Caribbean Cruises - What’s hot?
The Caribbean is such an established cruise destination that it still snags more cruise travelers than any other region in the world. It’s incredibly popular and is always a good choice for winter sun-seekers because—at least for North Americans—it’s relatively close. It can also offer bargain prices.
One of the growing challenges the Caribbean has faced over the past few years is a sense of fatigue. Once you’ve sailed the Western Caribbean from, say, Galveston, New Orleans, or Tampa, you’ve pretty much been there and done that. The same goes for those who have cruised Eastern Caribbean routes from Florida’s ports (not to mention those on the East Coast, such as Charleston, Norfolk, Baltimore, and New York). On these cruises, passengers visit the same ports time and again—places like San Juan, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. Ship congestion and lackluster onshore experiences on certain islands aren’t exactly drawing travelers back to the region.
To combat this malaise, industry execs are always looking to add trendy and fresh locales that will entice passengers to return to Caribbean cruises. They’ve created new ports—such as Carnival’s outpost on Grand Turk, the ever-present private Bahamian islands and the carved-from-the-jungle Costa Maya—seemingly out of thin air. They’ve also plumbed the depths of the Southern Caribbean to find new destinations, just waiting for ships to arrive.
Until sanctions are lifted and Cuba opens its doors to American cruise ships, don’t expect too many surprises on Caribbean itineraries. But, whether you’re looking for up-and-coming, not-yet-on-the-radar destinations, or are just hoping to avoid the has-beens, read our analysis of what’s hot and what’s not in the Caribbean for the upcoming cruise season.
Hot Spots
St. Croix
Why: St. Croix, one of the three major U.S. Virgin Islands, fell off the cruise traveler’s map after the 2001/2002 season, when numerous unresolved issues with petty crime persuaded cruise lines to go elsewhere. So, some five years later, Disney’s announcement that it would feature new Caribbean routes in 2009—including St. Croix—raised a few eyebrows. Suddenly, numerous ships have St. Croix on 2009/2010 itineraries—Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas, Holland America’s Maasdam, Celebrity’s Millennium, and Azamara Journey. It also doesn’t hurt that the local government has invested $18 million to beautify the port city of Frederiksted, which has been transformed from seedy to charming. Additionally, the island, like its U.S.V.I. brethren, is clustered among other popular isles and is, therefore, an incredibly convenient port of call.
What’s there: St. Croix offers an experience much different from the overcrowded shopping mecca of St. Thomas. With much more room to move around (St. Croix encompasses 84 square miles and is more than twice the size of St. Thomas), St. Croix provides an astounding variety of activities and features two urban centers—Frederiksted on the west coast and historic Christiansted to the north. Promoted as the U.S. territory’s historical destination because of the Danish architecture it houses, St. Croix is home to the remnants of numerous plantations, great houses, and windmills. Buck Island Reef National Monument is the premier natural attraction on an island rife with prime snorkeling and diving sites.
