The Southern Caribbean, a long haul for most cruises, is becoming a more popular destination, according to Cruise Critic Editor Carolyn Spencer.

The islands of the Southern Caribbean, which translate roughly to those lying east and south of St. Maarten/St. Martin, have always been slightly more exotic than counterparts in the Western and Eastern Caribbean. Part of that is due to the very strong colonial influence that pervades many of these islands, a great percentage of which are still related to France, the Netherlands and the U.K.

Cruise lines are beginning to offer “deep-south” itineraries that hit these islands and cruisers can always opt to leave out of San Juan, which gives them a head start in the right direction.

According to the readers of Caribbean Travel & Life magazine, Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort in St. Thomas is the best resort hotel in the Caribbean. The magazine’s 2005 Annual Reader’s Poll lists winners in 31 categories. The other top resort hotels are:

• Cap Juluca, Anguilla
• Four Seasons Resort, Nevis
• Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas

For a big enough savings, a majority of travellers would be willing to vacation in the Caribbean in the heart of hurricane season. A survey for TripAdvisor showed that 60 percent of respondents would be willing to travel for a savings of at least 40 percent. In fact, five percent of respondents said they would like to experience a hurricane.

Originally uploaded by meskk.

Here is a photo of seaside bluffs in Princess Alexandria Land and Sea National Park on the north shore of Provo Island in the Turks and Caicos (found on flickr).

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck recently married on the private island resort of Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos Islands. In its past Parrot Cay was frequented by pirates, but is now a high-end luxury resort that makes the perfect location for a private wedding.

Photographs show a beautiful tropical retreat and a satellite image shows the large number of islands and small cays that make up the Turks and Caicos. Other celebrities who have vacationed at Parrot Cay include Liam Neeson, Raquel Welch, Paul McCartney, and Jerry Seinfeld.

I’ve found a few more details on Leonadro DiCaprio’s purchase of Blackadore Caye of the coast of Belize. The island apparently cost around $1.75 million, which seems like a pretty good deal to me. The resort will feature an airstrip and renewable energy sources.

Update: A satellite image of Blackadore Caye is available through Google Maps. If you zoom out you can get a better idea of where DiCaprio’s island is located.