Snorkeling opportunities, dolphin shows, and a beach full of lounge chairs all contribute to Ocean World Adventure Park’s standing as a top family attraction in the Dominican Republic. The park is prime for kids during the day and transforms into a casino after dark, complete with a restaurant, gaming, a disco floor, and a Vegas-style show, offering parent-friendly nightlife with Caribbean flair.
A small, uninhabited island off the northern coast of Jamaica near Negril, Booby Cay Island is named after the booby birds that live and nest there. Known for its white sand beach and clear waters ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving, the island is a popular day-trip destination.
Off the coast of Grenada, travelers will find a unique community below the surface—the Molinière Underwater Sculpture Park. The more than 100 works by Jason deCaires Taylor cover over 8,600 square feet (800 square meters) of the ocean floor, and are accessible by scuba diving, snorkeling, and glass-bottom boat rides. The park draws divers and snorkelers away from the nearby fragile reefs and serves as a safe base for marine life.
Located in Carolina, close to San Juan, Playa Isla Verde boasts golden-sand shores, tall palm trees, hotels, restaurants, and shops. Because of its proximity to the airport and cruise port, this beach is popular among visitors. It’s divided into three main beaches: Pine Grove, where locals surf; El Alambique, also known as Hobie Beach; and the Balneario de Carolina.
The casino at the Hard Rock Punta Cana offers 40 different table games and more than 450 slots, ranging from one cent slots to a high-roller VIP area. There's plenty of room in this 45,000-square-foot (4,181square-meter) casino to gamble—play Texas Hold’em in the poker room, or test your luck at blackjack, craps, roulette, or baccarat.
Novices and experienced equestrians alike are bound to enjoy a ride with the horses of Rancho Loco. The equestrian center in Santa Cruz, Aruba offers guided tours on horseback, and guests will be pleased to see how well the owners take care of their horses, providing them with ample space and caring attention.
Located off the coast of Venezuela, Curacao is a tiny island nestled in crystal-blue waters and Curacao (Willemstad) Cruise Port serves as its gateway. Once the center of Caribbean commerce, Curacao retains influences from its of French, Dutch, and Portuguese colonial past, by way of its food, architecture, and culture.
The Marine Habitat at Atlantis is the largest open-air marine habitat on earth, with over 50,000 animals and 250 different species, from rays to alligator gar. The aquarium features 14 lagoons, which contain roughly eight million gallons of ocean water and are filled with picturesque caves and underwater ruins.
Established in 1949, the San Juan National Historic Site (Sitio Histórico Nacional de San Juan) is home to some of the city’s most famous attractions. Here, visitors can climb Castillo San Felipe del Morro, which overlooks San Juan Bay, and Castillo San Cristóbal, built to protect against land attacks. The site also encompasses most of the city walls, the San Juan Gate, and Fort San Juan de la Cruz.
This uninhabited coral island off the coast of Culebra, another of Puerto Rico's islands, exudes Caribbean paradise vibes with crystal clear waters and powder-like sandy beaches. Culebrita is part of the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge and is home to the Culebrita Lighthouse, one of the oldest lighthouses in the Caribbean. Travelers head to Culebrita to escape the Puerto Rico mainland.
Located in Grand Cayman, the Kittiwake Shipwreck and Artificial Reef is one of the most famous wreck dives in the Caribbean. A former US Navy submarine rescue ship that was sunk on purpose in 2011, it offers an easily accessible site for scuba divers, snorkelers, and free divers, as well as an artificial reef for marine life.
Grand Bahama Island’s Freeport Cruise Port at Lucayan Harbour is a popular and convenient jumping-off point for cruisers to experience the Bahamas’ famous white-sand beaches and water sports. In contrast with the other Bahamian cruise port in the capital city of Nassau on New Providence Island, this laid-back launch pad for Caribbean fun is less about the bustle and more about the beach break.
Located on the west side of the Caribbean island of Curacao, Kokomo Beach offers laid-back vibes, turquoise waters, and lounge chairs positioned in the shade of palm trees—a true idyllic tropical getaway. There’s also a professional dive center here for those who want to explore the waters off the coast, which boast plenty of tropical fish and coral gardens.
Many visitors come to Turks and Caicos Islands—a collection of small vacation-friendly outposts in the Caribbean—as part of a cruise, setting anchor at the Grand Turk Cruise Center. A destination in its own right, the Grand Turk Cruise Center is both a jumping-off point for exploring the island and somewhere you could easily spend the day.
