Caribbean cruises

The Caribbean is where many Americans take their first cruise, and for good reason. Ships leave year-round from a long list of US ports, most of them within driving distance or a short flight for much of the country, and a week at sea gets you three to five islands with beach days, snorkeling and easy shore time in between.

Itineraries are usually split into three areas. The Eastern Caribbean covers St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico and nearby islands, with lots of beaches and duty-free shopping. The Western Caribbean focuses on Mexico, Central America, Jamaica and Grand Cayman, with Maya ruins, reefs and adventure tours. The Southern Caribbean reaches the far islands such as Aruba, Curacao, Barbados and St. Lucia, usually on longer sailings or from San Juan.

Nearly every major line sails here, from family megaships with water parks to small luxury ships that slip into harbors big ships cannot use. Many itineraries also include a day at a cruise line's private island or beach destination, most of which are in the Bahamas. The trade-off for the easy logistics is weather: the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November, and late summer and fall are the months to plan around.

Cruises run all year. December through April is the drier, less humid season with the most reliable weather and the highest demand. June through November is Atlantic hurricane season, with the greatest storm activity from mid-August through mid-October; ships reroute around storms, so itineraries can change.

Choosing your Caribbean route

• Eastern Caribbean

  Beach-hopping through the Virgin Islands, St. Maarten and Puerto Rico, with some of the calmest sailing in the region.

• Southern Caribbean

  The far islands: Aruba, Curacao, Barbados and St. Lucia, with more port days and drier weather in the south.

• Western Caribbean

  Maya ruins, barrier reef snorkeling and jungle adventures in Mexico, Central America, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.

Ports you'll likely visit

• Cozumel, Mexico
  A major cruise hub with clear-water reef snorkeling and diving, beach clubs and ferries to Playa del Carmen.
• Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
  A US territory with Magens Bay beach, duty-free shopping and a short ferry ride to St. John's national park beaches.
• Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Sint Maarten
  Walkable beach and shopping town on an island split between Dutch and French sides, with Maho Beach and its low-flying jets nearby.
• George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
  Stingray City sandbar trips, Seven Mile Beach and excellent snorkeling; ships anchor here and tender passengers ashore.
• Nassau, Bahamas
  An easy first stop on short cruises, with beaches, a historic downtown and day passes to resort water parks.
• Oranjestad, Aruba, Aruba
  Reliable dry, sunny weather and long white beaches such as Eagle Beach, a short ride from the cruise pier.
• Bridgetown, Barbados, Barbados
  Calm west-coast beaches, rum distilleries and a historic capital, often a turnaround port for longer Southern Caribbean trips.
• Roatan, Honduras
  Part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef system, with some of the best snorkeling and diving on Western Caribbean routes.

Highlights

Year-round sailing

There is no off season. You can find Caribbean cruises in every month from Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico.

Short flights, or none at all

Drive-to ports from Baltimore to Galveston mean many families skip airfare entirely.

Reefs and beaches

Snorkeling, diving, catamaran sails and beach days are the core of almost every itinerary.

Every kind of ship

From the world's largest resort ships to small luxury and adults-only ships, every style of cruise is here.

Private island days

Many itineraries include a line-run beach destination with lagoons, cabanas and included food.

How long, and what documents

7 nights is standard. 3-5 night short cruises from Florida mostly visit the Bahamas and sometimes Cozumel or Key West, and 10-12 night sailings are common for the Southern Caribbean.

Cruises that begin and end at the same US port are "closed-loop" sailings. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says US citizens on a closed-loop cruise can re-enter the United States with a birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID, and children under 16 need only proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate (most lines want an original or certified copy, not a photocopy). CBP also warns that the countries your ship visits may still ask for a passport, and cruise lines can set stricter rules than the government does. We recommend a passport book anyway: if you miss the ship or have to fly home early from a foreign port, you cannot board an international flight without one, and a passport card works only for land and sea crossings. Non-US citizens, including green card holders, have different rules. Check current requirements with your cruise line and the State Department before you sail.

Specialist tips

• Fly in the day before your cruise. A delayed flight on embarkation day is the most common way people miss the ship.
• If you are cruising between August and October, buy travel insurance that covers hurricane-related delays and itinerary changes.
• Pick your itinerary by what you want ashore: Eastern for beaches and shopping, Western for ruins, reefs and adventure, Southern for quieter, farther-flung islands.
• Reef-safe sunscreen is required or strongly encouraged in several destinations; pack mineral sunscreen to be safe.
• Grand Cayman, Belize City and some other ports are tender ports, so allow extra time to get ashore and back.