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| ~ Crusin' the Caribbean ~ |
Filled with sun-swept islands
boasting beautiful beaches, the Southern Caribbean includes the Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, Antigua, Dominica, Aruba, and Barbados,
among others.
The islands of the Southern
Caribbean, which translate roughly to those lying east and south of St. Maarten/St. Martin, have always been slightly
more exotic than counterparts in the Western and Eastern Caribbean. Part of that is due to the very strong colonial influence that pervades many of these islands, a great percentage
of which are still related to France, the Netherlands and the U.K.
The islands fall into
a handful of categories, and cruise line itineraries typically include a representative from each. For instance,
the biggest appeal of places like Aruba and Antigua is their beaches. Martinique, St. Lucia and Guadeloupe offer varied
scenic opportunities (from rain forests to volcanoes), not to mention urban outposts that reflect both West Indian and French
heritages.
The Dutch-influenced Curacao is a fabulous destination for snorkeling
and scuba diving; even more so is sibling Bonaire. St. Barth's is so French it feels as if you're in the midst of the Mediterranean
- go for the sidewalk cafes, hot and trendy beach scenes, elite boutiques and fabulous gourmet restaurants. Dominica
and Grenada, both relatively undeveloped, have unique appeals. The former is considered the "Garden of Eden" of the
Southern Caribbean while Grenada is laid back, with a genuine small town feel.
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