Located on the east end of St. Thomas and part of the protected Smith Bay Park, Lindquist Beach is one of the island's prettiest and most pristine beaches. Featuring a lovely stretch of white sand dusted with just a hint of pink, it’s an ideal beach for relaxing, sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, and escaping the crowds.
The clear, warm waters of the Caribbean Sea surrounding this sunken tugboat are a bonus—the main attraction is the intact boat hull, which has been transformed into an underwater jungle. As you glide through the water, you'll be greeted by a kaleidoscope of colors, with schools of vibrant fish darting in and out of the coral formations.
Downtown Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a fairytale world of gingerbread Dutch houses, cobbled lanes, and water views. Red-roofed gabled houses painted in sorbet colors of pink, blue, and orange line the narrow lanes looking onto the canals of Curaçao's St. Anna Bay. The downtown area is divided into Punda, on the canal’s right bank, and Otrobanda, on the other side of the canal.
Designed by renowned Spanish architect Jose Gancedo, Cocotal Golf and Country Club features 27 holes. Named after the abundant coconut trees on the property, the par-72 course follows the contours of the landscape and features gently rolling terrain with generous fairways and strategically placed trees, bunkers, and mounds.
The Aruba (Oranjestad) Cruise Port serves as the gateway to one of the region's most popular vacation destinations—Aruba, in the Dutch Caribbean. Known for year-round warm weather, excellent beaches, and several historical landmarks, Aruba makes for a great day-trip while cruising the Caribbean.
With more than 2 million annual cruise visitors, St. Maarten Cruise Port has long been one of the busiest in the Caribbean. Located in the island capital of Philipsburg, it’s not only the gateway to the Dutch side of St. Maarten but also a popular choice for visitors heading to the French side of St. Martin.
On the island of Curacao, Blue Bay Beach epitomes the fantasy of a Caribbean getaway, with palm trees, lounge chairs, shade umbrellas, water sports, several restaurants, and a golf course. A favorite among families and locals, the beach boasts azure waters and plenty of on- and offshore amenities.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Town of St. George is one for history lovers. This genteel little town on Bermuda’s far-eastern shores roughly marks the spot where shipwrecked Brits discovered the islands centuries ago. Today, the history-steeped streets showcase St. George’s colonial architecture, fortifications, and even pillory and stocks.
The West India Company Dock (Havensight) serves as a cruisers’ gateway to St. Thomas and the rest of the US Virgin Islands, a hugely popular stop on Eastern Caribbean cruises. With great shopping, sightseeing, and beach water sports within easy reach of the cruise terminal, the capital city of Charlotte Amalie and the rest of St. Thomas offer everything you need for a perfect day ashore.
Part of a fleet of high-tech passenger submarines, the Atlantis Submarine in Grand Cayman lets travelers experience the underwater world of the Grand Cayman National Park without getting wet and in air-conditioned comfort. Offering day and night tours, the 48-passenger submarine descends to a depth of 100 feet (33 meters).
As Dominica's capital city, Roseau is the major port of entry for the island, whether you're flying in or coming by cruise ship. While the city's compact downtown area is great for shopping, dining, or just taking a stroll, many travelers skip over it in favor of destinations further afield.
A waterfront town in Grand Cayman, Camana Bay has earned a reputation for its shopping, restaurants, and vibrant farmers market. Located in the Seven Mile Beach area, it draws travelers with its pretty promenades for taking it all in, and there’s a visitor center as well.
Tucked away in the inland jungle of Portland Parish, within easy reach of Port Antonio, Reach Falls is often named one of Jamaica’s most beautiful waterfalls. Surrounded by verdant rainforest, the cascading falls lead to a sparkling emerald pool beneath, where you can swim, explore underwater caves, or simply relax.
A UNESCO-listed fort, cobblestoned old town, and a nearby rainforest make San Juan a perennial favorite with Caribbean cruisers. More than 2 million passengers travel through the port each year, with mega ships often docking at the two Pan American Pier terminals.
The pristine beaches, lush rain forests, and volcanic topography of St. Lucia make it one of the Caribbean’s most popular islands. It’s also a top destination for cruise passengers, with the St. Lucia Cruise Port welcoming over 300 cruise ships each year.
One of three cruise liner ports in Bermuda—the others are Hamilton Harbour and Royal Naval Dockyard—the St. George’s Bermuda Cruise Port welcomes small and medium ships from around the world. From the port, shore excursions depart daily and King’s Square in historic St. George’s is just a short walk.
