Top Destinations

Top Destinations vary from person to person and from season to season. However, there are two things that we’ve learned at 2010 Cruise Deals:

1. People want to go to the Caribbean
2. People want a GREAT deal on a cruise
3. People want to cruise with Carnival

If you fit one or maybe even all 3 of these criteria we will discuss your options first. U.S. News states that the Top 5 Cruise Destinations for 2009 are:

• Caribbean (western)
• Alaska
• Caribbean (eastern)
• Mexican Riviera
• Caribbean (southern)

Carnival goes to each of these places and will very often (if not always) give you the best deal.

So let’s talk a little about each of the places listed above:

Caribbean (western)

The western Caribbean has seen an explosion of growth over the past few years. It’s come mainly from a concept called ‘homeport’ cruising. That’s just a fancy way of saying that more ports were opened in the U.S. A few of the places that opened up are Galveston, Mobile, Tampa, New Orleans, and Houston. When you really think about it, Gulf Coast U.S.A. opened up for cruising. First-timers and people who have easy access to these ports are cruising regularly and most of them are showing up here.

Alaska

Alaska is an intriguing destination. Yes, it’s big, bold, and cold. But it also has miles of scenic coastline which makes it great for cruising. Interestingly enough, almost a million people a year cruise to Alaska to enjoy the history, the ambience, and the scenery.

Caribbean (eastern)

If you want to visit San Juan, St. Maarten, Antigua, The U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, St. Croix, or the Bahamas these are the places that an Eastern Caribbean cruise will take you. The high season for this region is winter and almost every cruise line visits this region. It’s such a great place to be in the winter. Especially if you live in a cold climate like Michigan, Chicago, Boston, or New York. For a relatively short cruise (3-5 days) Carnival and Disney Cruise Lines are your best bet.

Mexican Riviera

If you like water sports you will LOVE the Mexican Riviera. Activities include: swimming, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and for the true adventurers maybe even a little cliff diving. Mexico’s gold coast stretches for miles along the Pacific Ocean and each region offers something special. And right off the beaten path (just a taxi ride away) life is still lived traditionally.

Caribbean (southern)

Ahh. Barbados, Aruba, Grenada. The sounds of the Southern Caribbean. These islands are more exotic than their eastern and western counterparts. Rain forests and volcanoes. Sun-swept islands and beautiful beaches. Expect a multi-cultural experience from oh-so-British Barbados to the Dutch ABC islands and French Martinique. Shop in St. Thomas. Climb a volcano in St. Lucia. And sip rum in Barbados. This is a cruise you can take in the winter, spring, or summer.