Key West, Florida
By Sarah Pruzansky, Cruise & Travel Writer | May 30, 2019 ( Comments)
With beautiful tropical beaches year-round and a vast array of theme parks, it's no wonder cruises from Florida are so popular. Not only do you get a relaxing cruise vacation, but you also get to start or end your trip in style nearby some of the largest cruise ports in the world - from the sunny beaches near Miami's cruise port and Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades to Port Canaveral nearby Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.
While cruises out of Florida may also travel the Panama Canal, transatlantic to Europe or to other parts of the world, cruises out of Florida to the Caribbean are often the most common. Here are several popularly frequented destinations that may be included in your Florida cruise line's itinerary:
While this small laid-back island is still technically in Florida, cruises out of Florida frequently stop here along the way. Home to Ernest Hemingway from the 1930s to the 1960s, not to mention countless others like the famous playwright Tennessee Williams, naturalist and painter John James Audubon, and President Harry S. Truman, "the Conch Republic" not only offers diving and snorkeling along its beautiful coast, wandering through tropical gardens and plenty of bar hopping options on Duval Street, but also fascinating historical artifacts and artwork at its museums. And if you're already missing the golf course back home, Key West has its own tropical 200-acre, 18-hole golf course, open to the public.
Known for its breathtaking zip-line experiences through the tropical jungle, rich reefs full of beautiful marine life, and exotic caves and caverns, Roatan is a highlight for anyone who loves the great outdoors. A magical experience, driving along the dirt roads past the colorful shacks to see the jungle's monkeys and other wildlife, or swimming up to the reef to see tiny squid and other sea creatures, if you love the fresh air, flora and fauna, you'll likely want to book a cruise that stops in Roatan.
While visiting Puerto Rico may feel foreign with its tropical landscape, 17th century fortresses and colorful colonial architecture, there is also a sense of comfort when travelling to the capital city of San Juan because you are technically still in the United States, making it a great destination for first-time cruisers. And not only do you get the beautiful beaches you expect on every Caribbean island, but you also get a backdrop of mountainous rainforests and vibrant neighborhoods. History buffs can drink to that - piña coladas were also invented in San Juan!
Duty-free shopping for jewelry and gems, gorgeous views as you ascend up the mountain, sipping on world-famous daiquiris as you snap that Instapic from the Mountain Top, and entering serenity in the cooling turquoise waters of Magens Bay, are just some of the experiences that make St.Thomas one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. This is not to mention all of the historic sites you can find on the island like the 99 Steps and Blackbeard's Castle.
(L-R) San Juan, Grand Turks, Costa Maya5. Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands
No tender is needed at this Turks capital - the only cruise port at the Turks and Caicos. Simply get dropped off at the beach where you can immediately find a spot in the sand to soak up the sun after stepping off the pier. After dipping in the sparkling turquoise water and getting in your tan for the day, head over to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville for a drink. And if you miss the waters already, no worries - the restaurant-bar has its own pool! Wondering what else there is to Grand Turk aside from the salt and sand? Well the town actually takes salt very seriously, considering salt production used to be of big importance to their economy from the 1600s through the early 1900s. To learn more about their salt history, make sure to stop by the Salt House Shop, or check out the salt formations at Hawkes Nest Salina. And the beaches here aren't your normal beach - you might get the chance to see wild horses and donkeys wandering about.
6. Mexico: Costa Maya & Cozumel
Mexico's convenient location near Florida means more opportunity to indulge in the country's delicious cuisine, get some fresh air while you rummage and haggle at the markets, and please your eyes with Spanish architecture. Visiting Mexico is a truly cultural experience, with its traditions, festivities, ancient Mayan ruins, and fascinating natural features like cenotes, waterfalls and canyons.
In this large country, the two most common places cruise ships dock is Costa Maya and Cozumel.
