A Royal Caribbean cruise ship will host the 8th annual Star Trek: The Cruise in 2025 as Star Trek celebrates the 30th anniversary of Star Trek: Voyager.
The Star Trek fan cruise will depart on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas on February 23, 2025 from Miami, Florida. The ship will visit Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Belize during the week long cruise.
It will feature Star Trek-themed shows, events, activities and parties every day and night, along with extraordinary performances by iconic actors and opportunities to interact with them like nowhere else in the universe.
Voyager crew members Kate Mulgrew, Jeri Ryan, Robert Beltran, Robert Picardo and Roxann Dawson together, with additional stars from Voyager and the extended franchise will be joining the cruise.
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The cruise is under license by Paramount Consumer Products and will offer immersive Star Trek experiences like:
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One-of-a-kind nightly shows presented by Star Trek actors
Star-studded panel discussions
Star Trek movies and episodes at the pool deck
Costume parties and cosplay competitions
More than a dozen bars, restaurants, clubs and lounges will get a Federation Refit to create the ultimate Star Trek un-conventional voyage
Prices for Star Trek: The Cruise start at $2,400 per person (for an inside cabin) for the week long Caribbean cruise. This price includes admission to all performances, interviews, parties and meals and is based on double occupancy.
Ocean view rooms start at $2,810 per person with balcony cabins starting at $3,460 per person. Payment plans are available in monthly installments. Active and retired U.S. Military will receive a 5% discount.
“We’ve been planning our Voyager celebration for quite some time and are thrilled to share the news with Star Trek fans,” says Chris Hearing, Partner and Executive Director of Theme Cruises at Entertainment Cruise Productions. “It will be a truly special experience for our guests to see so many of Voyager’s crew members on Star Trek: The Cruise VIII.”
Holland America Line is the latest cruise line to add the popular TV game show Deal or No Deal on their ships.
Holland America Line Adds “Deal or No Deal” Interactive Game Show to Its Cruise Entertainment Roster (CNW Group/TimePlay Inc.)
Deal or No Deal is now available to play on 85 cruise ships including nine from Holland America Line.
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Deal or No Deal invites contestants on stage to deal for cash, and what makes this game unique is that everyone in the audience also gets to play along for a chance to win big, including a free cruise.
The program will run once or twice per cruise and will be hosted on the World Stage or Rolling Stone Lounge, depending on the Holland America Line ship.
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“With the growing demand for entertainment options, Deal or No Deal is a perfect addition to Holland America’s offerings.” Aaron Silverberg, SVP of Entertainment, TimePlay.
“We’re excited to add this brand to add this program to our lineup and we look forward to guests enjoying this interactive game,” said Daniel Materassi, senior vice president of guest commerce for Holland America Line.
A number of guests who were due to disembark NCL’s cruise ship Norwegian Dawn on Sunday 25th February are being kept onboard in quarantine.
ncl_Dawn_Aerial_PortSide H2
The ship is currently docked in Mauritius, where it was due to complete a 12-night cruise from Cape Town. However, an outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness has resulted in some guests being refused permission to leave the ship.
While symptoms have been described as “mild” by Norwegian Cruise Line, the authorities in Mauritius are being extra cautious as cholera shares some symptoms with norovirus, and it’s important that it’s confirmed not to be the more serious disease causing the illness.
This has also resulted in a delay to the subsequent cruise – with the two-day quarantine period in place, guests expecting to set sail on 25th February are now being told the ship will depart on 27th February instead.
All guests kept onboard are being provided free telephone access and WiFi packages to make changes to their ongoing travel arrangements and to contact family members.
Anyone who had booked their flights through NCL will automatically have their return travel rescheduled, but guests who booked flights independently are being asked to speak to their travel agents or airlines, relying on their travel insurance to cover costs. NCL is providing guests with up to $300 for travel change costs as well.
Guests onboard are also being given a 15% Future Cruise Credit to apply as a discount to any future booking before 31st December 2025. Meanwhile guests waiting to embark have been put up in hotels close to the port until the ship can sail.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
This week’s special offers from Disney Cruise Line arrive with new sail dates from late-March into late July. Currently, there are 17 sail dates, available with special offers available across the fleet for sailings from Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, Port Canaveral, Southampton, and Vancouver.
