In this post, I’ll be sharing my picks for the 7 most beautiful Caribbean islands worth visiting on a cruise, including both the eastern and western islands of the Caribbean.
From the great entertainment to the amazing food and drinks, these cruises make for memorable Caribbean vacations!
Going on a cruise is definitely quite the experience. To start, I’ve always traveled on Royal Caribbean and love their deals.
Not to mention, they have great itineraries along with all the best islands.
For those travelers who get restless from being in one area for too long, or for those who just want to soak up some sun and relax, cruises are a perfect Caribbean vacation or a romantic getaway.
It’s nice that cruises are beginning to get back up and running again, and people are booking trips!
They are great for people of all ages and there is so much to see and do on these vacations.
Additionally, one of my favorite parts of a cruise is checking out the most beautiful beaches along the way.
Here are my picks for the 7 Most Beautiful Caribbean Islands To Visit On A Cruise!
7 Of The Most Beautiful Caribbean Islands To Visit On A Cruise!
1. St Thomas
Beautiful beaches, spectacular hillsides, and views make this my number-one pick.
My friends and I spent our time in St. Thomas at Magens Bay which is on the Atlantic side of the island.
This beach has a restaurant and bar, showers, bathrooms, and a gift shop.
You can rent beach chairs and equipment for water sports and activities here, including snorkeling, kayaks, and paddleboards.
St. Thomas is a part of the U.S. Virgin Islands and is one of the eastern Caribbean islands.
This place has a really nice vibe and great views all around it!
Other popular things to do in St. Thomas are golfing, hiking the trails on the nature reserves, and going to the museums.
There’s also Coral World Ocean Park, an aquarium known for its underwater observatory tower.
Animals here include sea turtles, sea lions, fish, sharks, stingrays, and other sea life.
Another well-known attraction on this small island is the St. Thomas Skyride.
They have trams that take you 700 feet above Charlotte Amalie where you get to see the Caribbean sea from a birds-eye view.
Be sure to keep up to date with the hours online.
If you’re ever in St. Thomas, be sure to explore the paradise island’s hillsides.
There are scenic overlooks where you can get out of the car and take pictures.
The scenery here is incredible. Definitely one of the most beautiful Caribbean islands to visit!
Notable Beaches In St Thomas
√ Magen’s Bay
√ Coki Point Beach
√ Lindbergh Bay Beach
2. Roatan, Honduras
Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras and one of the best destinations to travel to in the western Caribbean.
Some of the best things to do and the best ways to explore the island are snorkeling, kayaking, and fishing.
Scuba diving is extremely popular in Roatan since the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is here, which is the second-largest reef system in the world.
You can also take one of the island tours here, either by boat or by land.
The tour guide will take you around the island and bring you to any of the local attractions that you want to see and do.
Roatan sits about 40 miles from the northern part of Honduras and is roughly 200 square miles (40 miles long and 5 miles wide).
While here, we had the best time at the Henry Morgan Beach Resort, which is on the West Coast Bay.
This resort has an amazing pool and it’s just steps away from the white, sandy beach.
Even though it was a little bit of a drive to the resort from the port, there’s a lot of scenery to enjoy with iconic views.
Notable Beaches In Roatan
√ West Bay Beach
√ Mahogany Beach
√ Camp Bay Beach
3. St. Maarten /St. Martin
I was a little taken aback when I went here because I didn’t realize that this tropical island is divided by the Dutch and French.
40 percent belongs to the Dutch and 60 percent to the French.
Also, this place is spelled two different ways. Either way, this ideal spot is one of the nicest eastern Caribbean islands, with its great white sandy beaches and turquoise-blue waters.
This island is known for its bustling nightlife, shopping, and casinos. There are even nude beaches on the French side of the island.
While here, we hung out at Simpson Bay-Pelican Key on the Dutch, Sint Maarten side.
Also, just a few minutes from this beach is Majo Beach where you may get to see planes fly right over the beach!
4. The Bahamas
One of the western Caribbean islands, the Bahamas is one of the most beautiful to visit!
