The Caribbean Sea is the world’s fifth largest body of water and is home to more than 7,000 islands. With its all year round fabulous climate and exotic locations, the Caribbean has become the ultimate islands’ holiday destination in the world. There is an absolute abundance of choice when it comes to choosing your Caribbean holiday destination. Whether you are looking to embark upon a luxury Caribbean cruise with one of the world’s major cruise lines, or perhaps with a smaller cruise line to some of the many wonderful and more remote islands, planning some island hopping, or simply looking for your one dream holiday location to relax, we have detailed the top 3 and listed the top 10 Caribbean cruise destination points for 2011.**
- Bahamas (4.1 million visitors)
It is hardly surprising that the Bahamas is top of this list, given its close proximity to the US Florida. The capital Nassau is just 180 miles south east from Miami – with frequent cruises from the US. Comprised of over 3000 islands, the most popular Bahamas destinations are the cities Nassau and Freeport – further north on Grand Bahama.
The Bahamas is affluent, as such it is popular for luxury hotels, but also boasts over 2000 miles of stunning coastline with beautiful beaches and water sports. Head to the outer laying more remote islands for a more traditional experience; with English speaking colonial heritage.
- US Virgin Islands (2 million visitors)
Popular due to its American links and located centrally on popular Caribbean cruise routes, the US Virgin Islands is an archipelago situated in the mid Caribbean, just east of Puerto Rico, there are 3 main destination islands offering mid to top end tourism.
St Thomas is the most developed with many cruise ships docking at its capital Charlotte Amalie. The island of St Croix is less built up with older towns and plantations, great for beautiful colonial architecture and history. The island of St John is far quieter and less developed; much of the island is national park and completely untouched. It is English speaking with mixed European colonial heritage.
- St Maarten (1.6 million visitors)
You get the best of two countries when you travel to St Maarten / St Martin. The northern side of this island St Martin is French and the southern half St Maarten is Dutch. Although there is no border, you can feel a distinction in cultures between the two sides. A small island on the north eastern Caribbean – popular with cruise ships, most dock at the southern capital Phillipsburg.
The south is famed for nightlife, beaches and tax free shopping. The north is for beaches – including nudist, water sports and a slightly quieter life, its main port Marigot is only able to accommodate medium size cruise ships. There is no border between the two island sides, so you can wander and savour the differing cultures as you wish. The island is English speaking, also French / Dutch.
Remaining top 10 Caribbean cruise destinations:
- Jamaica (1.1 million visitors)
- Puerto Rico (0.97 million visitors)
- Barbados (0.62 million visitors)
- Antigua & Barbuda (0.61 million visitors)
- Aruba (0.6 million visitors)
- Bermuda (0.41 million visitors)
- Saint Lucia (0.41 million visitors)
To read more about Caribbean Island destinations and plan your exciting trip – visit the interactive map of Caribbean , an impartial Caribbean travel guide with in-depth reviews showing you the way to the best about the Caribbean with culture, cuisine, accommodation, deals, transport and much more…
**This article includes only visitors arriving at these Caribbean locations as part of a cruise holiday destination for 2011 and offers an indicator as to the popularity of various locations. This article does not take into consideration mainland Latin America destinations. With thanks to onecaribbean.org for collating the statistics.
Photo 1:jaloisiosoares, Photo 2: Yirong & Rui, Photo 3: n.blackhall
