I like cruising, and the Caribbean is likely one of the hottest cruise locations. You may usually get pleasure from nice climate no matter if you journey, that means you possibly can benefit from the outside options of the ship along with the ports of name.
There are such a lot of Caribbean cruise locations that you could be see if you e-book your Caribbean cruise. Relying on the cruise line, they’re typically divided into Japanese and Western Caribbean itineraries. For shorter cruises, they typically cease on the Bahamas, which is not too removed from the coast of Florida. Listed here are our favourite cruise locations within the Caribbean.
Disclosure: This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks, and a purchase order/click on by certainly one of these hyperlinks might end in a fee paid to us at no further value to you. We have visited just a few of those locations without charge, however all opinions are my very own.
Observe: Please verify all state division warnings earlier than touring and know that conditions can at all times change. Staying on the ship is at all times an possibility if you happen to do not feel secure exploring the native space.
The Finest Cruise Locations within the Caribbean
Bimini, Bahamas
Bimini is a small island within the Bahamas, situated about 50 miles off the coast of Miami. It provides a really small cruise port, accommodating just one ship at a time. The principle resort on the island is Resorts World Bimini.
I spend my day on the Seaside Membership at Bimini after I go to Bimini. If you’re crusing on Virgin Voyages, your admission (and meals) on the Seaside Membership at Bimini is complimentary. You may board a tram proper on the port, and it’ll carry you on to the seashore membership.
If you’re crusing on one other cruise line to Bimini, you might be able to buy admission to the Seaside Membership. Once I sailed on the Celeb Summit, we bought a day move to the seashore membership and added on lunch.
The water in Bimini is a stupendous blue colour, and it is such a pleasant place to go to. Different excursions are provided on the island, together with some as a part of the Resorts World Bimini. You may also go to the resort’s on line casino.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a enjoyable cruise cease. It is a part of the US, so you should utilize your US forex and your US cellphone. Whilst you can e-book many excursions, together with excursions, we simply loved strolling round Previous San Juan throughout our go to.
When you select that possibility, you possibly can store, dine at a neighborhood restaurant, and take a look at the native websites on time. We loved having lunch at Barrachina, a well-liked restaurant that gives each indoor and outside seating. Their huge menu consists of many native favorites, akin to Mofongo. Remember to order their specialty, a pina colada.
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Final yr, I visited Puerto Plata within the Dominican Republic. Our ship, the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Woman, stopped on the Taino Bay Port.
As a result of I wasn’t conversant in this cruise port or the Dominican Republic, I booked a meals tour within the city. It additionally included stops at among the city’s prime vacationer sights.
If you’re visiting the Taino Bay Port, there’s a lot to do. Actions and facilities within the Taino Bay Port embody a lazy river, six aviaries, Monkey Island, outlets, and eating places. Whereas we did not keep within the port, I loved strolling by it after our deliberate tour.
Whereas in Puerto Plata, contemplate visiting Paseo Dona Blanca (Pink Avenue) and Umbrella Avenue. They’re each stunning and nice locations to take photographs. Learn this Puerto Plata publish to study extra concerning the cruise port and what you are able to do there.
Cozumel, Mexico
Cozumel is an island off the Yucatan Peninsula within the Quintana Roo state of Mexico. Cozumel is a well-liked cruise ship cease providing all of the facilities you’d count on. There are a number of cruise ship docks and ports in Cozumel, which might accommodate a number of ships concurrently.
The port space provides outlets and eating places, however you can even enterprise past the port for extra actions. One of the fashionable issues in Cozumel is visiting a non-public seashore membership.
We booked a day at Nachi Cocom Seaside Membership and Water Sports activities Heart throughout certainly one of our winter Royal Caribbean cruises. It is a couple of 15-minute trip from the port through cab. The seashore membership ought to be booked upfront as a result of they solely settle for a set variety of friends each day. Meals is included, and there are seashore chairs and a big pool.
