A ship is always referred to as "she" because it costs so much to keep one in paint and powder.

Chester W. Nimitz

A Caribbean cruising experience is a pleasure tip of a lifetime. The turquoise waters of the Caribbean, the warm sunny beaches, the pampering treatment in the cruise ship and scenic ports of call to visit; the pleasure of a Caribbean cruise has many definitions. Caribbean cruising offers several options for travelers, so the first most important point is to choose a suitable Caribbean cruise plan.

First, you have to decide the type of Caribbean cruise you want to book. There are three types of Caribbean cruise, eastern, western and southern. The eastern and the western Caribbean are the more popular destinations although the southern Caribbean cruises are no less interesting.

All the three cruise types, East, West and South Caribbean are amazing cruise destinations and you will be spoilt with choices deciding which cruise is better for you. Besides checking the ports of call where the cruise will be taking you, also consider the duration of the cruise, the price you have to pay and the amenities offered by the cruise ship. The convenience of booking the Caribbean cruise is also another point that should decide your choice of the cruise. Another important point in deciding your cruise is the departure point of the cruise. Cruises to the eastern Caribbean, generally disembark from Florida and cruises to the west Caribbean disembark from Florida, Texas or New Orleans. You will have to choose a departure point that is convenient to you.

The eastern Caribbean cruises are generally of 7 days duration and the ports of call of the cruise itineraries include Bahamas, St. John, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe and St Martin. The islands of the East Caribbean are close together and smaller in size and they offer excellent (duty free) shopping for the cruisers. Therefore, if you are looking for some great shopping experienced, combined with the experience at the blue waters of the Caribbean, then an Eastern Caribbean cruise is the best decision for you.

Unlike the eastern Caribbean cruises, where you can spend a considerable time on the land, people who want to spend more of their time at sea while on the cruise choose the western Caribbean cruising. If you are planning a week-long vacation with a leisurely time on the sea, then the western Caribbean cruise is the right decision for you. The western Caribbean cruise itinerary ports of call include places like Cozumel or Playa del Carmen, Mexico, the Dominican republic, Jamaica, Belize or Costa Rica. You can explore the ancient Mayan ruins, go on a hike in the mysterious rain forests or plan scuba diving and snorkeling in amazing locations.

The ports of call of the southern Caribbean cruise are more exotic with volcanic mountains, rain forests and a confluence of West Indian and French heritages. The ports of call include Aruba, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Fort-de-France, Grenada and Martinique. You can find the maps with the different Caribbean cruise destinations at this link http://carribeancruises.co.cc/2009/04/choosing-a-caribbean-cruise-destination/.