10 Best Caribbean Cruise Destinations

Blanketed in rainforest and full of opportunities for adventure, St. Lucia is a favourite stop in the South Caribbean. There are several gorgeous beaches relatively close to Port Castries. Reduit Beach offers a dazzling sunset view, and after nightfall, beachgoers head to nearby Rodney Bay Village for music and dancing into the evening.

For those with the time and the hiking chops, a visit to the Pitons is worth your while. Hikes around these 2 natural marvels take you through lush rainforest paths and offer striking views of the coast. Soothe sore muscles at nearby Sulphur Springs, a series of mud baths and hot springs on a dormant volcano.

As the largest and busiest port in the Caribbean, San Juan is bound to be on your cruise itinerary. The old city streets of UNESCO Site Old San Juan are home to a number of landmarks, including the Castillo de San Cristóbal and the Teatro Tapia. The beautifully preserved Castillo San Felipe del Morro stands along the coast, guarding the entrance to San Juan Bay.

For the adventurous among us, El Yunque National Forest is an easy day trip from the port. Hire a guide to explore this 29,000-acre tropical rainforest filled with guava trees, blooming orchids, and leaf-green Puerto Rican parrots. Excursions typically include swimming in a forest pool and a ride down a natural rock water slide.

The capital of the Bahamas is all palms and pastels, with colourful British colonial buildings dotting this hilly city. Explore the high-end shops on Nassau’s Bay Street and the local craft at the Straw Market, which sells hand-woven Bahamian straw hats, bags, and dolls. Don’t forget to try the local speciality, crispy conch fritters.

Just across from the city on little Paradise Island is the luxurious Atlantis Resort, which offers day passes with access to all its amenities. That means you can spend an entire day flying down waterslides, trying your luck at the casino, and sipping cocktails on the resort’s extraordinary private beaches.

St. Thomas is among the world’s most beautiful harbours. For a bird’s-eye view, jump on the Skyride. A thrilling gondola ride whisks visitors 700 feet up to an observation area that serves as a perfect vantage point to admire the shining blue bay and rolling green mountains. On the north side of the island, horseshoe-shaped Magens Bay draws visitors to its soft sand beach and sapphire waters.

Families visiting St. Thomas won’t want to miss the Coral World Ocean Park, a 5-acre marine park that facilitates up-close encounters with wildlife. Don your weighted helmet for a Sea Trek along the ocean floor or stay afloat for a playful swim with dolphins.

Capital of the Dutch side of St. Maarten, Philipsburg is a major Caribbean shopping destination. Bargain seekers flock here to shop for brand-name goods free of duties and sales tax. The 2 main shopping thoroughfares are lined with West Indian-style architecture painted shades of peach and lime green.

This small port town has a 2-mile stretch of urban beach with a lively boardwalk. When you’ve had your fill of shopping, sit back and relax in the sand or try your luck at one of the town’s casinos.

Divers come from around the world to explore the coral reefs at Cozumel. This island off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula is located on the vast Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and promises unforgettable underwater adventures. The southern part of Cozumel is a protected marine park with breathtaking coral formations. The diverse marine life here includes eagle rays, nurse sharks, and hawksbill turtles.

If you prefer your adventuring on dry land, there are ruins of ancient Mayan sites within reach. Take a ferry to the mainland and spend the day exploring either of Mexico’s most important archaeological sites, the Tulum castle ruins or the iconic Chichén Itzá.

The beaches on Grand Turk are so immaculate they hardly seem real. The crown jewel is Governor’s Beach, with its incredibly soft peach-white sand and ocean water so clear it sparkles. English Point Beach to the north of Governor’s is a bit rockier but draws fewer crowds. Divers can enjoy kaleidoscopic coral reef walls in the mile-deep Turks Island Passage, plus migrating megafauna like dolphins and humpback whales.

The island is also home to the Turks and Caicos National Museum. A modest collection, the museum’s primary exhibits are centred on the country’s Indigenous peoples and the Molasses Reef Wreck, one of the world’s oldest shipwrecks.

St. Kitts promises a little something different than most stops on your Caribbean cruise. Basseterre visitors can jump on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, which travels 18 miles around the island’s perimeter. From your seat on the old-fashioned railcar, you’ll see fields of wild sugarcane and learn a bit of the island’s history.

Alternatively, history buffs may prefer to spend their time at the Brimstone Hill Fortress. This UNESCO-recognized 18th-century fort is impressive in size and offers panoramic views. Adventure seekers can gear up for a unique hiking experience on Mount Liamuiga. The climb is about 5 miles of scramble through dense jungle and rewards you with a magical view into the dormant volcano’s forested crater.

Falmouth is one of the prettiest ports in the Caribbean. Located on Jamaica’s northern coast, the town’s Georgian architecture reflects its heyday in the late 18th century when it made its fortune from the sugar trade. Join a walking tour to see the highlights and learn a bit of Jamaican history. For a taste of the local spirit, head south to the Hampden Sugar Estate, where generous rum-tasting tours finish with jerk pork lunch.

45 minutes from Falmouth by bus, Dunn’s River Falls is a must-see. This natural marvel is a waterfall tumbling over a 600-foot natural limestone staircase. Rent water shoes to climb the slippery steps or take a dip in the cool waters of the natural pools.

The natural beauty of the land and sea is what draws visitors to Puerto Plata. Known for its spectacular golden beaches, you’ll have your pick of a dozen sandy stretches along the coast. Playa Dorada is among the best, a long palm-lined beach with access to restaurants and watersports rentals. Take the Teleferico cable car to the top of Mount Isabel de Torres for sweeping views over the city and the coast.

Puerto Plata has a few stops for history buffs as well. Fortaleza San Felipe is a 16th-century Spanish fortress built to defend the city against invading pirates. At the Amber Museum, exhibits showcase insects preserved inside fossilised resin and give background on the country’s amber and tobacco industries.