Reggae or salsa? Jerk chicken or tostones? Jamaica or the Dominican Republic? The Caribbean is a region of choice, but while its islands share some DNA – picture-perfect, palm-fringed beaches and a laid-back pace of life – they also possess a rich, vibrant world of difference in their culture, cuisine and landscapes.
A Caribbean cruise with Holland America Line means you don’t have to make any tough decisions when it comes to where you spend your holiday. There’s no need to limit yourself to just one island; instead you can experience a selection box of delights, visiting a clutch of different destinations without needing more than one flight or a change of accommodation. Unpack once in your stylish stateroom and set sail, with every day bringing a new horizon and a fresh adventure.
What is it like on a Holland America Line ship?
If local knowledge, carefully curated itineraries and a sophisticated ambiance float your boat, forget the mega-ships with their climbing walls and waterslides, and book with Holland America Line. Once on board you’ll feel the benefit of sailing with a heritage brand that has more than 150 years of experience on the world’s oceans as you kick back on the latest, state-of-the-art ships.
The line has seven vessels in the region this winter, including two of the newest, Pinnacle-class vessels: the MS Rotterdam and the MS Nieuw Statendam. These mid-sized ships are small enough to maintain a personal feel and can dock at boutique ports, but still have all the on-board facilities you could want, including pools and hot tubs, spas and fitness centres, and multiple restaurants, bars and venues where you can catch live performances.
The mid-sized MS Rotterdam has all the on-board facilities you could want, including a spa and pool facilities
Credit: Cruise Image Library
When can I sail, and which islands can I visit?
Holland America Line’s Caribbean cruises run from October to April, setting sail from Fort Lauderdale. The itineraries range from 7 to 21 days, and its unique 14-day Collectors Voyages give you two sun-soaked weeks touring a wide variety of different islands, including Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the US Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Mexico. All seven-day cruises include a stop at Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s very own idyllic island in the Bahamas. If you really want to embrace the island life, longer port stays are available on selected Caribbean itineraries.
Made up of two back-to-back itineraries with few or no repeated ports, with long stays in some destinations, you can select from or combine Tropical, Eastern, Western and Southern cruises. All feature a day at Holland America Line’s private island, Half Moon Cay, a slice of Bahamian paradise where you can ride horses through the surf, feed the friendly local stingrays or simply chill out with an ice-cold glass of Bahama Mama in a hammock strung above the platinum sand.
Holland America Line’s extensive programme of shore excursions mean that you can tailor your visit in each destination to your personal interests and your day-to-day desires, opting to sightsee, get active or enjoy interactive experiences that’ll immerse you in the local culture.
All Holland America Line seven-day cruises stop at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas
Credit: Cruise Image Library
What Caribbean excursions can I take?
Whether you’ve dreamt of exploring Mexico’s clifftop Mayan citdael of Tulum, discovering buccaneer history at Nassau’s Pirate Museum in the Bahamas or watching the water tumbling over picturesque travertine terraces at Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica, you can experience them all with a Holland America Line cruise.
At each port you’ll find a series of shore excursions showcasing sightseeing highlights – sometimes in novel ways. In the Cayman Islands you can explore shipwrecks in a semi-submarine, and in the Dominican Republic you can sightsee in Puerto Plata in a 1950s vintage car.
On board the ship you’ll find Caribbean culture on the dining table, with locally sourced ingredients and regional dishes on offer in the restaurants.
The extensive programme of shore excursions includes the picturesque travertine terraces at Dunn’s River Falls
Credit: Cruise Image Library
Are there any activities I can do on land?
The Caribbean’s natural beauty and tropical climate make it perfect for active pursuits, both on land and in the sea. Alongside staples such as zip-lining, tubing and rafting – all on offer in a number of locations – you’ll find real one-offs: swimming in an underground river among stalactites and stalagmites in Cozumel, Mexico; canyoneering over the Dominican Republic’s waterfalls; and a scuba-diving course in the US Virgin Islands that culminates in an accompanied dive over a shipwreck.
You can kayak among mangroves in Grand Cayman, and in Puerto Rico go night-paddling in a bioluminescent bay, where the water sparkles like the stars above. On sea days you can play a round of pickleball on the top deck or keep in shape at the fitness centre.
Can I experience the local culture?
Getting under the skin of your destination can be difficult as an independent traveller, and making a genuine connection to the local community can be tough without insider knowledge.
Holland America Line’s shore excursions do all the legwork for you, with locally hosted cooking classes and food-focused walking tours in destinations as diverse as Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. You can help marine biologists restore coral reefs in Cozumel, and visit women’s cooperatives that recycle paper and make chocolate in the Dominican Republic.
In Puerto Rico a local folklore show will introduce you to all the sounds of the Spanish Caribbean, from mambo and merengue to samba and salsa.
On board your ship you’ll also find rum tastings and you can sink into the rhythms of the Caribbean with live performances from the Island Magic Steelband.
Explore the magical coral reefs in Cozumel and help marine biologists restore the fragile ecosystem
Credit: Cruise Image Library
To find out more, call 0344 338 8605; visit hollandamerica.com, or contact your travel agent
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Publish date : 2024-07-29 04:05:00
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