As you can see on the map, the Bahamas is a chain of main islands in the Atlantic Ocean, north of Cuba.
It’s worth noting, that there are actually more than 700 of these islands in the Bahamas!
We spent our time in the Bahamas in Nassau.
First, we took a short boat ride from the cruise ship port to Atlantis. After that, we spent some time at nearby Cabbage Beach.
Atlantis is a beautiful private island resort with its own pools, beaches, casino, golf courses, and restaurants. I would definitely love to go back to stay in the Bahamas!
Cozumel is one of the most beautiful islands to visit while on a cruise and is considered to be in the western Caribbean.
At 34 miles long and over 10 miles wide, it’s the third-largest island in Mexico and is well known for its white-sand beaches and scuba diving.
I’ve been to the island twice. First, when I came here in 2013, we spent our time hanging out at Cozumel’s beautiful beaches.
When we came back in 2020, we spent our time exploring the city.
The downtown is interesting and there is a mix of Mayan, Mexican, and Caribbean cultures here, especially during the summer months.
There are a number of street vendors selling woven crafts, clothes, hats, and more.
The town has a lot of options for shopping and plenty of nice fine dining and restaurants.
Places like Margaritaville and Bubba Gump Shrimp are right by the port, while more popular local spots like Woody’s are closer to the city center.
There are lots of things to do in Cozumel for fun. It’s a perfect place for scuba divers and snorkeling, as the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is just off Cozumel’s southern coast.
Jeep tours are also a big thing here, where you can drive to the beaches and archaeological and world heritage sites or even explore the wildlife in the Mayan jungle national parks.
Notable Beaches In Cozumel
√ Playa Palancar
√ Playa “El Cielo”
√ Ixpalbarco Beach
6. Costa Maya, Mexico
Heading south from Cozumel and a little way north of Belize in the state of Quintana Roo is the Mexican city of Costa Maya.
Ok, so Costa Maya is on a peninsula and not an island, but I still wanted to include it on these Caribbean destinations lists!
This old fishing village has been gaining in popularity since cruise ships started coming here.
Costa Maya is known for its jungles and Mayan ruins.
The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is part of this area, as well, and Costa Maya of the best places for snorkeling and diving expeditions in Mexico.
We grabbed some drinks at Nohoch Kay Restaurant Bar Beach Club in neighboring Mahahual, which is about a 10-15 minute drive from the port.
There are lots of little stores, shops, and restaurants lined up along the beach area.
Of course, this area is also well-regarded for its pristine aqua-green beaches!
Notable Beaches Near Costa Maya
√ Mahahual Beach
√ Maya Chan Beach
7. Montego Bay, Jamaica
Last but not least, Jamaica is known for its rich culture, reggae music, blue and clear waters, and incredible beaches! It’s also a great place for snorkeling and diving.
We stopped in Montego Bay, Jamaica, which is on the northern end of the island and one of the largest cities.
The city has beautiful beaches with scenic landscapes and hillside views.
Montego Bay is one of the great islands and the best tourist spots in the world and it’s a very popular destination for vacation!
The city is home to many tourist attractions, including Doctor’s Cave Beach, Rose Hall Great House, and Montego Bay Marine Park.
The Montego Bay Marine Park is a protected area that includes coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds.
The park is home to a variety of marine life, including dolphins, manatees, and sea turtles.
There’s also duty-free shopping, and inclusive resorts in Montego Bay that will make you feel like royalty.
Notable Beaches Near Montego Bay, Jamaica
√ Negril Seven Mile Beach
√ Doctor’s Cave Beach
√ Silver Sands Public Beach
Final Thoughts: 7 Most Beautiful Caribbean Islands To Visit On A Cruise!
After taking all of the above into consideration, I believe that the best Caribbean Islands to visit on a cruise are those that offer a mix of activities, relaxation, and natural beauty.
In particular, I recommend St. Thomas, The Bahamas, and Jamaica.
Each of these destinations has something unique to offer cruisers, and they are sure to create lasting memories.
Looking for an all-inclusive vacation in the Caribbean?
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