Escape from Winter on a Cruise to…

So much of the east coast spent last Thursday sipping hot chocolate while watching Mother Nature cast her fury down upon us in the form of snow, wind and arctic temperatures, right outside their window.  And if you’re like me, you are looking past all that snow, absorbed in a daydream of balmy temps, palm trees, and powdery white sand between your toes!  It’s definitely time to hop on a cruise ship to someplace where the dress code is no more than shorts, tees and flip flops!

A Caribbean cruise is an obvious choice. The islands hit by this fall’s hurricanes are once again ready to welcome visitors and many cruises leave from a port near you, eliminating the hassle of a flight.   Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas offers some great itineraries right out of Cape Liberty, New Jersey. It only takes two relaxing sea days in Anthem’s gorgeous enclosed solarium before you can begin island hopping around Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados and St Kitts.  And no worries if it’s easier for you to drive to Baltimore. Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas can also get you to those same summer wonderlands!

When I think of Hawaii I think of a weather forecast of 80 degrees and sunny, picture perfect sunsets every single night, white sand beaches for miles, and the magical beauty of the land.  Cruising around the Hawaiian Islands is a great way to explore this paradise.  Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of

America does a 7-night with stops (including two over-night stays) in Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. These round-trip cruises from Honolulu leave every week, year-round so why not book a January or February trip?  Norwegian Cruise Line also offers a nice little pre-cruise option in a Waikiki Beach hotel, so you can extend you stay another day or two.  You also have the choice to also purchase optional round-trip airfare starting at $399 from select cities, so this cruise is more affordable than you think!

The Mexican Riviera is made up of a variety of destinations along Mexico's Pacific coast; think Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, La Paz, and Puerto Vallarta. Each Mexican port city and town is special and offers something different and exiting. The beaches, the food, the shopping, the culture, the action-packed excursions…the weather! These are the reasons you need to think about a Mexican Riviera cruise. A cruise to Mexico can be as frenzied or as peaceful as you want it to be; the perfect antidote for the winter blues. Carnival Cruise Line’s Splendor leaves from Los Angeles during the winter months and they’re holding a cabin for you!