Hi cant answer your questions as we are on this cruise with you and have been asking the same questions as you. Am considering hopefully to be able to team up with other passengers and book tours locally. Have been told this way can be better. There is 4 in our party .We are flying from Birmingham and m quite worried about the flight as so many folk have said how badly cramped the plane is. Have tried to upgrade but is fully booked. My tickets say flight is with Thom ,now is this Thomas Cooke or Thomson ,My T/A couldnt tell me .Does any one else know please. Any onfo appreciated please

Did similar cruise last November. Walked into Port of Spain, Trinidad and went to the market and shopping, absolutely fine - wasn't hassled once!

Truly Dangerous to do your own thing in - La Guerra (ship only there to take on cheap fuel!), Jamaica and Trinidad. These are no idle warnings.

Most of the islands mentioned below are either the eastern or the southern Caribbean, if you want a complete answer to your question I would suggest that you write in the itinerary otherwise we either guess or look up that cruise which is tedious and unnecessary. .... Neil

you should list your ports of call! I have been to many of the Caribbean Islands & all have been trouble-free. The only one which was a bit scary was after visiting Dunns River Falls, where we were subjected to a lot of hassle-selling, but I have heard that there is a 'short-cut route' back to your bus.

I will also be on this cruise with my 14 year old daughter. I concur with the previous answer regarding Trinidad. I was born and lived there until the age of 2 and last visited 28 years ago. Nothing would intice me to visit there again - the island is not picturesque and there is a high level of crime in general. I have done quite a lot of reseach into the excursions on offer during this trip, and on Tortola the dolphin swim and visit to Virgin Gorda seem to be highly recommended (we're doing the dolphin swim). I've been told Antigua and St. Maarten are good islands for just doing your own thing, and that for Montego Bay and Samana it's best to do a scheduled tour. We're doing the Best of Montego Bay trip and the beach day in Samana. In Curacao we're doing the trolley train tour, in Bonaire the snorkel trip, in Isla Margarita the highlights tour and visting family in Grenada and Dominica. Hope this is helpful and that you are looking forward to the trip as much as we are!

Not sure of your itinerary but beware Montego Bay! Also Caracas and Trinidad!