2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST CARIBBEAN CRUISE DEALS
2017 Guide & Ranking: Set Sail with These Caribbean Cruise Deals
Does cruising the Caribbean sound immensely appealing? If sitting on the boat deck with a drink in your hand while sailing from one hot tropical destination to the next sounds like your cup of tea, then you need to look into Caribbean cruises!
It’s never too early – or too late – to book your next getaway!
These cruises vary in length and destinations, which enables you to have freedom when you are planning your vacation. Whether you want a quick 5-night cruise, a weeklong cruise, or an even longer 11-night cruise is up to you.
The cruises also vary in destinations, so if you have certain Caribbean islands on your wish list, you can find the best Caribbean cruise to meet your requirements.
Once you have your sights on sailing away from your troubles on an all-inclusive Caribbean cruise, the trick is finding the best Caribbean cruise to do so on.
With so many different options, from destinations and durations to the different cruise lines, you can easily become frustrated. The top cruise lines that cruise Caribbean seas generate billions of dollars annually, and there are many lines to choose from.
So, how can you narrow done the list of top Caribbean cruises to choose the best ship to cruise Caribbean waters? There are many factors to consider when making your decision, one of which is finding Caribbean cruise deals.
Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Caribbean Cruises & Deals
When you are looking for the best cruises in the Caribbean, chances are that you have questions, including:
- Can you find an all-inclusive Caribbean cruise?
- What should you look for in Caribbean cruise reviews?
- What are the best cruises in the Caribbean?
- How much does it cost to cruise Caribbean waters?
Throughout this 2017 guide, we will answer the questions that you have about the top Caribbean cruises. We will explain what to look for in Caribbean cruises and what makes for the best Caribbean cruise.
Finally, we will provide detailed Caribbean cruise line reviews of the six best cheap Caribbean cruises.
By the end of this article, you should be well versed in what to look for when cruising the Caribbean, with a better idea of the best Caribbean cruise for you.
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AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Caribbean Cruises
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the Caribbean cruises below to go directly to the detailed review section for that Caribbean cruise reviews):
- Celebrity Equinox Cruise
- Celebrity Reflection Cruise
- Disney Fantasy Cruise
- Oceania Riviera Cruise
- Seabourn Odyssey Cruise
- Viking Sea Cruise
Top 6 Best Caribbean Cruises | Brief Comparison & Ranking
Best Caribbean Cruises | Top Port Cities | Cruise Duration |
| Celebrity Equinox Cruise | Miami, San Juan, St. Thomas, Punta Cana, & Nassau | 7 nights |
| Celebrity Reflection Cruise | Fort Lauderdale, Grand Cayman, Cartagena, Aruba, Curacao, & Bonaire | 11 nights |
| Disney Fantasy Cruise | Orlando, Tortula, St. Thomas, & Castaway Cay | 7 nights |
| Oceania Riviera Cruise | Miami, Tortola, St. Johns, Barbados, St. Lucia, & St. Barts | 10 days |
| Seabourn Odyssey Cruise | Barbados, Dominica, St. Barts, St. Kitts, & St. Maarten | 7 nights |
| Viking Sea Cruise | San Juan, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, & St. Thomas | 10 nights |
Table: Top 6 Best Caribbean Cruise Deals | Above list is sorted alphabetically
Detailed Overview: What to Look for When Cruising the Caribbean
When you are sorting through what seems like endless Caribbean cruise line reviews, it is important to know what you are looking for. What should you be looking for in cheap Caribbean cruises?
Without an idea of what matters when looking for a cruise, chances are that you will not be able to find the best ones.
Image Source: Pixabay
It is also important to note that the best Caribbean cruises for one person might not seem like the greatest Caribbean cruise deals to you. Everyone has their own preferences, so it is important to know what you are looking for before you get into reading Caribbean cruise reviews.