The Disney Dream features the most sailings at 14, the Disney Magic follows with 6, the Disney Fantasy with 3 sail date, and the Wonder with 2 Alaskan cruises. Currently, there are no offers listed for the Disney Wish, or the Disney Treasure.
Special rates for Florida Residents held at 3 sail dates, and the US Military Personnel rate also held at 8 cruises. The Canadian Resident ballooned from 5 to 14 sail dates including Alaskan and European offerings.
In terms of general special offers, the IGT, OGT, and VGT offers valid on new bookings for up to 25% off prevailing rates for 2024 Disney Dream European sailings starting with May’s 13-night Eastbound Transatlantic remains available with multiple sail dates available across Europe this summer.
The special offers listed below are available to book today while inventory lasts.
Special Offers for U.S. Military Personnel
Special Rates for U.S. Military Personnel (MTO) are limited to 50 staterooms per category and sailing. Pricing varies, the lowest priced category per person per night listed below. New sailings added this week are in bold. To take advantage of military cruise rates, at least one adult in each stateroom must provide Proof of Military Service. Please note: This offer cannot be combined with any other special offers or discounts. Valid for new bookings only.
Disney Dream
12-Night Norwegian Fjords and Iceland Cruise from Southampton Southampton • At Sea • Mekjarvik (Stavanger), Norway • Olden, Norway • Alesund, Norway • At Sea • Reykjavik, Iceland • Reykjavik, Iceland • Ísafjörður, Iceland • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea
13-Night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise from Fort Lauderdale ending in Barcelona Fort Lauderdale, Florida • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea • Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal • At Sea • Lisbon, Portugal • Cádiz, Spain • Cartagena, Spain • Valencia, Spain
5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, Florida • At Sea • Cozumel, Mexico • At Sea • Castaway Cay
5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, Florida • At Sea • Grand Cayman • At Sea • Castaway Cay
7-Night Mediterranean with Greek Isles Cruise from Civitavecchia Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy • Naples, Italy • At Sea • Mykonos, Greece • Santorini, Greece • Chania, Greece • At Sea
9-Night Mediterranean with Greek Isles Cruise from Barcelona ending in Civitavecchia Barcelona, Spain • At Sea • Messina (Sicily), Italy • At Sea • Santorini, Greece • Kusadasi, Turkey • Piraeus (Athens), Greece • At Sea • Naples, Italy
Disney Fantasy
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • At Sea • At Sea • Tortola, British Virgin Islands • St. Thomas, USVI • At Sea • Castaway Cay
Special Military rates are available to all retired and active U.S. Military personnel (or spouse), including U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Marines, U.S Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve and U.S. Department of Defense personnel. Active and retired members (or spouse) of the U.S. military must provide valid identification at time of check-in. This offer is limited to a maximum of one stateroom per military member (or spouse), per sailing. A U.S. Military service member (or spouse) is required to sail to take advantage of this offer. Activated members (or spouse) of the U.S. National Guard or the U.S. Army Reserve must also show active duty orders (active duty papers must be dated as of January 1st of the previous year to qualify).
Government taxes will vary by itinerary and are in addition to the below rates. Third and fourth Guest prices valid with 2 full-fare Guests in the same stateroom. Rates may vary by sail date and category. Other restrictions may apply. Other categories and sail dates may be available. Valid for new bookings only.
Special Offers for Florida Residents
Special Rates for Florida Residents (FLR) are limited to 50 staterooms per category and sailing. Pricing varies, the lowest priced category per person per night listed below. New sailings added this week are in bold. Please note: This offer cannot be combined with any other special offers or discounts. Valid on new and existing reservations.
Disney Dream
13-Night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise from Fort Lauderdale ending in Barcelona Fort Lauderdale, Florida • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea • Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal • At Sea • Lisbon, Portugal • Cádiz, Spain • Cartagena, Spain • Valencia, Spain
5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, Florida • At Sea • Cozumel, Mexico • At Sea • Castaway Cay
5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, Florida • At Sea • Grand Cayman • At Sea • Castaway Cay
To take advantage of Florida residency cruise rates, proof of Florida Residency for at least one adult in each stateroom must be presented at time of check-in. Guests unable to show proper proof of Florida residency at check-in will have their cruise re-priced and the balance must be paid before being allowed to sail.
