Planning a Caribbean cruise but not sure which cruise line, route or itinerary is worth it?
After taking both a 7-night Virgin Voyages Caribbean Cruise and an MSC Bahamas Cruise, we realised that Caribbean cruising can either feel like an incredible stress-free island hopping experience…or a crowded tourist trap depending on which cruise you book.
In this guide, we break down:
- Virgin Voyages vs MSC Cruises
- What Caribbean ports are like
- Cost expectations
- Mistakes first-time cruisers make
- Whether Caribbean cruises are worth it
If you are deciding between island hopping independently or taking a cruise, this guide will help you figure out which option is right for you.
Table of Contents
Why Trust Our Caribbean Cruise Advice?
We’re Kelly and Mike from Passport Nomads, Australian full-time travel creators who have explored the Caribbean both independently and by cruise ship. We’ve personally sailed with both Virgin Voyages and MSC Cruises, visiting destinations including Barbados, Antigua, Tortola, St Maarten and the Bahamas.
Rather than repeating generic cruise advice, this guide is based on our real first-hand experience onboard, including what we loved, what surprised us and what we would do differently next time.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Quick Answer – Is a Caribbean Cruise Worth It?
Yes, a Caribbean cruise is absolutely worth it, especially if you want convenience. Caribbean cruises are best for travellers looking for the easiest and most convenient way to explore the region. When compared to island hopping independently Caribbean cruises represent excellent value for money as they package everything from accommodation, transport and food. In a lot of instances they cost a similar price per person that it would cost to just fly around the itineraries.
Virgin Voyages vs MSC Cruises: Which Caribbean Cruise Is Better?
After sailing with both Virgin Voyages and MSC Cruises in the Caribbean, we found they offer completely different experiences. Virgin Voyages felt modern, premium and adult-focused, while MSC delivered a cheaper, more casual Bahamas getaway that worked well for budget travellers and families.
🏆 Best Premium Cruise: Virgin Voyages
💰 Best Budget Cruise: MSC
| Feature | Virgin Voyages | MSC Cruises |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Couples & adults | Budget travellers & families |
| Atmosphere | Modern, adults-only | Traditional cruise vibe |
| Price Range | Premium | Budget-friendly |
| Food Quality | Excellent specialty dining included | Good buffet & standard dining |
| Entertainment | Unique & modern | Traditional cruise shows |
| Dress Code | Relaxed | More traditional |
| Included Extras | More inclusions | More add-ons |
| Crowd Type | Younger adults & couples | Mixed ages & families |
| Cruise Style | Boutique/luxury feel | Large mainstream cruise |
| Our Overall Impression | More premium experience | Better value for budget travellers |
Quick Verdict
If you want an adults-only cruise with exceptional dining, stylish ships and a more premium, modern atmosphere, we personally preferred Virgin Voyages.
If your priority is affordability, shorter cruises and a relaxed beach getaway, MSC offered better value for money.
👉 Read our full Virgin Voyages Caribbean Cruise Review
👉 Read our full MSC Bahamas Cruise Review
Caribbean Cruise Routes Overview
The Caribbean is one of the most popular cruise destinations as there is year round warm weather and relatively short sailing distances. The typical cruise route types cover an area of the Caribbean, these are the most common routes:
- Western Caribbean: usually includes Mexico, Jamaica, Cayman Islands and known for adventurous port activities like exploring ruins and jungle or diving. Usually cruises are for around 7-10 days and perfect for couples, groups or those looking for some excitement.
- Eastern Caribbean: Includes islands like Puerto Rico St Maarten, Tortola and the US Virgin Islands which are known for incredible beaches, stunning viewpoints, snorkelling and towns with an European influence. Usually around 7-10 days, perfect for couples, families and groups or anyone who wants a beach heavy cruise.
- Bahamas short cruises: These are usually quite short 2-5 day cruises which are excellent options if you want a budget cruise experience, a family getaway or a weekend beach holiday. They make a great choice for a first time cruiser who wants to try it out without committing too much time and money. They almost always include Nassau and other beach islands.
Cruise duration breakdown:
- 3–4 nights (short getaways)
- 7 nights (standard)
- 10–14 nights (extended routes)
Our Honest Virgin Voyages & MSC Caribbean Cruise Reviews
Our Personal Experience On Virgin Voyages Caribbean Cruise
The Virgin Voyages provided an Adults-only experience that was fun and really enjoyable. The ship had an upbeat atmosphere & friendly vibe. The food quality was excellent and the dining system worked perfectly. Being able to book restaurants for your evening meals was great so you could try a little of everything. The entertainment had a non-traditional cruise feel, with variety style shows, an a capella group and different parties like Scarlet Night, a PJ Party and We Fancy Party.
