Caribbean Cruises
The most popular cruise region in the world, sailing year-round from more than a dozen US ports.
Get Up to 5 Free Cruise QuotesCruising Caribbean
Warm water, beaches and short flights make the Caribbean the classic first cruise — and a region repeat cruisers come back to again and again. Itineraries are usually grouped into three areas, and which one you choose shapes the whole trip.
Eastern Caribbean
St. Thomas and St. John, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, Antigua and the cruise lines’ private islands. Beaches, duty-free shopping and snorkeling, often with more sea days.
Western Caribbean
Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico, Belize, Roatán in Honduras, Grand Cayman and Jamaica. Mayan ruins, reef diving, cenotes and zip lines.
Southern Caribbean
Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada and Dominica. More ports and fewer sea days; often sails from San Juan or Barbados, or on longer trips from Florida.
At a Glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Season | Year-round. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30; lines reroute around storms, so travel insurance matters most then. |
| Typical length | 3–5 nights (Bahamas and Key West or Cozumel), 7 nights (most popular), 10–14 nights for the Southern Caribbean |
| Main homeports | Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Jacksonville, Galveston, New Orleans, San Juan, plus Baltimore, New York and Bayonne in the cooler months |
| Good for | First-time cruisers, families, beach lovers, short getaways |
Smart Traveler tips
- Drive-to ports such as Galveston, New Orleans, Baltimore and Port Canaveral can save the cost of flights.
- Private-island days (CocoCay, Great Stirrup Cay, Ocean Cay, Castaway Cay, Celebration Key) are a big part of many itineraries; check which one your line uses.
- A 7-night Southern Caribbean from San Juan reaches islands that Florida sailings rarely visit in a week.
Plan Your Caribbean Cruise
Flights
Flights to the Caribbean · Flights to Puerto Rico (San Juan) · Flights to US homeports. Plan to arrive at least a day before the ship sails.Pre-cruise hotels
Miami · Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) · Port Canaveral · Tampa · Galveston · New Orleans · San Juan · JacksonvilleShore excursions
Caribbean shore excursionsBrowse Caribbean cruise lines, deals and specialists on the Official Cruise Directory: Eastern Caribbean · Western Caribbean · Southern Caribbean.
Get Caribbean Cruise Quotes
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Get Free Cruise QuotesCaribbean Cruise FAQ
When is the best time to cruise the Caribbean?
December through April brings the driest weather and the highest demand. Late spring and early summer are often good value. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 — ships rarely cancel, but they may change ports, so buy travel insurance.
Do I need a passport for a Caribbean cruise?
US citizens on a closed-loop cruise (leaving from and returning to the same US port) can usually sail with a birth certificate and government photo ID, but a passport is strongly recommended: you need one to fly home from a foreign port if you miss the ship or have an emergency.