Caribbean Cruise Guide and Reviews
Why Cruise To The Caribbean?
The Caribbean conjures up thoughts of bright turquoise water, white-sand beaches, swaying palm trees, and warm, sunny weather. The best part: It delivers.
Caribbean cruise itineraries are broken up into three routes: eastern, western, and southern. Your vacation length, ideal embarkation port, and interests will determine which is best for you.
For example, the eastern route offers beautiful beaches and lots of water sports. You can zipline through 200-year-old mango trees in St. Martin, find peace and quiet at Virgin Islands National Park in St. John, or hike among the waterfalls and wildflowers in El Yunque rain forest in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The western route offers a great blend of eco-adventures and cultural attractions, with stops along Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, plus Honduras, Belize, and Caribbean islands such as Jamaica and Grand Cayman. Hop in a kayak in Cozumel and paddle around one of the world’s largest coral reefs, or take an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) ride through the rain forest in Ocho Rios.
Ports on the southern route are farther apart than those on eastern and western sailings, requiring more travel time — but also providing a more exotic experience. It’s the most interesting route, calling on remote isles that make you feel as though you’re shipwrecked on “Gilligan’s Island.” You may want to ride horseback through St. Barth’s hillsides and tour St. Lucia’s Sulphur Springs, the world’s only “drive-in” volcano. While the idea of escaping to a tropical island paradise may have been the initial inspiration for a visit, you’ll quickly learn there’s a lot more to the Caribbean than just sun, sand, and surf.
When To Go To The Caribbean
With year-round balmy weather, it may seem like anytime is a great time to cruise the Caribbean. However, there are some important points to consider before booking.
Hurricane season — which runs June 1 through November 30 — is the main issue, with an average of six hurricanes a year. The Southern Caribbean was once thought to sit under the hurricane belt and remain unaffected by storms, but with Grenada and Aruba both hit in the last 10 years, it’s a concern no matter which route you take.
Even with hurricane season in full effect, families and honeymooners still frequent the islands over the summer, so prices usually don’t go down. Late summer to fall is when you can find the best deals, as well as in early December (right after Thanksgiving) and January (right after New Year’s).
High season for both the Western and Eastern Caribbean is December through April, when most people are looking to flee the harsh winter up north. September through October and late April — depending on when Easter falls — through May are considered the shoulder seasons, so ships and ports are often less crowded.
Our advice: Avoid Christmas, summer, and spring break if you’re looking for a quiet, relaxed vacation.
Caribbean Cruise Routes
There Are Four Main Routes to Choose From:
Eastern Caribbean: Nearly every cruise line, big and small, offers itineraries on this route, with sailings ranging from three nights to the traditional seven , and up to 10 nights and longer. Main ports include U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John), British Virgin Islands (Virgin Gorda and Tortola), plus San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Martin; and Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos.
The biggest decision won’t come in choosing an itinerary but an embarkation port. Cruising out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Miami are very popular choices since they provide less time at sea before the first port of call. But flying down to Florida is no longer necessary for New Englanders, with several embarkation choices along the East Coast: Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York; Bayonne, New Jersey; Baltimore, Maryland; and Charleston, South Carolina. You can also fly to San Juan and embark from there.
Western Caribbean: With a mix of Central American and Caribbean ports, the cultural and scenic diversity of this route makes it a great choice for first-time cruisers. Even those who have sailed it before can uncover new things with a variety of itinerary options from which to choose.
Four- or five-night sailings typically stop in Cozumel; Key West, Florida; Jamaica; and Grand Cayman, while seven-night cruises may add on Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; and Costa Maya, Mexico. Most big-ship lines embark from southern cities such as New Orleans; Galveston, Texas, or Houston; Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Southern Caribbean: This route is different than the others in terms of travel requirements and port personalities. Standard weeklong itineraries require a flight to the embarkation port — typically San Juan or Barbados — since it’s too far to sail to from the U.S. Those planning a 10-night or longer vacation can choose to leave from domestic ports such as Florida’s Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and Cape Canaveral, or New York City.
