Cruise and Stay Caribbean Guide – Part 1

The Caribbean is one of the most popular cruise and stay destinations in the world. The great weather and huge number of islands make Caribbean cruises so popular. The Caribbean is also home to a lot of cruise liners all of which are unique in their own way.

There are roughly 20 cruise lines that sail the Caribbean sea. Most people, particularly Americans choose the bigger cruise ships like the Royal Caribbean. Ships like the Royal Caribbean have a lot of amenities and provide a lot of onboard events for its customers. Unfortunately due to the size of the larger cruise ships, they can only dock at the larger ports. Smaller ships operated by the likes of Windstar are able to get into these smaller, more obscure ports that are usually quieter.

Things to consider on a Caribbean Cruise and Stay

It’s important to note that not every Caribbean island has a port but due to increasing demand and competition from cruise liners the number of ports are increasing giving more choice of locations. Most people decide to take a 7 day cruise in the Caribbean. The most common cruises that people take are either the Eastern/Western Caribbean cruises. Deciding on which cruise is better is a matter of personal preference. The following sections aim to give you some information on the Eastern/Western Caribbean cruises so that you can choose your preferred choice.

Eastern Caribbean Cruise

Most 7 day eastern Caribbean cruises leave from Florida. The islands on the itinerary are close together which gives you less sailing time and more time on land. The eastern Caribbean cruise is perfect for people who are looking to do some shopping on their holiday. Some of the ports visited include the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St Thomas, St John and St Martin.

Western Caribbean Cruise

Cruises heading to the western Caribbean generally leave form Florida, Texas or New Orleans. As the islands in the western Caribbean are further apart you’ll spend more time at sea. Ports of call include Mexico, Costa Rico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Belize.

Cruise and Stay