Last Minute Caribbean Cruises  are still popular after four hundred years

Image by SWIMPHOTO

When it comes to last minute deals the Caribbean Cruise is the original and, probably, still the best.  In 1492 Christopher Columbus was dejectedly leaving the court of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.  A last minute change of heart on the part of Ferdinand, lead him to turn his mule around and ride back into the spotlight of history.  Columbus had spent a large part of his career trying to persuade a number of European monarchs to part with large amounts of cash to fund his dream cruise – in the end a spur of the moment decision on the part of one of them helped him to achieve his dream.  Well, sort of.  Columbus had set off to find the quick route to Asia, but discovered that in his way was a rather large and unexpected continent.  Undaunted Columbus started a trend that is still popular today – the Caribbean cruise.  However, the one thing that you won’t need today is a King’s ransom to fund your trip; oh, and they’re a bit more comfortable to.

Anybody seen Asia? Oh well, never mind.

The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest salt water seas in the world and is smattered with numerous tropical islands, with a huge diversity of wildlife and landscape.  Its tropical climate is certainly one reason that it is a popular destination for cruise ships and the variety of landscapes and massive number of ports of call has to be the other.  One destination that Columbus favoured was the island of Jamaica – and Jamaica remains popular with cruise travellers today.  For those cruising the Western Caribbean, Jamaica will be certainly on the itinerary; and it is certainly one of the most fascinating islands in the region.  Jamaica is the third largest of the Caribbean islands and has one of the most diverse landscapes.  The tropical climate and mountainous interior combine to create the perfect tropical island.  With golden beaches stretching around the miles of coastline, rising to the Blue Mountains in the interior of the island, the landscape alone makes the island well worth a visit.  With all this on offer, little wonder that Columbus gave up on looking for Asia.

Exploring Jamaica

The main tourist cities and ports of call on the island include Ocho Rios, believed by many to be one of the earliest landing points of Christopher Columbus.  Close to the famous Dunn’s River Falls, Ocho Rios is one of the main ports of call for the majority of Caribbean cruise ships.  The town was originally a small fishing port but is now dominated by the tourist industry – with a fantastic range of friendly restaurants, bars and nightclubs.  The cuisine on offer is very much international in flavour, ranging from traditional Caribbean to European and much more.   Activities naturally include a range of water sports and excursions to into the Blue Mountains for the adventurous types – although there are ample opportunities for sampling the relaxed beach lifestyle that goes hand in hand with the local culture.

New Worlds

Cruising around the western Caribbean is a fantastic way to sample the broad cultural history of this amazing region.  While Jamaica may have been the first, possibly favourite calling point, of that original last minute Caribbean Cruiser, today’s cruises will also take you deeper into this region of broad cultural differences.  The majority of cruises in the western Caribbean will also include a visit to Belize – on the continental mainland.  Belize, like Jamaica, played an important role in the early colonisation of the Americas by the European powers.  Here the Europeans came into contact with the ancient Mayan civilisation with its alien culture and long history.  Mayan ruins are today considered national treasures – and the people of this region are rightly proud of them.  The opportunity to experience both the relaxed lifestyle of the Caribbean islands and the mysterious history of ancient Mayan cultures makes a cruise of the Caribbean an ever popular voyage of discovery.

Palatial Settings

The beauty for modern explorers is that the days of scurvy and other unpleasant side-effects of long distant travel are firmly part of history.  In Columbus’ day, the cruise ships may not have been luxurious but today cruising the Caribbean, creates the perfect way to combine the best experiences the region has to offer, from the comfort of your own floating palace.  Modern cruise ships offer everything, and more, that any resort hotel can match alongside a chance to see the new world that Columbus discovered at a gently relaxing pace.

Author Bio Christopher Columbus started a trend in last minute Caribbean cruises and it’s a trend that is still going strong today.  Combining everything the region has to offer, with quality accommodation and service the Caribbean cruise remains as popular as ever – and a little more comfortable than in the early days.