Cruise Destinations

The Bahamas and Caribbean remain the top choices due to the abundance of “Private Island” stops like Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee, which offer controlled, family friendly environments.

Choose the Western Mediterranean if you want iconic cities like Rome, Barcelona, and Florence. Choose the Eastern Mediterranean if you prefer island hopping in Greece, exploring the Dalmatian Coast, or visiting the ancient ruins of Ephesus.

Yes, many “Premium” and “Luxury” lines now offer overnight port stays in cities like Barcelona, Venice, and Hamilton (Bermuda), allowing you to experience the local nightlife and evening culture.

For U.S. citizens on “closed-loop” cruises (starting and ending at the same U.S. port), a birth certificate and government issued ID are often legally sufficient for many Caribbean ports. However, we strongly recommend a passport book. If an emergency requires you to fly home from a foreign port like St. Maarten or Cozumel, a passport is mandatory for air travel.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, with activity peaking in August and September. While cruise lines are experts at rerouting ships to avoid storms, booking during this window often yields the lowest prices of the year. If you book a Caribbean or Bahamas cruise during this time, we recommend travel insurance to cover potential itinerary changes.

Many major cruise lines own or lease private islands in the Bahamas, such as Perfect Day at CocoCay (Royal Caribbean), Half Moon Cay (Holland America/Carnival), and Ocean Cay (MSC). These destinations offer a controlled, resort-style experience with inclusive dining, private beaches, and water parks that are exclusive to the ship’s guests.

A Partial Transit typically enters the canal from the Caribbean side, moves through the first set of locks into Gatun Lake, and then turns around, allowing you to experience the engineering marvel while returning to your original port. A Full Transit is a one-way journey (usually between Florida and California) that traverses the entire canal and all three sets of locks, taking approximately 8 to 10 hours.

At every port, you have three options: book an official excursion through the cruise line (which guarantees the ship won’t leave without you), book an independent local tour, or explore on your own. For high-stakes logistics like Rome (which is 90 minutes from the port of Civitavecchia) or London (2 hours from Southampton), we recommend ship-sponsored tours to ensure timely returns.

A “tender port” (like Grand Cayman or certain Greek Isles) is a location where the ship is too large to dock at a pier. Instead, the ship anchors offshore, and guests are ferried to land via smaller boats (tenders). This process can take extra time, so if you have a tight schedule, plan for an additional 45 to 60 minutes to get ashore.