Destination Guide

Caribbean Cruises

Katie's favorite corner of the world, and the easiest place to fall in love with cruising.

Best time to sail

Year-round. December through April is peak season with the most reliable weather and the highest prices. Late April, May, and early December are the sweet spot for value. Hurricane season runs June through November - fares drop, and cruise ships simply sail around storms, which is exactly the kind of tradeoff worth talking through together.

Departure ports

Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Galveston, New Orleans, Baltimore, Cape Liberty, and San Juan

Typical length

3 to 10 nights, with 7 nights the most common

Choosing your itinerary

Eastern Caribbean

St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, and the private islands. Shorter sailing distances, more beach time, and the best choice for a first cruise.

Western Caribbean

Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Roatan, Costa Maya, and Jamaica. Mayan ruins, world-class snorkeling and diving, and generally the best value.

Southern Caribbean

Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Barbados, and St. Lucia. Drier, warmer, outside the hurricane belt, and reached on longer 9 to 12 night sailings.

Don't miss

  • Perfect Day at CocoCay - Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas
  • Snorkeling the Mesoamerican Reef off Cozumel and Roatan
  • Stingray City sandbar in Grand Cayman
  • The Pitons and sulphur springs of St. Lucia
  • Aruba's Eagle Beach, consistently ranked among the world's best

Ready to price a Caribbean cruise?

Send Katie your dates and who's traveling. You'll get real options with real prices - not a sales pitch. It's free, and it never costs more than booking direct.

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