The Caribbean's fiercely independent spirit is hard-earned and readily apparent. You feel it in the lasting African traditions and you see it in artistic expressions of song and dance. Even today universally loved musical forms, which originated during the days of slavery, provide an ever-present Caribbean soundtrack and influence musical traditions all over the world.

The modern Caribbean has a unique cultural identity shaped by the influential traditions of European settlers, African slaves, and native Indian tribesmen such as the peaceful Arawaks and warrior Caribs. This rich and varied history is set against a backdrop of dazzling beaches, mountains, rainforests, and bustling city streets.

The distinctive culture and customs of the Caribbean nations have lovingly been preserved by native voices--artists, farmers, and merchants who are the oral historians preserving the cultural traditions of this incomparable region.

Getting to any of these Caribbean islands can be easier (and more fun) than you think

If you’re looking for a quick trip, airplane travel is your best bet. Numerous major airline carriers – from departure points all over the world – have regular flights to the Caribbean. You can even book airline transportation along with your lodging for a package deal.

If you’d like to make the journey part of your vacation, a leisurely ocean cruise may be just your style. Nearly two dozen cruise lines offer a wide variety of vacation packages and continuously sail to the Caribbean, especially in the winter months. Travel on family cruises on Disney liners, lavish cruises on luxury liners, and even romantic couples cruises onboard the "Love Boat" company, Princess Cruises.

Approximately two million travelers cruise to the Caribbean each year to enjoy the beautiful beaches and warm weather. Caribbean cruises are popular because of the activities and amenities on board the ship and because many ships make stops at various islands along the way.

If you're planning to cruise, plan ahead: Depending on the season, cabins may get completely booked months before the cruise is scheduled to set sail. You can book the cruise yourself by calling the cruise line or making an online reservation; you can also book your excursion through an online or in-person travel agent.

If you choose to work out the details of your cruise on your own, you can call the cruise line, utilize the cruise line's website, or book your cruise through a general travel website. When planning, keep in mind what type of trip you're ultimately after. For instance, if this is a family vacation, sticking to a Disney cruise might be best since these ships design activities specifically for children. If you're traveling as a couple, look for a quiet ship with a romance theme, such as a Princess Cruise – the cruise line used by the "Love Boat" TV show. If you'd like to sail aboard the most luxurious ship available, look to liners known for their top notch services such as Crystal, Silversea, or the new Queen Mary II.

Of the many ocean liners servicing the Caribbean, each offers a variety of price, schedule, and island stop options. Whether you seek an extravagant vacation aboard a floating luxury hotel, a romantic getaway with your loved one, or an activity-filled family voyage, your dream ship awaits.

Cruise Classes

There are currently four classes of cruises: contemporary/value, premium, luxury, and specialty. Depending upon the type of cruise you seek and how much money you wish to spend, these segmented classes can assist you in the ship selection process.

Carnival and Royal Caribbean, the powerhouses of cruising, are two of the most popular contemporary/value cruise lines and together make up almost 90% of the entire cruise industry. This is the largest class of cruising and it's characterized by reasonable prices and package deals.

Premium cruises are generally more expensive and the ships aren’t as large, but the service is considered superior to that of a contemporary/value cruise. Ocean liners like Celebrity, Princess, and Holland America boast a larger wait staff for fewer passengers.

Others may want to consider a luxury class ship. Ocean liners like Seabourn, Windstar, and Cunard belong to this highest class and reputedly offer top-notch service and amenities. Luxury cruises come with a higher price tag, but the experience is considered to be worth the value.

Ships in the specialty class, like the regional American Hawaii Cruises, typically sail to a unique, secluded destination, not the usual major Caribbean ports of The Bahamas or Jamaica. These ships may also offer specialized cruises for exclusive passenger groups such as gays and lesbians, senior citizens or singles.

Ships

Not only do ships range in theme, décor, and luxury level, they also vary in size. The size of a ship is a critical factor when booking a trip because some are too large to visit particular islands.

A Panama-class ship is the largest available. Its name derives from the Panama Canal because the ship is so large it can barely squeeze through the canal's borders. These enormous ocean liners, holding a maximum of 3,000 passengers, visit the major ports, such as Aruba, Barbados or The Bahamas.

If visiting a secluded island sounds appealing, try a smaller ship carrying no more than 300 passengers. These smaller ships, such as the Windstar Cruise Ships, generally avoid the larger ports the megaships visit and stick to the small harbors like those in the Virgin Islands.