Southern Caribbean itineraries commonly make stops in some combination of the ABC islands — Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao — as well as St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent, the Grenadines, and Barbados. Seasoned travelers who’ve already sailed the western or eastern routes may opt for a cruise to these more exotic destinations, each offering its own unique charm. For example, Aruba and Grenada are known for their gorgeous beaches, St. Lucia for its tropical rain forests, and the Grenadine islands for their quiet, remote cays.
Bahamas: With more than 300 days of sunshine and high temperatures that rarely leave the 80s, a low season is virtually nonexistent in the Bahamas. Whether you like to explore cultural attractions, take in a few rounds of golf, shop in local markets, join high-adrenaline excursions, or just sunbathe on the soft, white sand, these islands offer enough variety to entertain visitors with nearly any interest.
Several mainstream lines sail year-round to the islands, with itineraries that include a stop in either Nassau or Freeport, along with a day on one of the cruise lines’ private isles. You can catch a shorter three- to four-night sailing out of Florida ports such as Miami, Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, or Fort Lauderdale, but longer five- to eight-night cruises must be taken from ports along the East Coast and the South, including Charleston, New Orleans, and Galveston.
Caribbean Cruise Itineraries
Caribbean Cruises
Ports
- Galveston, Texas
- Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras
- Belize City, Belize
- Cozumel, Mexico
Ports
Galveston, Texas - Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras - Belize City, Belize - Cozumel, Mexico - View more ports
| Partners | Bonus Offers | Inside | Oceanview | Balcony | Suite | |
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| See Offers |
$779* |
$999* |
$1189* |
$1779* |
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| See Offers |
$779* |
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$1189* |
$1779* |
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| See Offers |
$779* |
$999* |
$1189* |
$1779* |
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| See Offers |
$799* |
$999* |
$1189* |
$1779* |
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| See Offers |
$799* |
$999* |
$1189* |
$1779* |
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| See Offers |
$779* |
$999* |
$1189* |
$1779* |
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| See Offers |
$809* |
$1049* |
$1239* |
$1829* |
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| See Offers |
$809* |
$1049* |
$1239* |
$1829* |
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| See Offers |
$809* |
$1049* |
$1239* |
$1829* |
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| See Offers |
$829* |
$1049* |
$1239* |
$1822* |
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| See Offers |
$829* |
$1049* |
$1239* |
$1822* |
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| See Offers |
$809* |
$1049* |
$1239* |
$1829* |
View All 837 Caribbean Cruises
Caribbean - Bahamas Cruises
Ports
- Port Canaveral, Florida
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island)
Ports
Port Canaveral, Florida - Nassau, Bahamas - Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island) - View more ports
4 Night Bahamas (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)
2020 sail dates: May 18, May 25, Jun 01, Jun 08, Jun 15, Jun 22, Jul 06, Jul 13, Jul 20, Jul 27, Aug 03, Aug 10, Aug 17, Aug 24, Aug 31, Sep 07, Sep 14, Sep 21, Sep 28, Oct 05, Oct 12, Oct 19, Oct 26, Nov 02, Nov 09, Nov 16, Nov 23, Nov 30, Dec 07, Dec 14, Dec 24, Dec 31 More
2021 sail dates: Jan 04, Jan 11, Jan 18, Jan 25, Feb 08, Feb 15, Feb 22, Mar 01, Mar 08, Mar 15, Mar 22, Mar 29, Apr 05, Apr 12, Apr 19, Apr 26, May 03, May 10, May 17, May 24, May 28, Jun 07, Jun 14, Jun 21, Jun 28, Jul 05, Jul 12, Jul 19, Jul 26, Aug 02, Aug 09, Aug 16, Aug 23, Aug 30, Sep 03, Sep 13, Sep 20, Sep 27, Oct 04, Oct 11, Oct 18, Oct 25, Nov 01, Nov 08, Nov 15, Nov 22, Nov 29, Dec 06, Dec 13, Dec 20, Dec 27 More