Cruising the Caribbean Islands - docking at sultry, sunny ports of call - St. Maarten, St. Barths, Anguilla, St. Kitts, Antigua, and Nevis - yum. Now add cheap, discount and deal to the funky island punch - be still, my heart.
Meet no-frills easy Cruise: a real cruise ship touring the Caribbean islands on the super cheap. easyCruise cabins start at less than $60 per night (based on double occupancy and a minimum two night stay) -- cheaper than a good hostel. Get even cheaper with cabins for four people (bunk beds): less than $50 per cabin per night or get snooty with two-person suites (windows and a balcony) at $100+ per cabin per night. Bring on the island fever!
How easy Cruise Works
These cruise trips differ from those of other cruise lines in that you can hop on and off anywhere along the cruise route (two night minimum booking required - that means two nights in a row; you must return to the boat each night). Easy Cruise's Caribbean route is a six day meander leaving Philipsburg, St. Maarten on Saturdays and Mondays. You needn't leave from St. Maarten, though - choose your embarkation port and book online. You can stay on the cruise ship for up to 14 days.
What's the easy Cruise Ship Like?
Cheap cruise line doesn't mean totally Spartan: each cabin has air conditioning, comfy beds and a wash basin, toilet, shower, towels and soap. You'll start your trip with a clean cabin; any other housekeeping must be paid for separately. Meals and beverages, including alcohol, are not included but may be purchased at onboard Caffe Ritazza (coffee and pastries), a sports bar/restaurant with evening DJ or an on-deck outdoor cocktail bar with hot tub nearby.easyCruise caters to young people* on a budget - if you fit that bill, you probably wouldn't fit in with passengers on an expensive cruise line hunting down seafood buffets and the shuffleboard court anyway (there *is* a gym).
Who Takes easy Cruise?
The company defines "young people" thusly: minimum passenger age is 18; they say, "We have not, however, set a maximum age restriction, as people older than our target range (20-40 years old) might be young at heart!"Your shipmates may very well be planning for dawn patrol; calm, quiet sea-gazing is not a big part of the easyCruise magic. Daiquiris and moonlight deck dancing are more the order of the day (or evening).
The easy Cruise Caribbean Trip Details
The ship usually pulls into each port sometime before 10:00 a.m. and you're then free to disembark and explore, eat and frolic until after midnight when you must be back on board - the boat will leave without you and with your gear at the witching hour. On the first day of your cruise, check in between 3:00 p.m. and midnight (my advice - check in at 3:00 p.m. so you can stow your stuff and grab some unshackled hours onshore).Read the company FAQ carefully. You'll find links to port city maps as well as rules you'll need to know; for instance, no guests are allowed aboard the ship.
A last tip: remember that you will be on board the cruise ship for many hours between ports. If your budget doesn't allow for buying chow on board, bring energy bars or other non-perishable foods with you - refrigeration is not available.
easy Cruise Caribbean Route
- Friday: St. Maarten (leave Saturday a.m.)
- Saturday: St. Barts
- Sunday: Anguilla
- Monday: St. Maarten again
- Tuesday: St. Kitts
- Wednesday: Antigua
- Thursday: Nevis
- Friday: Return to St. Maarten
easyCruise the Mediterranean
easyCruise also offers a trip along the gorgeous Mediterranean coast -- Nice, Cannes, St. Tropez, Monaco, Genoa, San Remo and Portifino -- it's a very, very cheap Mediterranean cruise ship deal. Works just like the company's Caribbean scene, though available on shore hours in the Mediterranean are quite a bit longer.
- Read more about Click Mediterranean easyCruise
More Easy Travel Options
Want to know more about easy.com's no-frills world domination? Check out these orange (easy.com's signature color) deals.
"Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe." --Anatole France
