Cruising the Caribbean

The Caribbean is the most-sailed cruise region in the world for good reason: warm water year-round, short flights from most of the US, and an itinerary for every taste. It's the easiest place to take a first cruise, and it leaves from more US ports than anywhere else.

The three routes

• Eastern Caribbean — the classic beach run: stops like St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and the lines' private islands. Reliable sun, calm seas, and the gentlest introduction.
• Western Caribbean — more variety ashore: Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico, Grand Cayman, Roatán, and often a Maya ruin or a cave or a reef. A good fit if you want more to do than lie on a beach.
• Southern Caribbean — farther-flung islands like Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, usually on longer sailings from San Juan. Fewer crowds, more distinct cultures, and the driest weather.

When to sail

The Caribbean cruises year-round, and the water's warm whenever you go. The sweet spot is December through April — dry, sunny, and comfortable, which is also why it's the busiest and priciest stretch. Hurricane season runs June through November; sailings continue throughout, fares are lower, and ships route around weather, but if you sail in those months it's worth understanding that itineraries can change. We'll flag that when it applies.

Where it leaves from

This is the Caribbean's quiet advantage: you can often sail without a flight. Ships leave from Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, Tampa), plus Galveston, New Orleans, and others along the Gulf and East Coast. Starting from a port you can drive to takes the biggest variable — airfare and flight delays — out of the trip.

Who it suits

Just about everyone, which is the point. First-timers get calm seas and easy ports; families get the big ships with the most aboard; couples get the private-island beach days. If you're nervous about motion, the Caribbean's sheltered, warm waters are among the calmest you'll cruise.

A note from the desk

"The Caribbean" is really a dozen different trips depending on the route, the port you leave from, and the ship. Tell us where you'd fly from (or drive to) and what you want out of the week, and we'll match you to the right one — including which sailings avoid a flight entirely.