I like cruising, and the Caribbean is without doubt one of the hottest cruise locations. You’ll be able to usually take pleasure in nice climate no matter whenever you journey, which means you’ll be able to 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 whenever you guide 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 way of considered one of these hyperlinks might lead to a fee paid to us at no extra price to you. We have visited a couple of of those locations for gratis, however all opinions are my very own.

The Greatest 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 affords 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 will board a tram proper on the port, and it’ll carry you on to the seaside 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 cross to the seaside membership and added on lunch.

The water in Bimini is a wonderful 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. It’s also possible to 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 USA, so you need to use your US foreign money and your US cellphone. When you can guide many excursions, together with excursions, we simply loved strolling round Previous San Juan throughout our go to.

For those who select that possibility, you’ll be able to 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 provides each indoor and out of doors seating. Their huge menu contains many native favorites, equivalent 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 Girl, 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 points of interest.

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 way of 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 images. Learn this Puerto Plata publish to study 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 providing all of the facilities you’d anticipate. There are a number of cruise ship docks and ports in Cozumel, which may accommodate a number of ships concurrently.

The port space affords outlets and eating places, however you can even enterprise past the port for extra actions. Some of the well-liked issues in Cozumel is visiting a non-public seaside membership.

We booked a day at Nachi Cocom Seaside Membership and Water Sports activities Heart throughout considered one of our winter Royal Caribbean cruises. It is a few 15-minute experience from the port by way of cab. The seaside membership ought to be booked upfront as a result of they solely settle for a set variety of visitors each day. Meals is included, and there are seaside chairs and a big pool.

Along with this, there are a lot of 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 considered one of my favourite locations, and I at all times love being on a cruise ship with a cease there. Nevertheless, it is necessary to notice that this can be a tender port. You will have to take a smaller boat to the shore – there isn’t any solution to stroll from the ship to the shore.

As a result of it is a tender port, it’s good to construct in additional time whenever you arrive on the port and when it is time to depart. You will generally have to attend for a ship.

There are a lot of completely different tour choices in Grand Cayman. These embody Rum Level, Stingray Metropolis, the Cayman Turtle Centre, snorkeling, and seaside escapes. All of those actions are plenty 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 way of the ship. That method, 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 beautiful 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 USA Virgin Islands, is one other well-liked cruise vacation spot within the Japanese Caribbean. As a US vacation spot, you will most likely be capable of take your cellphone off airplane mode for the day (however verify together with your supplier first).

Throughout our St. Thomas day, we booked a cruise tour to Magens Bay Seaside. This seaside is commonly thought-about among the many greatest on the planet.

The tour included transportation to the seaside, seaside chairs, and an umbrella. We selected the half-day possibility, so lunch wasn’t included.

This is a superb possibility if you wish to go to a seaside throughout your day in St. Thomas. It’s a lovely seaside.

Key West, FL

It’s possible you’ll 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 need to use your US cellphone and US foreign money.

Key West affords many actions for households. Many visitors lease a golf cart for the day to discover the island. An alternative choice is the Conch Tour Prepare, which stops at many well-liked vacationer locations. Do not miss a photograph alternative on the Southernmost level marker.

You’ll be able to 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, but it surely turned considered 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 may be very new and has plenty of facilities. You do not even have to go away the port space should you do not need to. There’s an on-site aviary with tropical birds, a Kakaw Chocolate Manufacturing facility, a tequila museum, outlets, and eating places.

Nassau, Bahamas

It is not considered 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 remodeled with many new outlets. Many visitors take a day journey to Baha Mar or Atlantis Bahamas Resort. For those who guide an tour together with your cruise line, it is going to embody transportation to those resorts.

Personal Island Locations

Many cruise traces, together with Disney Cruise Line, MSC, and Royal Caribbean, provide personal island locations unique to cruise line visitors. These are sometimes my favourite days of cruises as a result of these islands provide lovely areas and enjoyable actions.

When reserving your cruise, verify the itinerary to see if a cease at considered one of these locations is included. Whether it is, you might be able to guide actions and excursions upfront or might choose to go to the seaside.

What’s your favourite Caribbean cruise vacation spot?