Our itinerary visited the ports of Martinique, St Maarten, Barbados, Antigua, Tortola. The Virgin Voyages Caribbean cruise would suit adults of any age who want a relaxed and fun experience to visit the Caribbean. There were lots of girls trips, couples and groups celebrating things like birthdays, anniversaries etc.
What We Thought Of Our MSC Bahamas Cruise
The MSC cruise was a short cruise that went to the Bahamas from Miami in 3 days. We stopped at the port of Nassau and their private island Ocean Cay. This was a great short, fun trip that makes a great getaway. The MSC ship is a little more dated vs Virgin Voyages modern ship but both were clean. The ports in the Bahamas were great, Nassau for the culture and Ocean Cay for the beauty.
The onboard activities were good, the shows were a musical style presentation and some fun quizzes and games. There were more paid add on options on MSC than on Virgin where most things were included. This cruise is best for people who want a quick getaway, backpackers or budget travellers, a beach weekend or families who want a mini vacation.
Caribbean Cruise Costs
The typical Caribbean cruise fare ranges per person:
- Budget (MSC style) $300-$600 USD
- Virgin Voyages Caribbean Cruise (7 nights) $1500 – 3,000 USD
- Shore Excursions $50-200 USD
- Drinks Packages $80-120 USD/day
Hidden costs to watch out for are the added extras such as drinks, shore excursions, WiFi and gratuities. Most cruises only give tea, coffee and water with a basic fare and you need to upgrade for anything else. Virgin Voyages also includes soft drink and there was an upgraded drinks package you could buy for both.
What to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise
The Caribbean is a warm destination so the most you would need is a light jumper for the evenings. Both cruises were neat casual, comfortable style dress code, however I saw more people dressing up for events on Virgin Voyages than MSC. During the day casual beach style outfits were perfect and in the evening a smart or dressy casual would suit for dinner and the shows.
Formal nights on Virgin Voyages were a mix, some went all out and super dressed up to the theme, others were a more relaxed version of it and everyone was happy. There really didn’t feel like there was any judgement at all, however I would really try to wear some red on Scarlet Night so you don’t feel left out, even if you aren’t there to party. On MSC it was more relaxed and less dress all round, the theme nights did get people wearing these styles but not a huge majority.
Cruise Packing Essentials:
- Sunscreen (high SPF)
- Sea sickness meds if required
- Waterproof bag perfect for day trips
- Hat and sunglasses
Cabin space tips – we read a lot about things you need to make your cabin more comfortable and honestly you don’t need them! On both ships I found our cabins to be really well organised and comfortable. I did ask the MSC steward for a blanket to put over the lounge as it was a little stained but other than that we didn’t have any problems. We bought the magnetic hooks to hang things up and they were useful but not absolutely necessary.
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Best Caribbean Cruise Stops
Some of the most popular Caribbean cruise stops are:
- Jamaica
- Barbados
- Antigua
- Private island experiences – Bimini Island with Virgin Voyages and MSC’s Ocean Cay are stunning locations
- What to expect at cruise ports – all the cruise ports we stopped at were really easy to access. Our ships were very close to the exit and most were a short walk or bus ride into the main area. There is usually a big built up area with lots of bars, restaurants, souvenirs and duty free shopping around the port as well.
Who Should Take a Caribbean Cruise (and Who Shouldn’t)
A Caribbean Cruise is perfect for first-time cruisers couples and families will love cruising the Caribbean due to the exciting locations visited and the easy nature of the trip. Each location is pretty well organised to see in a day with countless day trips offered.
Who should NOT take a cruise
The people that will not like Caribbean cruising are independent travellers who prefer land travel. As you are staying on the ship you spend only the day in the port and that is the only time you have to explore. Honestly though, we thought this was us until we took a cruise in the Caribbean. It was a great way to see if these places were somewhere we want to come back to in an affordable package. If you love slow travel then a cruise will not suit you as you are visiting a location for one day only.
Common Mistakes First-Time Caribbean Cruisers Make
Some of the most common mistakes first time cruisers make are overbooking excursions. You don’t want to stress yourself trying to get back to the ship in time. Do one excursion a day and if there is a town or nice beach close by then take the opportunity to not do an excursion and just relax.
Not budgeting for onboard extras is another problem. Some people don’t purchase anything extra on board at all and that is fine but if you are the type of person who wants nicer coffee or cocktails then you need to remember that they cost extra.
Choosing wrong cruise length can lead to a real disappointment in your cruise. Too short and you will feel like you missed out, too long and it might get a little repetitive.
Don’t ignore sea days! These can make a really nice chill out day but too many could make you feel like you aren’t seeing enough of the destination. We took a cruise with one sea day and wished there were two just to force us to relax more.
What We’d Do Differently Next Time
On our next Caribbean cruise we would make sure we had a second sea day to force us to chill out a little more and we would get a small bar tab so we didn’t have to buy individually.
