Wednesday, April 10, 2024

30 Caribbean Cruise Ports and Their Best Shore Excursions

best caribbean cruise ports

Amber Cove offers a day of sand, sea and watersports in a private beach resort atmosphere as part of Eastern Caribbean cruises. City and Island Tours introduce visitors to the island’s history and architecture while foodies will love the St Thomas Rum and Food Tour. Coral ledges and walls provide excellent snorkeling and diving or book a Snorkel and Sail experience around nearby St John for a relaxing half-day on the water. Boat charters, catamaran trips and lagoon kayaking trips can all be booked from your cruise excursion desk as part of your Eastern Caribbean cruise. The island’s newest port can accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world, and offers easy access to attractions westward in Montego Bay and eastward in Ocho Rios. The 32-acre port complex, inspired by the town’s Georgian architecture, features restaurants and duty-free and local shopping.

Duty-Free Shopping in U.S. Virgin Islands

May to October is the wet season, with higher temperatures and more rainfall. So, if seeing Chichen Itza or visiting a cenote is on your bucket list, expect to spend most of your eight-hour tour in transit. Depending on your cruise line, you can visit Chaak Tun Cenotes or Amazing Secret River. If you prefer to stay dry and enjoy the sun’s rays, there are lots of beaches near the port. While you can walk to some, the ones further away have more amenities, such as Mr. Sanchos. Grand Cayman is famous for Stingray City, a shallow sandbar offshore where hundreds of stingrays aggregate daily.

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Snorkeling with Sea Turtles in Turks and Caicos

Sure, it has plenty of touristy spots, but you can easily find untouched areas of the island too. It can be difficult to choose a cruise because of how many different ports are available to visit. And if you're looking to save money on your next cruise, be sure to visit our Caribbean cruise deals page.

Belize City, Belize

best caribbean cruise ports

A typical shore excursion features a 45-minute bus ride across the island, followed by a 40-minute scenic powerboat cruise out to the reef. Shore excursions to Tulum are popular from Playa del Carmen, but you can get there from Cozumel as well. Your best bet here is to take in some of the area's diverse marine wildlife. Our favorite option is snorkeling and swimming with sea turtles in the protected waters of Akumal Beach.

Passengers can swim with graceful stingrays in Gibbs Cay or tour historic Cockburn Town during a port call in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. In Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, you can take an exciting ATV tour through the lush backcountry. Don't miss the town of Christiansted, which includes an impressive fort by the water, colonial streets with many shops and restaurants serving creative cuisine.

best caribbean cruise ports

Between the white sand and clear turquoise blue water, it's the perfect beach every time I visit. Cruz Bay, Trunk Bay, and Cinnamon Beach are just a few of the stunning white sand beaches to explore. Indulge in regional delicacies like conch fritters while enjoying thrilling activities such as snorkeling and sailing. Discover the diverse ports of the Caribbean, from the charming Amber Cove with its vibrant local markets, to the picturesque island of Aruba known for its pristine beaches and lively nightlife. Sail to Barbados, home to breathtaking coral reefs and historical landmarks, or explore the cultural melting pot of Curacao with its colorful architecture and Dutch influence. For a beach day, visit the Condado and Isla Verde areas to see the sandy stretches dotted with restaurants, bars and hotels.

Costa Maya: Beaches and Restaurants in Mahahual Town

You’ll have a fantastic day, no matter the excursion you choose, but the best ones should include snorkeling. Right outside the dock of Ocho Rios is a shopping center that cruisers can visit if they want to stay near the ship. There is a Starbucks and lots of shops with Jamaican-themed gear and souvenirs. A Caribbean cruise is excellent for first-time cruisers since the tropical weather is warm year-round. The rainy season in the Caribbean is from July to November, and the best time to visit is February to May, when you’ll enjoy drier weather. A catamaran fishing cruise is also available for those looking for a more private experience.

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Hence, future passengers are encouraged to consider what experiences they desire most when choosing their perfect Caribbean cruise destination. Just a short journey from the port of Playa del Carmen, one can discover the ancient Mayan ruins. These archeological sites provide a glimpse into the rich history and culture of the Mayan civilization. They stand as silent watchers over the lush jungles and offer not only a spectacular view but also an educational journey.

Head out to Magens Bay for a couple of hours of fun in the sun; afterward, you'll be transferred to Charlotte Amalie for some duty-free shopping. The food scene here is unmatched, with seafood restaurants from the likes of Eric Ripert, plus an annual culinary cookout that draws A-list food celebs from the world over. In terms of water activities, you can swim with the rays at Stingray City, or take a dive to explore the Kittiwake, one of the coolest shipwrecks in the Western Hemisphere. For something a little different, try SeaDream Yacht Club for a super-small ship that feels like a private yacht, complete with an emphasis on alfresco recreation and dining. Star Clippers appeals to sailing enthusiasts with its masted ships, simple entertainment and emphasis on water sports. They're close to the U.S. and cruise lines use these ports to break up the multiple days at sea needed to sail farther south into the Caribbean proper.

Many Western Caribbean cruises have partial transits of the Panama Canal that include the Gatun Lock which links Lake Gatun with the Caribbean Sea. Mystic Mountain is also near Ocho Rios and offers many activities (for a fee) like zip lines, bobsledding, or a chairlift canopy tour over the rainforest. Walk to Castries Central Market on the waterfront and pick up chocolate produced from the local cacao plantations. Stroll into Castries, a historic town with a Folk Research Center (cultural museum) and a museum in Government House. Surf the amazing FlowRider, try on some glittering jewelry, chill out on the sand or book a poolside cabana. Snorkelers can see fish and cannons submerged in the pool while Jimmy Buffett fans can spend the day soaking up the music, cocktails and food at Margaritaville.

However, some ships sail a Western Caribbean itinerary that's more focused on Central America, with stops in Mexico, Belize and Honduras. These itineraries are great for travelers who are interested in Mayan or Mexican culture in addition to beaches and water sports. When arriving by cruise ship in Curacao, there are many amazing things to do.

Jaguars, Ocelots, Tapirs, Poison Dart Frogs, Spider and Howler Monkeys call the jungle their home. The best time of year to visit Roatan is from March to August when average temperatures range from approximately degrees. Those who want to immerse themselves in Cuban culture can take a Cuban salsa dancing lesson, a Cuban cooking class, or stroll down the Malecon and mingle with the locals. March through June provide the driest months, and temperatures in the high 80s. Should you visit in the early months, you could enjoy the festivities of Carnaval.

The two sites can usually be visited on a half-day excursion, and both are typically included in any full-day bus tour of the island, which oftentimes is combined with a beach stop and lunch. If you're not sure whether to call it "Sint Maarten" or "Saint Martin," don't worry about it. The island actually has a Dutch side and a French side, each with its own spelling. That's what makes this such a unique place to visit; it's like a trip to Europe, but more tropical (and minus the lengthy flight).

Another sanctuary is Echo Parrot in the North End, which is home to one of Bonaire's most popular birds, the yellow-throated parrot. Known as the loquacious lora, the bird is endangered and therefore protected. There are only a few hundred birds left on the island, so Echo attempts to raise awareness of the bird's plight among locals and visitors. For direct routes to specific attractions, taxis are widely available and provide fixed or metered rates. Shuttles are often offered by the cruise line or local operators, giving passengers group transportation at a lower cost. The peak tourist season in the Caribbean coincides with the best weather, meaning December to April also sees the highest visitor numbers.

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