A cruise in the Caribbean is a rite of passage, and who better to sail with than Royal Caribbean themselves?
A cruise in the Caribbean is a rite of passage, and who better to sail with than Royal Caribbean themselves?
With their palm-fringed white sandy beaches, bright coral reefs and aquamarine waters, the islands that make up the Caribbean were practically made for cruising and have been the world’s most popular cruise region for decades.
Pretty much every cruise line sails in this classic destination, from tiny luxury brands to colossal mega ships. The biggest names, like Carnival, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess, offer a selection of hugely popular routes on which guests usually embark from major Florida ports like Miami or Fort Lauderdale. The biggest player in this popular cruise region, however, is undoubtedly Royal Caribbean, with the majority of its 28-strong fleet sailing here at one time of the year or another.
Royal Caribbean itineraries cover every corner of the area, with eastern, western and southern Caribbean voyages available throughout the year. January 2024 saw the arrival of Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, who spends most of her time sailing the Western Caribbean, while hotly-anticipated sister ship Star of the Seas is due to set sail in 2025.
On dry land, the excitement continues with Perfect Day at CocoCay – Royal Caribbean’s private beach club in the Bahamas, home to the region’s biggest wave pool and the tallest slide in North America. This will be joined by ‘Paradise Island’ in 2025, a brand new private island retreat for the brand.
Here’s our roundup of the best Royal Caribbean Caribbean cruises setting sail in 2025 and 2026, spanning from family adventures to wild party vacations.
Short Caribbean Cruise (4 nights)
A memorable long weekend (3-4 nights)
Classic Caribbean Cruise (7 nights)
Western Caribbean Cruise (7 nights)
Southern Caribbean Cruise (10 nights)
Eastern Caribbean Cruise (7 nights)
Four-night short Caribbean cruise
£
A four-night taster cruise is a great idea if you’re looking to see whether a Caribbean cruise is your cup of tea. Calling at Labadee, a private Royal Caribbean destination off the coast of Haiti, take in a world of jungle-covered hilltops, pristine beaches, lagoons and colourful coral reefs.
Dial up the thrill factor with across-ocean zip wire and jet ski excursions, or simply soak in the paradise surrounds by relaxing on the cornucopia of white-sand beaches. You’ll be sailing on Explorer of the Seas which is filled to the brim with onboard entertainment, including a surf simulator and an ice rink!
Where: Miami | Labadee | Miami
Price: From £280pp
Bahamas with Perfect Day Cruise
£
Utopia of the Seas is the latest giant to join Royal Caribbean’s Caribbean contingent of cruise ships, operating exclusively short itineraries (no more than four days) that pack a serious punch. Everything is high-energy on Utopia of the Seas, with sizzling DJ sets, more than 40 places to eat and drink, plus an actual park in the centre of the ship! Not to mention an onboard train or the world’s longest dryslide onboard, too…
A day or two in private Coco Cay promises crystal clear waters, swaying palm trees with hammocks strung between, and blissful paddling in the shallows. To up the ante, take a visit to the adults-only beach bar here, Hideaway Beach, where you’ll find live DJs and swim-up bars serving tasty cocktails. This is the ideal cruise for fun-loving adults looking to let their hair down.
Where: Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida | Nassau, Bahamas | Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas | Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida
Price: From £404pp
Eastern Caribbean Cruise with Perfect Day
£
This itinerary provides highlights of the dreamy eastern Caribbean over the course of a laid-back seven-night sailing, onboard Oasis-class ships like Symphony of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas. Starting out in Orlando, the first port of call is Perfect Day at CocoCay, where kids and adults alike will be wowed by a helium balloon which takes you 450 feet up in the air, or the largest freshwater pool in the Bahamas to name a few experiences. You’ll then sail onto the picture-postcard islands of St Thomas and St Maarten where idyllic harbours sit pretty against a backdrop of rolling green hills.
When you’re not stocking up on vitamin D, discover awe-inspiring shows in the AquaTheatre or get competitive on the ships’ racing slides.
Where: Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida | Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas | St Thomas | St Maarten | Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida
Price: From £740pp
Western Caribbean with Perfect Day
££
Experience what it’s like to sail on the world’s largest ship while island-hopping around the Caribbean for the trip of a lifetime.
Delve into the fascinating history of Mexico’s Costa Maya, where towering Mayan ruins are nestled in jungle surrounds. Beautiful beach days also await in the Bahamas, where brave guests may try their hand at swimming with baby sharks.
Icon of the Seas is a veritable floating city, so you’ll have your work cut out trying to cover everything onboard. What not to miss? Category 6 waterpark, Adrenaline Peak, for awesome views, and the ‘Swim & Tonic’ swim-up bar.
