Passports

Since you will be travelling from the UK to other countries, you will need a valid passport. This gives you the right to leave your country and enter a foreign one. This is the only way authorities in both countries can establish your nationality. Furthermore, without a passport you cannot get a visa. The passport should be valid even six months after travelling to allow for any delays on the voyage.

Visas

Visa requirements are different depending on the country you intend to visit and the cruise line you are booked. Before applying for one, you need to find out if the ship will dock at the port there or it will just transit to the next destination. This way you can only apply for visas in those countries you intend to set foot.

Insurance

While cruising medical expenses are upon you. Therefore, getting a medical policy that would provide you with adequate cover in the various destinations would be appropriate.

Vaccinations

Depending on the country you get to tour ashore, it might be mandatory to get a vaccination.

Special documentation for children below 18

Children under your care will also require documents to prove their nationality and appropriate visas if required.

More information on what you need before your cruise can be found on cruise agents websites such as bonvoyage.co.uk.

Royal Caribbean has a range of top-class ships cruising to, and around, several different continents. 

The company goes to 233 destinations in 72 countries, across six continents.  The hardest choice could just be choosing where to go!

Just how do you decide where to go?  Here are a few guidelines to narrow down the choice:

•    What length of time do you have for your cruise holiday?  If your time is limited, a ship leaving close to your home base could be the best.
•    Do you want to spend more time on the ship or more time exploring the ports of call?
•    If your preference is for some, sun, sea and sand then you might like to consider ships that cruse around the romantic Caribbean or the Greek Islands.
•    For stunning beauty, consider a cruise taking in the majestic scenery afforded by an Alaskan cruise.  Perhaps you would prefer an exotic cruise to Asian countries.
•    If you have the time and enjoy sailing on the high seas, consider a round-the-world journey.  What better way to get lost in time.
•    Cost is another important consideration but as most incidentals are covered in the cost, budgeting is easier.

These are just some of the key questions to consider before deciding what cruise to take and where to go.

Scenery in the Caribbean is equally varied.  Some islands are lush and tropical with high peaks that often turn out to be volcanoes, while others feature a flat and dry landscape.  Coral reefs are a common feature in the waters surrounding many islands in the Caribbean.  Taking advantage of this fact, Caribbean cruises frequently offer tourists the opportunity to swim or snorkel with the tropical fish inhabiting the reefs.

Cruises holidays in the Caribbean Sea often depart from ports of call in the United States, including Miami, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Houston, Texas.  This means that tourists opting to cruise the Caribbean will often have the opportunity to explore parts of the North American mainland either before or after their ocean voyages.  Common cruise destinations include Barbados, Jamaica, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

If you are looking for luxury holidays, the Caribbean is definitely the place for you.  The Caribbean is host to many excellent hotels and resorts nestled along its beautiful beaches.  If you have always loved waking up to the sight of beautiful sunrises and you enjoy sitting on the beach watching the sun set, Caribbean holidays are for you.  The pristine beaches with the beautiful backdrop of palm trees gently swaying in the breeze are enough to give you a nice relaxing holiday. 

Luxury Caribbean holidays offer unforgettable experiences and sights.  From the moment you step onto the island, you will be pampered and taken care of in a way that is only available in this part of the world.  The Caribbean is also a great place if you love partying.  The nightlife in the Caribbean is very lively and you are sure to have a great time here during your holidays.  It can be said that you will never have a dull moment during your Caribbean holidays.

The great advantage of exploring the islands of the Caribbean on Royal Caribbean cruise holidays is that you can make full use of your time rather than wasting a big chunk of it on logistics such as getting there and organising transport.  In addition, you’ll have no delays at airports and no traffic jams.  You simply need to be at the point of embarkation on time.  After you arrive, put your feet up in an environment well oiled to cater for your every need.

Nobody in their right mind is going to opt for a fixed hotel when you can have one whose scenery changes by the day, pulling into exotic ports of call to let you explore other ways of living, and that lets you see the sights before moving on to the next port.

There are no unexpected extra costs on cruise holidays.  The price includes everything available to you on board, so you can budget down to the last penny.

Royal Caribbean cruises make for the perfect break, letting you explore the whole of this fabled region at a slow and easy pace, yet taking it all in.  Let others do the work whilst you enjoy your holiday.

The Caribbean is much more than just a sun-seeker’s paradise as each island has its own colourful history and there are many fascinating places to visit. Brimstone Hill Fortress in St. Kitts and Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua are just two of the historical locations on the islands that are popular with visitors.

