With an inviting atmosphere and sunny beaches, the Caribbean is one of the most popular destinations for travellers on holiday. Trying to travel to the Caribbean by air and then paying for hotels and sight-seeing on your own can be overwhelming and costly. Cruises to the Caribbean allow you to visit some of the best spots of the area, whilst being able to retreat to a luxurious place to rest at night. The only problem with Caribbean cruises is deciding which area you want to visit. Here is an overview of the areas of the Caribbean and some of our recommendations for cruising there.
Where to Go
Eastern Caribbean: Cruises to this area will usually cover the cities of Barbados, Antigua, Puerto Rico, St. Martin and St. Croix.
Western Caribbean: Cruises usually visit Mexico, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
Southern Caribbean: Cruises to this area will usually cover Barbados, Curacao, Aruba, Trinidad and Tobago.
What to Do
Of course, one of the biggest attractions of the Caribbean is the beaches. There are also plenty of other activities to do in the area, whether you spend time by the sea or further inland. In the western portion of the Caribbean, you can visit Costa Rico and hike through rain forests or visit an active volcano. In the eastern area, you can go snorkelling and swim past prehistoric boulders or go on a jeep safari expedition. For the southern portion of the Caribbean, there are gourmet restaurants, scuba diving and sidewalk cafes.
Choose a Ship
Larger cruise ships will usually cover the main tourist attractions of the region, whilst smaller cruise ships may explore some of the lesser known, but still exceptional areas of the region. Some of the larger ships include those from Celebrity, Crystal, Royal Caribbean or Princess cruise lines. Smaller ships can be found through Silverstar, Seabourn or Oceania cruise lines. For a more luxurious experience, you may like a ship that has a less amount of passengers and more personal service, such as those from Silversea Cruise Line. Some cruise lines may only offer fly cruises, where you will have to fly to a city in Florida before setting sail. Some of the main cities for disembarkation include Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. Whilst some cruise lines operate out of the UK, such as Fred Olson, Cunard or P&O. For instance, Fred Olson Cruise Lines offers cruises directly from Southampton to Cuba and the Caribbean.
When to Go
It is important to note that while there may be year-round cruises to the Caribbean, there are times when it is safer to travel. For the best experience travelling to the Caribbean, we recommend avoiding hurricane season, which runs from June through November – if you need to travel during these dates consider a Cruise holiday to Dubai – equally luxurious. Although some areas of the Caribbean have been thought to be out of the hurricane belt, there have been instances when bad weather hit these islands. Travelling during hurricane season increases the chances that the ship may have to change course or abort one of the ports of call, which could change your itinerary. For a more enjoyable holiday, consider cruising to the Caribbean during the months of December through May.