Are you thinking of taking a Caribbean cruise? The Caribbean is a very popular destination and for good reason – It is a perfect destination for a winter getaway. You can escape the northern winter’s chill and you get to explore new cultures and experiences.
There are three types of Caribbean cruises to enjoy and each has its own feeling to it.
- Eastern Caribbean Cruises
- Western Caribbean Cruises
- Southern Caribbean Cruises
Taking an Eastern Caribbean cruise will take you to such destinations as the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten and Puerto Rico. You can enjoy some shopping in popular ports like St. Thomas, or you can explore history in Old San Juan.
Enjoying a Western Caribbean cruise will bring you to the ancient ruins near Cozumel and Progreso in Mexico, you can enjoy snorkelling around the reefs in Belize or Roatan, Honduras. Or you can soak up the sun on the beaches of the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.
Finding yourself wanting to explore a Southern Caribbean cruise? Then you will explore the islands of the French West Indies which are Martinique, Guadalupe and St. Bart’s. Explore the Lush St. Lucia, Dominica and Grenada and of course, you can’t forget the ABC Islands — Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. The cruises typically depart from San Juan or Barbados so your adventure begins even before you depart.
Here is a short video that shows you what you can enjoy on a cruise to the Caribbean Islands.
Almost all of the major cruise lines sail to the Caribbean, if you have a favourite please let us know at Kathleen@PlentyofSunshineTravel.com
As Travel Professionals, We have worked with all of the cruise lines and have found that Princess Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruise Line, Azamara as well as Disney Cruise Line have gone out of their way to please our clients the most, so they have become our favorites to work with!
That is not to say that we do not like any other others, we have just found that they are best to work with and they have made our clients beyond happy.
If you want to cruise on Holland America, or Carnival or MSC or Norwegian cruise line then, by all means, we can arrange your travels with them, and we will ensure that you have a wonderful vacation experience.
We are your Travel Concierge and we will do our best to make sure you have a seamless vacation experience.
When travelling to the Caribbean you can choose a voyage that is anywhere from 4-20 days in length. We can even arrange a back to back cruise to extend your vacation.
Listed below are some sample itineraries for you to browse. There are so many others, so please let us know which one you would like us to look into for you.
6 Night Southern Caribbean cruise Disney Cruise Line
PS … They are the only cruise line that does fireworks at sea!
Departing from:
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Sailing to
- Philipsburg, St. Maarten
- St. John’s, Antigua
- Castries, St. Lucia
- Bridgetown, Barbados
Returning to: San Juan, Puerto Rico
7 Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Celebrity Cruise line
Departing from: Miami Florida
Ports of Call:
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
- Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Returning to: Miami, Florida
6 Night Western Caribbean Cruise Royal Caribbean
Departing from: Fort Lauderdale Florida
Ports of Call
- Georgetown, Grand Cayman
- Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico
- Cozumel, Mexico
Returning to: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Here is just a sampling of what some port of calls has to offer.
Aruba
Dutch influence still lingers on this balmy Caribbean island, part of the former Netherlands Antilles until its independence in 1986.
Aruba is a contrast of cultures: the island’s interior is dotted with cactus and windswept trees with secluded coves and sandy beaches that make up its coast.
Aruba’s long and colorful heritage is reflected in its dialect. Called Papiamento, it is a language that combines elements of Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, African and English.
St. Maarten
St. Maarten offers a delightful case of a split personality. No formal boundary exists between the Dutch and French sides of the island; a simple welcome sign tells you when you cross from one country to the other. You can get your passport stamped with two stamps, one Dutch and one French, all on one island.
The differences are as noticeable as the spelling of the island’s name. The French spell it St. Martin, and Dutch spell it St. Maarten. When we did a tour there a local who led our tour explained it as; The French is the laid-back side, and the Dutch have all the stores and the best bakery in the Caribbean, so they have the more entrepreneurial side.
It’s this split personality that lends so much to the island’s charms, including an international reputation for the finest cuisine in the Caribbean.
Cozumel, Mexico
Truly Cozumel is a place fit for the gods, with its dazzling white-sand beaches, ruined Mayan temples, exotic jungle wildlife, and crystal clear waters teeming with tropical fish, perfect for snorkelling or diving.
Just offshore is Palancar Reef, which is considered one of the most spectacular coral formations in all the Caribbean if you are a PADI diver, you will have a wonderful dive here.
Cozumel has been home to pirates, buccaneers, and freebooters, including Sir Henry Morgan and Jean Lafitte.
You will discover the same ravishing beauty and relaxation that entertained gods and pirates alike.
