The choices can be overwhelming when looking for a cruise in the Caribbean. Experienced cruisers generally find a cruise line they like, and stay with that company's ships on future sailings.
The following is a survey of cruise lines offering trips in the Caribbean or Bahamas.Admiral Cruises Inc., 1220 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, Fla. 33132, Reservations, (800) 327-0271; (305) 374-1611. Three- , four- and seven-night cruises to Miami, Nassau, Little Stirrup Cay, Freeport, Los Angeles, San Diego, Ensenada, Catalina, West Coast of Mexico and Alaska - Emerald Seas, Azure Seas and Stardancer. Stardancer carries cars and recreation vehicles.
American Canadian Caribbean Line, Inc., P.O. Box 368, Warren, R.I. 02885; (401) 247-0955; (800) 556-7450. The New Shoreham II to Cancun, Belize and Bahama cruises December through April, intercoastal cruises and Florida. Dry Tortuga sailings November. Caribbean Prince Virgin Island, St. Maarten, Antigua and Grenadine cruises December through April.
American Star Lines, 660 Madison Ave., Penthouse, New York, N.Y. 10021, (800) 356-7677; (212) 644-7900. The Betsy Ross to Caribbean, South America, Baltic and Mediterranean itineraries.
Carnival Cruise Lines, 5225 N.W. 87th Ave., Miami, Fla. 33178-2193, (305) 599-2200; (800) 432-5424. Three- and four-day Bahama cruises from Miami and Fort Lauderdale - Mardi Gras and Carnivale. Seven-day Caribbean and Mexican Riviera cruises from Miami, Los Angeles and San Juan - Celebration, Festivale, Holiday, Jubilee and Tropicale.
Chandris Fantasy Cruises, 4770 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, Fla. 33137, (800) 432-4132; (305) 576-9900. Eastern and Western Caribbean, Mexico, South America, Panama and Nassau cruises - Britanis, Amerikanis, Galileo, The Victoria and The Azur. Bermuda cruises and one- and two-night weekend cruises - Galileo, Britanis and Amerikanis.
Clipper Cruise Line, 7711 Bonhomme Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63105, (800) 325-0010; (314) 727-2929; Seven- , 14-, 28-day cruises - Florida, Atlantic Coast, Chesapeake Bay, New England, Virgin and Leeward Islands - Newport Clipper, Nantucket Clipper and Yorktown Clipper.
Commodore Cruise Line, 1007 N. American Way, Miami, Fla. 33132, (305) 358-2622; (800) 432-6793. Seven-day Caribbean cruises departing from Miami - Caribe I.
Costa Cruises Inc., P.O. Box 019614, Miami, Fla. 33101-9865, (800) 462-6782; (305) 358-7325. Cruises to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Alaska, Mediterranean, Scandinavia, South America and around the world - CarlaCosta, Daphne, Danae, EnricoCosta, EugenioCosta and CostaRiviera.
Crown Cruise Line, 2790 N. Federal Highway, P.O. Box 3000, Boca Raton, Fla. 33431; (800) 841-7447; (407) 394-7450. Two-day cruises - Palm Beach to Nassau; and five-day cruises - Palm Beach to Key West, Cancun to Cozumel aboard the mv(cq) Crown Del Mar. One-day cruises from Port of Palm Beach - Viking Princess. Crown Diver three- , four- and seven-day round-trip dive cruises from Freeport and Nassau. Crown Monarch will be cruising in 1990.
Cunard, 555 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017; (800) 5-CUNARD;cq Sea Goddess (800) 458-9000. Worldwide cruises, the Caribbean and regularly scheduled transatlantic crossings - Queen Elizabeth 2, Cunard Countess, Cunard Princess, Vistafjord, Sagafjord, Sea Goddess I and Sea Goddess II.
Dolphin Cruise Line, 1007 North America Way, Miami, Fla. 33132, (800) 222-1003; (305) 358-2111. Three- and four-night cruises Miami to Nassau, Freeport/Key West and Blue Lagoon Island - Dolphin. Seven-night cruises to Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico from Miami aboard the Sea Breeze.
Exprinter Cruises, 500 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10110, (212) 719-1200; (800) 221-1666. Caribbean, South Pacific, Scandinavian and Mediterranean cruises - Berlin.
Holland America Line, 300 Elliott Ave. West, Seattle, Wash. 98119, (800) 426-0327; (206) 281-1970. Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal and special cruises - Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Rotterdam.
