The best Caribbean cruises: one for every traveller

What makes a cruise ‘the best’?

At World of Cruising, our expert team curates ‘best for…’ guides rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. We look at what cruise lines stand out for each destination we review and each type of traveller. We look for those subtle, if-you-know-you-know details so we can tailor our recommendations.

At a glance

• The Caribbean is one of the destinations with the most amount of choice for cruisers
• Sailings range from intimate voyages on small ships to entertainment-filled trips on modern mega-ships
• With many cruise lines competing for bookings, prices for Caribbean sailings tend to be very competitive compared to other long-haul cruise destinations

The Caribbean is the world’s number one cruise destination, with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) estimating that 43% of all 2024 cruise passengers sailed there.

The popularity of the Caribbean isn’t surprising when you consider the wealth of stunning islands, clustered relatively closely to one another.

And this popularity comes with a bonus for cruisers: you have a lot of choice when it comes to lines. You’ll find options going from small yachts to megaships, family-friendly to adults-only, and affordable to lavish.

Here's our guide to the top cruise lines for various preferences, including recommended itineraries and estimated costs.

Best for affordability: Marella Cruises

Marella Cruises, operated by TUI, is one of the very few cruise lines outside of the ultra-luxury sphere to offer all-inclusive as standard. Not only that, its prices are extremely competitive against other mid-market competitors. Marella positions up to three ships in the Caribbean from November to April. This does mean sailing options are more limited than other cruise lines with significantly larger fleets. But you'll still find a good range of sailings from seven to 14 nights. And the connection with TUI's airline and hotels means you get a strong range of regional departure airports in the UK and options for pre- and post-cruise stays.

While Marella's itineraries lean on the bigger islands (with sailings from Barbados and the Dominican Republic), the line's mid-size ships mean they can also call at some smaller and lesser-known islands like Guadeloupe, Bonaire and the British Virgin Islands.

Why Marella Cruises?

Value for money is where Marella truly shines with a comprehensive all-inclusive experience, covering meals, drinks, flights, transfers and tips. Marella Cruises prices are usually comparable to those of other affordable options like Carnival Cruise Line, but they include a lot more in the base fare. If you're after a Caribbean cruise that's keenly priced and where you don't have to worry about spending extra once onboard, Marella is very much the best out there.

What should I expect to pay?

Prices for Marella's all-inclusive Caribbean cruises start from around £1,150 per person. This includes flights, transfers, meals, drinks and tips.

View offers: Marella Cruises

Best for luxury: Seabourn

There are many excellent ultra-luxury options to cruise the Caribbean, including Silversea, Regent Seven Seas and Explora Journeys. In many ways, these lines' small and intimate ships are what sailing in the Caribbean is all about, giving you a chance to call at smaller ports and islands so you can adventure beyond the well-trodden paths. But after much deliberation, we settled on Seabourn as our 'best for luxury' pick. In addition to offering what most of the other lines do (small ships, all-inclusive experience, top-notch service and gourmet dining), Seabourn tends to offer a deeper connection to the Caribbean through its excursions. These can include visits to local producers and growers, classes with artists and musicians or tours with historians and experts.

Why Seabourn?

There's probably little need to talk about Seabourn's credentials; it is, after all, one of the biggest names in ultra-luxury cruising. But what we should talk about is Seabourn's Caviar in the Surf, which is - alongside its range of excursions - one key reason to opt for Seabourn to cruise the Caribbean. "Caviar in the Surf" is a signature beach barbecue where uniformed staff serve champagne and caviar from the surf at the line's private beach in Carambola, St Kitts.

What should I expect to pay?

Fares start from approximately £2,500 per person, including all meals, drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities, but excluding flights.

View offers: Seabourn

Best for repositioning: P&O Cruises

Many cruise lines will reposition some of their fleet from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean before the winter season (and move those same ships in the opposite direction in the spring). These sailings are called repositioning, and they combine a short Caribbean leg with a transatlantic cruise. And while these sailings can be an afterthought for some cruise lines (after all, you're just moving a ship from A to B), P&O Cruises has managed to create appealing voyages that are often competitively priced.

P&O Cruises usually repositions two ships from Europe to the Caribbean every year (this year, it's Britannia and Arvia) - these sailings tend to be 14 or 15 nights, and are a good mix of port stops and days at sea.

Why P&O Cruises?

First, because of the itineraries. While days at sea are a necessary evil on repositioning cruises (although many cruisers love them), P&O's itineraries are well thought through. Going east, you'll sail from Southampton and head south for one stop in the Canary Islands (usually Tenerife). You'll then cross the Atlantic before reaching the Caribbean, where you're likely to call at three or four Caribbean islands (usually Barbados, St Lucia, St Kitts and Antigua). Other cruise lines have much fewer Caribbean stops on their repositioning voyages.

Price is another factor. Repositioning cruises are always great value. Because they involve more days at sea, they are more competitively priced than regular sailings. But even compared to other repositioning cruises, P&O's tend to stand out, often dipping below the £1k-per-person mark.

What should I expect to pay?

Fares for repositioning cruises with P&O generally start from around £1,200 per person, which includes the one-way flight from Barbados to London (or the other way). But as mentioned above, it’s not uncommon to get even better deals.

