Caribbean Cruises

Eastern, Western or Southern Caribbean — what is the difference?Eastern sailings run to San Juan, St Thomas, St Maarten and the nearer islands; they are beach-and-shopping cruises with short sea days. Western sailings go to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Roatan, and lean towards ruins, reefs and cave tubing. Southern sailings reach Aruba, Curacao, Barbados and the Grenadines — the furthest, the driest, usually the longest at ten nights or more, and generally the ones seasoned cruisers rate highest.

When is hurricane season, and should I avoid it?1 June to 30 November, with mid-August through October the busiest stretch. Most sailings in those months go exactly as planned, and fares are noticeably lower. What changes is certainty: a captain will re-route around a storm with a day's notice, and you may see different islands than the ones you booked. If that would spoil the trip for you, sail between December and May. If it would not, the low season is good value — but buy travel insurance.

Do I need a passport?For any flight to or from the Caribbean, yes. On a closed-loop cruise that starts and ends at the same U.S. port, U.S. citizens may be allowed to board with a birth certificate and photo ID, but several islands — Aruba among them — want a passport regardless, and you cannot fly home without one if you miss the ship. Carry the passport.

Should I book shore excursions through the ship or independently?The ship's excursions cost more, and the ship waits for them if they run late. Independent operators are usually cheaper and often better, but if their van breaks down the ship sails without you. The Guild's rule of thumb: book through the ship in ports where you are going a long way from the pier, and go independent when you are staying close to town. Trip.com does not sell shore excursions for these ports, so we do not put a button here — book with your line or a licensed operator at the pier.

Which island has the best beach?The honest answer is that it depends on the day you get. Eagle Beach in Aruba and Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman are the two that most consistently earn the reputation, and both are an easy taxi ride from the pier. Ocho Rios and St Thomas are prettier from the water than the cruise dock suggests. Whatever the brochure says, you have six hours ashore — pick one beach and enjoy it rather than chasing three.

Is there a Mexican tax on cruise passengers?Yes, if your sailing calls in Mexico — which most Western Caribbean itineraries do, at Cozumel or Costa Maya. Mexico charges foreign cruise passengers a non-resident duty: $5 a head from July 2025, $10 since 1 August 2026, and it is scheduled to rise to $15 in July 2027 and $21 in August 2028. It is charged once for the whole itinerary rather than once for each Mexican port, and the cruise lines collect it — most fold it into the taxes, fees and port expenses line of your invoice instead of naming it, so you may never see it itemised. Ten dollars a person will not change anyone's plans; we mention it so the figure on your final invoice is not a surprise. Eastern and Southern sailings that never call in Mexico do not pay it. The rate has already been revised more than once, so confirm the current amount with your line before you sail.

Is there a Bahamian tax on cruise passengers?Yes, if your sailing calls in the Bahamas — and many Eastern and short itineraries do, at Nassau or at a cruise line's private island. The Bahamas charges a departing cruise passenger $23 for leaving by sea from any Bahamian harbour, plus a $5 tourism sustainability levy and a $2 tourism enhancement levy: $30 a person. A higher $25 rate, which makes $32, applies only to a passenger leaving from a private island on a sailing that calls at no other port in The Bahamas — so an itinerary that takes in Nassau as well pays the $30. The charge is for leaving the country rather than for each stop, so it is paid once. The $23 and $25 rates took effect on 1 July 2023 and the $2 enhancement levy on 1 January 2024. Your line collects it and usually folds it into the taxes, fees and port expenses line of your invoice, so you may never see it itemised. Sailings that never call in the Bahamas do not pay it. Our Bahamas Cruises guide carries the full picture.