Caribbean cruises, dropped anchor

We may be in the middle of summer but before we know it we’ll be facing colder climes and shorter days. Spending winter in the UK can be a dreary affair, but it doesn’t have to be this way…

Swap chilly Britain for the sunny Caribbean where the temperatures are in the high 20s and swaying palms, icing-sugar sand, and azure waters come as standard.

Sound good? Well, it’s about to sound even better thanks to our friends at Marella Cruises who are offering discounts of up to £250 per person on selected Caribbean cruises departing from December 12, 2023, to March 5, 2024.

Read on to uncover five (hot, hot, hot) Caribbean cruises to top up on that all-important vitamin D...

A Taste of the Tropics
As the name suggests, this itinerary gives you a true taste of the tropics. Your first port of call onboard Marella Voyager will be lush and laid-back Tobago – a Caribbean island that is relatively untouched by tourism. Next up, is Grenada which isn’t nicknamed the Spice Island for nothing: the country is known and loved for its incredible variety of spices such as nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, ginger and more. Then there’s St Lucia, with its white and black sand beaches and beautiful mountain scenery, followed by St Vincent and the Grenadines – famed for its 4,000ft volcano La Soufrière. Last but not least, there’s butterfly-shaped Guadeloupe – a French overseas territory in the Caribbean’s Leeward Islands.
Departs December 3, 2023. From £1,430* per person.

Tropical Shores
Marella’s 'Tropical Shores’ itinerary includes stops at all the big hitters: take a bow Bridgetown, this cruise’s homeport and a UNESCO World Heritage site worth visiting if you’re considering a Cruise & Stay package; San Juan in Puerto Rico with its winning combination of soft, sandy beaches and island charm; the postcard-perfect bay of Charlotte Amalie and the sleepy little town of Frederiksted in the US Virgin Islands; and Roseau in Dominica, a frequently overlooked island that's celebrated for its volcanos and waterfalls. What’s more, days on the beach are much more affordable than you’d think with fares for this seven-night all-inclusive cruise onboard Marella Discovery starting from £1,407.68* per person.
Departs January 25, 2024. From £1,407.68* per person.

Exotic Explorer
Departing Montego Bay, Jamaica’s lively second city, on February 13, 2024, this adults-only cruise onboard Marella Explorer 2, calls at Roatan in Honduras, where you can get to know the island’s native butterfly population at the Roatan Butterfly Farm; Belize City, the hop-off point for laidback cayes or trips to the Altun Ha Mayan ruins; and Costa Maya and Cozumel (famous for their luminous lagoons) in Mexico before returning to Jamaica, the home of reggae and rum. Truth be told, we think this Marella cruise packs a (rum) punch that’s hard to resist.
Departs February 13, 2024. From £1393.88* per person.

Cocktails and Coconuts
After the ultimate Caribbean getaway? Then Marella’s all-inclusive 'Cocktails and Coconuts' cruise onboard Marella Discovery could be the one for you. White sand beaches and turquoise waters abound, but this ​​tropical itinerary also has something for every type of traveller. Case in point? In Antigua, the first of six exciting ports of call, you can explore the country’s fascinating history at Nelson’s Dockyard – the world’s last working Georgian Dockyard that was once home to Admiral Horatio Nelson – before marvelling at magnificent frigate birds in Codrington Lagoon. Other undeniable highlights include Road Town in the British Virgin Islands, the gateway to the Baths – a collection of giant boulders.
Departs February 22, 2024. From £1,416.88* per person.

Flavours of the Caribbean
Get to know the Caribbean better on this ‘Flavours of the Caribbean’ itinerary onboard the adults-only Marella Explorer 2. Combine sophisticated Grand Cayman, the largest of the three Cayman Islands with captivating Cuba with its old-world charm and Latino spirit. Mo Bay – as Jamaica’s main resort town is affectionately known – and Cozumel, home to Mexico’s best diving, complete the line-up. The best part? At each and every stop you’ll be able to chill out on alabaster sand when Europe is under the dark blanket of winter.
Departs March 4, 2024. From £1,394* per person.

* Prices are accurate at the time of publication (July 26, 2023) and are subject to change.