Holland America Caribbean cruises
Year round, peaking November through April · 7 to 21 nights
Illustrative photography of the Caribbean region. Not an official Holland America Line image.
Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean itineraries sail mostly from Fort Lauderdale, with longer voyages reaching the southern islands and the ABC islands.
What these itineraries are known for
- Private-island beach calls in the Bahamas
- Eastern, Western and Southern route options
- Longer 14 and 21 night collector voyages
Typical Itineraries
Eastern Caribbean
7 nights · Round trip from Fort Lauderdale
- · Grand Turk
- · San Juan
- · St. Thomas
- · Private-island beach stop
Southern Caribbean Seafarer
10 nights · Round trip from Fort Lauderdale
- · Aruba
- · Bonaire
- · Curaçao
- · Grand Turk
- · Private-island beach stop
Example routings only. Holland America Line changes ports and dates each season — confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Ports you may see
Eastern, Western or Southern
Eastern Caribbean sailings lean toward the Virgin Islands and Sint Maarten and involve less time at sea. Western itineraries reach Mexico, Belize, Honduras and Grand Cayman and mix in more sea days. Southern voyages run longer, often ten nights or more, and reach Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao and the eastern islands that shorter cruises never touch.
Most depart Fort Lauderdale, which makes a pre-cruise hotel night the standard advice from passengers who have had a flight go wrong.
Private-island beach calls
Some Caribbean itineraries include a private-island beach call in the Bahamas. These are tender ports, so a rough morning can mean the call is cancelled outright — something worth checking before you build the trip around one stop.
What Caribbean reviews usually turn on
Weather aside, Caribbean reviews on this site tend to come down to dining and service rather than ports. Passengers write about wait times in the main dining room, whether the speciality restaurants were worth the surcharge, and how crowded the ship felt on a full winter sailing.
Hurricane season, June through November, is the other recurring theme. Itinerary changes at short notice are common in those months, and how well a line handles them is exactly the kind of thing first-hand reviews capture and marketing does not.
Before you book
- Fly in the day before — Fort Lauderdale departures leave no margin.
- Private-island beach calls use tenders and can be cancelled in rough weather.
- June to November is hurricane season; itinerary changes are normal.
- Southern Caribbean voyages run longer and visit less-crowded islands.
Caribbean Cruise Questions
- Eastern or Southern Caribbean?
- Eastern itineraries have shorter sailing distances and more beach-and-shopping ports. Southern itineraries reach Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao and usually run longer, with more sea days.
- How do private-island beach stops work?
- Some Caribbean itineraries include a private-island beach stop in the Bahamas. These calls use tender boats and can be cancelled in rough weather.
- When is hurricane season?
- June through November, peaking in September. Ships avoid storms by rerouting, so the real risk is a changed itinerary rather than danger.
Ships that sail here
Caribbean passenger reviews
Read what passengers said about their Caribbean voyage, or add your own.