Caribbean Cruising Post 2017 Hurricane Season

Last year was a challenging year for the Caribbean, as Category 5 Hurricanes Irma and Maria pummeled many of the primarily eastern islands in one month, causing extensive damage and devastating loss of life and property.

Tourism is the life-blood of the Caribbean islands, with revenue generated from cruise ship passengers playing a significant role in supporting their economies. With the peak of cruise season right upon us, travelers should know which islands are really ready for business.

The good news is that despite the widespread devastation, many were able to reopen and greet visitors in only a few months’ time. On the flip side, where there are ports of call still undergoing rebuilding efforts, some lines have re-routed their itineraries to other spectacular islands.

Together, this leaves the waters wide open to a variety of viable and wonderful cruise options—with more to be added—throughout the year. 

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Although much of the island is still without electricity and undergoing major rebuilding efforts, San Juan continues to serve as the economic center, channeling the influx of tourism resources to help its people. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Holland America are among the many lines still including San Juan in their itineraries.

While here, to get the real flavor of the island, embark upon an Old San Juan Food Tasting and Walking Tour. Options include an authentic Puerto Rican meal sampling, learning how to make the traditional dish called Mofongo, made with fried plantains, and a paella and sangria feasting experience.

Nassau, The Bahamas

Although there was considerable damage to many of the islands in the Bahamas, Nassau—a huge draw for many travelers—was spared the brunt of it. Those desiring to spend time here will find a wide array of 2,3 and 7-day itineraries on Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Celebrity and other lines.

One of the most popular excursions here is to the Marley Resort and Spa, the former vacation home of Bob and Rita Marley. Tour the lavish gardens and beautiful home, see historic Marley memorabilia, lounge by the pool, lay on the beach, and of course, listen to the best live Reggae music.

St. Kitts

Although Basseterre, the capital, sustained damage, the port has long since reopened, welcoming passengers on lines like Celebrity, which has 7-night itineraries from Miami and including San Juan and St. Maarten, as well as Royal Caribbean, departing from Fort Lauderdale on 10-night cruises and also stopping in St. Thomas, St. Croix, Martinique, and St. Maarten.

While in port, visitors can experience the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, built in the early 1900s to service the sugar cane plantations. The 30-mile scenic tour across tall steel bridges and encircling the island offers spectacular vistas of the sugar cane fields, deep canyons, dramatic cliffsides, Mt. Liamuiga and the ocean.

St. Thomas

Perhaps one of the most popular ports of call for cruisers, St. Thomas was significantly affected by the storms (St. John was deeply affected as well, but St. Croix was spared). And although the St. John port has not yet reopened (as of this article), the ports of the other two are operational. Celebrity is cruising here on a 7-night itinerary from Fort Lauderdale, which is including San Juan and St. Maarten, while Royal Caribbean, also departing from Fort Lauderdale on a 6-night voyage, will stop here enroute to Nassau, St. Maarten and San Juan.

While here, cruise passengers can experience the history and culture of the island through Great Exploration Tours. The company operates full day tours with stops at Skyline Drive, Sr. Francis Drake’s Seat and Magens Bay Beach, among other diversions, as well as tours around St. John.

 

Tips for Cruising Right Now

1. March falls into a cruise line promotional period called, “Wave Season”, where they offer free cabin upgrades, price reductions on fares, onboard spending money and other perks.
2. The following islands are open for business also, with numerous cruise lines still including them in their itineraries: Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Cuba (all ports), Grand Cayman, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Labadee (Haiti), Punta Cana and St. Lucia.
3. Princess, Holland America, Carnival, and MSC Cruises are the lines still operating to most of the eastern port destinations.
4. For those lines who have opted to modify their eastern itineraries, alternative ports include three in Jamaica (Ocho Rios, Falmouth and Montego Bay), Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan, Mexico’s Cozumel and Costa Maya, and the islands of the Southern Caribbean: Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire.
5. A great resource for weekly cruise updates is CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), cruising.org.
6. Consider leaving from NY/NJ instead of Florida. Royal Caribbean has a 9-night cruise from Bayonne/Cape Liberty, New Jersey to King’s Wharf (Bermuda), St. Maarten, San Juan, and Labadee (Haiti).