Uncover these 10 well-known Western Caribbean cruise ports that will help you plan your itinerary and select thrilling issues to do throughout the voyage. Western Caribbean cruises sometimes go to ports of name in Central America and the gorgeous Caribbean Sea. These tropical locations embrace numerous ports in Mexico, Belize, and Honduras, and tropical islands resembling Grand Cayman and Jamaica.
Right here’s our informative information for cruisers protecting these well-liked ports of name. We embrace terminal and pier data, which ports have tenders, well-liked shore excursions, and issues to see and do independently in case you don’t need to be part of an official cruise shore tour.
Cozumel, Mexico
Mendacity simply off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the island of Cozumel is among the hottest ports of name. The port is in direction of the west of the island. The cruise terminal can accommodate as much as eight cruise ships at a time with three devoted cruise piers: Punta Langosta, the Worldwide SSA Pier and Puerta Maya.
Further ships use tenders to move passengers ashore. Punta Langosta is only a five-minute stroll south of downtown and the Foremost Sq.. The opposite two cruise piers are additional south and guests can use shuttle buses or take a taxi for the 5-minute journey.
As soon as ashore, there’s loads of duty-free buying and genuine Mexican eating places to discover earlier than you even depart the port space. Cozumel has a few of the greatest and clearest diving and snorkeling websites with caves, underwater tunnels and a coral reef brimming with marine life.
Take your decide from jet boat excursions, fishing journeys, Jeep excursions to Mayan ruins and Tequila tastings. There are a lot extra thrills, resembling ziplines and glass-bottom kayaking at Chankanaab Journey Seashore Park.
Cruise traces visiting Cozumel in 2024-25 embrace:
- Holland America
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean Worldwide
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- MSC Cruises
- Princess Cruises
- Movie star Cruises
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Disney Cruise Line
- Marella Cruises
- Oceania Cruises
- Virgin Voyages
- TUI Cruises
- Viking Cruises
- Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
- Margaritaville at Sea
Grand Cayman
Situated within the Western Caribbean, halfway between Cuba and Jamaica, Grand Cayman is the most important of the three islands making up the Cayman Islands. The cruise terminal is within the capital, George City, on the sheltered west coast.
Grand Cayman is a young port, which suggests the ships drop anchor within the harbor and use tenders/ lifeboats to move cruisers ashore. There are three terminals: South, North, and Royal Watler. They’ve fashionable amenities for welcoming cruisers together with duty-free buying and tour departure factors.
As soon as well-known for its turtles, the island has an attention-grabbing Turtle Heart the place you possibly can be taught extra about turtle conservation and see new hatchlings and totally grown turtles up shut. Go snorkeling with rays at Stingray Metropolis, swim with dolphins or go to Starfish Level Seashore to see brilliant purple starfish in abundance.
Chill out and revel in swimming and watersports on idyllic Seven Mile Seashore, or go to Hell, a rocky space of jagged black limestone, and ship a postcard from Hell to your loved ones and buddies.
Cruise traces visiting Grand Cayman in 2024-25 embrace:
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean Worldwide
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- MSC Cruises
- Holland America Line
- Princess Cruises
- Movie star Cruises
- Disney Cruise Line
- Marella Cruises
- Oceania Cruises
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Virgin Voyages
- Phoenix Reisen
- Crystal Cruises
Costa Maya, Mexico
Situated on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Costa Maya is simply north of the city of Mahahual. It’s about 100 miles south of the favored resort of Playa del Carmen and the Mayan website at Tulum.
The port has fashionable amenities with duty-free buying, eating places and bars. There are many native taxis to take you independently to Mahahual or different vacationer sights. Some cruise traces supply shuttle companies to Mahahual, which has stunning sandy seashores.
Costa Maya is an thrilling Caribbean cruise vacation spot with an unbelievable variety of sights, together with two biosphere reserves at Banco Chinchorro and Sian Ka’an. Extra causes to go to Costa Maya embrace pristine seashores, jungle adventures and superb watersports.
Go to Xcalax, an genuine fishing village, or take a tour to see unique wildlife, together with stunning jaguars, monkeys, and crocodiles. Divers can go to shipwreck websites and see turtles, rays, tigers, and hammerhead sharks. All this, plus Mayan temples and carved pyramids at Kohunlich and Chacchoben.
