'I went on a cruise for the first time and this is what I really thought'

Cruising is becoming a much and much fashionable mode to spot the world, arsenic our writer discovered connected a seven-day Eastern Caribbean Cruise with Holland America

If you're a cruise newbie and privation to spot what the fuss is each about, Holland America's seven-day Eastern Caribbean Cruise could beryllium your cleanable introduction. According to caller research, cruises are becoming an progressively fashionable vacation choice.

Setting sail from Fort Lauderdale, Miami - a destination worthy exploring successful its ain close - we journeyed connected the Nieuw Amsterdam to immoderate of the region's astir stunning locations. Our stops included Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands; Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Holland America's backstage island, Half Moon Cay successful the Bahamas.

Here's everything you request to cognize astir however to marque the astir of the travel (and a apical space-saving packing extremity to boot)...

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Food and drink

When it comes to nutrient and drink, the 2 main eating options included successful each bundle are The Lido Market and The Dining Room. The Lido offers a buffet-style dispersed with a wide assortment of dishes, galore of which (including the top-notch salads and pancakes) are made to order. The Dining Room serves breakfast, luncheon and meal from an à la carte menu, providing a much accepted edifice acquisition and a invited alteration from the immense enactment astatine The Lido.

If you're consenting to splash retired a spot much for meals, there's the Italian edifice Canaletto, Morimoto by the Sea and Nami Sushi for seafood enthusiasts, and the Pinnacle Grill wherever we rated our steak a cleanable 10. We besides recovered Tamarind, which adds a modern twist to Southeast Asian cuisine, had the champion 'off ship' atmosphere, and was perfect for a peculiar treat, reports OK!.

Off the ship

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands

Grand Turk successful the Turks and Caicos Islands is precise overmuch a 'cruise destination' port, meaning there's not a batch to bash different than soak up the scenery, soil and sea. We opted for an 'ultimate snorkelling adventure', but if you similar thing much laid-back, there's formation location rental oregon a golf cart tour.

Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas

Charlotte Amalie connected St Thomas is really the superior of the US Virgin Islands, and has immoderate intriguing areas to explore. We booked the Skyride aerial tram, which whisked america up to Paradise Point astatine the island's highest point. There are a fewer shops and nutrient options astatine the apical but the existent prize was the breathtaking views.

For food, we sought retired Gladys' Cafe, a spot of a section fable successful the municipality and worthy a sojourn for the jerk chickenhearted and spiced lobster.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

This is is by acold the astir rewarding on-shore destination if you're aft immoderate authentic Caribbean culture. There are plentifulness of excursions available, but it's besides precise casual to spell solo and bask this unthinkable metropolis connected your own.

We opted for the History and Cuisine of San Juan connected Foot circuit (from $109.95), a guided exploration that took america to the San Juan Gate, Princess Pathway and Prison, and the stunning San Juan Cathedral. The circuit concluded with a hands-on Mofongo and Mojito experience, implicit with a speech connected the past of the island's renowned rum. Plus, we had ample clip near successful the time to roam freely and bask different mojito (or two)!

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas was our lone tendered enactment day, meaning we took a vessel from the vessel to the island. There isn't a immense magnitude to bash present – but that's portion of its allure. A ample agelong of sandy formation with shallow, calm waters awaits you, wherever you tin either unbend connected a complimentary sunbed oregon rent a clamshell covering for shade. A buffet-style luncheon is prepared for each guests. Activities scope from equine riding connected the beach, a stingray adventure, a quality walk, a guided bicycle circuit to kayaking. For us, simply soaking up the tranquil vibes and breathtaking water presumption was enough.

Keeping engaged connected the boat

Time spent connected the vessel was filled with regular activities including origami lessons, Mahjong games, quizzes, line-dancing lessons and fittingness classes. Most of these activities are escaped and the programmes alteration each day, truthful adjacent if you're not disembarking connected a larboard day, you surely won't beryllium bored. We selected our activities and added them to an app with reminders. The creation acquisition and euphony quiz were peculiarly enjoyable.

One of our favourite spots connected the vessel was the Crow's Nest, located connected the precise apical deck. It boasted a fantastic enactment of committee and paper games, on with a barroom serving some brushed and alcoholic beverages.

It was the perfect spot to instrumentality successful the views portion indulging successful a crippled of Yahtzee. The vessel besides featured a spa, and though the attraction database was somewhat pricey for america (a 75-minute Swedish massage came successful astatine US$199), we recovered the time walk we purchased to beryllium worthy each penny.

Priced astatine $49 each, it granted america entree to the thermal suites, saunas and hydropool, and we were escaped to travel and spell arsenic we pleased passim the day. Top tips: There are galore packages disposable connected committee and whether oregon not you opt for the drinks bundle is wholly up to you.

Top cruise tips

We recovered the laundry bundle to beryllium peculiarly bully value. It was priced astatine $59.50 for seven-day unlimited laundry and pressing, oregon $25 per container – cleanable if you're travelling light. Additionally, magnetic hooks that tin beryllium hung connected the compartment walls proved incredibly utile for keeping each our belongings (especially jewellery and sunhats) organised successful a tiny space.

How to publication

Holland America Line’s seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise connected committee the Nieuw Amsterdam costs from £1,724pp based connected departure connected 16 March 2025. Price includes each meals, day tea, theatre shows, onboard gym and children’s clubs positive the ‘Have It All’ package, which includes enactment excursion credit, a signature beverage package, speciality dining, unit appreciation and Wi-Fi.