Cruise Guides > Caribbean Cruises

Caribbean Cruises

The greatest thing about selecting a Caribbean cruise for your next vacation is the huge variety of itineraries and ports from which you can choose. Caribbean cruises are the most popular of any cruise, thanks to the fact that the weather is pleasant for most of the year (except during potential hurricane season) and that many Caribbean islands are within easy traveling distance of the continental United States, making them affordable as well.

Caribbean cruises are generally divided into three categories: Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, and Southern Caribbean. Each category boasts many wonderful ports of call, every one a little different. Some islands are quite touristy while others are rugged and offer exciting adventure activities for those who go ashore. Some are known for their beaches while others are lauded for their rainforests or other unique eco-systems.

Because of the vast differences between the islands, it's often a good idea to peruse shore excursions before you make your final decision on a particular cruise to determine whether the activities offered fit your interests.

If you're heading for the Eastern Caribbean, chances are that your itinerary may include such ports as St. John, St. Thomas, and St Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, or perhaps the Dutch/French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin. Just about every major cruise line offers Eastern Caribbean cruises and most depart from one of the Florida ports like Canaveral or Miami.

For those heading south, popular stops include islands that may be considered more "exotic" than those in the east, including charming St. Lucia, rugged Guadalupe, or the diving meccas of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, otherwise known as the ABC Islands.

Those cruises dubbed Western Caribbean may stop at such popular ports of call as the Cayman Islands, Jamaica (Montego Bay or Ocho Rios), or Mexico's Cozumel. All of the Western ports offer something a little different, from excellent diving excursions to the opportunity to explore ancient ruins.

Though life onboard a cruise liner is wonderful, it's often the shore excursions that are most memorable when one thinks back on their vacation. In the Caribbean islands, the opportunities are vast and diverse.

For example, if you like history, you can travel to St. Pierre on the island of Martinique and view "The Pompeii of the Caribbean," a town literally swallowed up by a volcano. On the Yucatan Peninsula, guests can hike to Chichen Itza, the most revered Mayan remains.

If diving is your thing, the possibilities are endless. Diving in the clear, turquoise waters of the Caribbean is often unmatched. Great spots for diving include Grand Cayman, Turks and Caicos, and the wilderness island of Dominica, one of the top 10 diving locations in the world.

Eco-tourism is becoming increasingly popular in the Caribbean. If you're interested in sustainable tourism, visit islands such as beautiful St. John, USVI, where 2/3 of the island is protected national park land. Guests can snorkel in Trunk Bay, take a hike to view ancient Arawak Indian carvings, or enjoy a guided kayak tour around the island.