Proof of residency must be valid at the time of sailing, and includes the following: •Florida Driver’s License •Florida Identification Card
If you do not have one of the IDs indicated above, then you must provide one of the following—dated within the past 2 months—verifying a Florida residential address and your name, along with a corresponding, valid government-issued photo ID (such as passport, driver’s license, state identification card): •Monthly mortgage statement •Renter’s lease agreement •Current automobile registration, insurance policy or bill •Current homeowner’s insurance policy or bill •Current utility bill (power/phone/cable/water) •Mail from a financial institution, including checking, savings or investment account statements •Mail from a federal, state, county or city government agency Note: property deeds and P.O. boxes are not considered acceptable proofs of residency.
Children’s rates are also available to Guests ages 3 through 12 that are traveling with 2 adults in the same stateroom.
Canadian Resident Rates
Special Rates for Canadian Residents with savings on prevailing rates as quoted on Disneycruise.com for non-concierge Verandah, Oceanview, and Inside Staterooms on select cruises. Pricing varies, the lowest priced category per person per night listed below. New sailings added this week are in bold. Proof of residency is required an you must mention the special offer code CAN when booking. NOTE: Offers may be applied to existing bookings if requested when calling in. This offer cannot be combined with any other special offer or discounts, or onboard credits.
Disney Dream
12-Night Norwegian Fjords and Iceland Cruise from Southampton Southampton • At Sea • Mekjarvik (Stavanger), Norway • Olden, Norway • Alesund, Norway • At Sea • Reykjavik, Iceland • Reykjavik, Iceland • Ísafjörður, Iceland • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea
5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, Florida • At Sea • Cozumel, Mexico • At Sea • Castaway Cay
5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, Florida • At Sea • Grand Cayman • At Sea • Castaway Cay
7-Night Mediterranean with Greek Isles Cruise from Civitavecchia Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy • Naples, Italy • At Sea • Mykonos, Greece • Santorini, Greece • Chania, Greece • At Sea
7-Night Mediterranean with Greek Isles Cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy • Naples, Italy • At Sea • Piraeus (Athens), Greece • Mykonos, Greece • Chania, Greece • At Sea
Disney Fantasy
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • At Sea • At Sea • Tortola, British Virgin Islands • St. Thomas, USVI • At Sea • Castaway Cay
Disney Magic
4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Nassau, Bahamas • Castaway Cay • At Sea
4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Nassau, Bahamas • Lookout Cay • At Sea
5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, Florida • At Sea • Cozumel, Mexico • At Sea • Castaway Cay
5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Galveston Galveston, Texas • At Sea • Progreso, Mexico • Cozumel, Mexico • At Sea
Disney Wonder
7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver Vancouver, Canada • At Sea • Glacier Viewing (Stikine Icecap), Alaska • Icy Strait Point, Alaska • Juneau, Alaska • Ketchikan, Alaska • At Sea
The Canadian Resident rate excludes suites and categories with restrictions (VGT, OGT, and IGT). Proof of Canada residency will be required at time of check-in. Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses are not included. If booking through Disney Cruise Line’s Contact Center, you must mention code CAN. Offers may be applied to existing bookings if requested by caller. This offer cannot be combined with any other special offer or discounts, or onboard credits. Offer valid for new and existing reservations.
Please note, the offers listed are not to be taken as official quotes. Prices and availability can change at any time without notice. More importantly, the deals listed above are a snapshot in time based on DCL’s online cruise search tool.
A Holland America Line cruise ship will visit all seven continents on one 132 day cruise in 2026 the cruise line announced today. Holland America created this unique itinerary after talking to guests and travel agents about that would appeal to them on a cruise around the world.
The cruise will take place on Holland America Line’s Volendam and includes a four day Antarctic Experience. This roundtrip Grand World Voyage from Port Everglades will visit 47 ports, 39 countries, and all seven continents.
The cruise will overnight in the following nine ports: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Papeete, Tahiti; Sydney, Australia; Bali, Indonesia; Singapore; Malé, Maldives; Safaga (Luxor) and Alexandria (Cairo), Egypt; and Lisbon, Portugal.
