Have you been running yourself ragged as employers are forcing you to do more with less in this tough economy?  A Caribbean Vacation can be just what the doctor ordered as the laid back pace known as “Island Time” can melt your stress away.  The US Virgin Island were bought by the US in the early 1920 and was originally done so to offer the US a strategic military base in the Caribbean.  The US Virgin Islands are made up of three different islands: St Croix, St John and St Thomas.  These three islands are all unique and all offer different experiences to anyone who visits them.  The second you step off your airplane or cruise ship you will instantly notice that you have come to the right place to relax and unwind.

Visitors have long called the U.S. Virgin Islands “the perfect Caribbean island vacation.” It’s time for you to see what they’re talking about.   If you simply need to unwind make sure to take a couple of days to lie on the beach and let your stress melt away.  Simply let the sun and the serenity of the Caribbean melt your stress away.  There are so many historical sites such as the sugar cane ruins on St John that offer you the opportunity to take a peaceful walk and take in the rich history of the island.  To cool off, you can take a swim is some of the most pristine aqua blue in the Caribbean.  In the evening it is a must to enjoy some of the fine dining on the island and then relax your body by enjoying a fruity Caribbean cocktail.

When I am in the Virgin Islands I always start slowly so I can take in everything that this Caribbean Vacation has to offer.  Take a dip in the ocean view the vivid marine life by either going on a snorkel or scuba excursion.  You will be instantly become relaxed as you get in tune with nature and watch the bountiful marine life circle around you.  If you are in the mood for something more invigorating you can also enjoy some of the islands high energy activities such as windsurfing or kite boarding.  There are also many annual celebrations on the islands which are sure to get your blood going.   These celebrations often feature local music, which is known as Quelbe, that is rich is history and rhythmic bears.

The Virgin Islands is one of the most tranquil Caribbean Vacation spots on the planet and to top it all of the islands are easily accessible from the US mainland.  There are many flights leaving daily from several US hubs and the Virgin Islands are located roughly two and a half hours from Miami by plan.  Best of all no passport is required to visit the US Virgin Islands which makes these tiny islands some of the most accessible in the Caribbean.

A tropical island wedding will create lasting memories as well as offer a way for you to get away and enjoy a lovely Caribbean Vacation with your friends and family.  A good rule of thumb to keep in mind while planning an island wedding is the simpler the better. For example keep the attire of the wedding party to a minimum. If you choose to wear a veil, keep it short and pin it securely so the warm tropical breezes don’t blow it away. Most often the groom and groomsman can even forget the jacket.

Additionally, many hotels in the Caribbean offer wedding planning as a complimentary service if your host your wedding party at their resort. They know how to make your destination wedding and honeymoon an experience you’ll remember the rest of your life and you can save a considerable amount of money if you do your homework. Having someone to help plan your event that is a local is key as they know the island and the venue so they can ensure every detail is covered.

On-site wedding planners will be able to arrange blocks of rooms for your friends and family and will suggest pre- and post-wedding activities for you to enjoy to with your friends and family. Remember to ask about discounts and other perks depending on the size of your wedding party. You may even get the honeymoon suite for free if you have enough guests planning to attend and stay in the hotel.

Bermuda actually consists of 128 small islands so your options are virtually unlimited when you are selecting the location for your wedding ceremony. Your travel agent can help you find the perfect location for you. Bermuda is a Caribbean Vacation destination that offers beautiful beaches, snorkeling, great diving and a great Island setting to enjoy the rich history of the island. All of these factors make Bermuda our top choice for a tropical destination wedding. If your perfect Caribbean vacation includes the seclusion and adventure of a smaller island where you can enjoy quiet time with your new spouse? Or does your wedding party enjoy nightlife, playing tourist, and being around other people? If you can share these details with your wedding planner they will certainly be able to put together the perfect package for your wedding party. We are confident that once you set foot on the beautiful beaches of Bermuda you will instantly understand why this tiny island is one of the worlds premier Caribbean Vacation spots.

