Best/Worst Caribbean Ports of Call

[FallingSilver02]

Just to start off with a few props to Carnival: I just returned from an amazing 8 days on the Miracle where we stopped in San Juan, St. Thomas and Tortola with a fabulous group of CC'ers. I had such a great time that I am looking into booking another cruise next year... but I need help deciding!!

 

My question to all you CC'ers is: What were your favorite/least favorite Caribbean ports of call? Are there any that are a little more "unsafe" than others that should be avoided? I'd like to have a few places in mind when I start searching through the ports of call boards.

 

Thank you!!:D

[KAWS]

Many moons ago we took a Panama cruise and my fav that time was Costa Rico (went ziplining on a canopy tour).

 

This last cruise my fav was Costa Maya, Mexico. We had a fabulous day at Cat's Meow lounging around and those beach massages were to die for!

 

One day I'll get back to both of those places!

[Lv2Camp&Cruise]

We love Cozumel!! Also, Grand Turk has great snorkeling and Half Moon Cay was a great beach day!

[CruisingAgain]

St. Thomas is my favorite - by far. Beautiful beaches, fun shopping, great views. But .. I can't do it every cruise (WHY NOT she screams) so it is the western caribbean this year.

 

My least favorite are St. Barts (1 time) and Martinique (2 times). The people were not friendly at all.

 

Other than that ... love them all!!!

[njs]

Absolutely loved St Martin/St Maarten - great beaches and the best shopping

Not too crazy about St Thomas because of the US customs fiasco there (the ship's port shopper listed it as the best for shopping, but we found better bargains in St Martin and Cozumel)

[bakechef]

If I ever go on a cruise that stops in jamaica, I will stay onboard ship. I have been to both montego bay and ocho rios. In montego bay we took a cab into town, as we were exiting the cab we were offered drugs, and about every 5 mins after that, we couldn't get back to the ship quick enough.

 

In ocho rios we were able to walk into town, it seemed ok at first, but then started to be followed by someone trying to sell us drugs, we couldn't shake him, so we high tailed it back to the ship. It is not like we looked like stoners or anything, I myself have never even tried pot!

 

MAC

[SandyW]

The only ports we try to avoid aren't in the Caribbean but rather the Bahama's. (more my husband's choice than mine)

 

Some of the ports are a bit more undeveloped than others, but there is still plenty to see and do. To me...all ports are interesting - at least once! ;)

 

Every now and then you hear a report about something happening in Ocho Rios....but not to anyone in a large group or with a cruise excursion.

[Molly BPOE]

Absolutely loved St Martin/St Maarten - great beaches and the best shopping

Not too crazy about St Thomas because of the US customs fiasco there (the ship's port shopper listed it as the best for shopping, but we found better bargains in St Martin and Cozumel)

I have to agree with this post as far as shopping goes. St Maarten by far has the best deals, but loved the snorkeling in St. Thomas. I would go back to either in a heartbeat, in fact I am going back to St. Tom next July:D

[flitter306]

I love love love Roatan. It's so beautiful there!

[hstrybuf]

Favorites: Costa Maya and Cozumel

Least Favorite: Martinique. It's the only one I've never wanted to return to on a future cruise.

[firefly333]

I loved Roatan, so maybe that was why I was dissapointed in Belize which we hit the next day. Or maybe just didnt like the lady who took us on the tour. Dont go to see the city of Belize, poor and not worth seeing.

 

so best roatan and st thomas I guess.

 

worst belize, but I heard if you went cave tubing it was a great port.

[Eqty]

Favorites: St Maartin & Virgin Gorda (Tortola)

 

Least Favorites: Freeport & Nassau

[jdjaguar]

I loved Roatan, so maybe that was why I was dissapointed in Belize which we hit the next day. Or maybe just didnt like the lady who took us on the tour. Dont go to see the city of Belize, poor and not worth seeing.

 

so best roatan and st thomas I guess.

 

worst belize, but I heard if you went cave tubing it was a great port.

 

 

I liked Belize. We booked a back-country fishing trip that was very cool. I am talking real back-country..no houses..no cell towers...no airplanes flying overhead...and no other boats...exactly what I was looking for.

 

As far as downtown..the cab we hailed to take us to the boat charter did take us on Mr toads wild ride and I do believe we clipped a few bikers on the thigh as we roared through the streets.

 

But seeing a different culture even w/ the concurrent poverty is of interest to me...and I will return.

[GinaJ]

I agree with the not liking Jamaica. The second time we went there we knew what to expect. We used this port as our day at the beach day. We booked the beach only excursion through Carnival. They took us by bus to a beautiful beach that has a small restaurant and bar (we all ate there and it was fine) and then there were also clean bathrooms.

 

We had a wonderful time. So I would recommend Jamaica be everyone's "beach day".

 

I loved Aruba. We actually rented a car here and drove all around the Island. It was beautiful and clean.

