Best Caribbean
cruise lines

Candid Caribbean tips

 

Best Caribbean cruise line
winners - 5 categories

Do know the best Caribbean cruise lines in these four categories?

Luxury - Boutique size  $$$$

Luxury - Small size $$$$

Luxury - Mid size  $$$$

Upmarket  $$$

Mid-priced  $$

I briefly describe the winners below. Click a cruise line's blue boldface name to go directly to the line's website for booking or for prices, itineraries, and other information.


Luxury - Boutique-size-ship cruise line


SeaDream Yacht Club It has two small all-suite cruise ships that cater to sophisticated cruisers. Each has a crew of 95 and 55 cabins (accommodating just 112 passengers). The twin SeaDreams give you a yacht-cruise experience.  I chose them to illustrate my 10-page "What It's Like on a Luxury Caribbean cruise" section. Click to read it:

What it's like on a luxury Caribbean ship


Luxury - Small-size-ship cruise line

Silversea Cruises primarily appeals to an older, more affluent, and better traveled audience. Shore excursions, onboard activities, and entertainment are sophisticated. Silversea has a relatively high number of formal evenings. Its food and service are commendable. It cruise ships accommodate between 382 to 540 passengers.


Luxury - Mid-size-ship cruise line

Regent Seven Seas Cruises appeals to an audience akin to the Silversea Cruises, but the mood aboard its fleet is a bit more relaxed. The same is true on its shore excursions. Food, service, and entertainment on a Regent Seven Seas cruise are admirable. Its ships accommodate 490 to 700 passengers.


Upmarket

Celebrity Cruises is clearly superior to the mid-priced lines in many ways, including cabin space, service, entertainment, and food. And its passengers as a whole are more sophisticated.


Mid-priced


Royal Caribbean is a sound choice for most first-time cruisers. Its fleet attracts a middle-of-the-road blend of cruisers in terms of age, income, education, and cultural interests. Although food is not gourmet, it's not lackluster. Passengers party, but not excessively. There are children, but not in large numbers. Onboard activities are numerous and varied.


Other cruise lines
sailing the Caribbean


The Carnival is a reliable bet for those seeking a young-adult party scene. Carnival is also good for families with teenagers. Disney Cruise Line excels in pleasing families with young children. For my full list of Caribbean cruise lines, click:

Caribbean cruise line links


External links

OneCaribbean (Caribbean Tourism Org.)
Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association


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