Along with this, there are various different excursions and actions in Cozumel. These embody Chankanaab Journey Park, ATV rides, the Mayan ruins and archaeological websites (San Gervasio and El Cedral), and snorkeling.
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Grand Cayman is certainly one of my favourite locations, and I at all times love being on a cruise ship with a cease there. Nevertheless, it is essential to notice that it is a tender port. You may have to take a smaller boat to the shore – there is not any option to stroll from the ship to the shore.
As a result of it is a tender port, it is advisable construct in additional time if you arrive on the port and when it is time to go away. You may generally have to attend for a ship.
There are numerous completely different tour choices in Grand Cayman. These embody Rum Level, Stingray Metropolis, the Cayman Turtle Centre, snorkeling, and seashore escapes. All of those actions are a lot of enjoyable, so it is best to decide on primarily based in your pursuits.
As a result of it is a tender port, I like to recommend reserving your tour by the ship. That means, you will not have to fret about timing.
Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos is the place to go if you wish to see the attractive turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Cruises cease at Grand Turk, a totally completely different island from Providenciales (the place you will discover Seashores Turks and Caicos).
Many alternative tour choices embody snorkeling, golf cart excursions, kayaking, parasailing, and ATVs. I might advocate one thing on the water due to the attractive views.
St. Thomas, USVI
St. Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands, is one other fashionable cruise vacation spot within the Japanese Caribbean. As a US vacation spot, you will in all probability have the ability to take your cellphone off airplane mode for the day (however verify along with your supplier first).
Throughout our St. Thomas day, we booked a cruise tour to Magens Bay Seaside. This seashore is usually thought-about among the many finest on the planet.
The tour included transportation to the seashore, seashore chairs, and an umbrella. We selected the half-day possibility, so lunch wasn’t included.
This is a wonderful possibility if you wish to go to a seashore throughout your day in St. Thomas. It’s a stunning seashore.
Key West, FL
You might not consider Key West as a conventional Caribbean vacation spot. Nevertheless, it’s an possibility on some Caribbean cruises, together with some that cease within the Bahamas. As a US vacation spot, you should utilize your US cellphone and US forex.
Key West provides many actions for households. Many friends lease a golf cart for the day to discover the island. An alternative choice is the Conch Tour Prepare, which stops at many fashionable vacationer locations. Do not miss a photograph alternative on the Southernmost level marker.
You may see extra details about visiting Key West on a cruise ship right here.
Costa Maya, Mexico
Throughout a Western Caribbean crusing, our ship’s itinerary had modified from Jamaica to Costa Maya, Mexico. I wasn’t conversant in this port, nevertheless it turned certainly one of our favorites.
The port of Costa Maya is situated within the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, on the Yucatan peninsula. It’s bordered by the Caribbean Sea and is within the Western Caribbean. In contrast to Cozumel, it is not an island – it is a part of the mainland.
The Costa Maya port could be very new and has a lot of facilities. You do not even have to depart the port space if you happen to do not wish to. There’s an on-site aviary with tropical birds, a Kakaw Chocolate Manufacturing unit, a tequila museum, outlets, and eating places.
Nassau, Bahamas
It is not certainly one of my favorites as a result of so many cruise ships dock in Nassau. We have been there so typically that I typically keep on the ship throughout stops.
If you have not been not too long ago, the port has been reworked with many new outlets. Many friends take a day journey to Baha Mar or Atlantis Bahamas Resort. When you e-book an tour along with your cruise line, it would embody transportation to those resorts.
Personal Island Locations
Many cruise traces, together with Disney Cruise Line, MSC, and Royal Caribbean, provide non-public island locations unique to cruise line friends. These are sometimes my favourite days of cruises as a result of these islands provide stunning areas and enjoyable actions.
When reserving your cruise, verify the itinerary to see if a cease at certainly one of these locations is included. Whether it is, you might be able to e-book actions and excursions upfront or might choose to go to the seashore.
What’s your favourite Caribbean cruise vacation spot?