Not enough? Then think about how motivated your leadership team will be when the reward for a successful business session is a tropical island paradise right outside the door. The Cayman Islands consist of three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman — which offer some of the world’s best diving and snorkeling.

Are your employees bringing along family? There’s something for everyone, of every age. Beautiful beaches abound in the Caymans. Swim, go for a bike ride, collect seashells, sail, kayak in the ocean – or plunge into the sea but stay dry by taking a submarine ride. No trip to Grand Cayman is complete without a visit to Stingray City where you can interact with these majestic creatures up close and personal.  Are you looking for activities other than water sports? Then try your hand at one of Grand Cayman’s championship golf courses. The Caymans have everything you could ever want for a tropical vacation.  Oh, and did someone mention food? World class cuisine abounds in many restaurants featuring a vast array of menu items ranging from seafood caught just a few miles away, eclectic dishes influenced by the early explorers from France, the Netherlands, Spain, and Great Britain who visited the shores of the Caymans. You’re as likely to find an elegant French restaurant as a small British pub.  

So take a look at bringing your employees to the board room – and then grab a surfboard when the meetings are done. A business trip combined with a Caribbean island vacation in the Caymans is a great investment.  You and your employees will go home rested, relaxed, and with renewed enthusiasm.  Conferencing in the Caymans and a Caribbean vacation. Just what your business – and you – need. Give your travel professional your requirements and get started on a trip to the Caymans with your employees today!

There are many things to do on your Caribbean Island vacation. Snorkeling and diving are the top sports but windsurfing enthusiasts call the island a windsurfer’s paradise because of the favorable trade winds. Some visitors enjoy kayaking through waters where mangrove grow, going mountain biking, or taking walks to explore the island’s rich history as a Spanish town established in the fifteenth century. Some come to simply relax on one of the stunning beaches of Bonaire.

A true tropical vacation wouldn’t be complete without visitors sampling some of the local cuisine. Since the island is part of the Dutch owned Caribbean, restaurants feature truly eclectic international cuisine (besides the Dutch, the Spanish and French also occupied the island at different times). Restaurants featuring everything from local island food to South American, even Eastern food. Island specialties include island curry, wine or okra soup, and coconut candy.

The Bonaire beaches are some of the best in the Caribbean islands. Those determined to safeguard the environment have ensured that visitors will enjoy a tropical vacation of their dreams. Average air temperature is in the low eighties with a 75 percent relative humidity. Water temperature averages 80 degrees and evenings are pleasant.

A variety of accommodations are available from the traditional luxurious hotels to inns and resorts. This is a place that offers something for every taste and to fit just about every budget. Travel agents who plan vacations to tropical islands are your best source of information for the newcomer to Bonaire. Flights arrive in the aptly named Flamingo International Airport, named after the bird found so frequently on the island.

Bonaire – the perfect location for a Caribbean vacation destination you’ll want to return to again and again. Grab your gear, book your trip, and get diving! You won’t regret it.

There’s never been a better time to visit the Bahamas for a Caribbean Island vacation. 

Air fares are at near historic lows, making it an especially good time to get away. In addition, there are many bargains in sunny Bahamas. When you make travel arrangements, check the usual travel sites which offer deals and all the carriers – some of the smaller airlines such as Spirit Airlines want your business. They recently added flights from St. Lauderdale to Freeport, Bahamas.

Bargains can also be found on tropical vacations if you have the ability to leave work or home with little notice. Check with cruise lines and hotels for last minute cancellations. You may be able to pick up a last minute bargain when someone cancels.  Travel Web sites offer airline, hotel, and cruise packages that can mean big savings, sometimes as much as 25 to 50 percent or more. Some of the special hotel offers are for a nightly discount, while others give you a free additional night when you stay a specified number of nights. 

Think about getting off the beaten path to capture bargains. With more than 700 tropical islands in the Bahamas, you don’t have to choose the same places other people do. Think about some of the smaller islands where you’ll find smaller, less expensive hotels not frequented by the crowds.

