If you’re one of those folks who just want to shrug off the world and relax on a beach for your vacation, a Caribbean cruise is perfect because you’ll be visiting some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Unless you book a shore excursion with the cruise line, it’s generally easier to just hop a convenient shuttle or taxi for transport from port to the beach – that way you can follow your own schedule.
Eastern Caribbean
St. Thomas
- Magens Bay Beach– this famous horseshoe shaped bay features calm, clear waters and loads of amenities.
- Sapphire Beach – excellent for snorkeling right from shore. Less crowded and photographers love the views of surrounding islands.
St. John
- Trunk Bay Beach – known for its 225 yard underwater snorkeling trail. Less crowded because it’s a short ferry and taxi ride from the port.
St. Martin
- Orient Beach – If you’re into the beach club party scene, this beach is the “St. Tropez of the Caribbean” with many clubs and restaurants and tons of beach activities
Southern Caribbean
Aruba
- Eagle Beach – this wide, white sand beach is ideal for families as its waters are exceptionally calm and clear. Its leaning Fofoti trees are native to Aruba and are culturally significant. It’s also a major nesting area for four species of sea turtles.
Barbados
- Brownes Beach is a large white sand beach overlooking Carlisle Bay, just a short distance from Bridgetown. Scuba divers find it one of the best places in the world for underwater exploration, since it’s the site of several shipwrecks and the marine creatures that find shelter there.
- Crane Beach faces the Atlantic surf, and its strong waves make it popular with bodysurfers and boogieboarders. Another feature of the beach is its beautiful pink sand.
Western Caribbean
Grand Cayman
- Seven Mile Beach – one of the most famous beaches in the world, this beach is completely walkable from end to end as it is all public land. Kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling and motor sports are all available on this beautiful, family-friendly beach.
Little Cayman
- If you want to avoid crowds, visit Point of Sand Beach on the northeastern tip of the island. Quiet and peaceful, it’s a perfect place to relax and enjoy its natural beauty without all the distractions of a typical public beach.
Bahamas
Most cruise lines that operate in the Caribbean region make a stop at their own dedicated private island. No transportation to nearby beaches is necessary – the ship docks within walking distance of the beach or boat “tenders” transport passengers from the ship to the beach site. Most of these stops are day-long, although guests have the option to return to the ship whenever they wish. Guests enjoy the same privileges as they have on the ship, depending on the cruise amenities you have purchased.
Some of these islands have been developed into massive entertainment venues with lots of activities and options.
- Royal Caribbean’s Coco Cay features a large freshwater pool and several lovely beaches. Admission to the waterpark (which features 14 waterslides, a zipline, and an obstacle course) is an additional charge. Adults can escape to Hideaway Beach while their kids enjoy the park.
- Disney’s Castaway Cay features character meet-and-greets, a dedicated snorkeling lagoon, and floating water slides. Port excursions and alcoholic beverages incur an extra cost. Again, the adults can sneak away to Serenity Beach while the kids are enjoying the supervised Kid’s Club activities.
If you’ve had enough of the beach after a few days, there are plenty of other things to do on a Caribbean cruise. Each island has its own fascinating history, unique land features and wildlife, culinary culture, music, and local enterprises (coffee and spice plantations, rum production, etc.) You’ll probably find that one Caribbean cruise isn’t enough! Call Travel Leaders for more information on where to begin your Caribbean adventure.