Oh and you’ll also get plenty of time at Royal Caribbean’s signature Caribbean experience, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Where: Miami, Florida | Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico | Roatan, Honduras | Cozumel, Mexico | Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas | Miami, Florida
Price: £1,151pp
Southern Caribbean from New York
£
Set sail from the iconic New York City skyline and leave behind the picturesque colours of autumn, to make way for warmer climes. This cruise is only available in shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) and so often avoids large crowds and steep prices.
You’ll start off with two days at sea, giving plenty of time to explore all that Independence of the Seas has to offer. First stop is in the Southwest corner of the Dominican Republic in Cabo Rojo, where hiking, snorkelling and swimming adventures all beckon. From here, you’ll head to the tiny island paradise of Aruba, where rugged desert (yes, really!) meets tropical beaches. A three-and-a-half-hour panoramic bus excursion takes you through all the sights and scenes to behold.
A stop in Kralendijk, Bonaire, promises unforgettable experiences in nature. The island’s coral reefs boast more than 400 species of marine life, earning the island its nickname of “Diver’s Paradise”, while pink salt flats are an incredible spectacle. Try out a trip in a glass-bottomed boat for prime viewing of what lies beneath the waves.
Round off the trip with some time in Royal Caribbean’s private Caribbean destination Labadee, before disembarking in Miami. For the ultimate trip, add on some time at either end of your Caribbean cruise in New York, Miami, or both!
Where: Cape Liberty (New York), New Jersey | Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic | Oranjestad, Aruba | Kralendijk, Bonaire | Labadee, Haiti | Miami, Florida
Price: £756
Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day
££
Royal Caribbean’s soon-to-be newest ship, Star of the Seas, will offer seven-day roundtrip Eastern Caribbean cruises from Orlando, starting in summer 2025. The itinerary includes stops in Puerto Rico, St Maarten and the cruise line’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
In Puerto Rico, admire Spanish colonial towns like San German with their quaint plazas and churches and explore the island’s turquoise mangrove waters and emerald-green jungles.
As Icon of the Seas’ sister ship, Star of the Seas will feature similar waterparks, slides, and entertainment venues, along with some exciting new additions. The Empire Supper Club, for example, has been redesigned with a 1930s Chicago theme, offering dinner and live entertainment inspired by the era.
The ship also introduces new technology including waterproof bracelets that let parents track their children’s location through the Royal Caribbean app.
Where: Orlando, Florida | Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas | Puerto Rico | Saint Marteen | Orlando, Florida
Price: £1,240pp
Year-round temperatures sit between 22-30C, making the Caribbean an ideal region for cruising at pretty much any time. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with western Caribbean islands like the Bahamas usually receiving the worst of the weather first, before it spreads to the rest of the region from August. Rains usually peak around October, before subsiding in the run-up to December.
However, it’s from December to April when the islands come into their own as the promise of warm sunshine is a tempting escape from the gloom and chill winter in the UK and northern US. Conditions are also less humid during these months.
Yes! Every autumn, like many cruise lines, a number of Royal Caribbean ships make their way over to the Caribbean from the Mediterranean for the winter season, via a transatlantic repositioning cruise. A handful of these Royal Caribbean repositioning voyages depart from Southampton.
Each one is usually around 12-14 days in length and includes stops in the Azores or Canary Islands, before making the Atlantic crossing. Not only do you get the benefit of cruising directly from Southampton to the Caribbean, but these cruises are much cheaper than regular sailings due to a higher number of sea days, and so are a great option to save on holiday costs.
Year-round direct Royal Caribbean Caribbean cruises from the UK are not yet available. To sail directly from Southampton to the Caribbean at any time of year, cruise lines like P&O Cruises or Marella Cruises are the best option.
You really cannot go far wrong with anywhere in the Caribbean is the honest truth. However, for the quintessential Caribbean cruise experience, a trip around the eastern Caribbean might be your best bet. An enviable laid-back atmosphere and feel-good vibes are everywhere you turn.
This is where the highest concentration island clusters are found, with places like St Kitts and Nevis, St Maarten, Barbados and St Lucia.
Royal Caribbean Caribbean cruises are some of the most reasonably priced sailings in the region. Three to four-night cruises can start from as little as £200pp. The longest itinerary Royal Caribbean offers is a 14-night Southern Caribbean cruise, which starts at £1,548pp.
A standard seven-night cruise can be anywhere between £700-£1,300.
Hello 👋 I am the newest addition to the Sailawaze writing team. I've always loved travel since as far back as I can remember and am lucky enough to have travelled to some pretty extraordinary places! As a massive animal lover, I think safaris are among my favourite travel memories – there's just nothing like being up close to a beautiful creature like a leopard or elephant! Cruising opens up so many doors when it comes to exploring destinations, as you can visit numerous places in one go, and reach areas you wouldn't be able to by plane or train! I would really like to take a Mediterranean cruise around the little Greek islands and get stuck in with all of the cuisine and culture there.
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