There are also other great attractions for those who want to do more than lie on a beach. Jeep safaris take tourists deep into the tropical rainforest of St. Lucia. Other possibilities are horse riding in Jamaica or swimming with stingrays in Grand Cayman. The Caribbean is also famous for its diving and snorkelling as well as offering opportunities to spot dolphins or whales.

There are many different islands in the Caribbean, each one offering something slightly different. Antigua and Aruba are renowned for their stunning white beaches whereas St. Lucia, Martinque and Guadeloupe have amazing scenery that ranges from lush tropical forests to cultivated botanical gardens and even volcanoes. Scuba diving and snorkelling enthusiasts will want to visit Curacao or Bonaire St. Barts. Dominica and Grenada are well known for their secluded coves and the local spice markets.

The Eastern Caribbean cruises will include the British and American Virgin Islands in the itinerary. St. Thomas UVI is the capital of the US Virgin islands and is a volcanic island with a spine of mountains that runs from east to west.

Cruise and stay is a good option for those who are new to cruises and would like to try a cruise, without giving up the option of a more traditional holiday. It also allows for greater flexibility, as cruises generally visit more than one location. This means that there is the opportunity to visit far more locations than would be possible on a traditional hotel-based holiday. It is also a good choice for those who choose cruises to far-away places, such as Far East cruises. Tours can be pre-booked, so that an individual can make the most of their time, and get more out of their holiday than he or she would with traditional cruise holidays.

Cruise and stay holidays are ideal for those who love cruising, but feel that they would also like time to explore their destination more. There are many different destinations to choose from. Cruise and stay packages are available for Caribbean Cruises, Far East Cruises, Baltic Cruises and other destinations, so it is no surprise that they are becoming a popular choice. Many cruise lines, such as Thomson Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises, offer cruise and stay holidays.

On board some of the magnificent vessels run by industry giants like Costa Cruises, Carnival Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises (to mention but a few), families from far more modest backgrounds can enjoy fabulously memorable holidays. All of the big companies offer excellent cruise deals, making them more than affordable to many who might wrongly assume that such luxury is beyond their means. Today, you don’t have to be rich to take a cruise. If you decide to take your chances on the many last minute cruises which companies nearly always have, you’ll frequently obtain even better bargains.

Some of the bigger vessels in the cruise operators’ fleets are more like floating fairytale castles than ships, and include not only gourmet restaurants, spectacular evening entertainment and several swimming pools, but also even facilities like rock-climbing walls, golf courses and onboard water surfing courses. So try a holiday experience with a difference this year; whether you picture yourself on Caribbean cruises, Mediterranean cruises, Far East cruises or Baltic cruises, there are plenty of cruises out there just waiting for you to enjoy the holiday of a lifetime.

Increasingly, big players like Thomson Cruises, P&O Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises to name but a few, are diversifying their onboard facilities to provide superb holiday experiences for young and old alike, including families with children. Forget deckchairs and cocktails – check out the onboard rock climbing wall, golf range, ice rink or cinema. Not to mention the numerous pools for the kids.

There is a simply vertiginous array of options available, including Baltic cruises, Red Sea cruises and Far East Cruises as well as the more traditionally exotic Mediterranean cruises and Caribbean cruises. And many, many more (you can even cruise to the Arctic or Antarctic). Ranging from the weekend mini-cruise to the luxurious and leisurely cruise and stay holidays, where sea-travel is mixed with stays in beach-front hotels or apartments, every taste and budget can be catered for. There are also excellent cruise deals to be found with a little searching, especially on last minute cruises.

For those who like to get onshore and explore, mini-cruises include an overnight in, say, an historic European city, and excursions around the Med, and the Caribbean include virtually daily port stops, so you can explore the local area, take a swim on the beach and get a little retail therapy in, too.  In addition to the big names just mentioned, check out Carnival Cruises, Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises, too.

The first question is about cost. The flights will be expensive, so if your budget is tight, you need to find a cheap rental apartment or villa. Top tips for keeping accommodation costs low are to find a development where there is a shared pool and communal gardens. You’ll still have your own private patio, and having neighbours makes for a sociable holiday. You will find lower prices in the most popular resorts where competition is strong, or by going further inland, away from the pricey beachfront.

Secondly, you need to choose a location. Some islands are easier to get to than others, if travelling time is an issue. Barbados, Jamaica, the Bahamas and Antigua are highly developed in places, but still have tranquil areas too. Other islands, such as Dominica and St Lucia are unspoilt and lush, with rainforests and mountains. How quiet or vibrant do you want your nightlife? Does amazing scenery matter to you? And how important is shopping and sports activities?

Thirdly, what comfort level are you happy with? If you don’t mind the heat, then you won’t need to pay extra for full air conditioning. If you are unlikely to cook for yourself, then you won’t need a high spec kitchen.