Best Cruise For First-time Cruisers
We think the Virgin Voyages Caribbean cruise is the best for first timers as it represents a great value experience that everyone would enjoy. Their schedules are really well organised to give a nice variety of destinations and the ship is a lot of fun.
Best Caribbean Cruise For Different Travel Types
These are the Caribbean cruises that suit different types of travellers:
- Best adults-only cruise → Virgin Voyages
- Best budget cruise → MSC
- Best first-time cruise → Virgin Voyages Eastern Caribbean
- Best short getaway → MSC Bahamas
Suggested Caribbean Cruise Itineraries
Some of the main Caribbean Cruise itineraries are:
A Bahamas escape
These cruises are typically 2-3 nights and almost always include Nassau and Ocean Cay. Ocean Cay is one of the prettiest places we have ever been and Nassau has a lot to walk around and see. These are best for families, budget travellers or anyone wanting a quick weekend away.
7-night Eastern Caribbean loop
The Eastern Caribbean cruises often visit Nassau, Samaná, Dominican Republic, St Maarten, St Lucia, St Thomas, Tortola. These are perfect for a first time cruise experience, they are easy to do and 7 nights will go by quickly, leaving you wanting more. The Eastern loop is known for picture perfect beaches and great viewpoints.
7-night Western Caribbean loop
The Western Caribbean loop includes islands like Jamaica, Cozumel, Grand Cayman. This is a great choice for people who have already done a Caribbean cruise and want to expand the experience a little. It is the perfect area for adventure parks, trips to ruins and snorkelling trips.
10–14 night extended multi-island cruise
With 10-14 days you can really get to relax with a couple of sea days or you’ll get to visit more locations. Both are excellent, the sea days are forced relaxation that you really do need as a cruise is pretty busy when you attend all the activities and explore all day!
Pros of Caribbean Cruises
The best things about Caribbean cruises are how easy they make multi-country travel, the excellent value and minimal planning needed. Just know what you want to do in the port day and the rest is simple.
Cons of Caribbean Cruises
The downside of Caribbean cruises is the limited time in ports, the ports can feel touristy at times and extra on board costs.
Cruise vs Independent Caribbean Travel
This is a really important decision when travelling in the Caribbean, both travel styles are very different and suit different purposes.
Cruising in the Caribbean is more convenient, better value and uses the time more effectively as the travel takes place overnight usually. This is best for first time visitors to the Caribbean as you can get a taste of where you would want to return to, families and those who want an easy vacation.
Independent Caribbean travel is more flexible, you can plan your own itinerary so you can include any destinations that interest you and stay for longer periods and explore the area more thoroughly. This is best for those who are not concerned about the costs of travel adding up and want to slow travel, getting to explore each destination properly.
Related Guides
Planning your first Caribbean cruise? These guides will help you choice the best islands, cruise lines and itineraries for your trip.
- Caribbean Itinerary
- Bahamas Travel Guide
- Jamaica Travel Guide
- Cruise Packing List
- Virgin Voyages Review
- MSC Cruise Review
FAQ – Caribbean Cruise Guide
Are Caribbean cruises worth it?
Yes! The Caribbean is one of the best areas for cruising, the distances aren’t too long and the sea is usually pretty stable in the right season.
What is the best month to cruise the Caribbean?
The best month to cruise in the Caribbean is March/April for the best weather.
How much does a Caribbean cruise cost?
Caribbean cruises cost between $200 and $3000 USD per person depending on the length of time, locations and cruise line chosen.
Which cruise line is best for the Caribbean?
We think that Virgin Voyages offer the best Caribbean cruises, their itineraries are excellent as is the overall product.
Do Caribbean cruises include food?
Yes, all cruises include food. Some offer it as a buffet and others include specialty restaurants.
Is it better to cruise or island hop independently?
Cruising is better for convenience, value and seeing multiple destinations quickly. Independent island hopping gives you more flexibility and allows for slower travel experiences.
What is the difference between Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises?
Eastern Caribbean cruises usually focus on beaches, smaller islands and scenic viewpoints. Western Caribbean cruises tend to include more adventure activities, snorkelling and cultural excursions.
Final Thoughts
Cruising in the Caribbean makes the experience stress free! You will get a package that is ready for you to enjoy and get to experience some of the best beach destinations in the world. If you love excellent food, amazing destinations, stunning beaches and unique cultural experiences then you will love travelling in the Caribbean.
Plan your trip:
👉 Read next: Our full Virgin Voyages Caribbean Cruise review
👉 Plan your trip: Caribbean Travel Guide
👉 Don’t miss: Our MSC Cruise in the Caribbean review
Want to see it all in action? Watch our full Caribbean series on YouTube (subscribe to our channel to stay up to date with our travel guides) and follow along on Instagram @passport_nomads and @kelly___buckley for real-time travel tips, guides, and behind-the-scenes moments.
We hope this guide helped you plan an unforgettable trip.
