Caribbean Cruises

Cruise the tropical paradise of the Caribbean, famous for pristine white sand beaches and sparkling turquoise waters. The Caribbean is the perfect place for a tranquil afternoon of relaxing in a beach chair or an adventurous day of hiking to find stunning waterfalls.

Cruises through the Caribbean have itineraries with ports of call in Jamaica, Costa Rica, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, St Maarten, St Thomas, St Lucia, Puerto Rico, and the Cayman Islands, just to name a few. Many cruise lines, such as Disney Cruise Lines and Holland America Cruise Lines, have private islands and beaches.

The Caribbean is perfect for a romantic holiday or a family vacation, with a wide variety of shore excursions and experiences to choose from. Cruises through the Caribbean have something for every cruising style, whether guided tours, wandering off the beaten path, or beach relaxing sounds best. Explore the picturesque architecture of San Juan’s Spanish citadel or tour ancient Mayan ruins. Dive 800 feet below sea level in a research submarine or participate in a sailboat race. Mountain bike in Costa Rica’s rainforest or hike Jamaica’s Dunn’s River Falls.

The Caribbean has some of the most unique features in the world, including the gorgeous Hato Caves in Curcacao, vast ancient limestone formations with long-nose bats and iguanas. The under water sculpture garden off the coast of Grenada is a unique and memorable experience for snorkelers and divers, or get up close and personal with stingrays in Grand Cayman.

Cruise types

There are four main Caribbean cruise destinations:

Eastern Caribbean - This area comprises the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and St Maarten, however these cruises also often include the Bahamas. Cruises are generally for 7 nights with 3 days at sea and 3 in ports and so offering a very relaxing style of cruise. The Islands here are smaller and shore excursions here are more geared to beach and water activities.
Western Caribbean - This cruise area includes the Mexican and Central American ports on the Gulf of Mexico as well the islands of Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Hispaniola. These cruises offer more history and culture along with the beach and water activities. Western Caribbean cruises include short 4 night escapes with the longer 7 night cruises.
Southern Caribbean - This area includes the islands east and south o St Maarten. The region is less well known and well cruised as the East and West Caribbean but includes a set of islands that still have a very evident colonial heritage. The Fench Dutch and English all played their part in forming the different characters of these islands which include Trinidad, St Croix, St Vincent, St Kitts Aruba, Grenada and more
Extended Caribbean - These cruises are generally 14 nights long and are usually a mix of East and West Caribbean itineraries offering a wider variety of Islands and cultures. Often Cruise lines will offer special deals that combine two 7 night cruises to form an Extended cruise.

Check out our latest Caribbean cruise deals, or contact a cruising specialist for more details.

Cruise seasons

Cruises operate in the Caribbean all year round. However many ships cruise here in the northern winter and then cross the Atlantic to cruise in Europe during the northern summer.

Main Ports

Most cruises depart from American cities including Miami, Ft Lauderdale, New Orleans, Galvaston and more. San Juan in Puerto Rico is also a major departure port.

Weather

The Caribbean really is a year-round destination. Temperatures seldom vary from highs in the 80s (lows in the 70s), with humidity hovering at the 70 percent level just about all year. The hurricane season, which officially lasts from June 1st to November 30th, can occasionally disrupt cruise itineraries.

Popular cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises frequent the Caribbean which is also home to the largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas.

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