Take a Cruise to the Exquisite Western Caribbean

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Author: Barbara Delp

It’s no wonder that the Western Caribbean remains a popular destination spot. This region â€" running from the islands to the south and west of the United States to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula â€" offers sun, beaches, snorkeling, eco-tourism and ancient wonders. It will be easy to find something everyone wants to do in the Western Caribbean. What better way than on board a cruise ship to see it?

Often a four- to seven-day trip, cruises to the Western Caribbean can introduce you to places you’ve heard about all your life â€" like Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Belize and Costa Rica. A cruise to the Western Caribbean will give you the chance to see some of these places for yourself. You may find yourself returning so you can see even more. Many of the cruises leave from Florida ports like Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral. But those are by no means the only places to board. You can also leave from New Orleans, Charleston, Baltimore and even Panama. With so many home ports involved, there’s even more reason to take a cruise.

Here’s a brief look at some of the places you can visit on a Western Caribbean cruise: Costa Maya, Mexico, south of CancĂşn and on the border with Belize, is the closest port with access to two ancient Mayan ruins: Chacchoben and Kohunlich. In fact, Costa Maya has the largest concentration of Mayan archeological sites in Mexico â€" although they are not as developed as other sites in Mexico. Costa Maya spans almost 28 miles of Mexican coastline. Cozumel, Mexico, is famous for its coral reefs. As a result, diving, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling and other water sports have sprung up to support the intense interest associated with the reefs.

Long a popular honeymoon destination, Cozumel is also becoming known for its protected environmental areas â€" like the Chankanaab National Park, the Punta Sur Ecological Reserve and the Colombia Lagoon â€" a shelter for endangered turtles and other species. Roatan, Honduras, is another popular site, with stunning views of the sea, lush vegetation and gentle mountains. A reef surrounding the island attracts turtles, dolphins and even whales, making it equally popular with divers who want to catch a look at the wildlife, as well as the nearby shipwrecks. The island is also a haven for a range of creatures that make their home there. You’ll find monkeys, parrots and lots of iguanas.

Belize City, Belize, located between Mexico and Guatemala, boasts the longest barrier reef in this part of the world. In addition to the gorgeous scenery, Belize was once home to the ancient Mayans and is the site of thousands of Maya ruins.

Key West, Florida, located at the southern-most tip of the United States, is one of the places you hear about, but maybe have never made the trek to see. It always has some sort of festival taking place there, as well as an active nightlife, historic buildings and great sense of fun. Montego Bay, Jamaica, is the tourist capital of Jamaica. This “Hip Strip” boasts of great nightlife, shopping and dining. Montego Bay also has championship golf courses, luxurious resorts and a touch of history with Colonial great houses.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica, was Jamaica’s first resort town. Translated as Eight Rivers, Ocho Rios was once a fishing village, but tourism has long ago become the dominant industry with the emphasis on water sports and sun. While you’re there, check out Dunn’s River Falls, a famous waterfall that cascades more than 600 feet, ending in the Caribbean Sea. If you want a look at it, check out the Tom Cruise film, “Cocktail,” which was filmed at the falls.

The list above is by no means complete. As you can see, the Western Caribbean has plenty to entice cruisers to come ashore. It all comes down to which sites you want to visit and the length of your cruise. For example, a simple four-day cruise might start in Tampa and cruise to Cozumel and back. Or you could take a four-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Key West and back. Want to go out for five days? Start in Fort Lauderdale and stop off in Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands and then to Cozumel. A popular five-day trip starts in Miami and includes stops in Labadee, Haiti and Ocho Rios.

Got time to stay out for six days? Then consider boarding in Fort Lauderdale and cruising to Belize City, Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. And if you have seven days to cruise, try something like this itinerary: Port Canaveral to Haiti to Ocho Rios to Georgetown to Grand Cayman and finally to Cozumel.

Sometimes cruises in the Western Caribbean mean more time spent on the boat because the destinations are quite a distance from each other. But that only means more time enjoying the high life of good service, great activities and an abundance of fine food.

Barbara Delp is a freelance writer who writes about vacationing and cruise deals .