When I took my first cruise 20 years ago, any Caribbean island was interesting. But I quickly came to understand certain ports are substantially better and worth a trip every time.
When you first visit one of these places, it almost immediately jumps out to you as being different and endearing. I hesitate to say you fall in love with them, but it's along those lines.
Over the years, I've gone to many ports of call around North America and Europe. A few truly stand out as the places I'd love to go back to in a heartbeat for a variety of reasons.
If you're choosing between itineraries, here are seven places Royal Caribbean ships visit that you should absolutely prioritize visiting at least once.
Tortola
I just visited Tortola for the first time earlier this year, and I can see why it was so highly touted.
Tortola is one of those less frequently visited cruise ports that only smaller ships can get to, so it's not a common port on Royal Caribbean itineraries. Luckily, my Brilliance of the Seas cruise took me there, and I was so glad I got see it.
We took a boat out for the day and sailed to a few different beaches, including Jost Van Dyke and the famous Soggy Dollar Bar. I was worried it would be too touristy, but the ocean water and beach were unmatched.
Beautiful beaches in the Caribbean can seem to be very similar, but when you get to one that truly stands out, you quickly notice the difference.
Plus, I think Tortola has an advantage because it feels so untamed compared to the larger islands.
Juneau
I probably could list all the ports in Alaska, but Juneau always jumps out as my favorite because of how much you can see and do here.
Alaska cruises are marvelous, and I think you'll quickly love the natural beauty of this part of the world. It's majestic and encapsulates everything you probably assumed about sailing there.
My favorite spot in Juneau is Mendenhall Glacier Park because you can take a leisurely walk to Mendenhall Glacier and enjoy a fantastic view from a nearby waterfall.
Alternatively, there are some great excursions that can take you right to the glacier itself.
St. John
Close in proximity to Tortola, St. John has the best beaches I've ever been to in the world.
It's like a postcard there: the perfect shade of blue ocean water, white sand beach, and the water clarity is like glass. Tortola is similar, but St. John is even less built up than Tortola because the nearly the entire island is a national park.
Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay are the top two beaches, but Honeymoon Beach and a few others are equally stunning.
I dare you not to go here and not think you've stumbled across an Instagram ad for the Caribbean.
You'll need to take a ferry to get to St. John from St. Thomas, but it's my go-to spot every time we are there. I just wish Royal Caribbean would offer longer stays in St. Thomas so I could spend longer in St. John.
Alicante
I went to a few different ports of call in Spain over the years, but Alicante is my favorite of them all.
Located on the coast of the Mediterranean, it encapsulates exactly what you want in a day in Spain. Great food, rich history, and even beautiful beaches.
In fact, I was blown away how nice the beaches were in Alicante. I was probably a Caribbean beach snob and assumed the Med couldn't compete, but I would pick this beach over a lot others I've been to back west.
Plus, the city has an incredible promenade near the ocean and lots of history to go with its shopping. I debated if I should choose this or Malaga, but I gave the edge to Alicante because I think their beach is better.
Nonetheless, you must try a visit to the southern coast of Spain and experience this part of the world.
Perfect Day at CocoCay
While a cruise line private island isn't an authentic experience, it makes up for that in sheer fun.
Not every place you visit needs to be somewhere with historical significance. One of the best reasons anyone travels is to have a good time, and I dare you not to have a good time at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Royal Caribbean reset what a private island could be like when they revamped their private destination to include so much more. The result has been the new bar that all other cruise lines are measured against, and secretly try to copy.
There are swim-up bars, a waterpark, adults-only enclave, plenty of beaches, music, dancing, pools, and plenty more.
What I love about CocoCay is how many choices you have in how you can spend your day, and it works for kids, adults, grandparents and more. The genius of this island is how you can have a completely different experience each time you visit.
Aruba
If I had to give one Caribbean island the award for being the best island for offering the total package, it would be Aruba.
No matter where you go in Aruba, you're going to find beautiful beaches and (probably) perfect weather.
Palm Beach and Eagle Beach are sprawling beaches that you'll want to spend all day in, soaking up the sun and cooling off in the water.
It's also where I've done a few different sunset cruises and each has been spectacular.
San Juan
I've visited San Juan, Puerto Rico at least a dozen times, and it has the richest culture and history of any cruise port in the Caribbean.
When your ship docks in Old San Juan, you're instantly immersed in a world that was built 500 years ago and still evokes that spirit.
I love wandering the streets of Old San Juan, because it combines old world charm with the people of Puerto Rico. There's so much vibrancy here, it's hard not to love how it almost feels like you're transported to a different century.
Plus, Puerto Rico's food is vastly underrated. Mofongo is my top Caribbean comfort food, and there are so many varieties to try.
