Sail on Western Caribbeancruises vacation and experience the mystery and intrigue of this beautiful
beach holding rich history.
Beyond the beautiful beaches and deep within the tropical
jungle, are awe-inspiring ruins left behind by the ancient Maya that rival
those of the ancient Romans and Egyptians. USA Today named the wonders of the
Mayan world as one of the top destinations for 2012.
Mayan Wonders Abound
on a Western Caribbean Cruise
Known for developing a written language as well as a complex
system of calendars, the advanced Maya civilization can be traced as far back
as 2600 B.C. Among their many areas of settlement was the Yucatan Peninsula,
where our Western Caribbean cruise vacations sail. This region is renowned for
a wealth of Mayan archaeological treasures, with well-preserved cities full of
temples, plazas, pyramids and citadels that rival the legendary ruins of Rome,
Athens and Egypt.
To this day, scientists and historians remain divided over
the reason for the civilization’s decline. Whether it was long-term drought,
internal strife or resources stretched too thin to support their rapidly
growing population, the decline of the ancient Maya remains a mystery.
CARNIVAL PARADISE
The very best part of this cruise was the F2F option for
$50, we arrived at Port of Tampa at 11:00 am and by 11:30, we were in our cabin
unpacking and getting ready for lunch and cocktails. From the time we hit the
terminal door, flashed our F2F id, we were escorted directly to the sail &
sign card desk, where the card was ready, straight to the gangway and zipped
through security.
This is the 5th time on this ship so we knew our way around,
and what to expect. As people have already stated, the live music has been
drastically cut back. DJ's now play at the pool instead of live music. Dosn't
seem to be as much live music at night either.
In all fairness, the 2nd night, my wife had 2 Lobsters, and
I had the prime rib AND lobster. The rest of the time, dinner in the MDR was
nothing to write home about, one night, a "hamburger" was the best
MDR choice.
I asked the towel cop if he was enforcing the 40 minute
vacancy rule for deck chairs and he said "yes" but I never saw him do
sh*t about ALL the "saved" ones. Oh well...... good idea though.
Everything else was fine and the service people were supurb.
Wait a minute, remember when someone was always trying to pick up your tray?
Well now, there are no trays, big platters, which is better, however its hard
to get the used one picked up. Maybe theres been a cut in waiters.
Grand Cayman Overview
Imagine the stereotypical cruise port -- one with white-sand beaches, a plethora of duty-free shops selling jewels and liquor, and de rigueur water activities like snorkeling and scuba -- and Grand Cayman will likely come to mind. The cliche might just be based on the destination, with its lovely Seven Mile Beach, George Town's retail center and plenty of sites for diving, snorkeling and other water sports. Grand Cayman also celebrates marine life at Stingray City and the Cayman Turtle Farm, and even offers a twist on island paradise with the town of Hell (THE place from which to send the quintessential kitschy postcard).
Yet the cliche does have a negative side -- the crowds. It's not unusual to find five mega-ships docked in the harbor at the same time, which makes the tendering process slower than usual and the downtown streets jam-packed. (Building a cruise pier at which ships could berth is oft discussed, but it's never gone beyond the "pre-planning" stage.) The constant influx of cruise passengers keeps the waterfront restaurants bustling, so lunch in port is never a cheap affair. A stroll along the beach quickly turns into an obstacle course of sunbathing tourists, sandy children and water sports vendors.
Visitors have two choices -- embrace the crowds and touristy places with a laid-back island mindset, or escape them. Secluded beaches, like Cayman Kai or Rum Point, are a cab ride away, and even Seven Mile Beach has its less crowded spots. A mall at Governors Square offers designer clothes, housewares and even a healthy cafe for a refreshing change from pareos, shell necklaces and overpriced seafood. And the seemingly endless stretches of sea never feel too congested when you're swimming peacefully above coral formations.
And, like any Caribbean island worth its salt and sand, Grand Cayman has weathered a few hurricanes -- most recently Hurricane Paloma in November 2008. With a solid infrastructure in place, the island survived the storm and easily bounced back to its jaunty self. After all, if Grand Cayman didn't offer its 1.6 million cruise visitors the beaches, shops, restaurants and attractions they've come to expect, the cliche wouldn't hold. And where would Grand Cayman be then?
Imagine the stereotypical cruise port -- one with white-sand beaches, a plethora of duty-free shops selling jewels and liquor, and de rigueur water activities like snorkeling and scuba -- and Grand Cayman will likely come to mind. The cliche might just be based on the destination, with its lovely Seven Mile Beach, George Town's retail center and plenty of sites for diving, snorkeling and other water sports. Grand Cayman also celebrates marine life at Stingray City and the Cayman Turtle Farm, and even offers a twist on island paradise with the town of Hell (THE place from which to send the quintessential kitschy postcard).
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| Image Source:http://sharepoint.idletymesband.com |
Yet the cliche does have a negative side -- the crowds. It's not unusual to find five mega-ships docked in the harbor at the same time, which makes the tendering process slower than usual and the downtown streets jam-packed. (Building a cruise pier at which ships could berth is oft discussed, but it's never gone beyond the "pre-planning" stage.) The constant influx of cruise passengers keeps the waterfront restaurants bustling, so lunch in port is never a cheap affair. A stroll along the beach quickly turns into an obstacle course of sunbathing tourists, sandy children and water sports vendors.
Visitors have two choices -- embrace the crowds and touristy places with a laid-back island mindset, or escape them. Secluded beaches, like Cayman Kai or Rum Point, are a cab ride away, and even Seven Mile Beach has its less crowded spots. A mall at Governors Square offers designer clothes, housewares and even a healthy cafe for a refreshing change from pareos, shell necklaces and overpriced seafood. And the seemingly endless stretches of sea never feel too congested when you're swimming peacefully above coral formations.
And, like any Caribbean island worth its salt and sand, Grand Cayman has weathered a few hurricanes -- most recently Hurricane Paloma in November 2008. With a solid infrastructure in place, the island survived the storm and easily bounced back to its jaunty self. After all, if Grand Cayman didn't offer its 1.6 million cruise visitors the beaches, shops, restaurants and attractions they've come to expect, the cliche wouldn't hold. And where would Grand Cayman be then?
Once you have experienced the beauty of western Caribbean
islands… Caribbean cruises are
waiting to give you a long time experience.
You may also like: Best Caribbean Cruises
You may also like: Best Caribbean Cruises
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