Cruising in Florida - It's Not As Expensive As You Think!

Until recently, Florida cruising was always thought to be a luxury that only the rich could afford. However, the introduction of new lines, such as the Disney Cruise Line in 1998, has opened up cruising in Florida to even the most budget-conscious travellers. Nowadays, booking a cruise is rapidly becoming a popular addition to a holiday in Florida and, with the vast array of cruise ships leaving from Port Canaveral, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades and Miami, there's bound to be something for every type of traveller. Below are a selection of the destinations you can cruise to from Florida along with a some of the cruise operators serving these destinations. West Indies, Caribbean A group of islands in the Caribbean Sea that lie between Key West, Florida and Venezuela in South America. Some of the most popular Ports in the Caribbean that you can visit are;

• Antigua
• Aruba
• Barbados
• Cuba
• St. Barts
• St. Kitts
• St. Vincent
• Trinidad & Tobago

Whilst some of the lesser known Ports you may want to visit are;

• Bonaire
• Cozumel
• Curacao
• Gorda
• Guadeloupe
• Saba
• St. Croix
• St. Eustatius
• Tortola
• Virgin Gorda

Bahamas Smaller than the West Indies but certainly no less impressive, the Bahamas islands are located just off the south-eastern tip of Florida so day cruises are an option for those pushed for time. Although there's so much to experience that you will need longer to see everything! The Bahamas extend 760 miles in total and consist of 700 islands and 2,400 cays with an area of 5,358 square miles. The Bahamas include the following main islands:

• Abaco Islands
• Andros Islands
• Berry Islands
• Cat Island
• Eleuthera
• Exumas
• Grand Bahama
• Long Island
• Nassau

Once the decision of where to go has been made, you then need to decide with who. The top 10 cruise lines offer over 50 ships from which to choose. Carnival As the name suggests, Carnival redefines the meaning of contemporary cruising with their commitment to all aspects of the "Fun Ship" vacation experience. This includes great cuisine and new and expanded facilities, as well as a greater variety of onboard activities and shore excursions. Guests can also enjoy a reservations-only supper club serving world-famous stone crabs from Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant in Miami Beach. Celebrity A sister of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity's fleet of ten luxury ships is one of the youngest. Each ship features sumptuous amenities, impeccable service and comfortable cabins. Costa Costa allows passengers to experience "Italian Style" culture and hospitality in the Caribbean. Cunard Now as a subsidiary of Carnival Cruises, Cunard is the last of the great transatlantic shipping companies. Their flagship, Queen Mary 2, is their newest ship. Disney Cruise Line As you might expect, the Disney Cruise Line provides the ultimate family cruising experience with ships that are heavily geared toward kids. However, the ships are also elegant and have plenty of amenities for the adults who tag along. Holland America With 137 years of experience, Holland America is the most historic and tradition-laden cruise line on the seas today. Norweigan Cruise Line Norwegian's "Freestyle Cruising" offers passengers a more relaxed, resort-style cruise with flexibility and non-intrusive service. Hallmarks of this onboard concept include extended hours in the restaurants, casual attire in the evening and a more leisurely disembarkation process. Norwegian was also the first cruise line to offer a private tropical island experience exclusively for passengers. Oceania Oceania is a boutique cruise line with midsize ships that offer five-star cuisine and service at fares below those of the luxury lines. Princess Princess introduced the concept of putting passengers in control of their own cruise experience when it introduced the revolutionary Sun-class ships. Their "what you want, when you want" atmosphere is designed to give passengers the freedom to customize their cruise to fit their personal interests and desires. Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean operates the largest and most lavish ships in the world and is regarded in high esteem. These days, cruising in Florida is not the holiday of the rich. More and more Florida cruising is becoming a holiday that anyone can enjoy from the old to the young, singles to families. There's something for everyone when deciding to go cruising in Florida!