There is no such thing as a scarcity of selections for a cruise to the Caribbean — the most well-liked place on the earth for cruising. Greater than 200 cruise ships spend a minimum of a part of yearly within the area. Cruise-selling web sites listing hundreds of particular person Caribbean sailings.
This may be nice information for would-be Caribbean cruisers, but it surely additionally may be overwhelming. With so many choices, the place do you even start? Which certainly one of these ships and sailings is the perfect?
I get the latter query so much — and I all the time reply the identical noncommittal method: It relies upon. The very best ship and crusing within the Caribbean for whom? The very best for me? The very best for you? The very best on your youngsters?
For extra cruise information, opinions and suggestions, join TPG’s new cruise e-newsletter.
When selecting the perfect cruise within the Caribbean, as with selecting the perfect cruise wherever, so much comes right down to tastes and preferences. Some folks love the big-resort really feel of the biggest-of-big ships. Others are horrified by the very thought of them. Some folks demand (and are prepared to pay for) the highest ranges of luxurious. Others are on tight budgets. The finest cruise for a household with youngsters is not essentially the identical because the finest cruise for a pair in search of romance.
What sort of cruiser are you? It is essential to suppose that by earlier than narrowing down your selections.
The underside line is that the perfect Caribbean cruise for you relies upon so much in your journey type. Under, we’ll make it easier to slim down the alternatives by taking a look at Caribbean cruises by broad class sort. The excellent news is that within the Caribbean, a minimum of, there actually is one thing for everybody.
Greatest Caribbean cruise for megaresort followers: Royal Caribbean
In case your thought of a fantastic trip is per week at an enormous, bustling resort full of each form of amusement identified to people, you will in all probability wish to begin your Caribbean cruise search with a take a look at the most important vessels from strains like Royal Caribbean.
If “extra is best” is your mantra, skip the search and lookup Icon of the Seas. At 250,800 gross tons, the brand new, 20-deck-high vessel is the most important cruise ship on the earth. No ship within the Caribbean is kind of prefer it.
Each day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day e-newsletter
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
A few of Icon of the Seas’ wow elements embrace an incomparably huge water park with six waterslides, a cantilevered infinity pool, an enormous glass dome encompassing an indoor AquaTheater for acrobatic and diving reveals, and modern new cabin and suite layouts for households.
Royal Caribbean provides seven-night Jap and Western Caribbean sailings departing from Miami aboard Icon of the Seas by April 2026.
Jap Caribbean itineraries fluctuate however embrace stops at St. Maarten; St. Thomas; Nassau, Bahamas; Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and the road’s non-public island Excellent Day at CocoCay, within the Bahamas. On the time of publication, costs for the seven-night Jap Caribbean cruise began from $1,731 per individual.
Western Caribbean ports of name embrace Puerto Costa Maya and Cozumel; Roatan, Honduras; Nassau; and Excellent Day at CocoCay. Costs begin from $1,651 per individual.
With a minimum of two sea days per crusing, passengers may have ample alternative to discover all of the points of interest the ship has to supply.
Associated: Why you should not ‘freak out’ about Royal Caribbean’s large new Icon of the Seas
Greatest Caribbean cruise for households: Disney Cruise Line
Within the household cruise area, it is arduous to prime Disney Cruise Line. As you would possibly anticipate, the road caters closely to households in each facet of the cruise expertise — from onboard points of interest to family-friendly cabin configurations.
Disney’s consideration to element transfers to its voyages on the ocean. Youngsters obtain the royal remedy with high-quality youngsters golf equipment and onboard points of interest just like the 765-foot-long AquaDuck water coaster. Plus, they’ve loads of alternatives for picture ops with their favourite Disney characters.
Mother and father will discover alternatives to unwind at adults-only solar decks and pool areas which might be closed to youngsters; there are additionally bars and golf equipment which might be off-limits to anybody youthful than 18.
Moreover, many cabins on Disney’s ships function further pull-down bunks and pull-out sofas that can enable 4 and even 5 folks to remain in a single cabin. Most cabins have two bogs — one with a sink and a rest room, and one with a sink and a bathe or tub. That is uncommon within the cruise world, and it is designed to make it simpler for households sharing a room to prepare.
For household enjoyable on the excessive seas, strive a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise aboard Disney Fantasy. Departing from Port Canaveral, the ship stops in Cozumel, Mexico; George City, Grand Cayman; Falmouth, Jamaica; and Castaway Cay, Disney’s non-public island.
Additionally, relying on the time of 12 months you sail, you may take pleasure in particular onboard actions and occasions for Halloween or Christmas. Some itineraries additionally embrace a “Pixar Day at Sea,” which includes a day of taking part in, dancing, swimming and eating together with your favourite Pixar characters. Costs begin from $2,959, double occupancy, and embrace taxes, charges and port bills.
