Caribbean highlights
More than 5,000 islands and cays dot the Caribbean. That's a lot of paradise! So how do you choose where to go on your next cruise? This is your insider's guide to great beaches, shore adventures, isles and more.
Caribbean - Montego Bay
- Lounge on the golden sands of a palm-shaded beach.
- Tour the grand interior of a haunted mansion.
- Test your skills and perfect your putting on a seaside golf course.
- Swing to reggae sounds at a barefoot beach bar when you cruise to Jamaica.
- Shop for hand-woven straw hats and delicate wood carvings.
Caribbean - Cozumel Quintana
Caribbean - Grand Cayman
- Stretch out on the glimmering white sands at Seven Mile Beach.
- Stroll the shops, cafes, and museums in George Town, Grand Cayman.
- Swim with gentle stingrays in Stingray City on your Grand Cayman cruise.
- Dive in the wondrous undersea world along the Cayman Wall.
- Spot native parrots and lizards in the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park.
Caribbean - Grand Turk
- Swim in the sparkling turquoise seas off Governor’s Beach.
- Snorkel or dive the coral reefs fringing Grand Turk.
- Tour historic Cockburn Town and the old salinas (salt pans).
- Feel the velvety touch of a stingray’s wings in Gibbs Cay.
- Shop for duty-free jewelry and local crafts in the colorful Grand Turk Cruise Center.
Caribbean - Mahogany Bay
- Swim in the sparkling turquoise seas off West Bay.
- Snorkel or dive the coral reefs encircling the island.
- Ride the Magical Flying Beach Chair on the castaway island at Mahogany Bay.
- Dine on savory Honduran specialties in local West End restaurants.
- Watch resident capuchin monkeys cavort in Gumbalimba Park when you cruise to Honduras.
Caribbean - Montego Bay
- Swim in the sparkling turquoise seas off West Bay.
- Snorkel or dive the coral reefs encircling the island.
- Ride the Magical Flying Beach Chair on the castaway island at Mahogany Bay.
- Dine on savory Honduran specialties in local West End restaurants.
- Watch resident capuchin monkeys cavort in Gumbalimba Park when you cruise to Honduras.
Caribbean - Nassau
- Double down at the casino at the Atlantis resort during your Nassau cruise.
- Shop for straw baskets and Junkanoo crafts in outdoor marketplaces.
- Kiss a dolphin at the Dolphin Swim at Blue Lagoon.
- Relax on the pink sands of Cable Beach.
- Stroll 18th-century colonial streets and climb the sandstone Queen’s Staircase.
Caribbean - New Orleans
Two words always come to mind when you think about New Orleans: Mardi Gras. But it's so much more than that. Anyone interested in food, history or music - as well as romantics of all sorts - will enjoy a visit to New Orleans. The weather can be extremely hot, just like the Cajun and Creole dishes this town is famous for. If your cruise is departing from New Orleans, you may want to spend an extra day or two here, exploring this fascinating city.
You can't say you've been to New Orleans if you haven't been to the French Quarter. This charming area is the oldest part of the city and home to many of its most popular sights.
- Explore lively Bourbon Street and experience New Orleans' Southern hospitality firsthand. Take in some of the best jazz music in the world, while enjoying the unique cuisine of New Orleans - crawdads, gumbo or jambalaya.
- Head to the Garden District and check out some of the beautiful homes and architecture.
- Join a famous after-dark Vampire Walking Tour for a fun and thrilling night out.
Caribbean - San Juan
One of the largest islands in the Eastern Caribbean, Puerto Rico's landscape encompasses mountains, underground caves, coral reefs, white-sand beaches and an incredibly massive rain forest that supplies fresh water to most of the island. At the same time San Juan, the capital of the commonwealth, is a big city with a bustling business district, glitzy resorts and casinos, as well as one of the most stunning examples of colonial life in the Western world.
- See Baño Grande, a natural swimming pool. Then take a walk on Camitillo Trail and look for the artificial nest of the Puerto Rican parrot and the flora and fauna of the Palo Colorado forest.
- Explore Old San Juan, the second-oldest European settlement in the New World. Ride to San Felipe El Morro, the most dramatic of all the city's military fortifications. Visit the Casa Blanca Museum & Gardens, the Ballaja Barracks, Quincentennial Square, San Jose Church, San Juan Cathedral, and Cristo Chapel.
Bike through the gorgeous scenery of the Piñones Reserve, home to the island's most spectacular views.
Puerto Rico is a great place to enjoy authentic Spanish-style sangria and taste a wide array of delicious tapas.
The U.S. dollar (USD) is the official unit of currency in Puerto Rico. Traveler's checks and credit cards are also widely accepted.
Caribbean - St. Thomas
- Shop till you drop on the historic harbor front in Charlotte Amalie.
- Play on the creamy white sands of Magens Bay Beach.
- Get up close to sea horses and tropical fish at Coral World.
- Charter a sailboat to explore secret coves and turquoise bays.
- Toast your cruise to St. Thomas at a beach bar in Frenchtown.
Caribbean - St. Croix
St. Croix, the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is a tropical dreamland complete with stunning beaches, clear aqua-blue ocean water, a small rain forest and rolling green hillsides. The Danes purchased St. Croix in the 1700s at which time the slave trade and sugar cane fields thrived. Today, the Danish influence is still apparent in the island's architecture and language. Most of the sugar mills lie in ruins. Yet you can still get a taste of the island's history in freshly squeezed sugar cane juice or Cruzan Rum.
Explore "one of the finest marine gardens in the Caribbean Sea": Buck Island Reef National Monument. Most of this 176-acre island is surrounded by an elkhorn coral barrier reef which serves as home for a multitude of fish and other sea life. Snorkelers will enjoy navigating the underwater trail on the eastern side of the reef. Buck Island itself is a nesting area for sea turtles, brown pelicans and frigate birds. Hike the nature trail, soak in the sunshine on the beach, or dive in and snorkel or SCUBA to your heart's content.
- Take a tour of the Cruzan Rum factory and taste a significant spirit in St. Croix's history.
- Venture into the countryside to wonder at the ruins of sugar mills and plantations. Wander the Estate Whim Plantation museum, a restored Great House with 3-foot thick walls made of coral, stone and molasses - a sweet foundation.
- Take a hike through the island's rain forest. Though it's technically more of a "tropical forest" than a "rain forest," you won't be disappointed with its mango, lime, hog plum, mahogany, kapok and turpentine trees, as well as its abundant tropical birds.
Traditional island dishes include curried chicken, conch fritters, fried plantains and Kallaloo, a stew made with meat, seafood, okra, spices and greens. For a refreshing local drink try maubi, a beverage made from maubi tree bark, yeast, herbs and ginger root. If you're looking for a nonalcoholic alternative, try ginger beer or soursop juice.
Visit the shops in Christiansted and Frederiksted for china, crystal, batik, liquor, leather goods, perfume and jewelry. Peruse Folk Art Traders for local artwork, including pottery, masks and paintings. If you're looking for colonial West Indian furniture to spice up your home, visit Estate Mount Washington Antiques.
The U.S. dollar (USD) is the official currency. Traveler's checks and credit cards are also widely accepted.