The beach in Tulum, Mexico/Royal Caribbean

The Caribbean means different things to different people.  To some, it’s a place to bask under sunny skies as you relax beneath a palm tree, sipping your favorite cocktail.  To others, it’s a place to fulfill an endless fascination with water sports.  Others still will enjoy floating from island to island on a cruise ship, experiencing a variety of tropical destinations.  And to honeymooners, it’s a place to get away with your new spouse for the first time as a married couple, a place for pampering, luxury, and serenity.

What do people remember most about their visit to the Caribbean?  With so much variety, it may be an archipelago with stunning beauty, or that first glimpse of a sea turtle floating by your snorkel mask. It may be rainforests teeming with one of a kind flora and fauna. It may be the rhythms of reggae, soca, or salsa. It may be the freshest seafood you have ever eaten. It may be the welcoming smiles of the people—or it could indeed be those little umbrellas in the icy cool drinks!

Picture taken in Roatan, Honduras/Royal Caribbean

You may be wondering, when you go to book your honeymoon or vacation, which part of the Caribbean to go to?  Well, if you’re talking about the “Western Caribbean”, here are some tips:

• Cruise ships sailing to the western Caribbean typically embark from Florida, New Orleans or Texas. Ports of call on a Western Caribbean itinerary often include Cozumel or Costa Maya, Mexico; Grand Cayman; Key West, FL; the Dominican Republic; Montego Bay or Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Belize; Roatan, Honduras; or Costa Rica.

• If you look at a map, you will see that, since the ports of call are further apart, more sailing is usually involved on a western Caribbean cruise. So you may have more time at sea and less time in port or on the beach. The ports of call in the western Caribbean are sometimes on the mainland (Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica) or at larger islands (Jamaica, Dominican Republic). Therefore, the shore excursion options are more varied.

Some activities in the Western Caribbean to consider: you can explore ancient Mayan ruins, hike the rain forests, or go snorkeling or SCUBA diving in some truly unforgettable locations.