Think of a cruise, tanning your body, palm trees, shades, and the first name that hits you is Caribbean Cruise. The climate is excellent, mostly temperate all year round. Yet major crowds go to the islands in summer. The Caribbean comprises of around 50 islands, without counting the Archipelago islands. If they are also included, there are almost 750 islands.

Caribbean cruise routes:

There are four cruise routes used by the cruise operators. They are:

? Western Caribbean Cruise Route
? Eastern Caribbean Cruise Route
? Southern Caribbean Cruise Route
? Long duration / Luxury Routes

The western route is taken by ships/liners departing from Texas, Louisiana and Florida. The route goes on from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, the island of Cozumel, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and may include coasts of Honduras and Belize. In the eastern cruise route, the starting port is Florida, and visits destinations like Key West, Bahamas, Turks, Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Starting at San Juan in Puerto Rico, the southern route goes along the Lesser Antilles and the Netherlands, Antilles, and as far west as Aruba.

Long duration or luxury cruises extend to almost all destinations, and may start from anywhere. Since there are so many destinations, it is not easy to choose and fit the best destinations in any itinerary. The choice then rests on how much time one has at hand, and costs. Usually if sailing is what one likes more, the western cruise is a better deal. For shopping, the eastern cruise is better.

Booking a cruise:

There are many online cruise companies offering their services. Essentially, you should look for the following before deciding on the company:

? Ease to approachCruise services offering user-friendly search tools and a simple booking process are better.

? FeaturesLook at the cruise company's website and decide if it offers a wide range of features, such as easy-to-access information on destinations, bookings, etc. Also look for news, articles, pictures, maps, price lists, and special offers.

? Easy bookingsLook for a straightforward, uninterrupted process. Get all the information about reservations also.

? Help/SupportLook for live chat, FAQ's, fax, email and 24-hour phone support.

Once you know which service is best, call them and get all the details. Then book the trip. Travel agents can book luxury cruises. Luxury cruises offer excellent on board services like classic cabins furnished in style and the best in food and wine.

There are many luxury liners which have Caribbean Cruises with almost 5,000 people traveling at a time. They have their own private resorts also, where their liners stop by and their guests can relax. Cruises are excellent options to have some fun. Many corporate companies also organize getaways for their employees. If one is on a shoestring budget, fall is the best time to go on a Caribbean Cruise. At that time, the rates are less than half of what they are in summer, and a bargain is available not only on the liner, but in shopping on the islands as well. Cruises are an excellent place to sit back and relax, and they are also a very romantic outing for lovers and newly wed couples.