Your Ultimate Cruise Travel Guide
Caribbean Ports
Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
Grand Turk is one of my 5 favorite ports in the entire Caribbean. As you sail in, you'll notice some of the greenest, clearest water in the Atlantic/Caribbean. The cruise port is at the southern end of Grand Turk. There are gift shops, jewelry stores, restaurants, and the largest Margaritaville in the Caribbean with swimming pools and a swim-up bar. For cruisers who would prefer to simply hit the beach and relax instead of doing an excursion, this is the port for you. You can walk off the ship onto the beautiful Cruise Center Beach and relax, play beach volleyball, or grab a cold one at a beach bar. This is one of the nicest beaches we've experienced adjacent to a cruise port.
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Must See in Grand Turk
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Best Excursions
Amber Cove, Domican Republic
Amber Cove is one of the newest cruise ports in the Caribbean. The cruise terminal is in Maimon Bay just west of the Puerto Plata city center on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The new port center is the result of the cruise industry's large investment in the Dominican Republic. Two ships can dock at thenew port and a transportation booth gives you easy access to the town center at Puerto Plata or to the rain forests and mountain excursions. You are just a short ride from the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua National Park and one of our all-time favorite cruise excursions. See below.
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Must See in Amber Cove
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Best Excursions
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Charlotte Amalie. St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
As you sail into St. Thomas Redhook Bay, your ship will dock at one of two cruise docks, either east or west of downtown Charlotte Amalie, the capital city on the south side of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. From the Havensight dock, which holds 3 ships, it is a beautiful 20-minute walk along the bay to downtown. From the Crown Bay Dock, which holds 2 ships, the walk is much shorter to downtown. The island of St. Thomas is small, just 32 square miles, so it is just a short cab ride through the mountains to numerous spectacular beaches. One of our favorite beaches in the Caribbean is Magen's Bay Beach, due north up and over the mountain from the city.
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Must See in St. Thomas
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Best Excursions
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San Juan, Puerto Rico
The San Juan Cruise Terminal is located in San Juan, the capital city of Puerto Rico. It is the busiest cruise port in the entire Caribbean. Among the cruise lines served by San Juan are Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, and Norwegian. The port has three terminals, and each terminal has numerous amenities including free wifi, food, shops, and seating areas. Numerous excursions are offered, such as a trip to the nearby El Yunque rainforest, a tour of Old San Juan, and a trip to one of Puerto Rico's many beautiful beaches.
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Must See in San Juan
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Best Excursions
Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Virgin Islands
The port at Philipsburg is one of the most vibrant in the Caribbean. As you depart your ship, you'll enter the Harbour Point Village and be greeted by steel drums to give you that Carubbean feeling. The port somehow captures the feel of an island split by two countries; the French and Dutch split the island in two. The "Friendly Island" Philipsburg Village has shops, a restaurant, and a bar. There are tours available for purchase and friendly cab drivers can assist with travel to nearby beaches.
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Must See in St. Maarten
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Best Excursions
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Montego Bay, Jamaica
Montego Bay's cruise port has won numerous awards and can hold four ships on any given day. It is the nation's second-largest city and its second-largest port. The pier is about 3 miles east of the downtown area or a $7 cab ride away. The port has free wifi, a tourist information center, a cab stand, and a small bar for refreshments. Visiting cruise passengers can board a "Hot Spot Shuttle", basically an all-day hop-on, hop-off bus for about $17 per passenger. I highly recommend this bus or the regular bus system over cabs in Jamaica.
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Must See in Montego Bay
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Best Excursions
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Frederiksted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands
The Frederiksted, St. Croix cruise port is on the far western edge of the island and can dock 2 ships at a time. The port mainly serves Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian. As you exit your ship, there is a new electric trolley(2023) to transport you off the very long pier. The cruise dock is at the northern edge of Frederiksted, but there are historic tours walkable from the port. The other historic city on St. Croix is Christiansted which is on the far eastern edge of the island. St. Croix is the largest of the 3 Virgin Islands, 84 square miles, 28 miles from east to west and 7 miles wide, north to south. The island is famous for its pristine beaches and outdoor recreation.
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Must See in St. Croix
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Best Excursions
George Town, Grand Cayman
The Cayman Islands are one of the closest to the island country of Cuba, just 275 miles to the southwest. There are three islands; Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The cruise port is on the west coach of the island on the west edge of George Town. They are territories of Britain, so there is definitely a British feel. The island is 22 miles long and 8 miles wide and is most famous for Seven Mile Beach, a beautiful white sand beach with numerous water sports and restaurants. At North Sound you'll find a 35 square mile reef, protecting a lagoon that houses Stingray City. where you can personally interact with stingrays.
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Must See in Grand Cayman
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Best Excursions
Roseau, Dominica
Cruise passengers at Dominica's largest city and capital, Roseau, which has colorful wooden homes and numerous botanic gardens. From the cruise port, you'll have spectacular views of the mountainous country. Dominica has tropical rainforests, including incredible waterfalls, natural hot springs, and an extensive natural park system. Visit Morne Trois Pitons National Park which has steam-covered Boiling Lake heated by volcanic activity below. The park also has sulfur vents, the 200-foot-tall Trafalgar Falls, and Titou Gorge.
