Dan and I sailed on a Southern Caribbean cruise with Royal Caribbean back in 2019 for our wedding anniversary.
Royal Caribbean’s Southern Caribbean Cruises can sail from Ft. Lauderdale or Miami, FL as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico. We were really looking for destinations that we had never been to, so we decided to pick a cruise that sailed out of Puerto Rico and it was the best decision we made!
Our Southern Caribbean cruise had us visiting, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, and St. Maarten. This was definitely my favorite Caribbean itinerary that we have sailed on. I loved the Southern Caribbean itinerary because we visited destinations that were smaller and a bit more exotic and less than your typical destinations like Nassau, Bahamas. These islands tend to be a bit more smaller and less traveled, but to me, those tend to be the best destinations!
What to Expect:
When you sail on a Southern Caribbean cruise with Royal Caribbean, these cruises are going to be longer in sailing length like 7 days or more. You will visit islands like St. Maarten, Martinique, Antigua, Grenada, Bonaire, Dominica, Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Curacao, Aruba, etc.
Some of the world’s best beaches, most beautiful scenery, and fun water sports can all be found in the Caribbean. There is so much to do when visiting the Caribbean on a cruise- snorkel among the coral reefs, zip line over islands, visit ancient ruins, visit a casino, and so much more. Parasailing, jet skiing, and visiting the beach are also great options when on your Caribbean cruise.
Many of the Southern Caribbean ports are all different and unique in their own way. Martinique has a French vibe, St. Maarten, Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire all have a Dutch vibe. If you plan to visit Dominica, Antigua, and Grenada also have a British culture. Some of the UNESCO World Heritage sites can also be found in the South Caribbean islands like in St. Kitts, Curacao, and Barbados. When picking a Southern Caribbean cruise, selecting unique ports of call gives you the opportunity to visit many destinations all while experience something new and unique every day.
Weather:
Remember, you will be much closer to the Equator and in the Caribbean when you sail a Southern Caribbean itinerary. Summer months will be hot and more humid than others, but temperatures don’t seem to fluctuate that much. Expect temperatures to roughly be around the 80’s with moderate humidity. December through April tends to be the peak season to sail because hurricane season typically lasts from June through November. Snowbirds like to get away from the cold and snow, which is why December through April can be very popular.
Cost of a Southern Caribbean Cruise:
Pricing will fluctuate based on the time of year that you plan to sail. In the summer months and Spring Break seem to be when cruise fares are a bit higher because children are out of school. During hurricane season (June-November) you can find prices a bit cheaper. If you plan to cruise over a holiday like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s, pricing will definitely be higher than regular weeks during the year.
If you’re looking to visit these ports of call on a future cruise, check out my posts on each destination to see how to make the most use out of your days in each port:
St. Maarten (Coming soon!)
If you are thinking of visiting any of the above destinations, I highly recommend a cruise as a way to explore and get around. While I love traveling through countries on my own and exploring that way, a cruise is a totally different type of vacation and is well worth it!
Love and Travel Dust,
Molly
Leave A Comment