Tuesday, April 9, 2024

7 of the Best Caribbean Ports to Soak In on Your Cruise

best cruise ports

Paris, France cruise port (France) counts more than threehundret thousand visitors every year. Mykonos cruise port (Greece) counts at least fourhundret thousand visitors every year. As the fashionable French sister on the conjoined island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Martin draws cruise tourists with its shopping opportunities. Head to Marigot, where visitors flock to chic boutiques touting upscale French fashion imports and duty-free perfume, jewelry and more.

Water Sports and Beaches

best cruise ports

While each area has its star attractions, its history and culture are hard to beat. For those looking to embark on a Caribbean adventure, most cruises start in Florida. If you arrive early, you can start relaxing by hitting up one of Miami’s beaches. Should you take a partial or full-transit Panama Canal cruise, you’ll enjoy ports of call in the Caribbean and Central America.

This Is One of the Best Cruise Destinations in the World for 2024 — and How to See It - Travel + Leisure

This Is One of the Best Cruise Destinations in the World for 2024 — and How to See It.

Posted: Fri, 17 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas

When you measure Caribbean island beaches, you're essentially talking about how much more beautiful one is from the other. Antigua has the white sand and clear ocean water that you imagine with a Caribbean cruise. Royal Caribbean's internal research shows the top two reasons people go on a cruise are for the food and destination, and that may lead you to wonder where are the best cruise ports in the Caribbean. The Caribbean’s warm climate year-round makes it an ideal setting for cruise enthusiasts to enjoy these ports at almost any time of the year. However, travelers should be mindful of the peak hurricane season from June to November when planning their voyage. First-time cruise passengers should acquaint themselves with the layout of the cruise terminal for efficient disembarkation.

Best Destination for Beach Lovers Runner-Up: Bermuda

Downtown Phillipsburg is about a 1km walk from the port to a white sandy beach with inviting turquoise waters. Philipsburg, St. Maarten, is a beautiful destination to visit while cruising and a popular port on many itineraries. Cruise ships dock at Port Philipsburg, where its two piers can accommodate up to four vessels. Of all the cruise ports in Eastern Mexico, Cozumel is the top choice given the breadth of choices available and beautiful beaches. From here, passengers can explore the lush green mountains of the inland rainforests. Exciting shore excursions include river rafting, zip lining through canopy forests, visiting Dunn’s River Falls or touring a historic plantation house like Rose Hall.

Roatan, Honduras

Note that moose don't regularly show up in the Inside Passage; you'll need to head farther north to find them. Ships in all price ranges sail a variety of itineraries, so don't let budget stop you from visiting. If luxury is what you're after, you can find lines that will go overboard pampering you on your journey north. Some lines also offer Alaska cruisetours that venture into Canada's Yukon, including a few Holland America tours that combine half a cruise with a cruisetour that starts or ends in Skagway. On a cruisetour, you'll sail a one-way Gulf of Alaska cruise, so your cruise starts or ends in Alaska. Depending on the tour itinerary you choose, you might visit Seward and the Kenai Peninsula, Alyeska, Talkeetna, Anchorage and Fairbanks — as well as spend one to three nights in Denali National Park.

Norway's 10 Most Popular Cruise Ports - Life in Norway

Norway's 10 Most Popular Cruise Ports.

Posted: Wed, 24 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Caribbean Port Shopping

Denali National Park, White Pass Railroad and Mendenhall Glacier are a few of the most popular sites on these itineraries. Pack layers and a camera with a zoom lens; this is not the place to rely on your smartphone. When it comes to delicious local specialties and copas with class, it's hard to beat the ports found on a Western Mediterranean itinerary.

It is easily accessible for cruise passengers to disembark and explore the city. A catamaran fishing cruise is also available for those looking for a more private experience. To escape the crowds, visitors can head to the island’s lighthouse, built in 1852, or visit the Turks and Caicos National Museum in Cockburn Town for a dose of history.

Get family travel & tips from our experts

That makes a European river cruise a must for foodies and oenophiles alike. Consider itineraries such as a Rhone River cruise, cruising the Bordeaux wine region or a Douro River Cruise for spectacular food and wine. Many food and wine cruises have excursions centered on local specialties and vineyards. What's even better is that you can bring your finds back on the ship with you; feel free to uncap that Burgundy and drink it on your balcony.