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The cruise will start off sailing the East Coast of South America, before crossing the equator and heading towards Antarctica. The ship will then make its way over to Easter Island and the South Pacific. After visiting Australia and the Great Barrier Reed, the ship will visit Singapore, the Maldives, and Egypt. After spending some time in the Mediterranean and Europe, the ship will make its way back to Florida.
“We asked thousands of past guests and travel advisors for their opinions about the perfect Grand World Voyage, so this may be one of our most thoroughly researched routes ever for a world cruise,” Antorcha told world cruise guests. “This itinerary includes destinations we know guests love, packed with memorable moments and overnight stays. We are purposefully visiting fewer ports to allow more time to explore the destinations we visit and to create a voyage that does not feel rushed.”
This Grand World Voyage will depart from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on January 4, 2026. Guests who take advantage of early booking will receive up to $2,000 in on board credit, a 3% pay discount, free WiFi Surf package, and other extra perks.
This epic 132 day cruise is now open for bookings.
SeaDream Yacht Club, a boutique small ship cruise line, has added more cruises to the Greek Isles in 2025 including a two week in-depth adventure.
The 14 night cruise combines two of the cruise line’s new itineraries to the Greek Isles. It visits 13 different ports in Greece while sailing on SeaDream I. You will be able to visit UNESCO World Heritage sites, Greek icons, local villages, and unique harbors.
The cruises include overnight visits in Mykonos and a late night departure in Santorini.
“We have been exploring the Greek Isles for more than 20 years, and it strikes us how there is always something new to see, somewhere new to discover, and someone new to meet. With this in mind, we have created what we believe to be our most exceptional Greek itineraries to date,” said SeaDream Yacht Club’s Andreas Brynestad.
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The cruise line said that they added these new cruises due to demand. The Greek Isles have always been one of their guests’ favorite destinations to visit.
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The two new itineraries will sail in June and July of 2025 and visit new ports for SeaDream.
“This is the big advantage with small ships. We can go where others can’t, and can do what others don’t – such as avoiding the crowds even on the most popular destinations. There simply is no better way to experience the Greek Isles,” Brynestad said.
This second new itinerary, Yachting the Greek Isles, will explore lesser known destinations and departs on July 6, 2025.
Guests will even be able to stay on the ship for a third consecutive voyage that adds additional Greek Isles and a stop in Italy before ending in Malta.
In 2026, SeaDream Yacht Club will return to the Greek Isle visiting new ports including their first ever 14 day in-depth slow travel cruise.
SeaDream Yacht Club is a family owned boutique cruise line with two 102 passenger ships in their fleet.
MSC Cruises, the world’s third largest cruise line, will base a ship in the Canary Islands for the first time later this year.
MSC’s sailings from the Canary Islands will start on November 3, 2024 and run through March 16, 2025. The seven night cruises that visit six ports will take place on MSC Opera.
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The cruise ship will offer two different itineraries from the Canary Islands with both of them offering extended port stays. MSC Opera will depart Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Tenerife for Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, Puerto del Rosario in Fuerteventura, Funchal in Madeira, Santa Cruz de la Palma in La Palma and Arrecife in Lanzarote before returning to Tenerife.
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The new itinerary also offers flexible embarkation options, including Santa Cruz de Tenerife on Sundays, Las Palmas on Mondays, Madeira for Funchal on Thursdays or Fridays and Arrecife on Saturdays.
The new itinerary was created after MSC Cruises canceled the ship’s planned season in the Red Sea.
Imagine setting sail on your long-awaited cruise, ready for days of relaxation. But nestled in your luggage is a potential stowaway of misfortune – a humble banana.
This might sound silly, but a long-standing maritime superstition paints this yellow fruit as the ultimate jinx for seafaring journeys.
The Origins of the Banana Curse
The banana’s bad reputation at sea stretches back to the 1700s. Historical records show a peculiar pattern: ships transporting bananas from the Caribbean and South America had a worrying tendency to disappear or meet disastrous ends.
Sailors, desperate for an explanation, latched onto the one common factor – the presence of bananas.
Since then, bananas have been known as a bad omen on ships. And think about it, when was the last time you saw a banana at a cruise ship buffet?
Apples? Yes. Oranges? Yes. Kiwis? Yes. But you’ll very rarely see a banana.
While bananas may not be in the buffet, there probably are some on your ship. Just like grapes and strawberries, they’re saved to make desserts or to put in the fruit bowls of suite guests. These fruits are too expensive to give them out willy-nilly!