Obviously, the larger the ship the more stable it will be on the ocean during periods of turbulent weather. A medium-sized ship may feel a shudder from a swell, but one of the megaships should be totally resistant.

Cabins

The initial step when selecting a cabin is deciding on a "run of the ship" cabin or a "perfect" cabin. Run of the ship cabins are less expensive because they are not assigned until the week of departure. With the run of ship option, you'll have the choice between an inside and an outside cabin. If you select a perfect cabin, you are guaranteed exactly what you request and pay for.

Some additional guidelines for selecting a room:

Avoid booking cabins in close proximity to anchors, bars, casino, elevators, engine room, gym, nightclub, public rooms, stairways, pool and hot tub, theater, or thrusters. These areas can be particularly noisy.

If you are traveling with young children, do not select an outside cabin, especially a cabin with balcony access.

If you are subject to motion sickness, consider a cabin on the lower decks. The further into the middle of the ship you get, the less you'll feel ship movements.

Keep money and valuables safely hidden in your room and always lock your cabin door. Avoid carrying unnecessary cash around the ship.

Confirm the view you’ll have in an outside cabin--make sure you're getting what you expect. You may want to request a view of the ocean.

When To Go

Cruise prices for the Caribbean are significantly higher between late December and early April as people flee to the tropical islands to escape the cold, snowy north. Cruises during spring and fall tend to be less expensive than those during the Caribbean high season. Hurricane season should not be ruled out. Although the ride may be slightly bumpy from the tossing of the seas, great deals abound during this season. The most popular, and therefore most expensive, times to cruise are major holidays: New Year’s Eve, Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter.

Where To Go

Selecting an island destination is an important step in your vacation planning. Many cruises stop at more than one island allowing for a greater chance to experience island culture. Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa are primary departure ports from which you may choose to visit the Western or Eastern portions of the Caribbean. A Western Caribbean cruise might sojourn at Key West, Cozumel or Jamaica. Sailing aboard an Eastern Caribbean cruise may include stops in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbados or St. Maarten. Some cruise lines even sail to the Southern Caribbean islands of Antigua, Martinique or Grenada.

Itineraries

Cruises can last from two days to two weeks. As a first-time cruiser, you may want to start out with a shorter trip. During a two-day cruise, the ship may dock at one, two, or no ports. Popular stops for short cruises are Cozumel and The Bahamas. If you're a seasoned cruiser, you may advance to a seven-to-ten-day cruise, which offers the opportunity for twice as many island stops. Two-week cruises can either be booked as two seven-day, simultaneous trips or one 14-day voyage.

Typical on-shore and ocean excursions arranged by the cruise lines include snorkeling, scuba diving, horseback riding, golfing, and scenic tours. Each excursion is arranged by the cruise director and will likely cost an additional $25(USD) to $100(USD). You can either reserve an excursion when you book the cruise or wait until you board, but remember that spots for these activities are limited. Be sure to consult the cruise director about the length of time or the expected docking time for each port stop to plan ample time for sightseeing.

Cost

The cost of your cruise will be based on luxury level, length of cruise, and number of persons traveling (single occupancy rates are higher than double occupancy rates). Nearly everything is included in the cruise ticket fare: food, cabin, and onboard activities/entertainment. What may not be included are beverages, shore excursions and activities, final tip, and airfare, if not part of an air-cruise package. Depending on the cruise line, the tip may be automatically included in the bill. Also inquire about the amenities in your personal cabin when booking. Things like bathtubs and televisions are not common in most cabins; let the cruise line know ahead of time if you require these items and ask about extra fees for them.

What To Bring

Pack your suitcase for a normal, sun-filled vacation, but avoid bringing extraneous items you may not have room to store in a small space. Recommended daywear includes a few bathing suits, breathable shirts, shorts or other cover-up item, flip-flops, sunglasses, and a hat for added sun protection.

For the evenings, you'll want to wear clothing appropriate for the scheduled dinner class. Evening meals are classified as: evening casual, informal or formal. Appropriate evening casual attire consists of nice slacks and a collared shirt for men and a sundress or nice pants with a blouse for women. Also, denim is usually not permitted in the dining room.

On a cruise, a suit and tie or cocktail dress qualifies as informal. For formal dinners, male passengers are required to dress in "black tie." If you have questions about what to wear, do not hesitate to consult the cruise director.