Getting into the mood for your Caribbean cruise is easy and fun. First, we recommend you get a map. “The Caribbean” sounds like one location, but the Caribbean Sea is made up of coastlines along the coasts of North, Central and South America as well as the islands of Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and a string of islands along the eastern edge. The Bahamas aren’t technically part of the Caribbean but are often included because they are stops along the way to cruising the Caribbean Sea. If you haven’t booked your cruise yet, call a CruiseExperts.com agent to help you find the itinerary that takes you where you want to go. We can recommend the most popular itineraries and ports–and explain why.
Take your first dip in a book or movie
We’ve compiled a list of books, movies and music to help get you in the mood for your destination; as they say half the experience is the anticipation. Have some fun, get in the mood by putting on a sarong or straw hat, pour yourself a pina colada and listen to some steel drums music like Steel Drum Gold by Bob Lyons.
We’ve put together a list of books that might interest all types of vacationers. The list includes topics from history, to guides, to cultural appreciation as well as some fiction that highlights the Caribbean. If you have a book you recommend which features the Caribbean islands or have read one of the books we’ve recommended, please let us know by commenting below.
BOOKS
The Caribbean: A History of the Region and Its Peoples by Stephan Palmie and Francisco A. Scarano
A Brief History of the Caribbean: From the Arawak and Carib to the Present by Jan Rogonzinski
Frommer’s Caribbean Ports of Call by Robin Andersen
Caribbean Houses: History, Style, and Architecture by Michael Connors
Caribbean Art (The World of Art) by Veerle Poupeye
The Book of Salsa: A Chronicle of Urban Music from the Caribbean to New York City by Ceasar Miguel Rondon
Caribbean Rum: A Social and Economic History by Prof. Frederick H. Smith
Birds of the Eastern Caribbean by Peter Evans
Caribbean: A Novel by James A. Michener
If a Pirate I Must Be…The True Story of “Black Bart,” King of the Caribbean Pirates by Richard Sanders
For the Kids
Caribbean Dream by Rachel Isadora
Pirates (Magic Tree House Research Guide) by Mary Pope Osborne
MOVIES
Here are some movie titles with scenes filmed in various Caribbean locations. Please feel free to recommend movies you’ve seen that captured the Caribbean experience for you. Just add them in the comments below so we can share them with everyone.
Movies filmed in Belize: The Dogs of War
Movies filmed in the Dominican Republic:
Apocalypse Now
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Fast & Furious
Miami Vice
The Godfather II
Movies filmed in Jamaica:
Dr. No Filming locations
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Island in the Sun
A High Wind in Jamaica
The Harder They Come
Papillon
Live and Let Die
Club Paradise
Clara’s Heart
Cocktail
The Mighty Quinn
Wide Sargasso Sea
Cool Runnings
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
Treasure Island
The Firm (Cayman Islands)
Knight and Day
Movies filmed in Puerto Rico:
Amistad
Captain Ron
Contact
GoldenEye
Movies filmed in Virgin Islands:
Trading Places
Shawshank Redemption (The final scene was not filmed in Mexico!)
Open Water
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Weekend at Bernie’s II
Movies filmed in the Eastern Caribbean:
Speed 2: Cruise Control (St. Martin)
Swiss Family Robinson (Trinidad and Tobago)
Call us to learn more
Wherever your travels take you, let one of our cruise experts help you plan your next vacation. Our staff is accredited by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), and have traveled to virtually any destination you want to go to. We would love your comments on any of the books or movies we’ve recommended. Contact us anytime by calling 1-888-804-CRUIse(2784) or visiting our website, www.CruiseExperts.com.