Costa Maya
Once inhabited by the ancient Mayans and scattered with Mayan pyramids, jungles and the beach, this unique tropical port offers everything from snorkeling and scuba diving to kicking back in the sand and relaxing to exploring the ancient Mayan ruins first-hand.
This Mexican island is the country's largest, with only 3% of its land developed. Home to 40 archaeological sites, pristine blue waters surrounding the world's second largest coral reef system, great bargains and excellent food, this port has a little bit of everything to offer - undeveloped beaches, vibrant underwater paradises, historical sites, lush landscapes to hike, duty-free shopping and Caribbean cuisine.
(L) Nassau, (R) Havana7. Cuba: Havana, Cienfuegos & Santiago de Cuba
This recently popular and mysterious tourist spot transports you back in time with its classic cars and music, underground clubs, old architecture, countryside tobacco farmland, and peaceful beaches backdropped with mountains.
The top three destinations in Cuba that some of the best cruises from Florida travel to are Havana, Cienfuegos & Santiago de Cuba.
Havana
Camilla Cabello can only take partial credit for Havana's fame. Since relationships with Cuba were restored in 2015 after the trade embargo in 1960, tourism in Havana has grown exponentially. This Cuban capital city is a character of its own, sporting vintage taxis, art galleries, and rustic crumbling buildings and fascinating artifacts. If you enjoy a good party scene with a drink in hand, head over to Old Havana to drink daiquiris or mojitos with the locals and breathe in the smell of cigar smoke while your ears delight in music.
Cienfuegos
Only an hour and a half away from Trinidad and closeby to wildlife and lagoons, this popular coastal town, deemed the Pearl of the South, offers gorgeous sunrise and sunset views from the boardwalk and a different vibe from other parts of Cuba with its French heritage (as opposed to the Spanish heritage known throughout the rest of the country), a noticeable difference in the city's architecture and street names.
Santiago de Cuba
This large Cuban city is known for its role in Fidel Castro's Cuban Revolution, and when visiting Santiago de Cuba, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about this time in Cuba's history at many of the city's museums and key landmarks. While it maintains its historic architecture, it has also expanded to a more modern look. Not only is this a good stop to learn about the Cuban Revolution, but here you can also enjoy lively Caribbean music at its festivals, wander the art galleries, or venture out for a hike in the surrounding mountains.
8. Bahamas: Nassau
When people think of the Caribbean, usually the first place they think of is the 700 islands that make up the Bahamas, so of course these naturally beautiful islands needed to be included in this list. The best cruises from Florida frequently visit these charming cays and sandbars, as they're so close by and offer plenty of beautiful crystal clear sea views, watersports activities like snorkeling, and cocktails to make paradise even more relaxing.
Many of the popular cruise lines own their own private cays in the Bahamas to stop by at and relax (or adventure if going to Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay). Some of the popular private cays include:
If venturing into the city at the Bahamas though, the most popular stop is the capital city of Nassau.
Located on New Providence Island, this popular port is just as gorgeous as the private cays and beaches owned by the cruise lines, except with more of a town and history to explore. Just like many other destinations in the Caribbean, here you can accomplish some duty-free shopping downtown. Or grab a drink at Senor Frog'sfwdsuzfzrwdbccvffzuzbdxbxfttdu
and a souvenir from the straw market, before you test your luck at the largest Caribbean casino. For those looking for a natural, historic, or artistic experience, the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas is in Nassau and so are plenty of national parks including Clifton Heritage National Park and the Primeval Forest National Park. For the history buff, head over to Parliament Square for a good look at the city's well-preserved colonial architecture or visit the old fort of Fort Charlotte.
And this is just the Caribbean. Florida cruises visit many other beautiful destinations around the world. The easiest way to find your ideal cruise from Florida is to pick up the phone and call us at iCruise. We'll help you find the best cruise for you at the most reasonable price, so you can focus more on the fun part of planning a cruise - going on it! To learn more about the best cruises from Florida, contact us today and our travel agents will happily help you locate the cruise of your dreams.