Montego Bay: Historic Plantation Tours with Tropical Fruit Tastings

We were fortunate enough to dock in St John’s twice, which gave us ample opportunity to explore what this beautiful island has to offer. There’s something about seeing and experiencing Bermuda from the sea that’s quite special. The water is crystal clear and along the way, the picturesque shoreline boasts pastel-coloured homes with white limestone roofs. Because Alaska has such a short season with a limited number of ships and is a dream trip for many, cruises are in high demand and people plan early. For a view of the city and cruise port, take a ride in the sky on the Mount Roberts Tramway. Various wildlife-viewing trips (whale, bears and more) and visits to dogsled camps and salmon bakes leave from Juneau.

If you need a break from beach-bumming, a popular alternative in Barbados is a tour of Harrison's Cave. This crystallized limestone cavern comes teeming with streams, pools, stalactites and stalagmites. The pool of water at the bottom is quite large and made for a refreshing swimming spot for the afternoon.

Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. The falls are many multiple layers deep, each like a shelf feeding into the next. Again, small islands of trees and plants scatter in-between the falling water, adding to the uniqueness of this incredible place. The water wound in between trees and stones, under wooden walkways that connected the path through the trees. It was so unique in the sense that most rivers we encounter have a definitive edge on both sides. There’s always something new to discover in Stavanger, even if you’ve visited before (there is too much to fit in in just one day).

Located on the southern coast of the Caribbean island of Aruba, Oranjestad serves as a popular cruise port of call. Arriving ships dock at the Renaissance Marketplace, adjacent to the historic downtown featuring Dutch colonial architecture and shopping venues. Eastern Caribbean cruises typically call at ports like the Bahamas, St. Thomas, and Puerto Rico, providing a mix of shopping, pristine beaches, and historical sites. Western Caribbean itineraries often include destinations like Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Mexico, which are well-suited for adventure activities and cultural experiences. Grand Cayman is an excellent destination for those who enjoy strolling along a beautiful beach or going on a snorkeling adventure. A number of tour operators offer trips around cruise port times to the famous Stingray City, an amazing snorkel location where you can interact with and feed the stingrays.

The Shete Boka National Park invites visitors to see stunning waves crashing onto impressive cliffs. Roatan is a small island; you can reach all the island’s top sights from the ports in an hour or less. You’ll have a fantastic day, no matter the excursion you choose, but the best ones should include snorkeling. Cruise lines visit Cozumel more often than other ports in the Caribbean. Located off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, vessels dock in one of three ports.

Matt started Royal Caribbean Blog in 2010 as a place to share his passion for all things Royal Caribbean with readers. He oversees all the writers at Royal Caribbean Blog, and writes a great deal of content on a daily basis. He has become one of the foremost expert on a Royal Caribbean cruise. If you'd like to do something beyond the beach, Antigua has historical attractions you can see. Shirley Heights Lookout the Nelson's Dockyard (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) or the Betty’s Hope sugar plantation are a must see.

With its warm, turquoise waters, vibrant cultures, and sun-drenched islands, the region beckons travelers seeking both relaxation and adventure. As the heart of many cruise itineraries, Caribbean cruise ports offer a diverse array of experiences. From the bustling marketplaces and historical landmarks to serene beaches and lush rain forests, each port presents a unique doorway to the treasures of the Caribbean Sea.

The coastal mountains and fjords of Norway do have the majesty of scale that you'll find in Alaska, though the snowcapped peaks that form the background of all of your Alaska photos might be missing. You can opt for a sailing tour to further feel like a celebrity or socialite. A catamaran or sailboat will whisk you away, typically including stops for swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing. Just give a nod to the other yachts you pass and act like you own the place.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Furniture Factory Outlet Opens at Miromar Design Center Miromar Development Corporation

Table Of Content For Every Budget LIVING ROOMS  DINING ROOMS  BEDROOMS  OUTDOOR FURNITURE Forgotten chairs get spotlight in new Estero exhib...