Here in Texas we have a big cruise terminal port called Galveston and many cruise ships leave to the Caribbean islands itineraries from here.
You can easily reach some exotic destinations like the French and Dutch Antilles, the British Virgin Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis in about ten or fifteen days and without any effort. Every day you can put your feet on the ground and decide how much to use them. The cruise company offers day trips for those who really don't want to think about anything, but life on board creates new friendships and it becomes easy to move in small groups relying on local entrepreneurship: you can hire a taxi for the whole day by agreeing on a reasonable price and the driver also acts as a guide. This is also the best way to reach the most beautiful beaches. Most are free, some are paid, but we're talking about $5 (American) for a beach umbrella and two loungers for half a day.
The scenery is varied, with the southern islands richer than the northern ones and a mix of colonial charm and local traditions; tobacco and sugar cane crops alternate with banana plantations…the chaos of Curaçao contrasts with the organization of other islands like Aruba and Martinique.
The Caribbean landscape is varied: the southern islands are richer than the northern ones and colonial charm mixes with local traditions.
The most popular cruise leaving from Galveston is a 7-night trip visiting must-see destinations including Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico and Roatan island in Honduras. These destinations are fairly close by (in the Gulf of Mexico) and for some ports there is a special convention for American tourists who do not even need a passport to go there but they can travel with just a national American I.D. from their state.
The cruise ships offer a wide range of shore excursions to immerse guests in these vibrant and culturally renowned coastal destinations, from tours of ancient Mayan ruins to shipwreck snorkeling, glass-bottom boat trips and museum tours or those looking for a solitary postcard-like beach can head towards Devil's Bay Beach on the island of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, my absolute first choice. In this case the location is more adventurous and requires taking a water taxi (a small motorboat) and then walking a stretch through the forest.
On departures from Galveston, most passengers are Americans, many are Texans and the chefs on the ship adapt to the requests with a cuisine that, in rotation, offers themed evenings and classic American fare. On land, however, it is possible to enjoy the local gastronomy that abounds in exotic fruit (mango, papaya and bananas) and fish (barracuda, swordfish, lobster).
The entertainment onboard the American cruise ships companies such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean is in English and they offer a wide range of shows, games, competitions and fun for all ages.
Kids have their corner and their dedicated area with staff entertaining them from morning to midnight.
The cruise ships are getting bigger and bigger, hosting a growing number of guests and offering extravagant features: ice skating rinks, flight simulators, robot bartenders and outdoor arenas among them.
The cruising season here in Texas starts around mid-October/November and goes until April when the ships then sail away to go to European or Alaskan destinations.
Although the itineraries from Texas cover only the Caribbean islands, the choice is not limited because the islands are many and with a wide variety of landscapes, cultures and languages.
