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Play a few rounds of golf on one of the world-famous greens, nap in a hammock on one of the pristine beaches, or visit a historic plantation house. Unlike the meticulously developed ports for cruises in other parts of the region, Progreso maintains an air of authenticity. It’s easy to find your way around the small town, and you’d get a chance to see the way the locals live. Once a sleepy fishing village on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Cozumel is a top stop on Western Caribbean cruises, and it’s easy to see why.
Grand Cayman
Be sure to check out BOLT, the onboard rollercoaster, for a speedy thrill ride, or grab a cocktail at the RedFrog Tiki Bar. Grab the whole family to check out Seuss at Sea or the Family Feud Live show. The ship offers a wide array of dining venues, including the innovative Bonsai Teppanyaki and Guy’s Burger Joint by Guy Fieri, among many more.
Doctor's Cave Bathing Club in Montego Bay, Jamaica
Spend an afternoon with the local stingrays, or cool off on a snorkeling adventure. There’s a reason Grand Cayman is one of the most popular cruise ports in the Western Caribbean. It gives you the chance to unwind in the tropics with a taste of home. Stretches of soft, white sand casually slope into the clear waters of the Caribbean, and an assortment of American-style shops, pubs and eateries line the wharf. If you love a good story about overcoming the odds, spend some time in Colón to learn all about the challenges faced to build the canal.
Day Western Caribbean Cruise sailing on the Carnival Liberty
Just keep in mind that this period falls within the hurricane season, so be prepared for possible weather disruptions. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option with fewer tourists, consider cruising during the off-peak season from May to November. We stayed in the Coconut Grove area of Miami and loved our time their exploring Miami’s oldest neighborhood. Whilst you can typically cruise with only your drivers license for ID, if you own a passport, and you cruise during hurricane season, bring it. The hot tip for a great snorkeling spot from the guy at Divers World was Marine Park, right in George Town out the front of the Paradise Seaside Grill. But the locals told us the best time for swimming with turtles here is early in the morning, around 7am, impossible when you are coming in off a cruise – but the water was amazing and the beach beautiful.
The surprising reason Carnival expects your cruise ship to visit less ports - Cruise Blog
The surprising reason Carnival expects your cruise ship to visit less ports.
Posted: Tue, 09 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
But, if you’re a first-time cruiser you might be better off one of the shore excursions and doing a tour. Ok, before the cruise we chatted a lot about Camp Ocean (kids club) as it’s something our kids have enjoyed on previous Carnival Cruises. I love my sports and had my eye on the Skybox Sports bar on day one of our cruise for what would be playing. And we stepped into the Havana Bar one evening which was rocking with island music and style and everyone was having a ton of fun. These pools are open to the general public from 7.30pm each evening so you can still get a taste of what it’s like to cruise in style, which we did.
Top 7 Western Caribbean Cruise Destinations
The Panama Canal is the area’s main attraction, and touring the canal is one of the most popular activities. Belize is home to the largest collection of Mayan ruins in central America, which means plenty of spectacular natural attractions to explore.
Day 6: Costa Maya

The best kid-friendly places in Mexico include museums, leafy plazas and ancient ruins that kids of all ages will love. Here's how to choose between eastern vs. western Caribbean cruise itineraries for your dream vacation. Carnival Dream also features the borderline-magical Alchemy Bar® and Ocean Plaza, which combines tasty treats with perhaps even tastier entertainment. Entertainment options are all up and down the ship, and so is soaking-wet fun, from the heart-racing waterslide action at Carnival WaterWorks™ to the soul-soothing Thalassotherapy pool at the Cloud 9 Spa™. The first thing you may notice upon arriving in Belize is that almost everyone speaks English.
Carnival Legend to Homeport in Galveston in 2025 and Offer Variety of Western Caribbean Cruises - Carnival-News.com
Carnival Legend to Homeport in Galveston in 2025 and Offer Variety of Western Caribbean Cruises.
Posted: Thu, 21 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
From there the party continued to Ocean Plaza but it was getting late and we’d had more than enough fun for day one. After our first nights dinner, we headed to the Liquid Lounge for the welcome aboard party. Not too mention, it’s a ton of fun in the dining room as the staff often break out into an entertaining dance routine.
Listen To Live Music at Atrium Bar
From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help. Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money. A Carnival cruise features day and nighttime entertainment like stage shows, musical performances, deck parties, casinos and more.
From the rainforest to the reef, it offers a variety of activities in the tropical sun. Go snorkeling to catch glimpses of sharks, rays and other marine life, or explore the remains of ancient Mayan towns. Sign up for deep sea fishing, tour the jungle on an ATV or ride in style on a Calypso bus tour.
Another spot to sit and enjoy a quiet drink and some music is the piano bar. Family friendly too, it’s open from early evening and we took the kids in here one evening before dinner and had a fun family singalong. If you like dreamy vacation destinations, Cozumel shore excursions are ready to take you to other worlds. Get an up-close look at the vibrant marine life on a snorkeling or scuba adventure, lounge on the beach or set sail on a catamaran. Cruise to the Western Caribbean and find yourself immersed in bygone eras and pristine natural scenery. Hike through Mayan ruins in Tulum, Mexico, before diving into deep blue cenotes — aquamarine sinkholes surrounded by limestone caves, perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
There’s singing and talented dancers and extravagant costumes and the beauty of it is it’s included in the cost of your cruise. On our first day at sea it was closed as it was too windy, but later on in the cruise we had several opportunities to do this. Being the newest Carnival ship, the Vista is the only ship that has the Skyride (you can call them flying bicycles) and this was another activity Kalyra couldn’t wait to do leading up to our family cruise. In the restaurant you have the option of Early Dining or Late Dining, we went with Early considering we have young kids, and often we scored a table with ocean views. For 90% of our meals we chose to eat in the main dining room (Horizons Restaurant) where we were served a three course meal (included in your cruise fare). This Carnival cruise ship is a large ship with a guest capacity of 3,934 and a length of 1,055 feet.
Or they can join the wacky, wonderful Dr. Seuss™ bunch for character story-time (and more!) at Seuss at Sea™. And pretty much anyone, young or slightly-less-young, will be thrilled by our 214-foot long, four-deck-tall Twister waterslide™. Your high seas hero Carnival Valor is here to rescue you from ordinary vacations and whisk you away to leisure, fun... Combine the new Icon of the Seas with these top destinations for the most memorable, kid-friendly, Western Caribbean family vacation.
Or try it served raw, finely diced and marinated in citrus juice in Caribbean conch salad. The Western Caribbean offers the perfect mix of spicy dishes and refreshing drinks. Have your fill of fresh seafood and zesty tacos, then relax with the tropical cocktail of your choice. Each Caribbean island has its own identity, attractions, culinary delights and natural wonders.