View offers: P&O Cruises

Best for variety of itineraries: Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises might not have the biggest amount of Caribbean sailings on offer (that title belongs to Royal Caribbean), but it's not far behind, and shines on the variety of its itineraries. While its ships are certainly not the intimate yacht-like vessels of a Seabourn, they are, on average, more reasonably sized than other big-ship lines, giving them more options in terms of visits to smaller islands.

In total, 13 Princess ships will be in the Caribbean at some point in the next 12 months (although some for only a handful of sailings), giving you a massive variety of options. In fact, the luxury line has one of the most diverse selections of Caribbean itineraries on the market, with routes that span the region from the Bahamas to the far reaches of the Southern Caribbean. Whether you want a quick five-night escape or a three-week island-hopping voyage, Princess has something to suit.

Why Princess Cruises?

As mentioned, what sets Princess apart is the range and depth of its itineraries. You’ll find sailings that stick to the well-trodden Eastern and Western Caribbean routes, but also more exploratory journeys heading south to islands like Dominica, Grenada and Martinique. These cruises are for travellers who want to see more than the standard beach-bar-and-snorkel circuit.

Another strength of Princess is the variety of departure points for their cruises. While many of its ships sail from Fort Lauderdale or Port Canaveral, the line also offers some Caribbean sailings out of San Juan, New York and even Los Angeles, giving UK travellers who want a twin-centre holiday extra options.

What should I expect to pay?

You can find fly-cruise packages from around £1,300 per person. That gets you an inside cabin on a mid-size ship with all meals and entertainment included. Princess often runs offers that add onboard credit or upgrades, so it’s worth booking early or watching for deals.

View offers: Princess Cruises

Best for private destinations: Royal Caribbean

Pioneered by Norwegian Cruise Line in the late 1970s, private islands and destinations have become big selling points for the major cruise lines. And while Royal Caribbean International has long been a key player in that field, with two private destinations, it's about to take the lead with three more set to open in the next two years.

Currently, Royal Caribbean operates Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and Labadee on Haiti’s northern coast. And Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau (late 2025), Royal Beach Club Cozumel (2026) and Perfect Day Mexico (2027) are soon to join the lineup. That'll take Royal Caribbean's tally up to five private destinations by 2027. The most any other cruise line has is three, including operating and upcoming destinations.

Why Royal Caribbean?

If the concept of private destinations floats your boat, Royal Caribbean is the obvious choice. The line is already one of the leaders in Caribbean cruising, offering the largest number of sailings of any cruise line, and it already operates two private destinations. And with three more of these private havens in the pipeline, there will be even more choice on offer.

What should I expect to pay?

A fly-cruise package from Florida, including flights and a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, starts from around £1,400 per person. The fares include full board and most onboard activities.

View offers: Royal Caribbean

Best for families: Disney Cruise Line

The Disney Cruise Line fleet might not be the largest (six ships) compared to some of its competitors, but the Caribbean is one of its key destinations, so you won't struggle to find a sailing that fits your needs.

The appeal of Disney Cruise Line for families is obvious. The line has carved out a distinct niche, combining traditional cruising with its theme park heritage. Its Caribbean sailings come packed with character meet-and-greets, themed dining and immersive shows. Each ship has kids’ clubs, splash zones and tween hangouts, while still offering adult-only areas like lounges, spas and pools.

Disney’s real strength lies in the fact that it knows families will be its main audience, so things are designed with this in mind. Activities are coordinated with age-specific appeal, meaning toddlers and teens aren’t shoehorned into the same experience. The rotational dining system allows guests to try different themed restaurants with the same wait staff following them each night, maintaining familiarity for younger kids and convenience for families.

Why Disney Cruise Line?

Beyond the obvious, Disney is a great option for families wanting to combine a Caribbean cruise with another kids' favourite: Orlando and its theme parks. Many of the line's Caribbean voyages sail from Port Canaveral in Florida, less than an hour's drive from Orlando.

Families will also love Disney's private destination, Lookout Cay. While Disney Cruise Line is in no way the biggest player in the private destinations game, the fact that it does operate one is a clear plus for families, as these provide a safe and self-contained environment, perfect for kids.

What should I expect to pay?

You can often find packages combining a Disney Caribbean cruise with flights and a stay in Orlando – the dream family holiday. But as with anything coming out of the House of Mouse, these trips don’t come cheap, with prices from around £2,100 per person.

Visit site: Disney Cruise Line

Best for solo travellers: Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line has done more than most to make solo travel at sea both accessible and appealing. While many cruise lines still charge a hefty single supplement, Norwegian offers purpose-built studio cabins priced for one, available on several of its newer ships. These compact, modern rooms are cleverly designed to maximise space and comfort, and they come with access to an exclusive Studio Lounge where solo travellers can meet, socialise and join hosted activities.

Why Norwegian Cruise Line?

For single travellers on the lookout for a Caribbean cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line combines both a huge variety of sailings and the top-of-the-range solo offering described above - this makes it a winning combo.

Many of the NCL ships sailing the Caribbean, including Epic, Prima and Aqua, have a solid supply of solo cabins. So as long as you're a little flexible on the dates, you shouldn't have any problem finding suitable accommodation, which is not something that can be said about all other cruise lines.

What should I expect to pay?

Studio cabins typically start from around £700 per person for a seven-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary departing from Miami. Flights aren’t included, and prices can rise quickly during peak seasons or on newer ships with more demand for solo cabins.

View offers: Norwegian Cruise Line