Great Ideas for a Caribbean Honeymoon Vacation

By Sara Derksen

The best honeymoon vacation is the all-inclusive, romantic cruise. Aboard a hulk of a ship, you'll enjoy entertaining shows by musicians, comedians, hypnotists and theatrical performers. You'll enjoy anytime dining in a variety of restaurants, cafes, bistros and bars. You can swim in pools, watch movies under the stars, soak in Jacuzzi tubs, receive massages at the spa, gamble in the casinos, play mini-golf, take dance lessons or a cooking class, and shop for souvenirs. Once your ship reaches port, you'll have the opportunity to purchase some additional tours or adventures on the island. Here are some of the most romantic travel destinations in the Caribbean islands.

San Juan, Puerto Rico is an intriguing US territory and a popular honeymoon vacation stop. In New San Juan, you'll find McDonald's and American cuisine, fancy hotel resorts, business districts and trendy bars. In Old San Juan, you'll encounter an exotic blend of Spanish, Italian and South American influences that are very much akin to Cuba. You'll see preserved 16th century architecture, forts, antique shops, pastel buildings, cobblestone streets and stunning cathedrals.

History lovers will appreciate the El Morro fort, San Cristobal Fort, La Fortaleza, Catedral de San Juan and Museo Pablo Casals. The Bacardi Rum Factory can add a little fun to your romantic weekend and, if you're feeling lucky, try your hand at the Sheraton or Ritz-Carlton casinos. Waterfalls and wildflowers await a scenic stroll at El Yunque rainforest.

Aruba is a honeymoon vacation destination with rich cultural influences -- from the Arawak Indians to the Old World Spanish and later, the Dutch. Aruba has been called "One Happy Island" and "The Caribbean's Theme Park" because it boasts over 24 diving sites, famous shipwrecks, championship golf courses, casinos and duty-free shops featuring everything from Tommy Hilfiger to diamonds. Eager shoppers load up on British chocolates and Dutch cheeses in the gift shops here, while beach vacation-loving people sip Pink Iguanas and Balashi beer on the sandy shores. While shops and restaurants are within walking distance, the beaches are a $14 taxi ride or $2.30 bus ride away. Many cruisers like to rent snorkel equipment from Red Sail Sports at the cruise terminal (for $15), then head down to Malmok Beach to see colorful coral and tropical fish just ten feet from shore, as well as Antilla, a WWII German freighter wreck. Romantic vacation activities include horseback riding to Malmok Beach, Alto Vista Chapel or in Arikok National Park; golfing at a Robert Trent-Jones course in Tierra del Sol; parasailing at Palm Beach; and dinner at Passions on the Beach at the Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort. Real party animal couples won't want to miss the Kukoo Kunuku party bus for dinner and a tour of local watering holes.

Bonaire is a strange sort of honeymoon vacation paradise. Tall cacti line the plateaus, earning the island the nickname "Arizona By The Sea." If you're lucky, you'll also catch a glimpse of shy flamingos, gray donkeys and wild horses that inhabit the island. Bonaire is much more laid-back than flashy Aruba, with all its casinos and parties. Instead, the people of Bonaire invite you to take a dive into their more than 86 dive spots at Bonaire National Marine Park or interact with reef animals at Touch By the Sea. You can visit a Donkey Sanctuary; ride horses to mangroves, flamingos and ocean waters; go deep sea fishing with Captain Chris Morkos; windsurf at Lac Bay Beach; snag a romantic island vacation meal at Zeezicht; visit the historic slave village of Rincon; and take a two-hour tour through Goto Meer and Goto Lake for flamingo and cactus viewing. - 31363

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