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However, when these travelers start planning their cruise, it is difficult to decide which ports of call to visit in the region. Since most cruises sail to either the Eastern Caribbean or the Western Caribbean, the big question soon becomes which is better, an Eastern Caribbean cruise or Western Caribbean cruise? The short answer is that you can have a great vacation at either destination, but there are differences in the ports of call. If you get the chance to visit, St Lucia is a stunning port of call on longer Eastern Caribbean cruises.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Here, vibrant mountain ranges meet five sugar white sand beaches — each with its own unique appeal. If you can’t wait to soak up the sun, you’ll want to make Dragon’s Beach your first stop — it’s the closest beach upon arrival. Or sip on a signature Labadoozie frozen cocktail at the Floating Bar along the crescent-shaped shoreline of Adrenaline Beach — a must for anyone on a Labadee cruise. If you’re looking for max relaxation, kick back in a private bungalow at Nellie’s Beach with attendant service to keep the refreshments flowing.
Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect DayDetails
Tendering isn’t the end of the world but I did miss the convenience of walking off the ship to port. The most popular things to do are the Chacchoben ruins or Bacalar lake, both of which take around 1.5 hours on a bus to get to from the port. Unlike CocoCay, Labadee is much more “authentic” and has more local culture. The area is built in ruins of an old fort, which you can explore on nature trails. Its commonly referred to as “perfect day at Cococay,” because of the paradise-like atmosphere of the island. I grew up going on cruises with my family, to the point of earning Diamond status on Royal Caribbean.
Shopping ❯
There is little infrastructure in the town of Roseau, so you’ll want to book a shore excursion or tour in Dominica to explore this beautiful island. You could hike through the rainforest to see the island’s stunning waterfalls, such as the twin waterfalls of Trafalgar Falls. Curacao is an amazing island that should be on everyone’s Caribbean cruise itinerary. The cruise ships headed for Curacao dock right in the capital city of the island, Willemstad.
The Estate Whim Museum is a beautifully restored estate with a windmill, cookhouse and the ruins of a sugar plantation. Aruba merges a variety of influences, including African, Dutch and Spanish, into a culture that's all its own. Dutch and Papiamento are the official languages, though English and Spanish are widely spoken as well.
Virgin Voyages cruise destination guide: The line's 5 best itineraries - The Points Guy
Virgin Voyages cruise destination guide: The line's 5 best itineraries.
Posted: Wed, 08 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Public transportation is available for only USD 1, and access to all beaches on the island is free. Honduras is south of Belize and Roatan is the most developed of all the Bay Islands of Honduras. Cruise ships dock either in the capital of Coxen Hole or nearby Mahogany Bay. Harvest Caye is Norwegian Cruise Line's private resort on the coast of Belize.
Unique Experiences at Caribbean Sea Ports
These ruins are not as over-visited as others in Mexico, which makes them even more fascinating. Many cruise passengers specifically want to visit Chacchoben, an ancient city dating back to the 4th century A.D. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. Catamaran tours offer the chance to see the island’s twin volcanic peaks, the Pitons, from the sea while the Rainforest Aerial Tram Tour sails through the treetops.
I love Southern or Eastern Caribbean cruises that start in San Juan so I can stay for a few days prior to embarkation. I say this not to brag, but to let you know I’ve visited most Caribbean ports of call many times. Roatan – An island located off of the coast of Honduras, Roatan is known for breathtaking coral reefs and is home to the second largest coral reef system in the world. Smack in the center of the city, this port is one of the Caribbean’s busiest. Disembark here and you’re a stone’s throw from the diverse dining, impressive shopping and colorful architecture of one of the region’s most vibrant capitals. The beach is likely the top draw in Aruba, and its bright blue waters are exactly what you'd look for in a day here.
St. Croix: Powerboat Ride to Buck Island
St Thomas is a US Virgin Island and a popular luxury vacation destination. Unlike some of the other best Caribbean islands to visit on a cruise, there is not a ton of activities to do in St Thomas. A Caribbean cruise is never a bad idea but not all ports are created equal. These 10 ports of call, which offer a winning combination of passenger facilities and proximity to the island attractions we really want to see, are must-sees on our dream Caribbean itinerary.
For locals arts and crafts, go to Cosecha, the stunning century-old building filled with handmade crafts located in the town of Oranjestad. The Cosecha Creative Center is a great place to learn a new craft and make a special souvenir. Upon disembarking at the cruise terminal, passengers typically find several modes of transportation.
Catamaran cruises are a peaceful way to appreciate the tranquility and natural beauty of Grand Turk. Other shore excursions include guided walking city tours, island tours, ATV and Segway Tours and self-drive Dune Buggy excursions. Most cruises have a host of shore excursions including culinary tours, zip lining, horseback riding and caving. Fun Segway tours are available along with kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving trips. Virgin Islands, and it's perfect for cruise ships to come into St. Thomas for the day and hop over to St. John. You can also lounge on a float or admire the glittering, yacht-dotted harbor from a large foam flotation island.
Also, you'll usually only see luxury sailings in the Caribbean during the winter months — from December through March. For luxury cruises in the Caribbean, the period between April and October is pretty much a dead zone. As you might expect, the line caters heavily to families in every aspect of the cruise experience — from onboard attractions to family-friendly cabin configurations.
A pleasant blend of old and new, the compact colonial city is just a short stroll from the pier. Within the historic walled city, the 16th century El Morro military fort presides over the town and can be visited as part of a City Walking Tour with a local guide. There are places on this list that I had a great time visiting and would 100% visit again. However, these cruise ports are places I’d be less excited to find on a cruise itinerary.
Bonaire is for nature lovers, with plenty of beautiful vistas and intriguing animals to check out. Bonaire's national bird, the flamingo, can be seen at Gotomeer, so make sure to keep an eye out for the rose-colored creature. A must-see is the Washington Slagbaai Park, which includes a visitor center and museum.
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