Caribbean Cruise Ports you MUST add to your cruise itinerary! The Caribbean is a beautiful place to explore and cruises give you the ability to visit numerous islands on one trip! Which ports should you see?
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Today I want to talk about one of my all-time favorite ways to travel, by cruise! I absolutely LOVE cruising! It really is the perfect way to travel if you are an “enjoy the journey as much as the destination” person. Sometimes we rush to get to a location just to chill out there for a week and that is totally okay too! But cruising creates fun out of the “getting there” by giving you so many activities while you travel to your destination. From fine dining, to Broadway style shows, to bars fit for every mood, there is always something to do on a cruise ship. Plus, they have pools and slides and mini-golf and rock climbing and all sorts of things to do during the day, with a pina colada in hand, might I add.
But my favorite part of cruising is the ability to visit a few different locations in a region on one trip. One day you can be in the Bahamas then the next you are in the Turks and Caicos. You get to experience different vibes on each stop and I just love that! Usually I will take a cruise to a location, then decide to come back later for longer stays at places I really love. For that reason, I have decided to share my top 5 favorite cruise ports in the Caribbean. Some of these places I have visited again more than once, and some are still on the list for longer stays!
5. Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI
Good for: Family Trips
The Virgin Islands are a perfect cruise stop nestled between the Northern and the Southern Caribbean. They are mountainous little islands with gorgeous blue waters. St. Thomas is the most western of the U.S. Virgin Islands with the port city of Charlotte Amalie. It is not far off the coast of Puerto Rico which gives you the ability to catch it on cruises departing from Miami or directly from San Juan!
You could spend all day on land exploring the castle of Blackbeard or Danish architecture, but there is even more fun out on the water. Spend the day snorkeling the reefs, sunbathing on white sandy beaches in gorgeous bays or sailing through the crystal-clear water. This location always will hold a special place in my heart because it was the first place I ever saw a sea turtle in the wild!
If you wanted to stay longer in St. Thomas I recommend:
Lux Resort Choice: The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas
Private Villa: Chateau Nightwind
4. Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Good for: Adventurers
Jamaica is next on the list with the port city of Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios is on the northern
coast of the island and can usually be found on cruise itineraries visiting Haiti or the Cayman Islands. Montego Bay is also a great city in Jamaica, but Ocho Rios has one attraction that will make you want to go back over and over again!
Dunn’s River Falls is a tropical oasis located just a short boat ride from the port. This is the perfect stop for adventurers because climbing a water fall is no easy task! If you are
prepared for an adventure, this will be one you will remember forever!
The climb may be a little slippery, but the views and refreshing showers in the falls are certainly worth it! For just one day in port, this was such a fun and memorable experience. I would love to come back to Jamaica to stay and explore other parts of the island but for a cruise, this was the perfect adventure spot!
If you wanted to stay longer in Jamaica I recommend:
Budget-Friendly All-Inclusive Choice: Moon Palace Jamaica
Adult-Only Resort Choice: Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall Adults Only - All Inclusive
3. Georgetown, Cayman Islands
Good for: Dive Enthusiasts
Let me start off by saying you could spend way more than one cruise day exploring the Cayman Islands! I absolutely love these little islands and am always looking for cruise itineraries with them included! The Cayman Islands may be small, but they have a massive underwater world waiting to be discovered. Said to have some of the best diving in the world, this is the stop for you if you think you may be a fish in another life… Luckily, there are a lot of day trip charters and companies that you can link up with once in port so experiencing these dive sites is possible! If you are more of a land lover, then the Seven Mile Beach may be more your thing! Either way, you cannot go wrong with a stop in Georgetown!
If you wanted to stay longer in the Cayman Islands I recommend:
Lux Resort Choice: The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa
Private Villa Choice: Laguna Del Mar
2. Key West, Florida
Good for: Fun in the Sun Vibes
For anyone that knows me, they know I love the Keys. The most southern islands in the continental U.S., the Florida Keys dot through the 3rd largest coral reef system in the world. The islands, or “keys”, are connected by one loooong road and bridges that eventually hit a dead end in the eclectic city of Key West. The great news is if you don’t enjoy long car rides, you can catch a cruise and make sure Key West is one of the port-of-calls!
Key West is actually a perfect cruise stop because there is so much to do in a small space. You can catch a snorkel trip when you first arrive then make it back for a pub crawl down famous Duval Street before hopping back on the boat. I love the old Florida vibes Key West has to offer, with the old Florida cracker houses, palm trees everywhere and chickens and roosters that roam the streets freely. I come back to the Keys every chance I get, but if you are just taking one trip to the Caribbean and you like a good time, then make sure Key West is part of the plan!
If you wanted to stay longer in Key West I recommend:
Lux Resort Choice: Casa Marina Key West, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Private Villa Choice: A Key Escape
1. Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
Good for: Lux traveler
Now for the number one spot! Turks and Caicos may be the smallest island country on the list but will totally blow you away! Stunning white beaches and the bluest water I have ever seen, the port city of Grand Turk takes the top spot for this list! Turks and Caicos has that lux resort vibe yet keeps you connected to the natural scenery perfectly. Even though it is small, there is plenty to do. You could probably spend the entire day at the Margaritaville that is located steps away from the port BUT the water is where the magic is. Paddle boarding, snorkeling or just swimming in the crystal-clear turquoise waters are what I will always remember about this location. Could you spend an extended stay here? Absolutely! But for a quick stop into paradise, it is the perfect addition to any cruise itinerary!
If you wanted to stay longer in Key West I recommend:
"Live like a Celebrity" Choice: Ambergris Cay All Inclusive
Lux Resort Choice: The Shore Club Turks & Caicos
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