Fodors Caribbean Cruise Ports of Call

Updated by Linda Coffman

If youre considering a cruise but cant decide whether its really for you, its tempting to ask, Whats so special about a cruise vacation? Its a good question. Until the age of the airplane, ocean travel was simply a means to get to your far-flung destinationoften the only way. But even in the early decades of the 20th century, venerable ocean liners such as the Normandie offered the occasional round-trip cruise to an exotic locale.

Passengers on those earliest cruises didnt have a fun-in-the-sun mind-set as they sailed to faraway ports. They sailed to broaden their horizons and learn about ports of call that couldnt be reached by overland travel. Perhaps they booked a cruise to Panama to observe the construction of the canal or, like the Normandie s passengers, were bound for Brazil and the daring excitement of Carnaval.

Regardless of why they were cruising, early cruisers steamed toward the unfamiliar with many fewer comforts than contemporary passengers enjoy. On the Normandie, air-conditioned comfort was available only in the ships first-class dining room, though at least passengers could find relief from Rios heat by taking a dip in one of the eras few outdoor swimming pools at sea. In those days, if an ocean liner had a permanent swimming pool, it was often indoors and deep in the hull.

Carnival Cruise Lines executives like to reminisce about the tiny gyms on their early ships, which were converted ocean liners, and then point to how far ship designs have evolved. I remember the old ships well. It was even difficult to find the casino on Carnivals first Fun Ship, Mardi Gras, let alone locate the indoor swimming pool. Thats hardly the case today. Designed for contemporary travelers and tastes, modern cruise ships carry passengers amid conveniences unheard of in the heyday of the North Atlantic ocean liner or even in the earliest vessels permanently dedicated to cruises. As more than 16 million passengers discovered when they went to sea in 2013, theres a lot to like on ships these days.

The allure of a modern sea cruise is its ability to appeal to a wide range of vacationers as a safe and convenient way to travel. Todays cruise ships are lively and luxurious floating resorts that offer something to satisfy the expectations of almost everyone. The first thing youll find is that although cruise ships differ dramatically in the details and how they craft and deliver the cruise experience, most ships have the same basic features. And although the decisions and considerations in booking one cruise over another can be complex, the more you know about cruise travel in general, the better prepared you will be when it comes to making your choice.

To expedite your preboarding paperwork, most cruise lines now allow you to register and do most everything on their websites. As long as you have your reservation number, you can provide the required immigration information, prereserve shore excursions, and even indicate any special requests from the comfort of your home. A handful of less wired cruise lines may still mail preboarding paperwork to you or your travel agent for completion after you make your final payment, and request that you return the forms by mail or fax. No matter how you submit them, be sure to make hard copies of any forms you fill out and bring them with you to the pier to smooth the embarkation process.