THE HIGH SEAS AWAIT – Orlando Sentinel

Its 17 degrees as a small crowd gathers around a bar made of ice less than a nautical mile from Port Canaveral. Wrapped in borrowed parkas, theyre enjoying Polaris cocktails, a tart blend of citron vodka, Inniskillin Icewine and lemon-lime soda, served in ice cones that chill the lips with each refreshing sip.

Their visit to the Svedka Ice Bar before setting sail contrasts frigidly with the sun and sand that await these passengers in the Caribbean Islands. Poking out from the wintery cavern, vacationers hit the sundeck and wave good-bye to land as the Norwegian Cruise Lines Epic sails south.

Atlantic Sailings

This past November, Port Canaveral widened its channel by 100 feet, which may not sound like much, but it was enough to usher in the next larger class of cruise ships, starting with the Epic. This 1,081-foot vessel began sailing from the Atlantic port to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean (Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Jamaica) in November 2016. On April 1, Epic departs for a summer season in Europe before returning to Port Canaveral on November 18 to resume seven-night Caribbean sailings.

For the cruise crowd hungry for top-notch entertainment, Epic is the ideal ship. Its onboard shows, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical, a colorful costume spectacle with Las Vegas dazzle, and Cirque Dreams and Dinner, a small-scale Cirque du Soleil-inspired performance with aerial acrobatics and gymnastic feats, promise passengers an exciting night at the theater.

The ship is also serious about happy hours, making sure youre never far from your next cocktail with 20 onboard bars and lounges. Youll find one dedicated to sake, another one specializing in whiskey, and then theres the hipsters favorite: Bliss Ultra Lounge for those who want to dance or bowl yes, it has its own bowling alley.

Passengers have a wide range of cabins from which to choose, including 128 studio staterooms catering to solo cruisers, a growing segment of the industry. The studios are economic, not just in terms of value, but also space. Although much bigger than a room in a Japanese capsule hotel, theyre somewhat similar in that the bed occupies the bulk of the floor plan. This isnt the sort of room where youd host a cocktail soiree, but thankfully, buying into this category comes with access to the Studio Lounge, where the ships entertainment team gets the party started with nightly meet-ups opportunities to find like-minded companions for upcoming shore excursions, or leave a note on the whiteboard to make other plans.

Then theres the Haven by Norwegian, a ship-within-a-ship complex. Book here and youll enjoy special butler and concierge services, priority embarkation and disembarkation, and even a private pool, sundeck and restaurant.

Gulf Sailings

From Port Tampa Bay, the biggest news is the introduction of Cuba as a port of call. Both Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Line began sailing to the once-off-the-radar island, with overnight visits to Havana.

Royal Caribbean introduced four- and five-night sailings to Cubas capital this April on the Empress of the Seas one of the more intimate ships in the fleet, catering to just 1,602 passengers.

Curious travelers can explore the islands Spanish colonial architecture on a shore excursion, or book a food-centric tour to sample Cuban dishes that blend Spanish, African, Caribbean and Native American Taino influences. The local music and up-and-coming art scenes are well worth experiencing for those interested in learning more about the culture.

Onboard the Empress, Cuban flavors abound throughout the ship, starting with the warm aroma of none other than Cuban coffee. At Caf Royal passengers indulge in cups of caf con leche and cortaditos Cuban espresso shots topped with steamed milk. Restaurant menus feature Latin-themed foods representative of the island flavors.

For passengers who want to spend more time in Havana, a cruise on Carnivals Paradise offers a day and an overnight in the capital. With 12 sailings, each four- or five-night cruises, starting June 29, you can easily make a summer visit to the country.

With extra time in port, the adventurous can explore the bars of Old Havana; sip daiquiris at El Floridita, a former haunt of American writer Ernest Hemingway; and soak up the ambiance and live music at the always-lively Caf Paris. On weekends, a visit to the Vedado neighborhood, a quick cab ride from Old Havana, turns up the Fbrica de Arte Cubano. This high-energy industrial space serves as an art gallery, bar and dance hall for tourists and locals alike.

The 855-foot Paradise is known for attracting the younger generation as well as the kid-at-heart in every guest with its 115-foot-long waterslide and Seuss at Sea entertainment (Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast, and Dine with the Cat in the Hat and other Dr. Seuss characters). Chefs cater to pint-sized cruisers with cartoon-worthy dishes and candy-colored pancakes.

As family cruising becomes more attractive, so has the creation of adults-only spaces. The Paradise has Serenity, a retreat where hammocks, loungers and a separate bar are designed specifically for grown-ups in search of total relaxation and quietude.

Next year Carnival will bring the Miracle to Port Tampa Bay. Seven-night Caribbean sailings start in January 2018. The 963-foot ship offers the Seuss-themed events and the adults-only areas, plus fun venues like the Cherry on Top candy store, stocked floor to ceiling with sweet treats, and pampering palaces like the Cloud 9 Spa, with aroma steam baths and a thalassotherapy pool as well as treatments from massages and facials to even acupuncture.

Future Plans

The popularity of cruise vacations and the mega-ship designs have resulted in increased numbers of passengers traveling through the terminals. Ports continue to expand and update their facilities to accommodate the traffic. So its no surprise that Port Canaveral is still in the throes of deepening their channel to allow even larger ships to travel in and out of the Central Florida port. And speculation abounds that more major cruise lines, from Celebrity Cruises to Princess Cruises, will be lining up for the next available berth.

Ready to Book Your Cruise?

Robin Souder, owner of the Orlando-based Cruise Experts International, has been booking sailings for the past 20 years. She offers her advice on not only how to plan for a cruise, but also on how to get the most for your money.

See more here:

THE HIGH SEAS AWAIT - Orlando Sentinel