The best cruise destinations in the Caribbean
Top Caribbean Destinations for Cruising
From their beautiful beaches and glistening turquoise waters to their warm Caribbean cultures and delicious foods, the islands in this list have captured the hearts and memories of cruisers from all around the globe. Many of the islands on this list have long been beloved by cruisers and have established themselves as some of the top destinations in the Caribbean for cruising, such as San Juan, Puerto Rico, while others, such as foodie haven St. Maarten, have been making a new name for themselves as up-and-coming cruise destinations that travelers love for their warm and welcoming atmospheres and rich histories.
Curious to see what are some of the most beloved cruise destinations in the Caribbean? Click through this slideshow to view them all.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Both a main embarkation port for the Caribbean as well as a much-loved cruise stop, the 500-year-old San Juan, Puerto Rico boasts a wonderfully rich history and beautifully preserved historic quarter painted in bright, tropical colors. Here, travelers have wandered the old city streets, enjoyed trying its local dishes and toured its two largest forts, the Castillo San Cristóbal and El Morro, once both bastions of Spanish power in the Caribbean. Excursions can also include enjoying the nearby beaches, but this port’s mainstay is most definitely the city of Old San Juan itself.
Turks & Caicos
Turks & Caicos has long been a popular port for cruisers, with its beautiful beaches and great opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving around coral reefs and shipwrecks. Its island of Grand Turk is where most cruisers end up visiting, which is home to its Grand Turk Cruise Center, a 14-acre recreational center featuring a swimming pool, beach area, shops and the world’s largest Margaritaville. Popular excursions available on the island are mostly ocean-centric, like whale watching or sport fishing.
Jamaica
Jamaica is often one of the first of the Caribbean isles that travelers visit in the region, and it’s made a name for itself as a welcoming place with swashbuckling history and plenty of diversity. Cruisers mostly enter the island through the ports at Montego Bay, Ocho Rios or Falmouth, but they all offer great experiences for travelers to discover, from stepping into a waterfall at Dunns’ River Falls to experiencing Jamaican Maroon culture in Portland or just tasting the best the island has to offer, from rum to its jerk.
St. Maarten
An up-and-coming destination in the Caribbean, St. Maarten is the smallest dual-country island in the world and offers one of the best-underrated foodie cultures in the Caribbean. While it’s generally a newer destination to the cruising industry, many of those who visit the island for a day come back with great things to say, from its beautiful beaches to its incredible restaurants, which pay homage to the island’s great diversity, representing over 130 different nationalities that coexist on the small two-nation island. Many cruisers enter the island via the Dutch side’s capital of Philipsburg, though cruise excursions offer trips across the island to places like Marigot, the capital of the French side of the island that boasts 19th-century architecture and Fort Louis, or Maho Beach, one of the most popular beaches on the island.
Cozumel, Mexico
Off the coast of Playa del Carmen is the most popular of Mexico’s Caribbean isles, and long one of the most popular Mexican cruise destinations. Cozumel, which means “Island of the Swallows” in the Mayan language, is known for its great diving and snorkeling opportunities, as well as several Mayan archaeological sites, such as El Caracol, San Gervasio and more. Cruise trips often offer excursions to both of the island’s most incredible features.
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
The U.S. Virgin Islands have long been beloved by boaters of both small sailboats and large cruise ships. St. Thomas is one of the most developed of the U.S. Virgin Islands, offering great entertainment and attractions, from food to golfing and diving opportunities. Charlotte Amalie is a popular city for cruisers to explore, while historic attractions include the childhood home of Camille Pissarro, a French Impressionist, and Fort Christian, which dates back to 1680. Travelers to this island can enjoy a wide variety of excursions, including to other nearby islands, like the Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge on Christiansted.
Barbados
Barbados is another island that is beloved for its vibrant multicultural community and natural beauty. An embarkation port as well as a popular day port, Bridgetown is the island’s historic capital and main port. It’s also a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site, recognized as such for its preserved 17th-19th-century Caribbean Georgian architecture. Travelers love the island for its delicious food, rich history and fun atmosphere.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia is one of the ultimate luxury destinations in the Caribbean. The small volcanic island is covered in thick, verdant jungles and offers stunning views of the Caribbean Sea from its high, mountainous vantage points. The only sovereign nation to be named after a woman, St. Lucia is often chosen to be visited via cruise ship because it’s relatively less expensive than a vacation on the island. Still, it’s natural beauty, wellness activities and ample adventure activities have made St. Lucia one of the most sought-after destinations in the Caribbean for decades.
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
The largest island in the British Virgin Islands chain is unsurprisingly its most popular cruise destination. Known for its rum production, pirate history and great sailing and diving opportunities, Tortola has been beloved by cruisers for decades. Today, excursions can range from private sailing charters to beach days and trips to the island’s historic attractions, like old mills and its Fort Burt.
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Grand Cayman is another popular island stop for cruisers enjoying trips in the northern Caribbean waters. Porting in historic George Town, travelers have a variety of options to enjoy the island, from beaching it on Seven Mile Beach and developing an appreciation for stingrays at Stingray City to exploring the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, taking an adventure to one of the island’s natural wonders or visiting the Cayman Turtle Centre, a family-friendly wildlife park that teaches guests about wildlife conservation, specifically with sea turtles.