Caribbean cruises, shore excursions and cruises from cruise planning

Caribbean cruises, shore excursions and cruises from cruise planning

Caribbean cruises

It is delightful to start a description of Caribbean cruises with a quote from Columbus. You travel in the footsteps of the famous explorer, who undertook a total of four trips to the “New World” between 1492 and 1504. On every Caribbean island you learn something about the day of their discovery. Many got their present name from Columbus. If you like, the famous explorer invented island hopping. On a Caribbean cruise you will experience the fascinating underwater world on the coral reefs as well as the steaming jungle with the shrieks of the parrots, the ever-changing views on a mountain or coastal tour, the scent of spices and the flower wonder of the tropics, the shell shaped like an artist’s shell and the incomparable taste of a freshly harvested exotic fruit. The magic of the Antilles, to which Columbus had succumbed, no visitor will escape today. Now, however, the Antilles are not a unit, but a patchwork of different landscapes and cultures. The diversity of the Caribbean island world will impress everyone.

The arrival

On the east coast of Florida are the main ports of departure for Caribbean cruises. Including the largest cruise ports worldwide. The flight to Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Orlando is a good ten hours. Most tourists travel via Miami International Airport, which is served directly from Germany. The port of Miami and the neighboring harbor in Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) can be reached so easily. Three hours’ drive further north is Port Canaveral, the third major port. Within sight of the spaceport and not far from Orlando.

Of course you can also start Caribbean cruises directly in a port of the region. The most important launch port in the Caribbean is San Juan in Puerto Rico. The German shipping companies also use the terminals in La Romana (Dominican Republic), Montego Bay (Jamaica) or Bridgetown (Barbados). The two Italian giants Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises also offer Caribbean cruises from / to Guadeloupe or Martinique. The overseas departments of France are part of Europe and are regularly served by Air France.

Incidentally, virtually all shipping companies offer Caribbean cruises with flight and transfer. Pre-nights as well. Nevertheless, it makes sense to check once, if the journey on your own is not cheaper. Due to the long journey, it is almost always necessary and useful to arrive the day before. This is safer and, above all, less stressful.

The best travel time

Caribbean cruises are offered throughout the year. The average annual temperature is about 26 degrees. So the weather is good all year round. The dry season lasts from January to April and is also the best travel time. In the period from July to November heavy, but always very short downpours fall, to which the region owes its magnificent, sometimes jungle-like forests. The hurricanes are dreaded during this period, especially in September, October and November. But Caribbean cruises are also carried out during the hurricane season. But then you have to reckon with route changes. Hurricanes are not dangerous for cruise ships. The storms are easy to predict and cruise ships are faster.

The organizers of Caribbean cruises

The “Mediterranean of America” ​​is of course the home market of the major American shipping companies and cruise ships, many of which have their headquarters in Miami. These include organizers such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). But also Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises and Holland America Line. All brands that are no longer unknown on the German market.

Of course, the German and European tour operators are also traveling in the region. Costa Cruises even since the end of the 1950s. The Europeans, in addition to Costa Cruises are to be mentioned here in particular AIDA Cruises, TUI Cruises and MSC Cruises, but focus mainly on the main season in winter.

The travel duration

The classics are week long Caribbean cruises (7 nights). Here is the largest offer. During the trip, days at sea and harbor days alternate. Two to three days at sea and three to four harbor days are normal and pleasant. After all, modern cruise liners today have so much to offer. And you also want to relax a bit.

If you want, you can combine the weeklong voyage with some exciting days ashore (like in Miami). But of course many longer Caribbean cruises are also offered. In view of the long journey, the European shipping companies mainly offer cruises with a travel time of ten to fourteen nights. During such a journey you can reach every corner of the Antilles and get to know many islands and harbors. And the long flight “rewards” better. If you want to round off your Floridaurlaub with a cruise, offers for the mini cruises with a duration of 3 to 5 nights. Harbors like Nassau or Freeport in the Bahamas are just a stone’s throw off the Florida coast. In addition, like shipping companies have uninhabited islands expanded to beach paradise.

The shore excursions

The most important islands and ports in the Antilles are described in detail in port portraits. With many tips for designing the shore excursions in the Caribbean on your own. These can be comfortably booked on board or designed on your own. The range of organized land excursions is huge and very varied. Months before the start of your Caribbean cruise, you can take a look at the organized shore excursions offered by the shipping company. Even reservations are possible well before departure. Arriving on board, one finds in particular in the Landausflugsbüro competent contact persons. The organized shore excursions are comfortable and safe. You do not have to worry about anything and do not run the risk of returning too late to the ship. Nevertheless, shore excursions on your own are a good alternative. There are countless taxis and numerous local shore excursion providers in each port. Their offers can for example be checked and booked at Viator * or GetYourGuide * even before departure.

The links marked with an asterisk (*) are so-called affiliate / advertising links.

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Christina Cherry
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