Planning a dream Caribbean cruise? Caroline O’Toole, our Head of Cruises and Luxury Holidays at JWT Travel, shares her top tips on this very simple and easy Caribbean Cruise guide.
Caroline was selected among the top Royal Caribbean agents in Ireland and got to cruise the Caribbean onboard Independence of the Seas in 2024 and onboard the new Star of the Seas in 2025, sailing out of Port Canaveral, Miami; experiencing Royal’s private island in the Bahamas: Perfect Day CocoCay.
WEST, EAST OR SOUTH?
There are three cruising regions in the Caribbean, Western and Southern; although cruise itineraries often combine different regions.
Cruising the Western Caribbean offers the perfect introduction to Caribbean culture; generally visiting Mexico, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Belize and the Bahamas.
Eastern Caribbean ports include the Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Antigua, St Thomas, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico; while Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries generally include Aruba, Curacao, Barbados, Trinidad, St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique and Grenada.
STUNNING DESTINATIONS
From Mexico to Costa Rica, St Lucia, Barbados and the Antilles, each island and country in the Caribbean has its own unique character, wildlife, flavours and stunning scenery.
In addition to pristine paradise beaches, here are some of the unmissable gems you will find sailing the Caribbean:
-Mexico’s ancient Mayan ruins
-Bridgetown’s colourful colonial architecture in Barbados
-Snorkel with sea turtles
-St Lucia’s striking volcanic landscapes
BEST TIME TO CRUISE THE CARIBBEAN
Late November to May are the best months to cruise the Caribbean, as you will enjoy the best weather and many interesting and colourful festivals take place on the different islands, such as the vibrant Carnival.
December to April is high season and very popular so booking your cruise during the ‘shoulder season’ periods such as November and May you will enjoy better deals.
CAROLINE’S TOP TRAVEL PICKS
TRAVELLING SOLO: Norwegian Cruise Line
BEST FOR FAMILIES AND MULTI GENERATION: Royal Caribbean
ULTRA LUXURY VOYAGES: Silversea, Explora
ULTRA LUXURY YACTH CRUISING: Scenic
BEST FOR COUPLES: Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises
BEST FOR ADULT-ONLY: Virgin Voyages
Find more Caribbean Cruise ideas here: CARIBBEAN CRUISES.
We hope you find our easy Caribbean cruise guide useful! Have you got a question about Caribbean Cruises? Let us know!
To book your dream Caribbean cruise, contact our cruises team to arrange a consultation.
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