Western Caribbean Gems…Islands of Fun.

So, you’ve cruised the Eastern Caribbean, out of Miami, San Juan or Barbados, but you’re wondering what you’ve missed over the western side, and whether it’s worth a trip?  The answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’….

I’ve recently talked about Cozumel in my blog, so I won’t go on about that island again, suffice to say it’s a cruising favourite, not to be missed.  Relative newcomers such as Roatan and the Belize Cays offer that exotic feeling of adventure that a number of Caribbean islands may now fail to deliver.

Jamaica is always a winner, with that popular mix of rum and reggae, and up to 3 ports of call (you’ll only probably do one of these in a single cruise).  Montego Bay has the best beaches, whilst Falmouth has the Martha Brae river rafting, and Ocho Rios has Dunn’s River Falls and accessibility to the Blue Mountains.  Saying that, most parts of the island are accessible from any of these ports during a full day tour.

Grand Cayman is the glamour destination on any western Caribbean itinerary, with its’ reputation as an offshore banking haven still preserved; not that it has any relevance to your day there, with glorious 7-mile beach (not actually 7 miles in length) and stingray city in close proximity.

If you cruise with Royal Caribbean or Celebrity, you may also have the opportunity to visit their’ own private domain of Labadee, a geographical part of Haiti, on the huge island of Hispaniola, with its beaches and watersports galore, plus local merchandise for sale.

The contrasts of the western Caribbean are plain to see, from the flat landscapes of Mexico, Belize and the Cayman Islands, to the rugged mountains of Jamaica and Haiti, from the ancient Mayan civilisations to modern Rastafarian culture, from British colonialism to Spanish colonialism; soak it up and enjoy!