The Caribbean is such an established cruise destination that it still snags more cruise travelers than any other region in the world. It’s incredibly popular and is always a good choice for winter sun-seekers because—at least for North Americans—it’s relatively close. It can also offer bargain prices.

One of the growing challenges the Caribbean has faced over the past few years is a sense of fatigue. Once you’ve sailed the Western Caribbean from, say, Galveston, New Orleans, or Tampa, you’ve pretty much been there and done that. The same goes for those who have cruised Eastern Caribbean routes from Florida’s ports (not to mention those on the East Coast, such as Charleston, Norfolk, Baltimore, and New York). On these cruises, passengers visit the same ports time and again—places like San Juan, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. Ship congestion and lackluster onshore experiences on certain islands aren’t exactly drawing travelers back to the region.

To combat this malaise, industry execs are always looking to add trendy and fresh locales that will entice passengers to return to Caribbean cruises. They’ve created new ports—such as Carnival’s outpost on Grand Turk, the ever-present private Bahamian islands and the carved-from-the-jungle Costa Maya—seemingly out of thin air. They’ve also plumbed the depths of the Southern Caribbean to find new destinations, just waiting for ships to arrive.

Until sanctions are lifted and Cuba opens its doors to American cruise ships, don’t expect too many surprises on Caribbean itineraries. But, whether you’re looking for up-and-coming, not-yet-on-the-radar destinations, or are just hoping to avoid the has-beens, read our analysis of what’s hot and what’s not in the Caribbean for the upcoming cruise season.

Hot Spots

St. Croix

Why: St. Croix, one of the three major U.S. Virgin Islands, fell off the cruise traveler’s map after the 2001/2002 season, when numerous unresolved issues with petty crime persuaded cruise lines to go elsewhere. So, some five years later, Disney’s announcement that it would feature new Caribbean routes in 2009—including St. Croix—raised a few eyebrows. Suddenly, numerous ships have St. Croix on 2009/2010 itineraries—Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas, Holland America’s Maasdam, Celebrity’s Millennium, and Azamara Journey. It also doesn’t hurt that the local government has invested $18 million to beautify the port city of Frederiksted, which has been transformed from seedy to charming. Additionally, the island, like its U.S.V.I. brethren, is clustered among other popular isles and is, therefore, an incredibly convenient port of call.

What’s there: St. Croix offers an experience much different from the overcrowded shopping mecca of St. Thomas. With much more room to move around (St. Croix encompasses 84 square miles and is more than twice the size of St. Thomas), St. Croix provides an astounding variety of activities and features two urban centers—Frederiksted on the west coast and historic Christiansted to the north. Promoted as the U.S. territory’s historical destination because of the Danish architecture it houses, St. Croix is home to the remnants of numerous plantations, great houses, and windmills. Buck Island Reef National Monument is the premier natural attraction on an island rife with prime snorkeling and diving sites.

Have you seen this website?

 www.stcroixlandmarks.org

Check out their event calendar…

Yesterday the B.V.I. experienced another small earthquake yet according to the USGS, these small quakes happen pretty often (scrool down the list and you’ll see the VI Region has lots of entries).

Did you know the 27th Legislature has officially adjourned???  A bit early for Christmas break, but hey, they need this time to ___?___, which is much more important than creating laws for the V.I.

And lastly, development and social decline in the BVI are examined by Benito Wheatley of the Institute of Caribbean Studies.

The St. Croix Landmarks Society (SCLS) is pleased to present the 22^nd Annual STARVING ARTISTS DAY Holiday Show and 2^nd Annual Guavaberry Competition at Whim Plantation Mu­seum Grounds in Frederiksted on Sunday,  November 30^th, 2008 between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.  Tickets are sold at the door; admission fees are $5 per person, and children under 12 years old are free.The Starving Artists Day is one of the Landmarks Society’s most anticipated and widely attended fundraising events of the year, showcasing approximately 70 Caribbean artists, jewelers, crafts­people and food vendors.  Locals and visitors alike will find locally-made and original crafts, jew­elry, fine art, ceramics, mahogany works, Mocko Jumbie sculptures,  photography, fabrics, silks, plants, books, leather goods, candles, perfume oils, and lotions. 

Food and drink booths will fea­ture local delectables such as patés, johnny cakes, fritters, shish kabobs, fried fish, cakes, tarts, breads, fraco, smoothies, liquors and juices. SCLS’s cash bar will be available all day with all proceeds going to SCLS programs and services.This year, we are pleased to have Roger W. Morgan host the 2^nd Annual Guavaberry Competi­tion. If you are interested in being a contestant, please contact Paradise Radio. There will be a cash prize and trophy awardedWe are happy to host a  special performance by Rising Starts Steel Pan Orchestra. Rising Stars is a non-profit steel band program whose main objective is to prevent school dropout and juvenile delinquency. The program currently has 100 participants between the ages of 10 and 17. These young talented musicians will perform between 1-4PM. We will also have representatives from Graffiti Street Youth Group, Ricardo Richard’s Mocko Jumbies and Caribbean Dance School to perform and present at Whim this Sunday.

The Ancestry Discovery Group will be hosting Family History Displays on “East to West Con­nections;” an Open House of the SCLS Research Library & Archives from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM; There will also be storytelling session with Janis Tutein; an Open House of the Greathouse; self-guided tours of the Whim Grounds, shopping in the Museum Gift Shop, and a special cash raffle.  Please call
772.0598 or visit www.stcroixlandmarks.org for more information.