I’m on my way to traveling the world one cruise at a time. Thinking back on all my past cruise adventures gave me the idea to compile a short list of countries that are worth visiting on a Caribbean cruise. This kind of info can be helpful to a first time cruiser who has no idea what to consider when choosing a cruise itinerary.
Keep in mind this list is based off my own personal travel experience and preferences but it may still offer a perspective objective enough to help you make an informed decision about your own cruise. Now for my top three and why they made the list.
Curaçao
I cruised to Curaçao in the Spring of 2025 on the Celebrity Reflection. It was the third stop of three ports of call and it’s my favorite of them all.
We docked in the capital of Willemstad, one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The vibrant colors and striking architecture looked like a fairytale. I was sold simply based on the city’s curb appeal alone!
The historic bus tour I booked took us mostly outside the city limits so I missed out on exploring the historic Otrobanda district. That’s the main reason why I don’t have any good photo or video content of the area. Otrobanda is the cultural center of town, most of which is better explored on foot, especially the famous Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge. It connects Otrobanda to the neighboring district of Punda.
The Kura Hulanda Village is Otrobanda’s most distinct landmark. This area was once neglected but has since been revitalized and transformed into a true Caribbean village gem.
Although we did pass by the Queen Emma Bridge and through parts of Otrobanda, I missed out on the experience to explore these places as a pedestrian. Otrobanda is a very walkable city and I’m almost certain that walking is the best way to take in the sights and the culture.
The historic bus tour took us to a few fascinating locations including the Curacao Museum, the Hato Caves and the Senior & Co. Distillery.
The historic bus tour of Curacao was an amazing experience and I highly recommend tours like this to first time visitors, although I also recommend a walking historic/food tour within the Otrobanda city limits.
There’s only so much you can squeeze into a few short hours while docked during a cruise so it’s best to prioritize your interests and plan accordingly. Ideally you’ll have to plan a multi day vacation flying into the island to truly reap the benefits of everything Curacao has to offer. This is exactly what I intend to do on a future trip to Curacao.
You can learn more about Curacao on the Celebrity Cruises blog here.
I booked the Curacao Historic Tour with Atlantis Adventures directly through Celebrity Cruises. This specific excursion is no longer offered but you can find similar ones on the Celebrity Cruises website here.
Curaçao checks all the boxes: amazing curb appeal, rich history and culture, safe and walkable streets, great shopping, exciting excursion options and very tourist friendly.
You can check out all the details from my Celebrity Reflection cruise to Curaçao here.
TURKS & CAICOS
Grand Turk Cruise Port is one of the most beautiful, well-planned cruise ports I’ve been to. There’s something to do for everyone, no matter how much or how little you want to do. You’ll also find delicious food options including traditional American or local Caribbean cuisine.
The drinks are strong here and I highly recommend the frozen piña colada from the Beached Whale. This drink ranks in my top three best alcoholic piña coladas that I’ve ever had. Let me know in the comments if you want to know where the other two piña coladas are from.
The shops are lovely and you can find anything from dresses and t-shirts to fine jewelry and scuba gear. One of the cruise port’s biggest draws is the Margaritaville and it happens to be the largest one in the Caribbean. They serve American food with a Caribbean twist and there’s a gigantic 300 foot lagoon pool out back which is complimentary to all cruise port guests.
The white, sandy beaches are stunning and seem to go on forever. There’s also a rocky beach on the other side of the main pier that’s great for snorkeling.
The entire property is a tropical oasis and if you’re anything like me, you won’t be able to stop taking pictures and videos. Everywhere you turn is a gorgeous backdrop or photo op.
Grand Turk Cruise Port never gets old. It’s a guaranteed good time and whether you choose to book an offsite excursion, rent a golf cart or simply hang out and explore the cruise port it will be well worth your time.
I plan to book a longer stay on Grand Turk one day so that I can explore and learn about other parts of the island, experience the resorts and find all the best restaurants that the locals frequent.
Grand Turk is a beautiful island. You’ll learn so much about the history and culture if you book one of the many historic tours offered at the cruise port and I highly recommend Rainbow Tours. Look for their kiosk in the cruise port’s courtyard and ask for Austin the tour guide, he’s phenomenal!
If you just want to hang out in the cruise port you’ll have plenty to keep you busy. Do yourself a favor and book a cruise to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos.
THE BAHAMAS
The Bahamas are made up of over 700 islands. The closest Bahamian island to Florida is Bimini, which is exactly 50 miles east of Miami. The short distance makes the Bahamas the easiest Caribbean country to visit cruising out of Florida and often the most affordable.
Nassau, New Providence is 184 miles southeast of Miami, FL and Freeport, Grand Bahama Island is 90 miles east of Palm Beach, FL. You’ll find that most major cruise lines with east coast ports in the United States own a private island somewhere in the Bahamas that’s exclusive to cruise guests. If you’re lucky you’ll find a cruise that includes a stop at their private island as well as another Bahamian island.
My most recent cruise was this past Spring and the itinerary included one of my favorite destinations, Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas. I always have a great time in Nassau because there’s so much to do, see and eat.
The Nassau Cruise Port was completely redeveloped and reopened to the public in 2023. It was designed with a brand new amphitheater, a Junkanoo museum, a brand new berth and a new ground transportation hub. The new design also increased the port’s capacity making Nassau an even more attractive cruise destination.
Sometimes Nassau gets a bad rap from ignorant cruisers who either make assumptions, believe stereotypes or take negative hearsay about Nassau as gospel. Crime is everywhere. Honestly I’m more afraid to walk around downtown Orlando than to walk around downtown Nassau.
It’s no different than any other city in America or any other country, just be smart. You must do your own objective research and use common sense. Stay close to tourist friendly areas and busy streets, avoid isolated places and alley ways and you should be fine.
I’ve done multiple food/historic tours around Nassau with different tour and taxi companies and I have never experienced anything negative. If you’re planning a cruise that includes a stop in Nassau, do yourself a favor – get off the ship and explore the nearby shops, museums, book a tour and try the local cuisine.
You can check out all the details of my Virgin Voyages cruise to Nassau here. Also check out my MSC cruise to Nassau here.
Bimini is a new favorite cruise destination in the Bahamas for me. What I love most is the laid back, small town feel. If you prefer an urban, fast paced destination then Bimini definitely is not for you.
I never got the chance to explore The Beach Club at Bimini, which is the exclusive adults only retreat created for Virgin cruise guests. This four acre property is similar to the Grand Turk Cruise Port. All the amenities are complimentary which includes lounge chairs and other seating poolside and along the beach, activities, facilities, food & drink.
I did manange to explore nearby Fisherman’s Village. Unfortunately most of the shops were closed so all I could do was just walk around and grab a few photo ops where I could.
I opted to book a historic tour of Bimini through Virgin Voyages. This three and a half hour tour transported us on open tram around the island where we made a number of stops to explore historic landmarks including Joe’s Conch Stand, the Gallant Lady Shipwreck and the Dolphin House.
This is the kind of place where you wind down, relax and reflect. Finding a quiet, secluded stretch of beach to lay out, soak up the sun and watch the waves crash into the shore should be your top priority.
I did a lot of walking along the main road which led me to a few restaurants serving delicious, authentic Bahamian cuisine. Next time I visit I plan to stay a few days so that I can rent a golf cart and explore even more of this beautiful island oasis than I did during this visit.
Check out all the details from my Virgin Voyages cruise to Bimini here.
Which of these three Caribbean Islands piqued your interest the most? I’d recommend all three to anyone considering a future Caribbean cruise vacation. You can’t beat the pristine beaches, activities, shopping, food, rich culture and history for the money spent.
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