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Must See in Doninica
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Best Excursions
Castries, St. Lucia
Not only is St. Lucia in my top 5 Caribbean cruise destinations, it is my Number 1! Nearly all of the cruise ships arriving in Castries, dock at the Pointe Seraphine port. The port city is small but quaint and it can be easily seen on a short walk. St. Lucia's true beauty is seen in the rugged mountains covering nearly all of the island. The world famous Pitons are easier to reach on the water than by land due to the mountain roads. There are numerous great beaches and even a water park if you so desire.
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Must See in St. Lucia
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Best Excursions
Bridgetown, Barbados
The port at Bridgetown, Barbados is only a 15-minute walk along the water from the town center. There are also taxis or shuttle buses to take you there. There is free wifi at the port. Bridgetown is the largest city in the southwest of Barbados and has a definite British flair in its architecture and food. Cab drivers can be hired for a reasonable price to tour the island. You'll likely head to the Princess Alice Highway, with potential stops at numerous restaurants including the Bridgetown Fish Market, which can also be reached on foot. t
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Must See in Barbados
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Best Excursions
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Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis
Port Zante is located in the center of the capital city of Basseterre, the capital city. Just five years ago, they opened another pier so 4 ships can dock on the same day. The St Kitts Cruise Port has shopping and has a number of bars to sample the local rum and locally made beer. Close by are jewelry stores, the St. Kitts Chocolate Factory, a locally owned Coffee Shop, a food court with worldwide choices, and an ice cream shop. ​
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Must See in St. Kitts
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Best Excursions
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Fort-de-France, Martinique
Fort-de-France Martinique has two docks in different locations. Pointe Simon cruise terminal in Martinique is directly across from Hotel Simon and a 10-minute stroll to the city center of historic Fort-de-France. If a second cruise ship arrives the same day, there is a second dock for it, although it is a bit further from the center of town. True to its name, the city and island, along with its culture and cuisine, are decidedly French. Although not its most beautiful beach, La Francaise beach, next to Fort Saint-Louis, is within walking distance of the port.
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Must See in Martinique
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Best Excursions
St George's, Grenada
Cruise ships dock in St. George's Grenada along a long dock stretching out from the port building. The dock can easily hold two large ships or three smaller ones. The pier is near the center of St. George's, the capital city of Grenada. You'll enjoy free wifi, Esplanade Mall shops, and a restaurant/bar at the terminal building. Just outside the terminal building, you'll find a sightseeing train, just one way to explore this historic town and island. Near the port you can purchase tickets aboard the Water Taxi where you can travel to Grande Anse Beach, voted by many tourism sites as one of the best in the Caribbean, and Mount Rouge Beach.
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Must See in Grenada
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Best Excursions
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St. Johns, Antigua (and Barbuda)
Located in St. John’s harbor, the Antigua Cruise Port is in the heart of the historic city. With three different docks, Antigua can easily handle up to five ships. Completed in 2023, the port has a new terminal building with shops, food, and lots to drink. Famous for its natural reefs and protected bays, the island advertises a different beautiful beach for each day of the year including Dickenson Bay, Half Moon Bay, and Jolly Beach. Transportation is easy to choose at the cruise terminal with numerous taxis and shuttle buses including private tours. You can also rent a car at the port, but with its British history, remember to drive on the left side of the road!
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Must See in Antigua
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Best Excursions
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Oranjestad, Aruba
The port in Oranjestad is my second favorite in the Caribbean. If you've heard the term "ABC Islands", Aruba is the "A" island (Bonaire is the "B" and Curacao is the "C"). There are four ship docking locations. Just outside the port, taxis area available along with the bus terminal. Buses can take you anywhere on the island, including the beautiful beaches. The island of Aruba has two vastly different climates, the lush west coast near the cruise port and the eastern side of the island which is more desert-like. One of the best ways to tour the whole island is on an open-air jeep tour.
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Must See in Aruba
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Best Excursions
Kralendijk, Bonaire
The port at Kralendijk, Bonaire cruise is located in the heart of the city. Along with Aruba and Curacao, Bonaire is the "B" of the “ABC Islands” distinctly Dutch. All three islands are about 30-40 miles from the north coast of Venezuela. The port is less crowded than other Caribbean stops as they only allow one large ship in port on a given day. As with most Caribbean islands, Bonaire has some of the nicest white-sand beaches in the southern Caribbean including Te Amo Beach, Sorobon Beach, and Pink Beach.
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Must See in Bonaire
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Best Excursions
Willemstad, Curaçao
Curacao is the "C" of the "ABC islands in the southern Caribbean Sea. All three islands have a distinctly Dutch feel with its history as an overseas province of The Netherlands. roughly 40 miles from the coast of Venezuela. The Curacao Cruise Port is in the heart of Willemstad, the island’s capital city, and a short walk along St. Anna Bay from downtown.
The natural harbor splits the city into two distinct areas: Punda and Otrobanda. The Queen Emma Bridge is a floating pontoon bridge, an engineering marvel, that connects the two sections of the city. Across the bridge from the port is a vibrant downtown with shops and wonderful Dutch restaurants.
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Must See in Curacao
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Best Excursions