There were a few practical reasons behind the fear of bananas at sea:
The Ripening Agent
Bananas release ethylene gas, a natural hormone that triggers ripening in nearby fruits. This is handy if you want your avocados to soften faster in the fruit bowl, but not so good if you have a long voyage with limited supplies of fresh food.
With limited refrigeration on ships in the past, the presence of bananas could lead to entire food supplies spoiling prematurely and sailors going hungry.
Dangerous Stowaways
The warm, humid environment of banana shipments provided a perfect haven for venomous spiders and snakes.
Crew members unfortunate enough to be bitten faced limited treatment options far out at sea. So to keep the killer bugs off the ship, bananas weren’t allowed on board either.
Modern Times: Superstition vs. Science
Today, with advanced food storage and pest control, the banana’s curse seems a quaint relic of the past. Yet, the superstition lingers.
Why? Because a good story, even a superstitious one, has remarkable staying power. There’s a certain thrill in upholding a tradition steeped in seafaring history.
Bananas on Your Cruise: The Real Risks
While your cruise ship is unlikely to sink due to a banana-induced curse, there are still minor inconveniences to consider:
Cruise Line Rules: Most cruise lines only let you bring pre-packed food on board. So dried banana chips would be fine, but fresh bananas will likely be confiscated.
The Fruity Fly Magnet: Overripe bananas are notorious for attracting fruit flies, potentially turning your cabin into an unwelcome insect haven.
Respecting the Tradition: Some cruise lines or long-time crew members may still uphold the superstition.
To Banana or Not to Banana?
The decision is yours. The risk is minimal, but being aware of the superstition adds a layer of cultural understanding to your cruise experience. If you have any doubts, there are plenty of other delicious and ship-friendly snacks.
Conclusion
The banana superstition is a fascinating mix of history, practicality, and a sprinkle of the unexplainable.
So, next time you pack for your cruise adventure, you might want to double-check your fruit bowl. And hey, if a bit of unexpected turbulence or a misplaced beach towel occurs during your trip, don’t be afraid to playfully blame it on the bananas!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Cruiseline.com, one of the biggest cruise websites in the world for deals and cruise reviews, has announced the winners of its 2024 Member Choice Awards, with Royal Caribbean taking the prize of best mainline cruise line along with nine other awards.
The awards are given to the top-ranked cruise lines each year, all decided by the review scores of guests who sailed on the ships within the last calendar year.
There are four overall awards, with Royal Caribbean just edging out Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line and Disney Cruise Line to win the Best Mainstream Cruise Line Award.
Best Premium Cruise Line went to Windstar Cruises, while Seabourn won the award for Best Luxury Cruise Line. The final overall category was Best River Cruise Line, which was given to Viking River Cruises.
There are several onboard experience awards too, given to the cruise lines that score highest in each category.
Celebrity Cruises won Best Cruise Line for Food and Dining, and for Staterooms. Royal Caribbean won the Best Cruise Line for Onboard Activities and Entertainment, and for Service and Staff.
There are several individual awards for ships too:
New for 2024, the site also announced awards for the Best Cruise Port and the Best Cruise Line Private Destination.
The Beach Club at Bimini, Bahamas (Virgin Voyages)
Labadee, Haiti (Royal Caribbean)
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Carnival)
Ocean Cay, Bahamas (MSC Cruises)
Harvest Caye, Belize (NCL)
Princess Cays, Bahamas (Carnival)
Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas (NCL)
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
When you think of the Caribbean, you no doubt drum up thoughts of tropical islands. But really, the Western Caribbean doesn’t have many islands at all.
Most of the ‘island hopping’ itineraries in the Caribbean take place in the east, where you’ll find the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbados and so on.
That’s not to say the Western Caribbean doesn’t have islands at all, it’s just that a lot of the destinations are part of Central America instead.
So, here’s a look at the best cruise ports you can visit on a Western Caribbean cruise, ranked by popularity.
What Is Considered a Western Caribbean Cruise?
Western Caribbean cruises are those that visit ports west of Florida or south of Cuba. The primary countries visited on most Western Caribbean cruises include Jamaica, Honduras, the Cayman Islands, Belize and Mexico.
