There is no shortage of choices for a cruise to the Caribbean. With more than 200 cruise ships spending at least part of every year in the region, and thousands of individual Caribbean sailings listed on cruise-selling websites, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one. However, the best Caribbean cruise for you depends on your travel style and preferences.
For megaresort fans who love the big-resort feel, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is a great choice. As the largest cruise ship in the world, it offers incomparable features such as a massive water park, a cantilevered infinity pool, and an indoor AquaTheater for acrobatic and diving shows. Royal Caribbean offers seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings departing from Miami aboard the Icon of the Seas.
For families, Disney Cruise Line is hard to top. The line caters heavily to families, with high-quality kids clubs, onboard attractions like the AquaDuck water coaster, and plenty of opportunities for photo ops with Disney characters. Disney Fantasy offers seven-night Western Caribbean cruises departing from Port Canaveral, with stops in Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Falmouth, Jamaica; and Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island.
For budget-conscious travelers, Carnival Cruise Line is the undisputed leader in affordability. Carnival offers lower fares than most other cruise lines and deploys its Caribbean-focused vessels to a variety of U.S. “home ports” to make it accessible to a large percentage of the U.S. population. Carnival ships are packed with fun-focused attractions and include a multitude of dining options. The line offers a 10-day Eastern Caribbean sailing from New York City on Carnival Venezia, with stops in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos; and Amber Cove, Dominican Republic.
For solo travelers, Norwegian Cruise Line is the best choice. The cruise line caters to solo cruisers by adding entire zones for solo travelers to the center of every new ship it deploys to the Caribbean. These solo zones include dozens of cabins for solo travelers, a private lounge with a bar and television, and daily hosted happy hour gatherings. Norwegian Prima offers solo cabins known as Studio cabins, which are designed to maximize storage space and feature a futuristic design and multicolored mood lighting.
Overall, the best Caribbean cruise for you depends on your travel style and preferences. Whether you’re a megaresort fan, a family traveler, a budget-conscious traveler, or a solo traveler, there is something for everyone in the Caribbean.