When you are looking at the Caribbean cruise line reviews, it is important to consider the following:
Port of Leave: Caribbean cruises leave from set ports on a scheduled basis, and they will leave without you. That means you need to be at the Port when the cruise departs, or you will be out all of your money. Also, keep in mind that you will need to pay for transportation to get you to and from the Port, which can increase vacation expenses.
Stops along the Way: While part of the time of your cruise will be spent sailing the open sea, other parts will be comprised of stops. Different cruises stop at different ports along the way, so you will want to make sure the itinerary is something that interests you.
Another thing to consider is how long you will be at sea versus how long you will be docked and allowed to explore.
Duration: Would you like your cruise to be 5 nights, 7 nights, 11 nights, or more? Different cruises have different durations, so choose one that fits your schedule. Generally, the cheapest Caribbean cruises are for shorter durations, but sometimes you can get longer Caribbean cruise deals.
Accommodations: Every Caribbean cruise ship is different from the next. Newer ships might be more luxurious than others are, but that doesn’t mean they have rooms that are more spacious. Decide whether you’d rather have a top-of-the-line cruise ship or save a few dollars aboard a slightly less premium ship.
Entertainment: By now, you are well aware that taking a Caribbean cruise means that you will be spending time on a boat as you travel from one destination to the next. If you are cruising the Caribbean with family or can’t just sit around and soak up the sun, there are enough entertainment options to get you from one port to the next.
When you are trying to find the best Caribbean cruises, it is important to look into the features listed above. Decide what duration, price range, and destinations you would like to visit. Having an idea of what you want going in can help you check Caribbean cruise deals off your list easily so that you are left with only the top Caribbean cruises.
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Detailed Review – Top Ranking Best Cheap Caribbean Cruises
Below, please find the detailed review of each all-inclusive Caribbean cruise on our list of top Caribbean cruises. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these cruises in the Caribbean to score so highly in our selection ranking.
Celebrity Equinox Cruise Review
The Celebrity Equinox Cruise launched in 2009, and it is one of the five Solstice-class sisters. The cruise line offers cheap Caribbean cruises leaving from Miami and Fort Lauderdale and cruises the eastern, southern, and western Caribbean.
These Caribbean cruise deals take you to the likes of St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Barbados, San Juan, Grand Cayman, and more.
Passengers taking advantage of these cheap Caribbean cruises are generally upper-middle-class groups and couples with an average age of 50 years. There is plenty of entertainment for adults, including theater shows, trivia games, a casino, adult-only late-night comedy and burlesque show, and even ice-topped mini bars.
One thing that is important to note is that gratuity is not included in the cruise fare. Charges for “suggested gratuity” will automatically be added to your account daily, and if you want to pay more or less, you will need to speak with Guest Relations.
Celebrity Reflection Cruise Review
Celebrity Reflection Cruise is the largest and newest of the Solstice Class. The behemoth cruise ship debuted in 2012 and can carry 3,046 passengers throughout the Caribbean. There are several classes of rooms so that you can find the best Caribbean cruises that fit your budget.
The restaurants on the Celebrity Reflection are quality, and if you are lucky enough to afford one of the 32 AquaClass Spa Suites, you will get access to a private dining room, Blu, which serves “spa cuisine” daily, as well as Luminae.
If you are an art lover, this might be one of the best Caribbean cruises. Reflection has multi-million dollar art installations that will captivate you as you move about the ship.
Like other Celebrity cruises, passengers generally consist of upper-middle class couples and groups. There are more families with children during the peak Caribbean cruise seasons.
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Disney Fantasy Cruise Review
Launched in 2012, Disney Fantasy Cruise is one of the best Caribbean cruises for families. The 4,000-passenger, 14-floor cruise ship is Disney’s newest to sail the Caribbean. All of the rooms are equipped with minifridges, flat-screen TVs, and iPod docking stations.
With the Goofy’s Sports Deck, 3D movies, teen clubs, and nightly live performances, the kids will be occupied. This leaves parents able to slip away and relax at any of the six adult-only lounges or the Quiet Cove Pool.
The ship also offers nine themed restaurants, with two adult-only venues. The ability to appease adults and children makes this one of the best Caribbean cruise deals out there.
The vast ship goes to a variety of destinations, though there is so much to do that your kids might not even want to leave the ship. From Tortola and St. Thomas to Castaway Cay, this seven-night cruise is one of the best Caribbean cruises.
Oceania Riviera Cruise Review
The Oceania Riviera Cruise launched in 2012 and can accommodate just over 1,200 passengers. This is a smaller cruise ship than others are, making it one of the cheap Caribbean cruises to consider if you want a bit more privacy.
This cruise ship also has larger staterooms, and the suites range from 420 to 2,000 square feet. All rooms include full-size tubs, minibars, and flat-screen TVs. Suite guests also have a 24-hour butler at their service.
When it comes to dining, you won’t be disappointed with the eight options, ranging from French fare and Asian dishes to sprawling buffets. The bars and lounges are also scattered throughout and offer wine tastings and poolside cocktails.
Depending on the cruise you choose, the Oceania Riviera will travel throughout the Caribbean. If you like variety, this is one of the best Caribbean cruises. From St. Barts and St. Lucia to St. John’s Antigua, the Riviera delivers.
Seabourn Odyssey Cruise Review
Seabourn Odyssey Cruise is one option for cheap Caribbean cruises. Stopping at destinations like Barbados, Dominica, St. Barts, St. Kitts, Peter Island, and even St. Maarten, the Seabourn Odyssey tears through the eastern Caribbean waters.
If you picture luxury, this is it. The suites have 300 square foot walk-in closets and the restaurants have seven-course tasting menus. This is one of the best Caribbean cruises when it comes to elegance and luxury.
What makes this one of the better Caribbean cruise deals is that there is a 450-passenger max. That means less crowded dining and entertainment situations. The one drawback – if you’re a more casual person – is the country-club style dress code that comes with the luxury feel.
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Viking Sea Cruise Review
The Viking Sea Cruise covers an area from San Juan and Tortola to St. Kitts and St. Lucia. With stops in Barbados and the often-ignored Guadeloupe, this is one of the cheap Caribbean cruises to consider.
Though some are turned off by the lack of exciting entertainment features like grandiose casinos, the Viking Sea provides a fantastic experience without the hefty price tags that other luxury cruises come with.
This is one of the best Caribbean cruises if truly exploring the Caribbean is your mission. The cruise line doesn’t spend money on water parks or fancy gambling venues, instead trying to give their passengers the most time in port as possible to explore.
This is not one of the Caribbean cruise deals to claim if you have young children as the minimum age is 16 years old and most passengers are over 55 years of age.
Conclusion – Top 6 Best Cheap Caribbean Cruises
Sailing away from the mainland and venturing out into the Caribbean on the best Caribbean cruise lines is certainly a relaxing way to spend your vacation time. With food, drinks, and entertainment right at your fingertips, there is little to worry about.
Image source: Pixabay
Perhaps the most frustrating thing about a cruise is finding cheap Caribbean cruises and choosing the best one. With so many different options, it is easy to become overwhelmed and struggle through the decision process.
While all you want is a drink in your hand and the sun on your face, there are many factors to take into consideration.
There are a few things that can make this decision process a bit easier for you. When you are looking for Caribbean cruise deals, it is important to consider the following:
- What is your budget including transportation to and from the departure port?
- How many nights are your ideal Caribbean cruise deals?
- What destinations are you excited to visit? Must you visit every island on your list?
- Do you need premium accommodations? Do you require a room with an ocean view or large balcony?
There are all factors that need to be considered when you are trying to find the best Caribbean cruises. Americans do not get many vacation days every year, so it is important to make the best out of the ones you do get.
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