In fact, many of the top cruise lines will only sail to mainland Mexico or Belize on itineraries that they name as ‘Western Caribbean’. This includes anything in the Gulf of Mexico, and the western parts of the Caribbean sea.
There are 17 main ports in the Western Caribbean. This includes five on the eastern coast of Mexico and another five in Jamaica – the rest are split between Honduras and Belize, with Grand Cayman completing the set.
What Are the Western Caribbean Islands?
The Western Caribbean islands include the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, and the island of Roatan off the coast of Honduras. Other Caribbean destinations are on the mainland of Belize, Honduras and Mexico.
Map of Western Caribbean Cruise Ports
Let’s take a closer look at each of the Western Caribbean cruise destinations. I’ve listed them all starting with the most popular in terms of annual cruise passenger numbers.
1. Cozumel, Mexico
Pier or Tender: Pier
Cruise lines visiting:
AIDA
Carnival
Celebrity Cruises
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line
MSC Cruises
NCL
Oceania
P&O Cruises
Ponant
Princess
Royal Caribbean
Seabourn
Silversea
TUI Cruises
Viking Ocean Cruises
Virgin Voyages
Windstar Cruises
Cozumel isn’t just the number one port in the Western Caribbean – it’s also one of the most popular port cities in the entire world. And it’s no surprise why, when you realise just how much there is to do.
Firstly, it has some incredible opportunities for scuba diving and snorkelling, with clear waters and a wide variety of wildlife to discover.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, Cozumel’s restaurant scene is thriving – from casual to fine dining, authentic Mexican and seafood to global cuisine, there is something for every taste and budget.
Cozumel also has some incredible beaches, but just make sure you choose the right one. There are some nude and topless beaches that you may want to try, or avoid, depending on your confidence.
2. Belize City, Belize
Pier/Tender: Pier
Cruise lines visiting:
AIDA
Azamara Cruises
Carnival
Celebrity
Holland America
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Hurtigruten
Lindblad Expeditions
Marella Cruises
MSC Cruises
NCL
Nicko Cruises (Mystic Cruises)
Oceania Cruises
P&O Cruises
Phoenix Reisen
Ponant Cruises
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean
Seabourn Cruises
Silversea
TUI Cruises
UnCruise Adventures
Viking Ocean
Windstar Cruises
Belize may be one of the smallest countries in Central America, but it proves that great things come in small packages. This city port is host to a huge variety of excursion opportunities, including museums, shops, restaurants, historical landmarks, bars and more.
Ships arrive at a dedicated tourism region which is safe and has plenty to see. If you want to venture further afield, it’s best to do so on a guided tour or as part or a larger group.
3. Roatan, Honduras
Pier/Tender: Pier
Cruise lines visiting:
Azamara Cruises
Carnival
Celebrity
Marella Cruises
MSC Cruises
NCL
Nicko Cruises (Mystic Cruises)
Oceania Cruises
P&O Cruises
Phoenix Reisen
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Royal Caribbean
Silversea
TUI Cruises
Viking Ocean
Virgin Voyages
Windstar Cruises
Roatan is a classic Caribbean destination. This island off the coast of Honduras is home to beautiful beaches and many exciting adventures, including plenty of excursions aimed at thrillseekers.
There are two ports on Roatan used by different cruise lines, but each is within a comfortable walking distance of sandy beaches and plenty of shops and restaurants. The largest barrier reef in the Caribbean is nearby, so definitely take up the opportunity to try any boat tours or snorkelling while you’re here.
4. Costa Maya, Mexico
Pier/Tender: Pier
Cruise lines visiting:
Azamara
Carnival
Celebrity Cruises
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line
MSC Cruises
NCL
Oceania
Princess
Regent Seven Seas
Royal Caribbean
TUI Cruises
Virgin Voyages
Costa Maya is a hugely popular Mexican port, as you can tell just by the number of cruise lines scheduling visits. It’s in the Quintana Roo state, close to the border with Belize and so it is often added to itineraries which visit Belize City.
Costa Maya has a wide variety of activities you can enjoy – a taste of everything that Mexico has to offer. It has a waterpark and great beaches for family visits, or further inland there are some archaeological sites home to ancient Mayan ruins.
Plus, the city has a great shopping mall if you just want a bit of retail therapy. And that’s without mentioning the authentic restaurants and tequila bars too.
5. Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Pier/Tender: Pier
Cruise lines visiting:
AIDA
Carnival
Celebrity
Costa Cruises
Holland America
Marella Cruises
MSC Cruises
NCL
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean
TUI Cruises
The biggest and most popular port in Jamaica, Ocho Rios is situated on the northern side of the island and has a pier capable of hosting the largest ships in the world.
There are a lot of different options for excursions here, including swimming with dolphins or snorkelling through crystal-clear waters to see other native wildlife up close.
The town has a wonderful artisan village area that has recently been added – this hosts a variety of fun stores selling various crafted ornaments and gifts for guests to buy. There’s also a market with a bustling atmosphere.
Of course, guests can also just take it easy on the beaches or at the bars, while the food here serves up some authentic Jamaican flavours.
6. Grand Cayman Island, Cayman Islands
Pier/Tender: Tender
Cruise lines visiting:
AIDA
Ambassador Cruise Line
Azamara Cruises
Carnival
Celebrity
Disney
HAL
Marella Cruises
MSC Cruises
NCL
Oceania Cruises
Phoenix Reisen
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Royal Caribbean
Silversea
Grand Cayman is an interesting port – the main port of the Cayman Islands, it is host to some amazing shopping, eating and drinking establishments where guests can unwind and enjoy fantastic scenery too.
Yet the biggest ships are slowing down their visits. Originally a dock was planned to be built, to be partially funded by Royal Caribbean and Carnival, but that has been shelved with locals unhappy with plans. So it remains a tender port, which is putting off cruise lines from sending their largest ships.
Those that do visit – and there are many – will enjoy plenty of opportunities for fantastic watersport activities too with incredible rich blue waters to explore.
7. Falmouth, Jamaica
Pier/Tender: Pier
Cruise lines visiting:
Carnival
Celebrity
Disney
Holland America
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean
Despite the relatively short list of cruise lines visiting Falmouth, it is still extremely popular, helped by the capacity of the pier to host the largest ships in the world. This vibrant destination has been undergoing a lot of redevelopment work around the ports, and now hosts a wide variety of restaurants, bars and stores selling all kinds of trinkets and crafted goods.
You can also head inland on guided tours to see the waterfalls and lagoons for which the island is famous, or you can try a more thrilling excursion including cave exploration, catamaran sailing and more.
And this is Jamaica, so if you like the taste of rum and want to know more about how it’s made, with sampling opportunities of course, then there are some excellent excursions here for that too.
8. Montego Bay, Jamaica
Pier/Tender: Pier
Cruise lines visiting:
AIDA
Ambassador Cruise Line
Carnival
Celebrity
Costa Cruises
Marella Cruises
MSC Cruises
P&O Cruises
Phoenix Reisen
Princess Cruises
TUI Cruises
Viking Ocean Cruises
While Montego Bay attracts the most cruise lines of the ports in Jamaica, it doesn’t get the same number of actual ship visits throughout the year as the more popular ports of Falmouth and Ocho Rios.
Guests visiting can either stay in the port area to enjoy the fun bars, the scenic beaches and the fantastic restaurants (BBQ is a speciality here), or you can instead take a guided tour further inland to see some of the famous sights such as the Dunn’s River Falls or the sugar plantation houses from Jamaica’s history.
9. Progreso, Mexico
Pier/Tender: Pier
Cruise lines visiting:
Carnival
Disney Cruise Line
Ponant
Royal Caribbean
Progreso is quite the unique port, in that it is home to the world’s longest cruise pier, clocking in at around 6.5 km long. Don’t worry though, there are shuttle buses to get you into the town – your visit isn’t just walking along the pier, turning around and coming back!
Progreso’s popular not so much for what the town has to offer, but because it’s the most convenient port for cruise lines to arrange excursions to Chichen Itza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
However, the town does have some other ruins nearby, and some excellent beaches. So if you’re not taken by the idea of visiting the Great Pyramid, then you’ll still have a fantastic visit.
10. Port Antonio, Jamaica
Pier/Tender: Pier
Cruise lines visiting:
Oceania Cruises
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Seabourn Cruises
Silversea
Port Antonio isn’t quite as big as the other ports in Jamaica, but it is a pleasant visit. Typically it’s the luxury cruise lines that tend to call here and the resort has a bit more of an upmarket feel.
