Before my cruise, I kept going back and forth about whether to purchase a drink package or not. In the end, though, I did not think I would be able to get the value out of the drink package, so I decided to just purchase drinks individually as I wanted. ” over and over throughout the entire cruise and the crew made our experience that much better.
Sailing with your crew
Highlights include Antigua, Barbados, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, St. Thomas and St. Kitts. I also recommend that all passengers bring a passport on their Caribbean sailing. If you're retired and can drive to a port, you can likely find an inside cabin to book just a few weeks prior to sailing.
PERFECT DAY AT COCOCAY
See the cathedrals and Spanish colonial architecture of Santo Domingo, the lively street festivals of Barbados or the citadels and brightly colored buildings of San Juan with your cruise to the Caribbean.
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Choose Shore Excursions off Island
If relaxing is more your vibe, recharge in the shade of a private bungalow overlooking Columbus Beach. But don't forget to refuel at Dragon's Rock Cafe, Labadee Cafe or Columbus Café — each serves BBQ and rum-based cocktails. See what Labadee is all about on sailings from Miami, Florida year-round. An important thing to note, though, is that because there are so many activities offered, you likely will not have time to do everything you want to do. I ran out of time to try many of the activities on the sports deck, visit the spa, and go to several events in the evening that I originally planned to attend. In conclusion, Royal Caribbean has not attained its position as the world’s largest cruise line by passenger capacity by chance.
Top-rated beaches and water play
Port days tend to be busy, as you will want to experience as much of the destination as you can. Swimming pools are a given – with the larger ships boasting an impressive number of them. The Oasis-class ships, for example, come with three distinct pool areas and a water play zone specifically designed for children’s enjoyment. Furthermore, more and more Royal Caribbean ships now feature water parks replete with sizable waterslides. Comedy clubs are a regular feature on some ships, and live music can be enjoyed in several venues every night.
Delve into island culture and heritage
Indulge from globally inspired menus across up to 12 specialty restaurants, so you can dine somewhere unique every night. When it’s time to raise a toast to the setting sun, your certified sommelier can pour you the perfect vintage to match the moment—uncorked from a selection that’s won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 10 years in a row. Introducing the new Icon of the Seas℠, a whole new class of Royal Caribbean® adventure. Here, every day is a sun day with an all-you-can-swim buffet of seven unique pools – the most ever on a cruise.
Seabourn Cruises' 14-day Leeward Island Jewels
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The majority of the cruise line private islands are located in the Bahamas, and these appear regularly on all Caribbean itineraries. The Bahamian ports of Nassau and Freeport, even Florida's Key West, may appear on Caribbean-centric cruises. Common destinations on Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries include Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Barbados, Trinidad, St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique and Grenada. You'll find everything from gorgeous beaches and diving destinations to lush rainforests and flowing waterfalls. As with the Western Caribbean, seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises are the most common itinerary length. The shortest options are four nights, typically visiting only Grand Turk or Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
Best Caribbean cruises
Remove the hassle from air travel and give yourself the gift of flexibility, time and a thicker wallet with Princess EZair flights. We negotiate lower rates with the airlines, allow you to modify your flight up to 45 days prior with no penalty and protect you if your flight is late or canceled. So, let’s go through the ultimate cruise experience in the Caribbean, where you can bask in luxury, indulge in adventure, and immerse yourself in the region’s rich diversity. On other Caribbean cruises, you can enter with your U.S. passport book, passport card, Trusted Traveler card (Nexus, SENTRI, or FAST), or an enhanced driver’s license. If you are an American citizen traveling from the U.S. to the Bahamas or Mexico on a closed-loop cruise, starting and ending at the same U.S. port, a state-issued ID and an original U.S. birth certificate is sufficient.
Culinary Experiences and Dining Options
There’s also the thrilling opportunity to jump into the water from the rope swing, or to get out onto the sea on a selection of water toys, such as paddleboards and kayaks. It's difficult to imagine something more romantic than sailing through the warm waters of the Caribbean, hopping between tropical islands and white-sand beaches from the comfortable luxury of your ship. White sand beaches and coral reefs await on Caribbean Getaway cruises. Soak up some vitamin D on Princess Cays, Princess' Private Island resort, and enjoy watersports or an encounter with stingrays in brilliant turquoise waters. Or explore the colorful buildings and exciting historical sites of Grand Turk. The Bahamas, a series of islands with sparkling waters and pristine beaches, is a top Caribbean cruise destination.
Some of the best Caribbean sailings will take you off the beaten cruise path to unspoiled gems like Grenada. Sample Creole specialties in the French islands, such as boudin noir (blood sausage) and crabes farcis (stuffed crabs). Tuck into chicken or goat curry, India's popular contribution to menus regionwide, and feast on Caribbean spiny lobster, freshly grilled seaside. Try jerk chicken in Jamaica, conch fritters in the Bahamas and rice and peas flavored with unsweetened coconut milk most anywhere. From relaxing on the shores of Seven Mile Beach to feeding majestic sea creatures at Stingray City, discover the top things to do in Grand Cayman with Princess. Pamper yourself in the Lotus Spa® with a massage, facial or manicure, and feel renewed.
However, I would recommend making sure you have at least one sea day in your itinerary. Renowned for its wide array of onboard accommodations, Royal Caribbean offers a unique living experience at sea. The ships provide a multitude of cabin options, with some offering up to 34 different categories. These range from budget-friendly, windowless interior cabins that are a compact 149 square feet, making them an ideal choice for the budget-conscious traveler, to expansive multi-room suites that are over ten times larger. By departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, you’re nearly halfway there into the Southern Caribbean segment, and your itinerary may include one or two ports outside of the region.
Learn to make the region’s signature drinks, from the famous piña colada to the more adventurous mojito. On the ABC Islands and St. Maarten (on the Dutch side), Dutch is the official language, but locals also speak Papamiento, a hybrid of Dutch, Spanish, and various West African languages. Across the Caribbean, you’ll hear Creole spoken, or patois, which varies from island to island.
The Southern Caribbean includes Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada and Trinidad. Less visited than the more-accessible northerly regions, the Southern Caribbean is for those who can take longer cruises and want to experience new ports of call. Whether you’re a history-lover, adventure-seeker or laid-back traveler, discover the best Caribbean cruise destinations for any guest with Princess.
From the offseason to the sunniest months to festival season, anytime is the best time to travel to the Caribbean. The diverse cultural influences, local climates and history of the Caribbean combine to make one of the most exciting and unique regional cuisines in the world. From mofongo, a dish from Puerto Rico made from mashed fried plantains, pork and garlic, to the famous jerk chicken of Jamaica, we serve the Caribbean's favorite flavors to you on board. Thanks to Princess' world-class chefs you'll enjoy fresh, locally inspired dishes for your entire voyage. Your stateroom is your home away from home on your voyage where you rest up and recharge between adventures.
