Posted on 09 February 2023

Caribbean Cruises 2023: Everything You Need to Know

Hearing the word "Caribbean" conjures up images of white sandy beaches, superb scuba diving, lush jungles, long sunny days and maybe even luxury Caribbean cruises.

Of course, these are all entirely accurate, but this region - which contains more than 7,000 islands - is staggeringly diverse and so constitutes so much more than “just another beach holiday.”

Luxury Caribbean cruise operators are aiming to have a bumper 2023, with cruises planned right across the Caribbean, and with our Cruise Cover, you can benefit from extra protection for your cruise holiday for scenarios such as missed ports, unused excursions and cabin confinement.

 

Why are Caribbean cruises so popular?

The Caribbean weather

For a start, the Caribbean has great weather all year round. This means those suffering the winter blues in the UK, Europe or northern USA can always count on the Caribbean for a vitamin D top-up.

But more than sun, the Caribbean is superbly set up for cruise liners and smaller ships in 2023.

 

The Caribbean destinations

From St Kitts & Nevis to St Lucia, from Jamaica to Puerto Rico, cruise-ship-capable ports are dotted across the Caribbean, which makes it perfect for island-hopping - no matter how large or small a cruise ship is.

Depending on your cruise itinerary, you may have the opportunity to visit some of these truly stunning destinations:

Eastern Caribbean destinations

Eastern Caribbean cruises may call at Ports of call in:

• Dominican Republic
• Cuba
• Puerto Rico
• Bahamas
• Antigua
• British Virgin Islands
• Anguilla
• Dominica
• Guadeloupe
• Turks and Caicos
• Barbados
• Grenada
• Martinique
• St. Lucia
• St. Maarten
• St. Vincent & The Grenadines
• St. Kitts
  
  

Southern Caribbean Island destinations

• Aruba
• Bonaire
• Curacao
• Trinidad & Tobago
  
  

Western Caribbean destinations

Popular destinations for cruises ships visit in Western Caribbean include:

• Grand Cayman
• Jamaica
• Costa Maya
• Cozumel
• Progreso
• Belize
• Honduras
• Key West

 

The variety of things to do in the Caribbean

Then there's activities such as water skiing, scuba diving and snorkeling, not to mention excursions around history-steeped ports like Nassau in the Bahamas, and Ocho Rios in Jamaica - the gateway to Dunn’s River Falls and Mystic Mountain.

Which cruise lines depart from the UK?

Several luxury cruise lines operate trips to the Caribbean directly from the UK. Chief among these are P&O Cruises, Cunard Line, and Fred. Olsen, which all depart from Southampton - the chief port for UK cruise departures.

 

Can I fly to the Caribbean for a cruise?

Absolutely. In fact, thousands of Britons do fly to the Caribbean for a cruise every year.

 

Benefits of Caribbean Fly-Cruises

The main benefit of flying directly to the Caribbean to start your cruise from there, is that it’s much quicker than cruising all the way from the UK to the Caribbean. And because it is quicker (and shorter), it is likely to be cheaper too.

Many "fly-cruises" are operated by American cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean cruises, Celebrity and Carnival (although the latter is half British!).

 

When is the best time of year to take a Caribbean cruise?

As mentioned, you can count on hot sunny days year-round in the Caribbean, but as to when is the best time to cruise the Caribbean, it really depends on your preferences when it comes to price, popularity and weather.

One of the best months for a Caribbean cruise is May, when the weather is good, yet prices are lower than the peak seasons.

 

Summer cruises or winter cruises to the Caribbean?

Winter Caribbean cruises

For many, the allure of escaping the cold British winter for some warm weather means they find winter cruises the best time cruise the Caribbean.   

The peak season for Caribbean winter cruises runs from late December to early April

Temperatures in the southern Caribbean are slightly warmer during the winter, which is why you will find cruises to islands including Aruba, Barbados, Curacao and other nearby islands particularly popular during this time of year.

if you’re not keen on crowds, we recommend visiting between November and early December.

