ISLAND HOPPING

Curious about cruising? Holland America's route around the Caribbean is perfect for cruise newbies

- MITYA UNDERWOOD

If you’ve never been on a cruise before but want to know what all the hype is about, Holland America’s seven-day Eastern Caribbean Cruise is the perfect introduction to what is becoming an increasingly popular way to holiday.

Travelling on the Nieuw Amsterdam and departing from Fort Lauderdale, Miami (which in itself is a great place to explore) we got to see some of the region’s most beautiful scenery as the route stops at Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands; Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Holland America’s own private island, Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. And with all the facilities on board, it’s an incredibly fun and easy way to strike the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation.

EATING AND DRINKING

The two largest eateries on board, included in every package, are The Lido Market and The Dining Room. The Lido is a buffet-style restaurant serving every type of food you could want, with a lot of it (including the top-notch salads and the pancakes) to order. The Dining Room, which also does breakfast, lunch and dinner, has an à la carte menu so it has more of a ‘restaurant’ feel, and it made a nice change from the huge amount of choice at The Lido.

If you’re happy to pay extra for meals, there’s the Italian restaurant Canaletto, Morimoto by the Sea and Nami Sushi for fish lovers, and the Pinnacle Grill where we gave our steak 10 out of 10. We also thought Tamarind, which gives Southeast Asian cuisine a modern twist, offered the best ‘off ship’ vibe, and was perfect as a treat.

VENTURING OFF THE SHIP

GRAND TURK, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

This is very much a ‘cruise destination’ port, which means there’s not a huge amount to do other than enjoy the scenery, sand and sea. We booked an ‘ultimate snorkelling adventure’, but more relaxing options include beach house rental and a golf cart tour.