Ahoy there cruises.
These are our 7 top tips if you're planning on doing a Caribbean cruise.
But before we start.
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Tip number 1 is the best time to sail.
This will usually be outside of hurricane season.
So from about October to early June.
During this time you can expect calmer seas,
less canceled ports because of bad weather,
also a less canceled itineraries.
So your cruise won't be cancelled altogether.
You're going to get smoother seas
and you're going to get less thunderstorms
and weather is going to be a little bit more predictable.
Much more sunny usually historically during this period.
With clearer skies, less humidity and less awful heat.
Tip number 2 is about excursions in the Caribbean.
Excursions when you book on your cruise line
can be super expensive.
So where possible we recommend you do it DIY.
So use local vendors who offer tours.
Make sure that the are reputable companies with some good reviews and a good price.
Or use taxis cabs.
These can often be much cheaper than booking the onboard excursions.
Between the different ports in the Caribbean
there is a few islands where we would only do a ship booked excursion.
Just for safety reasons because we don't feel comfortable.
For example Jamaica.
We'd personally only ever do a ship sponsored excursion.
Dominican Republic, Honduras and some parts of the Bahamas.
I wouldn't go out by myself.
I would always do it on a cruise excursion.
Then there's other islands such as St. Maarten and Grand Cayman
which I feel completely comfortable getting off, walking around getting local buses or a taxi.
You'll find taxis in the Caribbean can be a bit more competitive.
So make sure that you get a price up front and don't be afraid to barter with them.
Make sure you agree on a price before you get into that taxi.
As with all excursions.
Just ensure it you have plenty of time to get back to the ship.
You don't want to miss it.
Tip number 3 is currency.
Money, Money, Money!
This one is super easy because the majority if not all Caribbean islands
accept US dollars.
So don't go getting all of those different currencies
because you're just going to get really confused.
Make sure you pack lots of dollar bills as well for tipping.
We actually found a lot of the local vendors preferred US dollars to the local currency.
So that just makes it nice, simple and easy.
To stick to the US dollar.
But some islands such as the European islands accept the Euro.
Some places like St. Maarten, Aruba, Martinique places like that.
Will also accept the Europe- Europe?
Will also accept the Euro.
Make sure that you're not getting ripped off with exchange rate.
So just be well aware of that when you're pricing things up.
Just double-check that they're not overcharging you in US dollars or the Euro.
Tip number 4 are some ports that we would usually try to avoid.
These include places like Nassau in the Bahamas and Freeport.
Just because there really isn't that much to do there and they're so oversaturated with cruise lines.
We found that you get bothered a lot by people on the street trying to sell you things.
So it wouldn't be somewhere that we would normally like to go.
We'd usually stay on the ship.
It's a good ship day actually Nassau.
You find a lot of people use that as a day to enjoy the ship while it's a lot quieter.
Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic as well.
Just because there really isn't that much around there.
The port area is quite boring and you can't really just go walking off by yourself.
Because it's another one of those a little bit shady islands in some parts.
Shady Lady.
Also Roatan in Honduras has a high crime and murder rate.
That's a great stamp on their tourism banner isn't it!
Whilst we know around the port area you are a lot safer
and this does tend to be mostly in the big cities in Honduras.
We still throw caution to the wind.
Also Falmouth Jamaica we have already mentioned.
We don't particularly that port as well.
There's not really much around the port.
We found ourselves being really harassed by really pushy sellers.
So it put us off a little bit.
I would do a shore excursion there.
As with anything we would check with your local travel advice office.
So it's "Foreign Travel Advice" for the UK.
Just to check where safety warnings are and which ports are safer than others.
Just to make a decision when it comes to doing a DIY excursion versus Cruise Line excursion.
Do not put yourself in danger and if you do not feel comfortable don't do a DIY excursion.
Just double check that everything is safe and okay.
Less of the negative, let's go to the positive.
Number 5 is the ports that we like to visit.
We love Sint Maarten.
We find it to be a really interesting Island.
It's split into two.
With a French slide at the north and the Netherland side in the South.
It's a really fun place with really good shopping.
Really good drinking and some beautiful beaches.
It's nicknamed "The Friendly Island" for a reason.
Very friendly, very welcoming and we always feel very safe there.
W e also love San Juan in Puerto Rico.
Just because it's so different.
There's lots of history and culture and beautiful architecture here.
We find it to be a really colorful port with lots of shopping and things to do.
Also it's a really easy pot to get around.
Everything's walkable from where the ships dock and you can just walk into the town.
You've got tons of history right there.
Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas is another favorite of ours.
That's in the US Virgin Islands.
It's a really lovely island with really friendly people.
Loads to do and some beautiful beaches.
Again depending on which dock you dock at.
If you dock in the town
it is a stone's throw away from one of the biggest attractions.
Which is the mountain.
Where you can get one of them tasty
buk buk buk buk buk buk buk
Buck wild? Buck weed?
That really alcoholic drink.
Yeah i have forgot what its called.
Buck- Buck- Buckshaw?
Buck a duck?
Buck a duck!
Oh! "Bushwacker"
I was thinking something to do with bushes and ducks.
Buck a duck!
You feel very ducked after you have drunk one of them.
Another favorite of ours is Castries in St. Lucia.
Just because it's such a spectacular island.
Again with beautiful beaches, shopping and those amazing Pitons.
Finally the private resorts such as Labadee and "Coco Cay" are a favorite of ours.
Just because you feel completely safe, the have beautiful beaches and lots to do.
They're just a fantastic beach day.
Tip number 6 and this is super important so it doesn't ruin your holiday.
Make sure you bring plenty of sun protection.
You do not want to get your vacation ruined
by not being prepared and burning your skin, getting dehydrated or having sunstroke.
This is the worst thing that can happen so make sure you bring lots of Sun lotion.
With a high factor of both UVA and UVB to protect your skin and make sure that you apply generously and very often.
Especially if you're in and out of those pools.
We recommend wearing a hat, drinking plenty and some light cotton coverings for your body.
Whilst you're in the sun for long periods of time.
You might have seen we particularly like to wear swim tops.
Just because it gives us that extra layer of protection while we're in the Sun all day.
You're in and up the pool and while you're sun lotion may be waterproof
You have to keep putting it on.
There's nothing worse when you're back or your chest being burned.
So un-comfortable.
So you save tons on sun lotion as well.
We like to wear swim tops for that reason.
Before you leave for your cruise
we highly recommend that you research each of the port's that you're going to be visiting.
So you know exactly what you're going to be doing in each port.
Also we like to look at things such as where the ATMs are, if there is any around, just in case.
It's also it's nice to get to the port, know what you're doing, know the cost of how much a taxi would be
or any sort of transportation.
Just so you do not get ripped off.
If you are going to doing excursions make sure you pre booked them.
Another thing before you even book your cruise is to check what cruise you are going to actually choose.
So this means the cruise line and the ship.
Oh my gosh there are plenty to choose from.
Especially in the Caribbean.
Basically every major Cruise Line sails there with lots of different ships.
So make sure you do your research before-
So make sure you do your research beforehand to make sure that you're picking the right cruise for you.
So that's it for our tips for the Caribbean.
If you have any tips guys please let us know in the comments below.
We'd love to share them on a future video.
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Big thank you to our cruise captain's; Amy, Trish and Melanie. thanks
So that's it till next time.
Happy cruising!