The Riviera is still less than one year old, and this is our second time on this beauty. We chose the ship for the length of the cruise, the luxuries of food and wine and amenities of a six star floating hotel and the warm climate. Having been to many islands in the Caribbean a number of times before on land and sea vacations, they, with the exception of pricey and St Tropez-like St. Bart's, are all the same to us and have frankly very little appeal. Most of the ports we did not get off the ship and found the ship more open and relaxing until the excursion people returned around lunch.

Most of the ports we visited were on the smaller size, with very few if any other ships in port or tendering (once) when we were there, and this is important. If one likes to be with thousands of fellow travelers "cruising" up and down the duty free jewelry and liquor store laden streets of the Caribbean ports, disgorged from their mega ships crisscrossing the Caribbean these days, looking for bargain watches and jewels, this would not have been the cruise for you.

So put the ports we visited aside. This floating hotel is just gorgeous, and a cruise on it a very relaxing and enjoyable vacation. Read more