(8)
Jamaica	499	(10)
Key West	509	(8)
Les Saintes	517	(5)
Tormented by Love? Have a Pastry	518	(4)
Martinique	522	(8)
Panama & The Canal	530	(2)
Puerto Rico	532	(15)
San Juan as a Port of Embarkation	536	(3)
Walking Tour: Old San Juan	539	(8)
St. Barthelemy (St. Barts)	547	(4)
St. Croix	551	(7)
St. Kitts & Nevis	558	(9)
St. Lucia	567	(7)
Sint Maarten & St. Martin	574	(9)
St. Thomas & St. John	583	(12)
Trinidad & Tobago	595	(9)
Bermuda	604	(12)
Frommer's Favorite Bermuda Experiences	606	(2)
Walking Tour: Hamilton	608	(3)
Walking Tour: St. George's	611	(2)
Bermuda Welcome Wagon	613	(3)
Appendix A: Wrapping Up Your Cruise: Debarkation Concerns	616	(3)
1 Tipping	616	(1)
2 Disembarking	616	(1)
3 U.S. Customs	617	(2)
Appendix B: Index by Ship Name	619