Cruise traces visiting Costa Maya in 2024-25 embrace:
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean Worldwide
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- MSC Cruises
- Holland America Line
- Princess Cruises
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- TUI Cruises
- Oceania Cruises
- Disney Cruise Line
- Virgin Voyages
Roatan, Honduras
Honduras is the most important of the Bay Islands. The offshore island of Roatan is a well-liked port of name for cruises as a result of its cultural range and aquatic enjoyable. The primary cruise port is the Mahogany Bay Cruise Heart, which is owned by Carnival Company. It’s situated on the southwest coast of the island close to the city of Coxen Gap.
Tenders are typically used to move company to and from the ship. The Cruise Heart really has its personal buying village. From the cruise terminal, you possibly can stroll alongside a nature path or take a chairlift all the way down to the seaside.
There’s additionally the Cozen Gap cruise ship dock, which is utilized by different non-Carnival cruise traces and opened in 2008. This facility encompasses a mall and shops for cruise guests to take pleasure in.
On Roatan, you possibly can snorkel and scuba dive on one of many largest reef programs on this planet, visiting caves and shipwrecks whereas recognizing sharks, eels, and colourful marine life. And the place else are you able to go to a Sloth Farm or an Iguana Park that protects toucans, parrots, monkeys and reptiles? Different sights to see from a water taxi tour embrace the multicolored stilted homes of fishermen in Oakridge and Seventeenth-century pirate fortifications at Coxen Gap.
Cruise traces visiting Roatan in 2024-25 embrace:
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean Worldwide
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- MSC Cruises
- Holland America Line
- Princess Cruises
- TUI Cruises
- Oceania Cruises
- Silversea Cruises
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Virgin Voyages
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Perched on the northern coast of the Caribbean island of Jamaica, Ocho Rios is Jamaica’s largest cruise port. Additionally it is a vigorous coastal city backing onto lush tropical hills.
Most bigger cruise vessels drop anchor simply offshore and use tenders to move company ashore. From there, cruisers can head to the native craft markets and seashores or take an tour to see extra of the island. Avenue performers are a preferred sight across the port buying space, offering leisure and music.
Ocho Rios presents some distinctive alternatives for journey, together with the possibility to climb up Dunn’s River Falls, a dramatic cascade that’s 180 ft excessive. On the prime of the falls is a Craft Market the place cruisers can decide up aromatic Blue Mountain Espresso that’s grown on the island. The 600-foot-long waterfall ends on the seaside.
Guests also can take pleasure in climbing within the lush rainforest, lagoon swims, boat rides, ziplines and thrilling bobsleigh rides. In every single place you go in Jamaica you’ll hear the beat of reggae. In fact, Bob Marley followers pays homage at his hometown of 9 Mile St Ann.
Cruise traces visiting Ocho Rios in 2024-25 embrace:
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- MSC Cruises
- Holland America Line
- Royal Caribbean Worldwide
- MSC Cruises
- Princess Cruises
- TUI Cruises
- Costa Cruises
- AIDA Cruises
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Montego Bay is a well-liked port of name on many Western Caribbean cruise itineraries. Situated on the northwest aspect of the island, this buzzing port is the second-largest cruise port in Jamaica and may accommodate as much as 4 ships at a time. The MoBay terminal has good facilities, together with duty-free outlets, eating places, bars and tour desks.
Montego Bay cruise terminal is inside simple attain of many sights on the island such because the Rastafari Indigenous Village, simply quarter-hour away by taxi. 4 championship golf programs mix a spherical of golf with beautiful surroundings. The colourful Hip Strip is the primary hub for buying and native companies such because the world-famous Margaritaville, which mixes water slides and swimming pools with cocktails within the solar.
Learn Additionally: Jamaica Cruise Ports – Full Listing and Overview
Montego Bay has a few of the best white sandy seashores and clear blue waters within the Caribbean. Relax and sunbathe, browse the native outlets or go to one of many historic plantation properties resembling Rosehall. A rafting journey down Martha Brae River is the last word tour out of your cruise across the Western Caribbean.
Cruise traces visiting Montego Bay in 2024-25 embrace:
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean Worldwide
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Holland America Line
- Princess Cruises
- MSC Cruises
- TUI Cruises
- Marella Cruises
- Viking Voyages
- AIDA Cruises
- Oceania Cruises
- Ambassador Cruise Line
- P&O Cruises
Progreso, Mexico
Situated 30 km from town of Merida in northwest Yucatan, the port of Progreso dates again to Mayan occasions. It stays a reasonably fishing port in addition to a busy cruise terminal that’s rising in recognition as a port of name.