Summer Caribbean cruises

The peak season for Caribbean summer cruises runs from June through August, when the Caribbean experiences its best weather.

If your schedule compels you to book a summer cruise, you can still dodge the crowds by booking a luxury Caribbean cruise on a smaller ship.

Bear in mind, with the average temperatures reaching their peak in the summer months, if you intend to do a lot of sight-seeing during your Caribbean cruise, you might find this time of year too hot and humid.

 

Is summer not hurricane season in the Caribbean?

Hurricane season in the Caribbean lasts from June to November. However, the likelihood of a storm directly impacting your cruise remains low.

Cruise companies carefully monitor weather conditions and if a storm is forecast, itineraries can be swapped or completely changed to avoid going anywhere near the storm. 

Rainfall for the tropical storms reaches its peak in September to October.

It will cost you a lot less to cruise during this time of year, and the likelihood of a storm directly impacting your cruise is low. 

Best time to book your Caribbean cruise?

Decided you want to want to book a Caribbean cruise?  Perhaps you’re wondering when is the best time to book a Royal Caribbean cruise?

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ answer to the question as to when is the best time to book a cruise, it really all depends on your own personal requirements.

 

Benefits to booking your Caribbean cruise early

If you know where you want to go and the cabin style that you want to book, then you are best to book as early as possible.

Caribbean cruises have increased in popularity over the years, so booking early will help guarantee you get the exact cruise booking and accommodation you want.

 

Last minute cruise bookings

Cruise ships want to sail with as many of their cabins booked as possible, As such, booking a cruise last minute can often mean you can get some great deals.

It is worth noting though, that if it is close to a cruise’s departure date, many itineraries and cabins will have already been booked, leaving you with limited choice on availability.

 

Caribbean facts: Which Caribbean islands would I enjoy most?

Wherever you go on your cruise in the Caribbean, you'll likely get to experience wonderful beaches and plenty of sun.

Which part of the Caribbean is best to cruise? The following destinations have their own specialities:

• Dominican Republic - The most visited Caribbean island with many beaches and lots of outdoor activities.
• Cuba - The crumbling capital Havana offers old-world charm and jazz; plus art and museums; while nature reserves and pristine coastline can be enjoyed island-wide.
• Jamaica - Known as the playground of the Caribbean; awe-inspiring waterfalls; Montego Bay nightlife and beach life; bob-sledding through the forest; swimming with dolphins.
• The Bahamas - Boasts some of the world's finest beaches; laidback and vibrant, it's the quintessential tropical holiday destination.
• British Virgin Islands – An archipelago of over 50 islands, explore Road Town, the heavily British influence capital located on Tortola, the popular the baths Virgin Gorda, Sage Mountain National Park, or enjoy snorkelling or scuba diving, the coral reefs off Anegada.

 

Here are some more Caribbean sea facts:

• The Caribbean comprises more than 7,000 islands.
• Only 10% of them are inhabited.
• Six of the world’s seven sea turtle species inhabit the diverse marine habitats of the Wider Caribbean Region
• Jamaica has the highest concentration of churches on the planet.
• The Caribbean only has two seasons - dry season and rainy season.

Luxury Caribbean cruises vs regular ones

Whether you opt for a luxury Caribbean cruise, or a more standard Caribbean cruise, you can expect fabulous port stops, beautiful beaches and great on-board amenities with both types.

But those who select a high-end or luxury Caribbean cruise will benefit from smaller ships carrying fewer people.

Smaller vessels can navigate shallower waters, which makes it easier to visit quieter, off-the-beaten track ports, which of course have fewer crowds. Indeed, many luxury cruise lines avoid larger, busier ports.

With a smaller ship, it’s also a lot quicker and easier to disembark and re-embark - simply because it's simpler to organise a few dozen people, compared to a thousand or more!

Additionally, excursion groups tend to be smaller, which can result in a more intimate, relaxing experience.

