Why not try a short cruise during your next stay in Florida. Orlando is an idea starting point for a cruise. The nearby port of Port Canaveral is only a sixty minute drive and has terminals for Royal Caribbean, Disney, Norwegian and Carnival Cruise Lines.

From here, you can sail off into the sunset on a 3, 4, or 7-day voyage to the Bahamas, the Caribbean or Mexico’s Gulf resorts.

            We took a 3 day cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas to the Bahamas and Royal Caribbean’s own private island of Coco Cay. There are car parking facilities at the terminal within walking distance. Check in was straight forward and hassle free and your cruise experience begins immediately.

            The food, service and entertainment are first class and all staff are extremely helpful and friendly. Atlantis in Nassau was amazing to see but the highlight was definitely the visit to the uninhabited Coco Cay. This was a picturesque tropical island with clear water, silver sand and palm trees. If you take the nature trail through the island – a 15 minute walk- you arrive on the other side of the island where you will find peace, tranquillity, stunning beach scenes – paradise. Food is taken ashore from the ship for a buffet style lunch.

            Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas departs from Port Canaveral to the Eastern and Western Caribbean visiting places such as St Thomas, St Maarten, Jamaica, Haiti, Cayman Islands and Cozumel in Mexico. There is always something for everyone whilst cruising from spa treatments, sunbathing, exercising in the gymnasium, various informative talks, dining, bars and casino and fantastic evening entertainment as well as numerous shore excursions when docked. For the more adventurous there is the Rock Climbing Wall or the Flowrider to practice your surfing skills.

            The children are very well catered for and have their own kids club and also a teenagers club with their own personal area of the ship.

            Cruise holidays are a great way to meet new people, gives you the opportunity to visit many new places and your hotel accommodation travels with you. The staterooms are not large but are adequate for 2 people. It is worthwhile having an Oceanview room or better still a room with a balcony where you can sit out in the warm evenings and watch the sunset. Watch out for late deals (we had a 3 night Bahamas cruise for $129.00 each) and enjoy the experience.