The Caribbean contains islands which are many and varied. Each one has its own music, culture, cuisine, style, landscapes and more. One thing of course that all of them have in common is that they are all vibrant, happy places surrounded by the warm waters of the Caribbean where the sun shines down and there is plenty of fun to be had.
For anyone choosing to cruise the Caribbean, there is the chance to experience a taste of some of these various cultures, and indulge in the beauty, wonder, and warmth of places where visitors are welcomed daily. Most cruises sailing here will opt to either travel the east or the west of the Caribbean, and in both directions you will find plenty of interesting places to visit. In the west you’ll find the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico, where as in the east lie Barbados, Martinique, and the British and American Virgin islands. Each island has it’s own unique something to offer visitors, and with a cruise there are always interesting excursions to be taken offering opportunities, and experiences that make cruising here in the Caribbean one of the most popular of all the cruise destinations.
Jamaica
This is quite a prosperous island which has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and it would be easy to laze on one of them drinking rum and eating wonderful spicy local food. Alternatively you could enjoy a trip to the Dunns River falls, or take a tour round the famous ‘Rose Hall Great House’, former home of Jamaica’s white witch Annie Palmer.
The Bahamas
This is one of the most popular stops when cruising, and it’s not surprising when you consider just how much is on offer here. You could swim with dolphins in Nassau, spend the day snorkelling to see some of the amazing and vivid colours the ocean life here has to offer, or take a trip birding to see some of the many birds the Bahamas has. Common sightings include the Caribbean Dove, Bahama Woodstar, Loggerhead Kingbird and the Bahama Mockingbird.
Puerto Rico
When visiting Puerto Rico most ships dock at San Juan port. It’s one of the busiest and most exciting ports in the Caribbean and here the city is on your doorstep and is awash with people, colour, sights and sounds. Alternatively if you prefer to veer away from the crowds, the El Junque rainforest is close enough that a trip into the edge of it is possible, and the contrast to the city is amazing. Trees, orchids and giant ferns are among the 240 different species of plants and wildlife that you might encounter and the place is so peaceful and being on the edge of the island, you can also enjoy some spectacular views out over the north east coast too.
Across the whole of the Caribbean, there are so many islands it would be impossible to cruise them all in one trip. However, the chance to experience a taste of just a few of them on a cruise is one of the many things which has visitors to this region coming back again and again wanting to experience more of what the Caribbean can offer them.