Sailing Cruises in the Caribbean - Experience a Fun-Filled Vacation

These days, cruising is one of the most popular vacation options among avid travelers. For some, the more opulent the cruise ship, the better. Others are hoping for an experience where they can party the night away without a care in the world! But for many real boat lovers, the only choice is a sailing cruise in the Caribbean.

Sailing cruises are quite different to a trip on an enormous ocean liner. These cruises allow you to get up-close-and-personal with the true sailing experience and to travel to places where large cruise ships cannot navigate. They give you hands-on opportunities to learn about the intricacies of sailing and allow more interaction with ship mates and crew.

Overall, sailing cruises mean adventure, excitement, and romance, all rolled into one fun package.

What's a Sailing Cruise?

Though cruise lines talk about "sailing the seven seas", passengers onboard these huge ships are not really "sailing." On a sailing cruise in the Caribbean, you will find yourself on an authentic old-fashioned sailing ship with large, white sails, a ship's wheel, teakwood floors, and everything else you would expect to find on such a vessel. While onboard, you'll enjoy some of the same amenities as you'd find on a cruise ship, such as activities, shore excursions, and good food…but with a bit of a twist.

First of all, these ships are much more intimate than a cruise liner, usually carrying 100 – 150 passengers and crew instead of a few thousand travelers. That means you get to know the people with whom you're traveling.

Sailing cruises are less structured than a regular cruise. You'll find, for example, that you don't have an assigned seat for meals and that you're free to sit with different friends at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. As a matter of fact, on some sailing cruises, you don't even need to sleep in your berth. Guests are free to carry their bedding out to the deck and sleep under the stars!

Rather than watching a Las Vegas-style show in a 500-seat opulent theater, you may just find yourself belting out sea shanties while hoisting a glass of rum to toast your captain. When it's time to go ashore, you can still enjoy a variety of excursions; from shopping to hiking and mountain biking to exploring the history of your destination island.

Selecting a Sailing Cruise in the Caribbean

If you've decided that this kind of cruise is for you, you'll find that there are a wide variety of these so-called "barefoot cruises" from which to select. The most popular company appeared on the scene about 30 years ago –- Windjammer Cruises. Their sailing cruises in the Caribbean have been enjoyed by millions of travelers who enjoy a little adventure in their lives. Windjammer boasts excellent ships, exciting itineraries, and a friendly crew who are eager to interact with passengers. However, many of the lesser known sailing cruise companies provide an equally rewarding experience but on a somewhat smaller scale, which some travelers prefer. Some are even dubbed "luxury" cruises, featuring upscale amenities, food, and drink.

Itineraries

Travelers will find that there are quite a few options to choose from as far as sailing itineraries are concerned. A sailing cruise in the Caribbean may take you to exotic locations -– like the tiny islands of the Grenadines -– or to more familiar destinations, such as Antigua or St. Martin, and even to places that you'd be hard-pressed to find on a map!

The beauty of traveling on a small ship is that you can visit small islands that can't accommodate a cruise ship, allowing you to explore nearly-deserted locales, dive in some of the world's clearest waters, and investigate nature's bounty, without having to contend with crowds and chaotic tourist traps.