Sun, sea, food, and entertainment are absolute must-haves for a fantastic cruise holiday, and the Caribbean has these things in abundance. Stretching over 1,063,000 square miles, the Caribbean boasts an assortment of different cultures, delicious native grub, and, of course, gorgeous weather!
Come with us as we take you on a journey through the crystal-blue waters of the Caribbean in our complete guide to Caribbean cruises.
Why do we love Caribbean cruises?
Where do we start? The Caribbean is renowned for its wonderfully warm weather year-round, averaging around 24-29 °C with wonderful sea breezes. Even during the rainy season, the temperature is still fabulously warm, and lots of arid areas are transformed into lush swathes of greenery, allowing you to see a completely different side of the islands.
With warm weather and rainfall come delicious fruit, herbs, and spices that the Caribbean is renowned for. Coconuts, papaya, and mango are just some of the fruits you can expect to be feasting upon during your cruise, alongside delicious savoury dishes such as curry goat and cracked conch.
As well as the climate and cuisine, you’ll also find an incredibly welcoming culture across the different islands you visit.
Where do Caribbean cruises go?
The Caribbean is a vast area with many countries within it, so visiting them all in one go usually isn’t possible. However, as with any cruise, there will be stops at lots of fascinating places!
The Caribbean is broken into two subcategories of islands; the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles. Many cruises will cover some incredible destinations like St. Lucia, the Bahamas, Belize and Antigua, giving you the opportunity to see a great variety of places across the region.
When is the best time to go to the Caribbean?
While many choose to go away during the summer months, in the Caribbean this is actually known as the rainy season. However, this shouldn’t be a deterrent, as often the downpours are heavy but short, giving you plenty of opportunity for sunshine.
The likes of May-November is known as the rainy season, and June-November is the official hurricane season. There’s still lots going on though, including festivals, carnivals and independence days to celebrate.
With that in mind then, December to April is known as the dry season! The UK’s winter is the driest, sunniest time in the Caribbean, with the peak season bringing balmy temperatures and long sunshine hours.
What to expect from a Caribbean cruise
Even if you’ve been on a cruise before or if you’ve never been on a Caribbean cruise, then you’re in for a massive treat! Many people consider the Caribbean to be the gold standard of cruise holidays, so let’s explore why.
Caribbean beaches
Close your eyes and imagine a picturesque beach. It’s probably got crystal-clear water, palm trees, white sand, and a wonderfully clear sky. This is most likely what you can expect when you visit a Caribbean beach.
The Bahamas boasts pink sand, while the Cayman Islands is home to a seven mile long beach along its west coast. You’ll be spoilt for choice.
What’s the weather like in the Caribbean?
The weather in the Caribbean is tropical, meaning that it’s usually warm year-round with plenty of rain during the rainy season. The year-round sunshine means that you can avoid most of the rain by visiting during the dry season. During March, temperatures still sit comfortably in the mid-to-high 20s, while being considerably dryer than months such as August, where over half the days experience rain.
What to wear on a Caribbean cruise?
Fashion is entirely subjective, but what we would say is wear whatever you’re comfortable in.
The Caribbean can get extremely hot and humid, depending on the time of year and the last thing you want is for your holiday to be disturbed by uncomfortable attire. Locals in the Caribbean tend to wear loose-fitting, light clothing made from natural materials, making that a great place to start when picking your outfits.
It’s always best to pack some sort of formal wear for the formal nights that take place on a cruise, whether that be a suit, tuxedo, dress, or gown.
Consider that you may also be walking a lot during a cruise holiday, so appropriate footwear is a must to avoid sore feet or blisters.
You can check out our handy packing list here for inspiration.
What is Caribbean food?
Caribbean food is a rich tapestry bursting with flavour! The tropical climate, alongside plentiful rain, allows farmers in the Caribbean to grow a huge variety of foods, many of which can only be grown in specific environments, such as coconuts and papaya.
The deliciousness doesn’t stop at fruit, with many iconic dishes spreading out from the Caribbean, such as jerk chicken and curry goat, being staples amongst Caribbean people living in the UK.
Expect flavourful foods with seasoning aplenty!
As well as this, your cruise will have plenty of cuisines on board for you to enjoy, so you don’t need to worry if you’re not the most adventurous eater.
Best Cruise Lines for Caribbean Cruises
Each cruise line offers a slightly different experience, with differing destinations, entertainment and rules. Before you embark on your journey, read through our tips on the top cruise lines.
Royal Caribbean Cruises
Offering a wide range of Caribbean cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises aims to capture as much of the islands as they possibly can. With the world’s biggest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Cruises demonstrates its commitment to offering the biggest and best when it comes to Caribbean cruise holidays with plenty of restaurants, entertainment and a wide variety of Caribbean destinations to offer.
Stopping in Barbados, St Lucia, Belize, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica and Bonaire, among many others, Royal Caribbean Cruises boasts an incredibly broad choice of destinations. What’s more, the Royal Caribbean group has its own private island, Perfect Day at Cococay in the Bahamas, with a new Private Perfect Day coming to Mexico in 2027! You’ll also get access to this if you’re on a Celebrity cruise.
Virgin Voyages
Whether you’re looking to delve into The Dominican Republic or pop around to Puerto Rico, Virgin Voyages has you covered. With an astonishingly broad list of Caribbean destinations, you’re sure to get the most out of your trip.
Onshore excursions include submarine dives and 4×4 escapades showcasing the excitement and adventure that the Caribbean has on display.
Virgin is proud of its collaboration with locals which means you may discover a different side to the islands you might never have seen through following tourist guides.
Celebrity Cruises
Mountain peaks, tropical rainforests and coral reefs are prioritised by Celebrity Cruises, inviting you to explore as much of the natural beauty of the Caribbean as you possibly can.
With cruises in the Western Caribbean, Southern and Eastern Caribbean, & Bahamas and Key West, you can explore every inch of the Caribbean with Celebrity Cruises, with each cruise offering its own taste of paradise, whether you’re looking to get off the beaten track or stick to renowned tourist sites.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line showcases the best of the Caribbean through a wide variety of home ports across the Eastern United States, giving you more flexibility than other cruise lines that may only offer cruises starting in Florida or Mexico.
Whether you ride on horseback along beaches in Aruba, snorkel through shipwrecks in Grand Cayman, or explore the historic cities of Puerto Rico, you can be assured that Norwegian Cruise Line has curated Caribbean cruises that are truly incredible.
Cruising with Norwegian Cruise Line also unlocks access to Great Stirrup Cay, their very own private island in the Bahamas!
Princess Cruises
As well as distinguished cruises, Princess Cruises is renowned for its award-winning shore excursions. Swim with stingrays in the Cayman Islands, discover Mayan ruins, and explore the incredible barrier reefs in Belize.
Making use of the entire day, Princess Cruises invites you to enjoy the fresh-caught seafood and street food of the Caribbean at night, allowing you to soak in the rich culture that the islands have to offer once the sun has set.
Princess Cruises is another cruise line that can offer exclusive access to its own resort in the Caribbean, Princess Cays. This resort area on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas is privately owned by Princess, giving travellers a unique experience.
That concludes our venture into Caribbean cruises! The Caribbean is a magical region of the world that is best explored by sea, allowing you to visit as many places within as possible while enjoying the unparalleled luxury of a cruise.
If you’re buzzing to get your Caribbean cruise booked, head over to our Caribbean cruises page on our website, where you can explore the great deals that Cruise Nation has to offer.