Norwegian Cruise Line, 2 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables, Fla. 33134; (800) 327-7030. Caribbean cruises from Miami and San Juan - Norway, Skyward, Starward, Seaward and Sunward II.
Ocean Cruise Lines, 1510 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33316; (305) 764-3500. Caribbean, South America, Grenadines and Orinoco River, Mediterranean, Scandinavia and Russia, fiords, North Cape and Spitsbergen - Ocean Islander and the Ocean Princess.
Pacquet French Cruises, UCT, Inc., 240 S. County Road, Palm Beach, Fla. 33480; (800) 999-0555. Caribbean, transatlantic, Mediterranean and Scandinavia cruising - Mermoz.
Premier Cruise Lines, 101 George King Blvd., P.O. Box 573, Cape Canaveral, Fla. 32920; (800) 432-2545. Port Canaveral to Nassau and the Out Islands - Star/Ship Atlantic, Star/Ship Oceanic and Star/Ship Majestic. Three-night cruises every Friday and four-night sailing every Monday, value season. Free three-day Walt Disney World package available with four-night cruise.
Princess Cruises, 2029 Century Park East, Los Angeles, Calif. 90067; (800) 421-0522; (213) 553-7000. Caribbean, Mexico, transcanal, Alaska, Europe/Mediterranean, South Pacific and the Orient - Pacific Princess, Island Princess, Royal Princess, Sea Princess, Fair Princess, Fair Princess, Sky Princess and Dawn Princess.
Regency Cruises, 260 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016-2401, (800) 457-5566; (212) 972-4499. Seven-day Panama Canal/Caribbean cruises from Montego Bay - Regent Star, Regent Sun. Seven-day Caribbean cruises from Montego Bay and Tampa - Regent Sun. Seven-and 14-day Alaska cruises - Regent Sea and Regent Sun.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, 903 South America Way, Miami, Fla. 33132, (800) 432-6559. Seven- to 10-day Caribbean cruises - Song of Norway, Song of America, Sun Viking, Sovereign of the Seas and Nordic Prince. Seven-day New York to Bermuda cruises - Nordic Prince.
Royal Viking Line, 95 Merrick Way, Coral Gables, Fla. 33134, (305) 447-9660; (800) 422-8000. One hundred-day cruises around the world, including passages through the Caribbean and the Panama Canal - Royal Viking Star, Royal Viking Sky, Royal Viking Sun, Royal Viking Sea.
Salen Lindblad Cruising Inc., 133 E. 55th St., New York, N.Y. 10022; (212) 751-2300; (800) 223-5688. Worldwide cruising including the Caribbean, Antarctic, South Pacific, West Africa, Australia, Indonesia, Western Europe, Galapagos, Turkey, Mediterranean and the Nile River.
Seabourn Cruise Line, 55 Francisco, San Francisco, Calif. 94133; (415) 391-7444; (800) 351-9595. Panama Canal, Caribbean, South America, transatlantic, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and West Africa - Seabourn Pride. Caribbean, South America, transatlantic, Eastern and Western Mediterranean cruises - Seabourn Spirit.
SeaEscape Limited, 1080 Port Blvd., Port of Miami, Miami, Fla. 33132. Reservation number (305) 377-9000; (800) 432-0900. Cruises daily; Miami to Freeport; Port Everglades to Freeport; weekend mini-cruises to nowhere, St. Petersburg to nowhere and four-night cruises to Cozumel, Port Canaveral to nowhere and two-day cruises to Freeport - Scandinavian Star, Scandinavian Saga, Scandinavian Sky, Scandinavian Sun.
Sun Line Cruises, 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 315, New York, N.Y. 10020; (800) 872-6400; (212) 397-6400. Caribbean, South America, Eastern Mediterranean, transatlantic cruises - Stella Maris, Stella Solaris and Stella Oceanis.
Thomson Vacations Canada Ltd., 6299 Airport Road, Mississauga, Ontario, LV1N3; (416) 676-9903. Seven-night cruises from Antigua every Saturday beginning Dec. 12 on the Jason. Ports of call include Virgin Gorda, Tortola, St. Bart's. St. Maarten, St. Kitt's, lles des Saintes, Dominica, Bequia and Martinique.
Windstar Sail Cruises, 7205 N.W. 19th St., Suite 410, Miami, Fla. 33126; (800) 258-SAIL. Windstar seven-day Caribbean cruises from Antigua, transatlantic and Mediterranean; Wind Spirit seven-day Caribbean cruises from St. Thomas, transatlantic and Mediterranean cruises.