Always wanted to go on a cruise but don’t have the kind of time or money to do it? Take a cruise in the Bahamas and see what others who have cruised the Caribbean have been talking about for years. Look on cruise line websites for bargains on two and three day cruises. While some people think cruises are expensive, they are a one stop planning destination for the eager vacation bargain hunter – no travel involved once you’re on the boat.

On a cruise, nearly everything you want is included: your room, meals (many of them buffet), entertainment, activities ranging from swimming to sports to exercise and spas, and more. The Monarch of the Seas advertises that “she practically qualifies as an island all on her own” and it couldn’t be more right: it even includes shops, a casino, and Las Vegas style shows as well as all the other amenities mentioned above. A check of a cruise line Web site revealed a two day cruise in Caribbean starting at $299 (depending on season) for a two night cruise.

Get started planning that tropical vacation right now. There may never be another time that prices will be so affordable – or that you’ve needed a vacation more!

Are you one that like to live life to the fullest and is not content to sit on his / hers laurels while on vacation?  Are you looking for a place that can provide enough memories to last a life time?  Traveling the beautiful waters of Tahiti can afford you the opportunity to experience natures best up close and personal including encounters with everything from Humpback Wales to Blacktip Reef sharks.  Tahiti is so romantic that you and your partner will be absolutely mesmerized the interaction of nature and the beautiful blue sea.  As a travel writer I absolutely cannot say enough good things about Tahiti.  I have traveled the world over yet I still get excited when I learn that I am headed back to my favorite string of islands. 

There is simply nothing on the planet that compares to the beauty of the natural sun light or the blueness of the ocean on the tiny island in the middle of the south pacific.   On my next trip I’ am  on visiting one of my old favorites, the island of Moorea.  If you plan your trip at the correct time of year Moorea makes an excellent home base for a whale watching excursion.  There are also many incredible dive sites that will give you easy access to Lemon Sharks, Black tip sharks as well as coral formations so vibrant that even the most seasoned divers will be impressed.  If you are looking for a vacation that has the potential to truly change your life then you should consider the lovely island of Tahiti.

This is not going to discourage me as we are intent on getting back to Belize again and spending some un-rushed time visiting the beautiful areas we had looked forward to. One of the places I want to visit is Turneffe Atoll. Turneffe Atoll is a 30-mile by 12-mile tropical paradise noted for fishing, diving and eco-touring ranging from bird watching to crocodile nests to those magical paddle wheelers we know as manatee.

The term “atoll” for a “ring-shaped ribbon reef enclosing a lagoon in the center” was first used as atollon in 1624; however, the term was popularized by Charles Darwin, who described atolls as a subset in a special class of islands, the unique property of which is the presence of an organic reef.

Located on this remote Atoll, Turneffe Flats is an American-owned luxury eco lodge, with superb dining, service that pampers the most discriminating traveler. The Scuba diving center and saltwater fly-fishing resort on Turneffe Atoll is about a 90-minute boat ride from Belize City.

Fishing: Turneffe Flats is a remarkable fishery offering anglers the opportunity to sight-fish for bonefish, permit, and tarpon on any given day. Anglers fish from 16-foot Dolphin Super Skiffs with 50 horse, 4-stroke engines. There’s plenty of room for storing gear as well as special racks for up to six rods. These skiffs are perfect for poling shallow flats as well as cutting the chop in search of the elusive Grand Slam of all three species in a single day. Wade-fishing is accomplished along miles of hard bottom coral.

Diving: The Turneffe Atoll is located in the heart of Belize’s very best diving, with Turneffe Flats ideally located to take full advantage of it all. At Turneffe Flats, guests will dive the entire Turneffe Atoll as well as Lighthouse Reef, home of the world-famous Blue Hole. With more than 60 logged dive sites, Scuba divers will have more than enough diving to choose from … and, its location – on the east side of Turneffe – allows the Dive Team to find a good dive location in almost any weather conditions. Turneffe Flats is a PADI Resort emphasizing personalized service and maximum flexibility.