 

Happy Sailing, Gina

[jessemon]

There are many ports I like....so it hard to pick a favorite.......

 

Hate Jamaica....it's too bad too...it is such a pretty island....Wouldn't even get off the ship again there.

[starketcher]

I liked Belize, but if you like Diamonds International etal, that port is not for you. I pretty much like most ports...Coz, Playa, St Thomas, St Martin...hard to pick just one.

 

Least faves are Jamaica (beautiful country, btu do not like hte atmosphere). Probably, the worst port was Freeport, Bahamas.

[cruiselubbers]

Loved the stingrays at Grand Cayman & definitly want to go back there to see more of the island & the rays too! I don't think the water colors that are there will ever leave my mind! Beautiful.

 

Shopping was good in Playa Del Carmen, but would definitly like to go to Xel-Ha or Xcaret next time back. I also wouldn't mind checking out Tulum.

 

Nassau is great for visiting the Atlantis Casino for the Aquarium, the beach there is nice & the water clear, but other then that stay out of the Bahamas!! Nasty places to many to talk about are to be found whenever you accidently get taken the short cuts that are only a few blocks off the main area. Have to go back there to take the kids to Atlantis, but other then that....no thanks. Since there seems to be alot of time in port however, I want to try going to an all inclusive resort for the day I've read somewhere on here that there are great day rates....and

see about their stingray or dolphin encounters. Though I don't believe there has to be anywhere more beautiful in the world or a better group of rays to play with then in Cayman.

 

Despite hearing almost everyone saying how bad Ochos Rios is, I still want to climb the falls.

 

I'd love to also cruise thru the Panama Canal. I think a island hopping tour of Hawaii would be cool too!

 

I've always heard St. Thomas was a great place to shop.

 

I've always wondered if Bermuda was a place worth going to.

 

But I guess I'd go anywhere a ship will take me! :D

[TennisLover]

I loved Roatan, Belize and Grand Cayman (3x)! We didn't go cave tubing in Belize -- we got a catamaran tour, booked when we got to the port, that took us to a private island. It was beautiful with a protected beach (great for the kids). We hit all three of these, plus Cozumel, on our Valor cruise in 2005.

 

I didn't like Costa Maya -- but I have to admit that that was before I found Cruise Critic, so I didn't do any research ahead of time.

[bakechef]

I agree with the not liking Jamaica. The second time we went there we knew what to expect. We used this port as our day at the beach day. We booked the beach only excursion through Carnival. They took us by bus to a beautiful beach that has a small restaurant and bar (we all ate there and it was fine) and then there were also clean bathrooms.

 

We had a wonderful time. So I would recommend Jamaica be everyone's "beach day".

 

I loved Aruba. We actually rented a car here and drove all around the Island. It was beautiful and clean.

 

Happy Sailing, Gina

 

Good idea, the next time I'm on a ship that stops there I will take a ship excursion to a beach.

 

Just not a safe feeling going on your own there, but such a beautiful island. Montego Bay made me think of what Beirut must look like.:D

 

MAC

[cardinalfan]

I have been to Jamaica twice and don't plan to go again. There is an air of danger there. We were not off the boat ten minutes and someone was offering us drugs. It is no place to be alone and if I am ever on a cruise that goes there again, I will stay onboard.

 

I loved every other place I have been. No complaints at all.

[Cruise Cat]

Favorite: Key West, Cozumel

Hate: Regresso, Jamaicia

[JerseyHorseLover]

Favorite: St Maarten, and St. Thomas. Cozumel is cool also

 

Least: Nassau (boring), and Jamaica

[mapsmith]

I have to be a contrarian. We loved Martinique. Once you get away from the main waterfront and get into the parts of town where the people actually shop it is really nice. You have to remember that often, since it is a French Island, that the people there prefer French and may not understand English as well as one would like.

The Library (Schoelker or something like that) is amazing. It actually looks like a giant Chinese pagoda. Unfortunately, they do not have many books, so donate a few bucks.

 

Also got my favorite T-Shirt there. From the Museum (Unfortunately the museum itself was closed but the gift shop was. T-Shirt promoted an exhibit.

"Voyeax de Pays du Chocolat" (Voyages in the Chocolate Lands)

 

Hated Jamaica with drug offers every five minutes although the flea Market in Ochos Rios was interesting.

[neatokimmo]

My favorites are Cozumel and Costa Maya. Like a lot of you, not a fan of Jamaica.

[TNtraveler]

The only interesting thing I've found in Nassau is the local food at Fish Fry (Arawak Cay), if you happen to be in port during lunch.

Key West might as well be Gatlinburg, or Myrtle Beach, or Branson, or any other U.S. tourist 'mecca'.

On the other hand, I'll suffer through either of those if the itinerary also takes me to Playa del Carmen/Calica and/or Cozumel.