I like cruising, and the Caribbean is likely one of the hottest cruise locations. You possibly can typically take pleasure in nice climate no matter once you journey, that means you possibly can benefit from the out of doors options of the ship along with the ports of name.
There are such a lot of Caribbean cruise locations that you could be see once you e-book your Caribbean cruise. Relying on the cruise line, they’re usually divided into Japanese and Western Caribbean itineraries. For shorter cruises, they usually cease on the Bahamas, which isn’t too removed from the coast of Florida. Listed below are our favourite cruise locations within the Caribbean.
Disclosure: This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks, and a purchase order/click on via certainly one of these hyperlinks could lead to a fee paid to us at no extra price to you. We’ve visited a couple of of those locations for gratis, however all opinions are my very own.
Notice: Please examine 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 when you don’t really feel protected exploring the native space.
The Greatest Cruise Locations within the Caribbean
Bimini, Bahamas
Bimini is a small island within the Bahamas, positioned about 50 miles off the coast of Miami. It gives a really small cruise port, with room for just one ship to dock at a time. The principle resort on the island is Resorts World Bimini.
I spend my day on the Seaside Membership at Bimini once I go to Bimini. If you’re crusing on Virgin Voyages, your admission (and meals) on the Seaside Membership at Bimini is complimentary. You’ll board a tram proper on the port, and it brings 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 Movie star Summit, we bought a day cross to the seashore membership and added on lunch.
The water in Bimini is a good looking blue coloration, and it’s such a pleasant place to go to. Different excursions are supplied on the island, together with some as a part of the Resorts World Bimini. You may as well go to the resort’s on line casino.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan Puerto Rico is a enjoyable cruise cease. It’s a part of the US, so you need to use your US foreign money and your US mobile phone. When you can e-book many excursions, together with excursions, we simply loved strolling round Previous San Juan throughout our go to.
Should you select that possibility, you possibly can store, dine at a neighborhood restaurant, and take a look at the native websites on time. We liked having lunch at Barrachina, a preferred restaurant providing indoor and out of doors seating. Their huge menu contains plenty of native favorites, together with Mofongo. Don’t neglect to order their specialty, a pina colada.
Puerto Plata, Domincan Republic
Final 12 months, I visited Puerto Plata within the Dominican Republic. Our ship, the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Girl, stopped on the Taino Bay Port.
As a result of I wasn’t aware of this cruise port or the Dominican Republic, I booked a meals tour within the city. It additionally included stops at a number of the high vacationer sights on the town.
If you’re visiting the Taino Bay Port, there’s a lot to do. Actions and facilities within the Taino Bay Port embrace a lazy river, six aviaries, Monkey Island, retailers, and eating places. Whereas we didn’t keep within the port, I loved strolling via it after our deliberate tour.
Whereas in Puerto Plata, think about visiting Paseo Dona Blanca (Pink Avenue) and Umbrella Avenue. They’re each lovely and nice locations to take photographs. Learn this Puerto Plata put up to be taught extra in regards to 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 with all of the facilities you’d count on to see. There are a number of cruise ship docks and ports in Cozumel, which might accommodate a number of ships at one time.
The port space gives retailers and eating places, however you may as well enterprise past the port for extra actions. Probably the most fashionable issues in Cozumel is visiting a non-public seashore membership.
We booked a day at Nachi Cocom Seaside Membership and Water Sports activities Middle throughout certainly one of our winter Royal Caribbean cruises. It’s a few 15-minute journey from the port by way of cab. The seashore membership must be booked prematurely as a result of they solely settle for a set variety of visitors each day. Meals is included, and there are seashore chairs and a big pool.
Along with this, there are lots of different excursions and actions in Cozumel. These embrace 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. Nonetheless, it’s vital to notice that this can be a tender port. You’ll must take a smaller boat to the shore – there’s no strategy to stroll from the ship to the shore.
As a result of it’s a young port, you must construct in additional time once you arrive on the port and when it’s time to depart. You’ll generally have to attend for a ship.
There are lots of completely different tour choices in Grand Cayman. These embrace Rum Level, Stingray Metropolis, the Cayman Turtle Centre, snorkeling, and seashore escapes. All of those actions are plenty of enjoyable, so it’s greatest to decide on primarily based in your pursuits.
As a result of it’s a young port, I like to recommend reserving your tour via the ship. That means, you received’t have to fret about timing.
Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos is the place to go if you wish to see the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Cruises cease at Grand Turk, a totally completely different island from Providenciales (the place you’ll discover Seashores Turks and Caicos).
Many various tour choices embrace snorkeling, golf cart excursions, kayaking, parasailing, and ATVs. I’d suggest one thing on the water due to the gorgeous 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’ll in all probability be capable to take your mobile phone off airplane mode for the day (however examine together with your supplier first).
Throughout our St. Thomas day, we booked a cruise tour to Magens Bay Seaside. This seashore is usually thought of among the many greatest seashores 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 lovely seashore.
Key West, FL
It’s possible you’ll not consider Key West as a standard Caribbean vacation spot. Nonetheless, it’s an possibility on some Caribbean cruises, together with some that cease within the Bahamas. As a US vacation spot, you need to use your US mobile phone and US foreign money.
Key West gives many actions for households. Many visitors hire a golf cart for the day to discover the island. An alternative choice is the Conch Tour Practice, which stops at many fashionable vacationer locations. Don’t miss a photograph alternative on the Southernmost level marker.
You possibly can 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 aware of this port, but it surely grew to become certainly one of our favorites.
The port of Costa Maya is positioned within the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, on the Yucatan peninsula. It’s bordered by the Caribbean Sea and is within the Western Caribbean. Not like Cozumel, it isn’t an island – it’s a part of the mainland.
The Costa Maya port could be very new and has plenty of facilities. You don’t even have to depart the port space when you don’t wish to. There’s an on-site aviary with tropical birds, a Kakaw Chocolate Manufacturing unit, a tequila museum, retailers, and eating places.
Nassau, Bahamas
It isn’t certainly one of my favorites as a result of so many cruise ships dock in Nassau. We’ve been there so usually that I usually keep on the ship throughout stops.
Should you haven’t been just lately, the port has been remodeled with many new retailers. Many visitors take a day journey to Baha Mar or Atlantis Bahamas Resort. Should you e-book an tour together with your cruise line, it can embrace transportation to those resorts.
Non-public Island Locations
Many cruise strains, together with Disney Cruise Line, MSC, and Royal Caribbean, supply personal island locations unique to cruise line visitors. These are sometimes my favourite days of cruises as a result of these islands supply lovely places and enjoyable actions.
When reserving your cruise, examine 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 prematurely or could favor to go to the seashore.
What’s your favourite Caribbean cruise vacation spot?
