There are so many Caribbean cruise destinations that you may see when you book your Caribbean cruise. Shorter cruises usually stop at the Bahamas, which isn’t too far from the coast of Florida. Here are our favorite cruise destinations in the Caribbean.
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Note: Before traveling, please check all state department warnings and know that situations can always change. Staying on the ship is always an option if you feel unsafe exploring the local area.
Bimini, Bahamas
Bimini is a small island in the Bahamas, located about 50 miles off the coast of Miami. It offers a very small cruise port, with room for only one ship to dock at a time. The main resort on the island is Resorts World Bimini. If you are sailing on Virgin Voyages, you can visit the Beach Club at Bimini at no cost.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan Puerto Rico is a fun cruise stop. It’s part of the United States so that you can use your US currency and your US cell phone. While you can book many excursions, including tours, we just enjoyed walking around Old San Juan during our visit.
Puerto Plata, Domincan Republic
Last year, I visited Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Our ship, the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady, stopped at the Taino Bay Port. Because I wasn’t familiar with this cruise port or the Dominican Republic, I booked a food tour in the town. It also included stops at some of the top tourist attractions in town. If you are visiting the Taino Bay Port, there’s much to do. Activities and amenities in the Taino Bay Port include a lazy river, six aviaries, Monkey Island, shops, and restaurants. While we didn’t stay in the port, I enjoyed walking through it after our planned excursion.
Cozumel, Mexico
Cozumel is an island off the Yucatan Peninsula in the Quintana Roo state of Mexico. Cozumel is a popular cruise ship stop with all the amenities you’d expect to see. There are several cruise ship docks and ports in Cozumel, which can accommodate several ships simultaneously.
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Grand Cayman is one of my favorite places, and I always love being on a cruise ship with a stop there. However, it’s important to note that this is a tender port. You’ll need to take a smaller boat to the shore – there’s no way to walk from the ship to the shore. Because it’s a tender port, you need to build in extra time when you arrive at the port and when it’s time to leave. You’ll sometimes have to wait for a boat. There are many different excursion options in Grand Cayman.
Key West, FL
You may not think of Key West as a traditional Caribbean destination. However, it is an option on some Caribbean cruises, including some that stop in the Bahamas. As a US destination, you can use your US cell phone and US currency. Key West offers many activities for families. Many guests rent a golf cart for the day to explore the island. Another option is the Conch Tour Train, which stops at many popular tourist destinations. Don’t miss a photo opportunity at the Southernmost point marker. You can see more information about visiting Key West on a cruise ship here.
Costa Maya, Mexico
During a Western Caribbean sailing, our ship’s itinerary changed from Jamaica to Costa Maya, Mexico. I wasn’t familiar with this port, but it became one of our favorites. The port of Costa Maya is located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, on the Yucatan peninsula. It’s bordered by the Caribbean Sea and is in the Western Caribbean. Unlike Cozumel, it isn’t an island—it’s part of the mainland. Read more about Costa Maya here and see more about cruise destinations in the Caribbean here.