Atoll Adventure: Turneffe Atoll is yours to explore through Turneffe Flats’ Atoll Adventure program. Begun as an alternative program for the partners of anglers and divers, the Atoll Adventure has evolved into a highly popular stand-alone activity where guests choose from a variety of daily guided activities led by a knowledgeable adventure guide. World class snorkeling at numerous sites around the atoll is always a highlight. Adventuresome guests will see all of the wonders of the coral reef including gliding rays a moray eel or two, and a wide variety of reef fish. Or, they will learn how to kayak in the many lagoons that surround the island … a fun way to see a bit of the atoll and get some exercise at the same time.

The Turneffe Atoll is the largest atoll and since it’s located in the Central American country of Belize, it’s only a short hop from Miami, Houston, Dallas or other U.S. departure points. The best way to get the most out of your trip is to give our friends, Craig and Karen Hayes at Turneffe Flats reservations a phone call and have them help you plan a stay at the Turneffe Flats Resort. The owners are wonderful hosts and will make your stay a memory of a lifetime. Craig and Karen have a great website you can visit to get more information at www.tflats.com . If you need some questions answered give them a call at the toll free number (888) 512-8812 or direct at (623) 298-2783. And by all means tell them WarmIslands.com sent you!

Greenberg reveals how the cruise industry sets its pricing, starting with the most luxurious accommodations, which go for $26,000 a week, butler included. We are taught about the huge gap between the baseline cabin and the cost of indulging in a “no holds barred suite”. The television report helps explain common perceptions and misperceptions about safety and security at sea while it allows us “the viewers” behind the scenes access to how the ship’s crew prepares for real life emergencies. This CNBC documentary gives us a rare look at this newest of ship’s state-of-the-art security operation. Never would we have imagined there are 1100 surveillance cameras to monitor the ship 24/7.

“Cruise Inc: Big Money On The High Seas” premiers on Tuesday, March 24th at 9PM. The documentary will repeat on Sunday, March 29th at 10PM

Here’s a sneak peek:

Royal Caribbean’s move may have been triggered by the fact that Juneau Empire implemented head taxes back in 2006. This reasoning was reiterated by John Binkley, President of Alaska Cruise Association, as $50 per passenger could be an appalling amount especially for passengers looking for cheaper cruises. The Juneau Empire has also been implementing stricter rules about excursions and discharges that has made it complicated for passengers to enjoy their shore excursions; and this could also be one of the reasons.

Royal Caribbean on the other hand has said that their decision was made due to the fact that Serenade of the Seas would be more profitable in other destinations.

Juneau Empire is questioning the moves by both companies, as this might trigger an alarming response from other cruise liners. Alaska may be deemed as no longer a favorable cruise destination. As such, the state is already set to lose about 37 million dollars revenue from passengers and cruise lines. If Holland America and Princess pull out ships from Alaska, the state could experience a heavier decline in profits. So far, these two major cruise lines have not made any decisions regarding their 2010 itineraries.

Richard Farin, Royal Caribbean’s CEO, said that they “expect even more challenges in 2009” based on the sales during the last quarter of 2008. The downturn started way back in September of 2008 until the end of the year.

Analysts from Wall Street are deeply alarmed at the troubles Royal Caribbean is now facing. The major cruise line has been reported to ordering a number of ships which will be delivered within the next couple of years. Royal Caribbean owes billions of dollars alone for these ships, and analysts wonder how the company will be available to fulfill their obligations with the decline in profits.

Farin is still hopeful though, because ticket sales are beginning to stabilize as bookings continue to come in. With the magnitude of discounts, credits and other perks, the company expects a change of trend before the wave season ends. Hopeful as they are, Royal Caribbean is still expected to lose tens of millions of dollars during the first quarter of 2009.