Taking a Caribbean cruise is one of the most popular cruise options in the cruise industry. To many travelers, when they take a cruise, they want to head to tropical climates and islands to take advantage of the sun, sand, beaches and the weather. Because of this reason, the Caribbean islands have become extremely popular options for those travelers that might be looking to escape the brutal winters where they may live. The good news is, there is no shortage of options when you are looking to book a Caribbean cruise and most of the time you are going to be able to experience multiple islands when you do a tropical island cruise. Very few cruise itineraries only do one or two islands during the cruise as most do multiple island stops along the way so you get to experience quite a bit on your journey.
So how do you choose where you want to go? Actually it might be easier than you may think. First and foremost you need to decide how long you are able to be on your cruise. The longer time frame you have the more islands you are going to be able to explore and the further south you are going to be able to travel. A cruise to Mexico is an equivalent example as the longer time frame you have the better.
The tropical islands and the climate that you are seeking might be further south than you may realize so a longer cruise such as a week or longer most likely is going to the best option. A shorter cruise of three to four days is not going to allow you the time that it takes to travel to these beautiful islands. Most of the major cruise lines offer fantastic Caribbean routes so you might want to do a little research to see which cruise lines are going to offer the time frame that you are looking to travel and explore.
Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas is one of the busiest cruise ship ports in the Caribbean. Not only is the island known for its beautiful beaches around the island but also for pristine snorkeling spots. Saint Thomas is known as the gateway isle of the U.S. Virgin Islands. There is quite a bit of rich history to this island, even involving pirates. There is a multitude of historic building including a 1679 watchtower called Blackbeard’s Castle. If you enjoy a little island culture with natural surrounding beauty, you are going to enjoy this island.
Saint Martin
Saint Martin is quite popular and well known for a variety of reasons in the Caribbean. Part of the Leeward Islands, this island is comprised of two different countries. The northern French side is called Saint Martin while the southern Dutch side is called Saint Maarten. The beautiful secluded coves and the stunning beaches are just part of what this island is known for. The electric nightlife and the fusion cuisine is not only popular for tourists but for local residents as well.
Saint John’s
When you here cruise travelers talk about their favorite Caribbean islands you will almost always here Saint Johns. This island is the smallest of the U.S. Virgin Islands but do not let that statistic fool you in any way. The Virgin Island National Park is more than half of the island which makes its beauty simply remarkable. The forests here are home to cuckoos, warblers and hummingbirds and the surrounding waters are home to dolphin and green turtles that can be seen quite frequently around the island.
Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos are made up of a complex chain of coral islands. The islands are a British Overseas Territory southeast of the Bahamas. These islands are known for beautiful luxury resorts, shops and a plentiful amount of restaurants. If you enjoy scuba diving then you are going to love this tropical paradise as the scuba sites include a 14 mile barrier reef near Provo’s north shore area. Once you experience this majestic area in the Atlantic, you will see why this is a traveler’s favorite.
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia has one of the most dramatic landscapes in all of the Caribbean. The beautiful mountains as a backdrop, makes this island very memorable. The coast showcases its volcanic beaches while the inner trails through the rainforest lead you to spectacular waterfalls. Many travelers really enjoy this island especially if you are into nature and enjoy hiking and escaping into island nature. The cruise port will also not disappoint with the shopping and local cuisine that is offered for all to enjoy.
Saint Croix
More often than not, if you are going to be going on a multiple day cruise in the Caribbean then odds are you are going to have a stop at Saint Croix. This Caribbean Island features a host of Danish Colonial buildings as well as the Salt River Bay National Park features mangroves, coral reefs and many archaeological sites. Saint Croix is known for its laid back lifestyle and approach to everyday life, which appeals so much to many travelers that they end up moving here for a change of lifestyle.
Keep It Simple
Those mentioned are just a handful of choices, but don’t let the amount of options overwhelm you. There’s not a bad option when it comes to the Caribbean islands. While cruise travelers that have been on many cruises have favorite islands, the only way they have a favorite in the first place was to start exploring. Once you start to experience a few of the islands then you can begin to have a favorite, but exploring is the fun part and you have to start somewhere.
The great thing about choosing a Caribbean cruise is that when you choose a longer time frame, you’re going to be able to experience multiple islands during your journey. Make sure you take the time to review the information provided to you when you book your cruise so you can take part in the activities on the island that you want to do.