Since Florida represents the southernmost level within the USA, getting from there to Mexico, Central America, and South America entails a a lot shorter journey than wherever else you possibly can depart from. As you set sail from these sunny ports for cruises from Florida, you’ll be trying ahead to approaching stops in historical cities, attractive seashores, vibrant capitals, or the Panama Canal.
Your journey begins in one of many world-famous Floridian cruise ports resembling Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Tampa. These hubs are well-equipped to supply a easy departure and all of them are gateways to to the Caribbean and Latin America.
With cruises from Tampa, as an illustration, you possibly can head to the Yucatan Peninsula, Honduras, Belize, Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia with common departures. You’ll be able to take a retirement cruise stuffed with consolation and leisure, however do one thing extra adventurous than simply puttering across the Bahamas.
At many instances of the yr, you possibly can sail from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale even additional, together with all the way in which all the way down to Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. Ships that undergo the Panama Canal might take you Ecuador and Peru.
With a myriad of cruise strains to select from, you will discover a voyage that caters precisely to your style, your timeline, and magnificence of journey, together with luxurious liners with all-inclusive facilities.
In case your thought of enjoyable is being on a megaship that holds hundreds, nonetheless, you’ll must board in one of many two southern ports. Ships coming into Tampa Bay must go below a excessive bridge and the ships that appear like floating skyscrapers are too tall.
We posted a definitive information to Central America cruises earlier than, however these have been from each coasts and Texas. Right here’s the place you will get from the Florida ports, together with Mexico and South America.
The place You Will Cease on a Latin American Cruise
As you navigate by the nice and cozy Caribbean Sea or the huge Atlantic Ocean, every day presents a brand new vacation spot to discover. Your itinerary would possibly embrace stops in culturally wealthy cities like Cartagena, Colombia, with its cobblestone streets and colonial structure, or within the numerous ecosystems of the Amazon River. Dive into the deep blues of the Honduras Bay Islands or discover the biodiverse jungle areas of Costa Rica and Panama.
Embarking on a cruise from Florida to Latin America affords an array of experiences, from exploring historical ruins to lounging on sun-soaked seashores. Whilst you’ll must dock in sufficiently big ports to accommodate cruise ships, there are many these down the Caribbean and Atlantic coasts.
Cruises to Mexico typically cease in a mixture of Progreso, Cozumel, and Mahual/Costa Maya, with excursions accessible to Mayan ruins, Merida, Playa del Carmen, and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere. Additional south they are going to dock close to Belize Metropolis, Rio Lagartos, or Roatan Island. There’s one port on the Caribbean facet of Costa Rica and cruises will typically undergo the Panama Canal from the Caribbean facet and find yourself within the Pacific Ocean on the opposite facet.
Those who preserve taking place the Atlantic might head to Cartagena, with excursions accessible to many locations in Colombia. Some will cease in lesser-known locations resembling Guyana or will proceed on to a number of stops alongside the coast of Brazil. It’s potential for some ships—together with luxurious ones from the likes of Silversea—to to journey inland 1,500 kilometers up the Amazon River to Manaus.
Crusing into Rio de Janeiro presents a lovely panorama of the skyline and pointing rock mountains, the Christ the Redeemer statue trying down at you from the very best level. After crossing by Uruguay, with possibly a visit to Montevideo, the final cease is often Buenos Aires. It’s an extended stretch of coast all the way down to Ushuaia, the crossing level for journeys to Antarctica in ships meant for tough seas and ice.
How A lot Time Do You Must Attain Latin America From Florida?
In case you’re solely headed to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, you possibly can depart on a cruise that lasts lower than every week and journey to Cozumel and again. Most ships heading there’ll make another stops at Caribbean islands to interrupt up the journey.
To go additional than that, you’ll want at the least 5 full days and doubtless extra like every week. Don’t neglect to consider attending to your port metropolis a day early to be secure and constructing in time to get house from Florida.
For instance, an itinerary going to Belize and Honduras is often at the least 7 nights and eight days. An extended one reaching Panama and Colombia will possible take two weeks. Those who journey additional south are 20 to 30 days. With a few of these, chances are you’ll be flying again on the finish as effectively.
Crusing Dates and Availability
The height interval for cruises from Florida is when it’s chilly up north and other people need to escape, so that you’ll discover extra departures November by March than within the hotter months. College breaks are in the summertime although, after all, so when you’re touring as a household you’ll nonetheless discover some choices in June and July. Most of the ships head throughout the Atlantic to serve the Mediterranean in the summertime months although somewhat than sticking across the Americas.
As soon as it begins stepping into hurricane season, nonetheless, typically August till November, it’s too dangerous for cruise ships to ply these waters. It’s additionally the rainiest time of yr in Central America.
Itinerary Highlights on the Ship
For some components of the journey, the getting there might certainly be half the enjoyable. There are some waterways that get prime billing within the itineraries due to what you’ll see from the deck.
The instance talked about earlier is the well-known Panama Canal, a surprise of engineering that enables ships to go by locks at totally different elevations and cross between two oceans. Some Panama Canal sailings don’t return to their unique port: they sail from Florida and find yourself in California, or vice-versa.
Cruises that embrace the Amazon River of Brazil permit you to see river banks and wildlife as an alternative of the huge open ocean. Excursions in these areas are much more nature-intensive than ones stopping off at island ports.
Understanding the Fantastic Print
When planning your cruise from Florida to Latin America, it’s essential to concentrate to the finer particulars of your reserving to keep away from surprises. Understanding your rights round cancellation and what your journey insurance coverage covers can prevent each money and time.
Earlier than reserving your cruise, assessment the cancellation and refund coverage rigorously. Cancellation phrases can range considerably relying on the cruise line and ticket kind, in addition to how near departure you might be getting. You’ll typically lose half the fare value when you cancel lower than two months out and you possibly can lose all of it if canceling a couple of weeks earlier than it sails. Insure your journey correctly so that you received’t be out a lot cash if a medical emergency or different situation arises.
Moreover, sure promotional fares may need stricter restrictions which may embrace being non-refundable or topic to greater charges upon cancellation. All the time confirm these particulars on the exterior web site or within the documentation supplied by the cruise line when reserving your journey.
Buying journey insurance coverage needs to be a given for causes past simply mitigating your cancellation danger. It’s going to additionally cowl medical payments overseas, reimburse you for misplaced or delayed baggage, and doubtless even cowl issues along with your flight in attending to port.
As along with your cruise settlement, some insurance policies may additionally have exclusions or limitations, so learn the phrases carefully and know what you’re shopping for.
Embarking on a cruise from Florida to Latin America affords you a singular alternative to discover numerous cultures, cuisines, and landscapes. You’ll discover quite a lot of itineraries that cater to totally different tastes and preferences. You’ll be able to select from shorter excursions that are perfect for a fast getaway or longer voyages that enable for deeper exploration.
See extra info right here on accommodations close to the Tampa cruise terminal and verify right here for accommodations in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale.