Ports

Stuck between a cruise to The Bahamas and one that sails further south to the Caribbean?

While cruises sail all over the world, from Alaska to Northern Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean, and even the South Pacific, if you are looking for a tropical getaway, you are probably debating between The Bahamas and Caribbean. 

It can be hard to decide, especially since both promise white-sand beaches and fun shore excursions. Plus, you will find cruises to both year-round. 

If you are cruising to Honduras, you docking in either one of two ports: Mahogany Bay or the Port of Roatán. The two cruise terminals are located about five miles of one another on the island of Roatán, which is located about 35 miles off the northern coast of Honduras. 

A popular stop on Mexican Riviera cruises, Puerto Vallarta, is a historic city nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Madre mountains. Known for its colonial charm, food and beaches, there are many things to do in this sunny locale.

If you’re looking to cruise the Caribbean Sea, chances are that you’ll be looking at itineraries that include stops in the Virgin Islands. These lush islands are breathtakingly gorgeous, perfect for beach bums and nature lovers alike. While there are thousands of tiny islands that make up the Virgin Islands, there are 7 main islands that attract most of the area’s tourism. 

The Bahamas passed a new restriction on cruise ships that requires all passengers over the age of 12 be fully vaccinated in order for the ship to visit any port, including private islands.

The new order goes into effect beginning September 3, 2021 through November 1, 2021.

The rule prohibits a ship from going to any Bahamian port unless:

First-time cruisers to Alaska want to see glaciers and eagles and salmon and bears – but they don’t always know which port is best for the activities they want to do.

Not all weeklong Alaska cruise itineraries feature the same ports, so you need to know which destinations should be tops on your list. You don’t want to travel all that way to find out that your ship stops in Sitka, when your dream excursion departs from Icy Strait Point.

Not only is Nassau a popular stop on Bahamas and Caribbean cruises, it’s now a departure port for Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas. Cruisers flying in early to the Bahamas will be looking for fun things to do without the time constraints of a port call. Travelers sailing in may also want to think beyond the shore excursion.

Whether you’ve got eight hours or an entire weekend, here are the best things to do in Nassau, Bahamas.

Canada announced it will not allow cruise ships to enter its waters for one year.

The sum of all fears related to the Alaska and Canadian cruise season in 2021 has been realized with the announcement by Canada's Minister of Tourism that cruises will ban cruise ships until February 28, 2022.

Canada had been banning cruise ships for a few months at a time, but this ban extends an entire year.

The Port of Los Angeles will be welcoming an array of cruise ships to its port without any passengers onboard, in an effort to help cruise lines get back to service.

The visits for fuel, supplies and services are part of the cruise lines’ operations to reestablish the ships in U.S. waters as a prerequisite to meet federal regulations in order to resume cruising in the future.