Progreso has an exceptionally lengthy four-mile (6.5km) pier that goes over the shallow continental shelf to permit docking by bigger cruise ships. Shuttle buses are supplied to move cruisers to the Progreso terminal. From there, you possibly can stroll simply three blocks to the seaside.
Probably the most well-known a part of the port is El Malecon, a chic mile-long seaside promenade that gives entry to the sandy seaside and has stunning Gulf views. One of many most important options is the standard carousel proper on the sand. The waters are heat and crystal clear for swimming.
The unique Mayan metropolis of Merida is value a go to. Rebuilt by Spanish Conquistadors, it has grand Spanish-influenced structure and palatial mansions. Purchasing on the modern Paseo de Montejo is claimed to rival the Champs-Elysees in Paris!
Cruise traces visiting Progreso, Mexico in 2024-25 embrace:
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean Worldwide
- Disney Cruise Line
- Margaritaville at Sea
- American Queen Voyages
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Playa del Carmen is a extremely popular resort on the gorgeous Yucatan Peninsula. The closest dock for visiting cruise ships is at Calica Quarry Docks, a couple of 10-minute drive to downtown. Consequently, most cruise ships use Playa del Carmen as a young cruise port, transporting passengers to the ferry pier close to the downtown plaza.
There are countless sights and experiences on supply when visiting Playa del Carmen. In case your cruise is docking in Cozumel, you possibly can even take a 30-40 minute ferry journey from Cozumel, go to historical Mayan temples such because the Kukulkan Pyramid at Chichen Itza, or simply chill out on miles of golden sandy seashores.
For one thing extra uncommon, guide an tour to one of many freshwater cenotes and swim within the clear waters of those limestone sinkholes. For households on a Western Caribbean cruise, a day on the Xcaret eco-archaeological park combines Mexico’s historical past, tradition and delicacies.
Cruise traces visiting Playa del Carmen in 2024-25 embrace:
Belize Metropolis, Belize
Belize Metropolis welcomes cruise ships to the port, which features a cruise terminal formally often known as Fort Avenue Tourism Village. It’s situated within the coronary heart of Belize Metropolis, the nation’s capital. The terminal has good amenities, together with restrooms, memento outlets, and knowledge desks.
Snorkelers and divers can be eager to go to Belize because the longest barrier reef within the Western Hemisphere lies simply offshore. It supplies superb scuba diving, together with the 300-meter-wide Blue Gap.
Excursions enterprise into the tropical jungle for zip-lining over the rainforest or go to long-lost Mayan ruins. Wildlife preserves and botanical gardens showcase unique flowers, crops, and mammals, whereas Belize Metropolis has a bustling market and spectacular Colonial structure.
Cruise traces visiting Belize Metropolis in 2024-25 embrace:
- Holland America Line
- Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean Worldwide
- Princess Cruises
- Movie star Cruises
- TUI Cruises
- Silversea Cruises
- Hurtigruten
- UnCruise Adventures
- Viking Cruises
Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida, is the southernmost tip of the continental United States. Though the island neighborhood is simply 120 miles or so southwest of Miami, it’s a world away in way of life and tradition. This colourful island is on the finish of a sequence of offshore islands linked by the breathtaking Abroad Freeway.
Bigger cruise ships dock on the deepwater Pier B on the Key West cruise port, whereas smaller vessels dock on the city-owned Mallory Sq. Dock. Each terminals are only a brief stroll from the downturn space, making it simple to discover independently. There are many small outlets and stalls close to the cruise terminal, together with waterfront bars and boat journeys.
This laid-back neighborhood is thought for its pastel-painted structure, naval and shipwreck museums, artwork studios and bars within the Previous City. Buy groceries on Duval Avenue, go to the house of Ernest Hemingway, or soak up the primary sights on a whistle-stop trolley tour that features the lighthouse, aquarium, and Truman’s Little White Home. After that, deal with your self to a rum cocktail or a slice of Key Lime Pie as you watch avenue performers at sundown on Mallory Sq., a Key West custom.
Cruise traces visiting Key West in 2024-25 embrace:
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean Worldwide
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Movie star Cruises
- Holland America Line
- MSC Cruises
- Princess Cruises
- ACL
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Virgin Voyages
- Margaritaville at Sea
Armed with all this data, it’s simple to guide a Western Caribbean Cruise based mostly on locations to go to and issues to do this enchantment to your private style. Bon voyage!