Associated: The last word information to Disney ships and itineraries
Greatest price range Caribbean cruise: Carnival Cruise Line
The undisputed chief within the Caribbean cruise market on the subject of affordability is Carnival Cruise Line. Not solely does Carnival supply decrease fares than you will discover at most rival strains, but it surely additionally purposely deploys its Caribbean-focused vessels to a greater diversity of U.S. “house ports.” The thought is that a big proportion of the U.S. inhabitants can attain a Caribbean-bound Carnival ship by automobile, saving the price of flights.
Associated: The last word information to Carnival ships and itineraries
Carnival ships are filled with fun-focused points of interest, together with a number of pool areas, water parks with waterslides, basketball courts, miniature golf programs and even curler coasters on choose ships.
The cruise line is understood for its multitude of included-in-the-fare eating spots. Each vessel has two essential eating rooms and an informal buffet eatery. Most ships function two of the perfect quick-serve poolside eating venues you will discover on mass-market ships at sea: BlueIguana Cantina for burritos and tacos in addition to Man’s Burger Joint.
Carnival ships sail to the Caribbean from all the key Florida cruise hubs but in addition from ports as far-flung as New York Metropolis; Baltimore; Charleston, South Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; Cellular, Alabama; New Orleans; and Galveston, Texas.
The road’s 10-day Jap Caribbean crusing from New York Metropolis on Carnival Venezia is a strong alternative for budget-minded vacationers in search of an inexpensive Caribbean escape. Passengers can swim with sleek stingrays in Gibbs Cay or tour historic Cockburn City throughout a port name in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. In Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, you may take an thrilling ATV tour by the luxurious backcountry.
Yr-round sailings in 2024 supply ample itineraries to suit your schedule and price range. Charges begin from $529 per individual, based mostly on double occupancy. Value doesn’t embrace taxes, charges and port bills.
Associated: 6 methods to get a deal on a cruise
Greatest Caribbean cruise for solo vacationers: Norwegian Cruise Line
In terms of catering to solo cruisers, the king of the hill within the Caribbean is Norwegian Cruise Line — a minimum of among the many big-ship strains. The Miami-based cruise operator in 2010 started including whole zones for solo vacationers to the middle of each new ship it deployed to the area.
You will now discover these zones on Caribbean-focused vessels like Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Prima. Every of those solo cruiser zones, that are unrepeated within the business for now, contains dozens of cabins for solo vacationers, all clustered round one another. There’s additionally a personal lounge with a bar and tv the place solos can mingle at every day hosted comfortable hour gatherings.
Referred to as Studio cabins, the tiny solo rooms in these complexes measure simply 100 sq. ft. However they’re fantastically designed to maximise cupboard space. I sailed solo in one of many cabins on Norwegian Epic, and I used to be smitten. I notably beloved its futuristic “Jetsons”-like design and the multicolored temper lighting.
Associated: These cabins are nice for vacationers cruising alone
One massive caveat with Norwegian’s solo cabins: They’re all “inside” rooms with out an ocean view. That stated, most have a window that appears out onto a hall. One other draw back is that these solo cabins are so fashionable they usually promote out far prematurely at costs not significantly better than reserving a cabin for 2.
Single cruisers in search of some in depth relaxation and rest ought to think about the “10-day Bermuda & Caribbean: Puerto Rico & Dominican Republic” cruise out of New York Metropolis on Norwegian Getaway.
The three,963-passenger ship is chock-full of eating places, bars, nightlife spots and implausible leisure, together with Broadway reveals. With Norwegian’s laid-back eating plan, solo vacationers aren’t locked into set eating instances and desk mates, to allow them to invite newly made pals to dinner at a time handy to everybody.
Bermuda is the primary cease on this six-port crusing. From there, the ship visits St. Maarten, St. Thomas, San Juan, and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
Charges for a Studio cabin begin from $1,499, excluding taxes, charges and port bills.
Associated: The very best bank cards for reserving cruises
Greatest Caribbean cruise for luxurious lovers: Windstar Cruises
For individuals who would not be caught lifeless on a vessel that does not have butler service and free-flowing caviar, the Caribbean is usually a robust spot. Most of the world’s most luxurious cruise ships spend quite a lot of time in Europe and Asia or gallivanting across the globe on unique world cruises. For some luxurious strains, the Caribbean is sort of an afterthought.
Additionally, you will often solely see luxurious sailings within the Caribbean in the course of the winter months — from December by March. For luxurious cruises within the Caribbean, the interval between April and October is just about a lifeless zone.
Nevertheless, if an upscale cruise expertise is what you search, Windstar Cruises can ship. The road’s seven-night Basic Caribbean itinerary aboard Wind Surf ought to be in your radar.
