posted 13th December 2023
Caribbean East, South & Central.
You will find there are some very real differences between Caribbean islands which are defined as the Southern, the Western and Eastern areas.
The Eastern islands often have more historic sites, and were claimed for European powers well before the Western islands were discovered. Eastern islands include places like the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Dominican Republic, and more. The Western Caribbean is home to places like the Bahamas, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cuba and the Florida Keys. Western Caribbean islands are more "adventure" oriented, like diving, waterfalls etc, although you'll find plenty of adventure in places like the US Virgin Islands too. Southern Caribbean islands are known for their lush jungles, national parks, volcanic peaks, and natural swimming pools, and include the beautiful islands of Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago. The Caribbean as a whole offers some of the most beautiful white beaches and turquoise seas, although I am bias as its one of my favourite destinations.
Best time to go:
Year-round temperatures of around 20-30C make the Caribbean ideal cruising territory for summer and winter. Peak season is from December to March as this offers an ideal escape from Europe's winters. While the Caribbean hurricane season runs from June to November, storms are more likely from August onwards. Several destinations in the Southern Caribbean such as Barbados, Grenada and the Dutch ABC Islands are considered to be on the edge or outside the hurricane belt. While this does not mean they are never hit by hurricanes (they have been), it happens less frequently, so sailings here are less likely to be affected than in the Eastern or Western parts of the Caribbean.
Top Tips:
* Stock up on small denomination of dollars, as its customary to tip when you are not on the ship. Tips on your ship are normally part of your cruise automatically (not always so please check your booking), although I do always take extra to tip key staff who have been amazing at the end of the cruise.
* Some Caribbean Islands have higher crime rates and tourists are targeted, so check travel information for further advice.
* Book early for excursions, as the Islands are small, the excursions have limited numbers, so if there is something you really want to do, book in advance.
* Take snorkel gear if you want to dive in, as the coral reefs and the colourful fish are everywhere, and there is normally a great beach nearby the port if your not going on an excursion. To rent gear, its normally around $40-60 a day.
