With more than 30 ships cruising the Caribbean this year, the region draws more cruise tourists than any other destination on the planet—and for good reason. Its crystal blue waters, vibrant beach culture, and countless shore excursions make a Caribbean cruise one of the most exciting and varied vacation options around.
Caribbean cruise itineraries are generally divided into three regions: eastern, western, and southern. Each of these destinations has its own character and special attractions. With all these options, everyone can find their own perfect cruise.
Eastern Caribbean
These cruises usually depart from Florida, with ports of call in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and often another island, like St. Martin or Grand Turk.
Most islands on an eastern Caribbean cruise are relatively close together, so travel time between them is short—and that means plenty of time on shore. As small islands, their activities focus on the beach and water. Visitors can enjoy plenty of diving, sunbathing, boating, snorkeling, and more.
Western Caribbean
Usually embarking from Florida, Galveston, or New Orleans, a western Caribbean cruise might include ports in Key West, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and resort destinations in Mexico, Belize, or Central America.
Because these cruises include ports on large islands and the mainland, there are usually more varied options for shore excursions. There’s all the expected beach fun like diving and lounging, as well as eco-tours, ancient ruins, and lots of shopping opportunities. Ports of call, however, are more spread out in the western Caribbean, so cruisers should expect more time on board the ship when vacationing in this region.
Southern Caribbean
These itineraries often start in Puerto Rico and visit ports throughout the Lesser Antilles Islands in the southeastern Caribbean, including Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Aruba, and countless others. These islands are incredibly varied in culture and scenery, and offer a glimpse of some of the more exotic locales in the Caribbean.
Bonus – Alternative Caribbean Itineraries
Increasingly, cruise lines are offering more specialized itineraries. These include very short itineraries for those with limited time, and longer cruises for travelers with all the time in the world. There are also a handful of cruises focused on specific regions or niche interests, including the Central American coastline, northern South America, and the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao).