While there are no hard-and-fast rules, luxury cruises generally emphasise cultural enrichment and historic lectures, in preference to loud, show-stopping entertainment.

This focus on quality extends to the food, too - with luxury cruise lines often priding themselves on sourcing fresh local ingredients and creating menus themed on local dishes.

By paying a little more for a luxury cruise holiday, you'll likely benefit from more spacious cabins with perks like premium toiletries and free minibars.

Luxury Caribbean cruise lines tend to have higher staffing ratios than more regular cruise operators, while passengers tend to be more mature - and more affluent.

What amenities can I expect on board my Caribbean cruise?

The experience you have on board your Caribbean cruise will of course depend largely on the cruise ship you book:

Huge, floating-resort cruise ships

In recent years the cruise industry has expanded massively, with a focus on vast floating resort style ships like Allure of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas - which can each carry more than 5,000 passengers.

Such cruise ships have a vast array of restaurants and bars, plus activities such as rock climbing and surf simulators - not to mention zip wires!

These cruise holidays are marketed towards families and groups, with a heavy emphasis on no-holds-barred-fun!

A medium-sized luxury cruise ship

But if sharing a ship with 5,000 other people (not including the crew!) isn’t your style, you might choose a more modest sized cruise ship, such as the Celebrity Silhouette.

It "only" has space for 2,886 passengers, but maintains a more sophisticated, chic approach. We're talking wine-and-cheese picnics or a game of bocce in the Lawn Club.

Cruises on this vessel also boast wine-tasting sessions, adding to the service expected by 5-star Caribbean cruises.

A smaller luxury ship

For a truly intimate onboard experience, opt for a smaller cruise ship, such as the 930-passenger-Viking Sea.

It's a more relaxed affair than the super-cruise ships above, with more bespoke shore excursions and a focus on specialty restaurants.

 

Choosing your cruise ship cabin

When selecting your cabin for your Caribbean cruise, be sure to check the deck plans first, before booking.

Locating (and avoiding!) the cabins beneath loud or late night cruise facilities can be a blessing if you like to go to bed early, rise late or are travelling with children.

 

Cabins to avoid on your Caribbean cruise:

Allure of the seas cabins to avoid for lack of privacy are cabins facing the Boardwalk and Central Park areas.

If peace and quiet is your thing, Celebrity Silhouette cabins to avoid due to noise include:

• Cabins at the front of deck 6 located under the theatre
• Cabins in the middle of deck 11, which are located under the main pool deck
• Cabins towards the back of deck 12 which are under the buffet

Questions to consider before booking a Caribbean cruise in 2022

• Does the cruise fare include gratuities (tips)?
• What other fees will be added later to my Caribbean cruise?
• Are there discounts for my Caribbean cruise, for kids, pensioners, NHS staff etc?
• Does the particular Caribbean cruise have good reviews?
• Does the cruise line have good reviews?
• Do I book my Caribbean cruise excursions now, or when on board the cruise ship?
• How much spending money should I budget, for my Caribbean cruise?
• How big is the cruise ship?
• What kind of cabin would suit me best, and is it available?
• Is the price of the Caribbean cruise, per person or per cabin?
• Are special diets accommodated for on the cruise?

 

Royal Caribbean facts

• Royal Caribbean's headquarters in Miami, Florida, is actually designed to look like the Crown and Anchor logo when viewed from the sky,
• Royal Caribbean operates the largest cruise ship in the world - Wonder of the Seas measures 1,188 feet (362 m) in length and has a gross tonnage of 236,857 across 18 decks.
• Royal Caribbean’s Central Park neighbourhood, which can be found on the fleets Oasis class ships, is the first ever living park at sea.

 

Can you get married on a cruise ship?

Have the exotic destinations of the Caribbean got you considering a wedding at sea? 

If you are looking for wedding cover as you travel overseas to tie the knot, then we are here to help you out.

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