If you’re dreaming of a cruise in the Caribbean, where white power sands and sparkling turquoise waters brush your feet while the sounds of festive music from a vibrant culture greet your ears, there’s an abundance of options.
Many of the leading and more boutique cruise lines offer various itineraries around these glorious islands, but which is the best option? The answer is it depends on what sort of cruise you are looking for. To help, below, we provide a breakdown of the most popular types of Caribbean cruises and reveal which cruise lines do it best.
Royal Caribbean Cruises: Big, bustling and brilliant
If you’re seeking a cruise that can keep you and your travelling companions amused from dawn till dusk and beyond, then Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships are for you. Royal Caribbean Cruises are the leaders in creating mega-ships, so when at sea, you’ll be able to enjoy an incredible range of activities.
There’s the biggest aqua park at sea, the latest glow-in-the-dark laser tag or the Mission Control: Apollo 18 escape room challenge, to name a few, as well as numerous bars, speciality restaurants and thrilling entertainment venues. In fact, the features onboard may be so enthralling that you may not want to get off!
Regent Seven Seas Cruises: A luxury lifestyle
Cruise ships focusing on exceptional luxury are found more frequently in the Mediterranean or exploring Far East Asia. However, Regent Seven Seas Cruises do send vessels to the Caribbean during the winter months. Its ships focus on ultimate indulgence and are renowned for their impressive 1 to 1.5 staff-to-guest ratio and all-inclusive packages, which include everything from fine dining and premium spirits to unlimited excursions. Their suites are unrivalled in space, offering a private butler service, luxury bathing products and a high-tech entertainment system.
Itineraries often take in Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Barts and Antigua, where the idyllic scenery, captivating history and laid-back vibe only add to the sense of opulence this cruise line seeks to deliver.
Disney Cruise Line: Family fun and festivities
Disney Cruise Line brings the magic to your holiday and combines it with the white paradise sands, historical sites and pirate haunts of the Caribbean. Onboard, there’s an array of Disney-exclusive entertainment and activities, including Frozen: A Musical Spectacular, Marvel Super Hero Academy for kids and Rapunzel’s Royal Table restaurant, all of which will delight young hearts and evoke a smile from the adults.
Itineraries visit Disney’s private island paradise, Disney Castaway Cay, in the Bahamas, where sea turtles and coral reefs feature beneath the surrounding turquoise waters. Other destinations include Jamaica. Grand Cayman, St. Maarten and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
However, it’s worth mentioning that for families where Disney is not such a draw, cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean Cruises, Carnival Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Lines also offer plenty of fun-filled family action in the Caribbean, often at a lower cost.
Norwegian Cruise Line: Solo sightseeing
Norwegian Cruise Line leads the way in dedicated solo cruising, having zones onboard and activities specifically curated for this market. As well as grouping together single cabins, they have a private lounge for solo socialising during happy hour and host dedicated meet-ups and bar crawls.
Tailored shore excursions and onboard activities provide further great ways to meet up with fellow cruisers and share your experiences. The solo-specific designed cabins make cruising more affordable when travelling alone, removing the need for single supplements, while still offering all the space and amenities needed for your room.
There’s a wide variety of ships and itineraries to choose from when selecting a Caribbean cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line. Norwegian Getaway, Escape, Bliss, Encore Prima and Viva all sail there during 2022 and 2023, visiting ports in various stunning locations, including the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Bahamas and St. Lucia.
To learn more about cruise holidays in the Caribbean or book your next cruise, please speak to our cruise specialists.