Windstar Cruises focuses on small ships carrying between 148 and 342 passengers every. The road calls them yachts, however the ships are structured extra like tiny cruise ships with indoor lounges and communal eating rooms.
The 342-passenger Wind Surf options six decks, 5 masts and 4 varieties of cabins (all with home windows solely, no balconies). Lodging vary from 188-square-foot common cabins to 376-square-foot suites.
Windstar Cruises ships additionally embrace a water sports activities platform. On choose days when the ship is anchored (not docked at a pier) — and the climate, authorities laws and planets align — passengers can take pleasure in diversified water sports activities like stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and swimming proper off the again of the ship. You can even lounge on a float or admire the glittering, yacht-dotted harbor from a big foam flotation island.
Wind Surf can also be house to a number of eating venues, a pool and scorching tubs, a boutique, a spa and a health middle.
The seven-night Basic Caribbean itinerary begins and ends in St. Maarten. It options sun-kissed seashores, secret coves and gin-clear waters in idyllic ports of name like St. Barts, St. Kitts and Nevis, Guadeloupe, Dominica and St. Lucia.
All-inclusive charges begin from $2,622 and embrace Wi-Fi, gratuities and limitless beer, wine and cocktails. Cruise-only charges begin from $1,999 (and exclude taxes, charges and port bills).
Associated: The two lessons of Windstar ships, defined
Greatest adults-only Caribbean cruise: Virgin Voyages
The brainchild of unconventional enterprise mogul Richard Branson, Virgin Voyages appeals to vacationers averse to the standard cruising expertise who crave a hip, get together ambiance. Ships are blissfully void of kids — cruisers should be over 18 — making it a main alternative for an adults-only cruise.
Virgin boasts distinctive onboard choices just like the first tattoo parlor at sea, numerous included eating choices, free train lessons and an app that permits you to merely shake your cellphone to order Champagne (which is delivered to you nearly wherever onboard). Additionally, fares embrace all meals, soda, fundamental Wi-Fi and crew gratuities.
Virgin’s first vessel, Scarlet Girl, launched in late 2021. The road added Valiant Girl and Resilient Girl in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The debut of the road’s fourth ship within the fleet, Sensible Girl, has been delayed however may happen in 2024.
Ships are full of fashionable, adult-oriented bars promising a hopping scene late into the evening in addition to hipster venues like a colourful karaoke lounge. Onboard leisure is creative and sometimes edgier than what you would possibly see on traditional-style cruises.
Cabins sport a minimalist look with futuristic touches, and suites exude a rock ‘n’ roll vibe with in-room turntables and peekaboo showers.
The road’s Dominican Haze five-night itinerary to Bimini, Bahamas and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, sails out of Miami on the two,700-passenger Scarlet Girl. With two sea days, the crusing provides a very good mixture of onboard shenanigans and port-of-call exploration. Social gathering by the pool or swim with stingrays throughout your day at Virgin Voyages’ Bimini Seashore Membership. Sit back on a powder-white seaside or go waterfall searching within the jungle within the Dominican Republic.
Charges begin from $913.75 per individual, based mostly on double occupancy (excluding taxes and charges).
Associated: Virgin Voyages cruise cabins and suites: All the pieces you wish to know
Greatest Caribbean cruise for {couples}: Holland America
Holland America provides spacious midsize vessels that carry not more than 2,700 passengers, offering a relaxed and intimate cruising expertise supreme for pairs in search of high quality time at sea.
Caribbean-craving {couples} can be sated with the nine-day Southern Caribbean Seafarer cruise crusing out of Fort Lauderdale aboard Rotterdam. The two,650-passenger ship, which debuted in 2021, is Holland America’s latest.
Along with a essential restaurant and informal buffet, Rotterdam options 5 separate specialty eating venues — every part from a pan-Asian eatery to an upscale steakhouse. In depth onboard leisure contains golf equipment that includes blues and traditional rock in addition to varied musical performances in the primary theater. Cultural programming, pickleball classes, and meals and wine tastings are among the many complimentary actions obtainable.
In fact, enjoyable by the pool and indulging in a restorative spa remedy are additionally choices.
On the Southern Caribbean Seafarer cruise, {couples} can go to Curacao, Aruba and Half Moon Cay, the road’s non-public island within the Bahamas. An in a single day keep in Curacao permits cruisers to dive deeper into the island’s historical past, tradition and pure lures. Aruba provides diversions under and above the water, from submarine excursions and snorkeling to hikes and four-wheeling adventures. The cease at pristine Half Moon Cay offers a straightforward and enjoyable seaside day.
Charges begin from $799 per individual, based mostly on double occupancy (excluding taxes and charges).
Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales:
