When it comes to cruising, the Caribbean is one of the most popular destinations for many good reasons. Picture exotic ports, stunning beaches, and a huge range of different itineraries, meaning there’s something to suit everyone.
Cruising is an excellent way to travel through the Caribbean as you’ll travel while you’re sleeping, awakening to a new, exciting destination in the morning.
While the most popular time to cruise this area is from November to May, if you happen to travel in the low season you may find cheaper prices. June to November is hurricane season in the area though, so you may find that your itinerary could change based on what the weather is doing.
Here are the best places to explore when on a Caribbean Cruise:
Easter Caribbean
If you choose to sail through the eastern Caribbean you’ll probably depart from Florida. Generally the eastern Caribbean is everything east of Puerto Rico, along with San Juan, St. Maarten, Haiti, St. Thomas, and St Kitts. The good thing about choosing the eastern Caribbean is that the distance between island is smaller than other areas of the Caribbean, which means less time out at sea, and more time on the islands.
You’ll be bale to go zip lining through the forest canopy in St. Maarten, kayaking in the Laguna Grande if you stop by Fajardo, spend some time scuba diving in Grand Turk, or swimming with the dolphins if you visit St. Thomas.
Western Caribbean
If you choose to cruise the western Caribbean you’ll generally find yourself spending more time at sea. However cruise ships have the ultimate entertainment options, and this means you’ll also be able to visit more exotic destinations. You’re likely to depart from Florida, New Orleans, or Houston, and some of the best ports of call on these cruises include Jamaica, Belize, Grand Cayman, Mexico, and Honduras.
If you’re a scuba diver or love to snorkel this is an excellent choice, since popular excursions include snorkelling with sting rays in Grand Cayman and cave tubing in Belize. There are also Mayan ruins to explore in Costa Maya, and if you feel like getting active you can go ATV riding in Cozumel.
Southern Caribbean
These itineraries are excellent if you’ve already spent some time cruising the Caribbean as the destinations are often less crowded. Some of these itineraries depart from Puerto Rico or Barbados as they’re too far south for a departure from the United States. You’ll be visiting places like Grenada, Mayreau Island, Tobaga Cays, St Vincent, St Kitts and Bequila.
If you’re the adventurous type and feel like island hopping, the Southern Caribbean is the place to go. There usually isn’t much time at sea, however because the islands are less accessible you’ll probably have a more authentic experience since there are generally less tourists. Watch the sunset in Aruba, explore the sulfur springs in St Lucia, hike the rain forest in Grenada, and be sure to do the scenic rail tour if you go to St Kitts.
