White sand beaches, aquamarine waters, rainbow-hued coral reefs, tropical rainforests – it’s easy to see why the Caribbean is one of the world’s favourite cruise destinations.
Make no mistake: a cruise is arguably the best way to explore the sun-drenched region that’s long been considered a bucket-list holiday destination.
Rather than being tied down to one island, a Caribbean cruise allows you to tick off and get a taste for multiple islands – if you fall in love with a particular place, you can always go back on a land-based holiday – while only having to unpack once.
Virtually every cruise operator under the sun sails to the Caribbean, particularly during the dry season which coincides with the Northern Hemisphere’s winter when Europe and North America are under a dark blanket.
However, in our humble opinion, it’s Holland America Line (HAL) – who has been welcoming guests onboard its elegant, perfectly sized ships for over 150 years – that should be your go-to pick.
One of the most trusted names in travel, HAL operates a season of Caribbean cruises from October to April – with voyages ranging from seven to 21 days across the eastern, southern, and western regions, as well as the engineering marvel that is the Panama Canal.
On selected Caribbean itineraries, longer stays are available at ports including the Dutch island of Curaçao with its scores of spectacular dive sites, Cozumel, Puerto Rico’s charismatic capital San Juan and Aruba – thereby allowing guests to really embrace island life, even after the sun goes down.
HAL also offers sailings to its private island, Half Moon Cay, in the Bahamas on all Caribbean cruises through 2026. Expect four square miles of sand whiter than a dentist’s chair and a crystal lagoon that you share with your fellow passengers and, crucially, no one else.
Half Moon Cay is HAL’s very own idyllic island in the Bahamas. Credit: Shutterstock
Named not only for the exclusive islet’s crescent-shaped beach, but also after the ship sailed by 17th-century explorer Henry Hudson, Half Moon Cay is a great place to relax and practice the art of doing nothing – save for lifting a glass of ice-cold Bahama Mama, a delicious concoction of rum, coconut and pineapple that’s one of the most popular drinks in the Bahamas, to your lips; or adjusting your sun lounger in a private cabana, many of which come replete with butler service and your own hot tub.
That being said, there’s a plethora of activities to choose from for those who like a little more action. Take a narrated tour in a glass-bottom boat to immerse yourself in kaleidoscopic marine life; paddle a kayak through 280 hectares of protected wetlands; or seek out Stingray Cove to meet and feed the island’s most famous residents: soft, velvety stingrays.
On land, embark on a guided nature trek to discover 300-year old ruins and native flora or fauna or tour the island by bike or on horseback – while working up an appetite for a leisurely lunch at Half Moon Cay’s lobster shack.
Swim with the stingrays at Half Moon Cay. Credit: Shutterstock
Back on board HAL’s upscale ships, there’s always a warm welcome from the gracious and friendly crew who delight in forming lasting connections with guests.
Later on continue your Caribbean experience while tucking into dishes – think Florida stone crab and Jamaican ‘bammy’ (cassava flatbread) – that tell the culinary story of the region in the stunning two-deck, main dining room whose chandeliers are made from strings of tricolour and house hand-blown glass bulbs.
Then dance your socks off in B.B. King’s Blues Club – easily the best entertainment World of Cruising has ever experienced at sea – or tap your toes at Billboard Online where chart-topping hits fill the room every night.
All told, the Caribbean’s appeal is unmatched and a Holland America Line cruise here is like no other.
To find out more, call 0344 338 8606, visit HollandAmerica.com or contact your travel agent.
The all-star band in B.B. King’s Blues Club will have you on your feet. Credit: HAL
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Publish date : 2024-11-29 22:08:00
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