That’s helped by a ban on vendors, so you aren’t surrounded by locals trying to sell you their wares. Instead, you can just enjoy exploring the scenery at your own pace, either by walking around the port area or jumping onto a cruise line arranged guided tour to see more of the nearby sights.
11. Kingston, Jamaica
Pier/Tender: Tender
Cruise lines visiting:
Marella Cruises
Silversea
While Kingston is the capital city of Jamaica, it is not the most popular cruise destination. It’s still a large sea port, but most ships dock elsewhere.
Because it’s the capital, there is still a lot that you can see here, including Jamaica’s best collection of museums and art galleries. The Royal Botanical Gardens is also a fascinating attraction if you enjoy discovering unique, beautiful flora.
But if you just want to take it easy, cruise lines may arrange a day pass at one of the beach resorts in the city, where you can laze in luxury and sip fine cocktails.
12. Placencia, Belize
Pier/Tender: Tender
Cruise lines visiting:
Lindblad Expeditions
Ponant Cruises
UnCruise Adventures
Considered a large village rather than a town, the population of Placencia is just 3,500 which tells you something about the peaceful nature of this destination. It has a small marina where you can wander to see various pleasure boats moored, but it primarily serves as a gateway to other attractions.
Chief among those is the Payne’s Creek National Park and the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, although you can also enjoy boat tours of Monkey River. At each, you’ll see beautiful scenery and fascinating wildlife.
13. Dangriga, Belize
Rick’s Pics (Montreal), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pier/Tender: Tender
Cruise lines visiting:
Lindblad Expeditions
UnCruise Adventures
The quiet town of Dangriga is a great choice for anyone wishing to see more of the culture of the Belizean region. It’s most popular as the gateway to the Mayflower Bocawina National Park, which is a beautiful reserve with three scenic waterfalls and some fascinating Mayan ruins to explore.
14. Punta Gorda, Belize
User Gmanacsa on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pier/Tender: Pier
Cruise lines visiting:
Ponant Cruise
UnCruise Adventures
Another smaller port limited to only a handful of ship visits, Punta Gorda is still worth your interest. The town only has a population of around 6,000 but it is home to some international hotels and charming bars.
Snorkelling excursions are available, while there are Mayan ruins nearby which can be visited on a guided tour.
15. Puerto Cortes, Honduras
Pier/Tender: Pier
Cruise lines visiting:
Nicko Cruises (Mystic Cruises)
Puerto Cortes is a smaller port on the northern side of Honduras. Only smaller cruise lines tend to visit this west Caribbean destination, as the port is more used for shipping purposes, but there are some interesting sights to explore.
Chiefly among them is Coca-Cola beach, named after the soft drink due to the bottling plant nearby. The area is known for banana production too, and tours of plantations may be available.
16. Campeche, Mexico
Pier/Tender: Pier
Cruise lines visiting:
One of the smaller port cities in Mexico, Campeche is located on the Yucatan Peninsula. Don’t expect the big cruise lines to visit here, it was only American Queen Voyages that included it on itineraries, and as of February 2024 that company has ceased trading.
The port offers some pleasant scenery for a relaxing walk, although most people prefer to book one of the guided tours of the inland area which focus on some of the Mayan ruins, along with the colonial architecture of the town.
17. Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Pier/Tender: Pier
Cruise lines visiting:
Playa del Carmen is one of the smallest Caribbean cruise destinations – a very small port city that only welcomed a handful of cruises with American Queen Voyages. Again, now that American Queen Voyages has ceased trading, there are currently not port calls scheduled.
It’s located in Quintana Roo, and it is home to some fantastic white beaches that are often very quiet. However, many people prefer to use the time in port to take a quick trip to Cancun, which is widely known for its own (busier) beaches along with its excellent restaurants and lively bars.
To Conclude
Many of the cruises to the western half of the Caribbean focus more on the popular countries of Mexico and Jamaica, and they are fantastic destinations. They’re packed with history and culture, as well as offering stunning food and places to unwind when you just want to soak up some tropical sunlight.
It’s a breathtaking part of the world, but if you want a little more variety, then you may prefer a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean instead – there are more small island nations, as well as many islands or resorts owned exclusively by cruise lines that are packed with exciting things to see and do.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
