Top Caribbean Shore Excursions for Your Next Cruise

Planning a Caribbean cruise but unsure what to do at each port? Travel advisors Ryan and Julie share their expert recommendations for the best shore excursions across Western and Eastern Caribbean destinations. From submarine adventures to swimming with sea turtles, discover unique experiences that will make your cruise unforgettable.

Western Caribbean Highlights:

• Cozumel, Mexico - Atlantis Submarine Adventure exploring coral reefs 100 feet underwater
• Nassau, Bahamas - Walking tour combined with Atlantis Resort day pass
• Costa Rica (Calera) - Zip line canopy tour with river cruise and wildlife viewing
• Costa Maya, Mexico - Ancient Mayan ruins tour at Chacchoben with kayaking
• Jamaica - Dunn's River Falls climb and lazy river tubing adventure
• Grand Cayman - Stingray City encounter with barrier reef snorkeling

Eastern Caribbean Must-Dos:

• Dominican Republic (Amber Cove) - Seven waterfalls adventure with zip lining
• San Juan, Puerto Rico - Historic Old San Juan walking tour
• Tortola - The Baths at Virgin Gorda with natural boulder formations
• St. Martin - Island sightseeing with Orient Bay beach time
• Aruba - Antilla shipwreck snorkeling from catamaran
• St. Lucia - Pitons sailing tour with Diamond Falls visit
• St. Thomas - Snorkeling with giant green sea turtles
• Barbados - Beach day with turtle swim and six shipwreck exploration

Key Takeaways

Learn how to balance adventure activities with cultural experiences and relaxation. Discover why small group tours offer better wildlife viewing opportunities and which excursions include meals and drinks. Get insider tips on what to wear (closed-toe shoes!) and how cruise line excursions compare across different ports.

Perfect for families, couples, and solo travelers planning Western or Eastern Caribbean cruise itineraries.

Next Episode: Top European Shore Excursions

Transcript

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 0:00

Hello and welcome to All Things Travel. We talk a lot about cruising on our podcast, what cruise line is best for your family. How to choose your ship. Activities you can do on board and so much more. we wanna share with you our top shore excursions to book for your next Caribbean cruise.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 0:23

Listen in with travel advisors and destination experts. Ryan and Julie. I'm your travel professor teaching you everything you need to know to have a magical vacation, and she's a Disney loving Maryland mom of three and a specialist in family travel. Whether we're discussing incredible destinations, top vacation tips, or sharing personal stories, it's always all things travel. All right, miss Julie, how are you this week?

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 0:53

We are good. when this episode releases, you are getting married this weekend.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 0:59

I am, gonna see you.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 1:01

I know.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 1:02

those are not on the same level of excitement that I have for the weekend, but yes. This is the weekend that Jasmine and I are getting married and I'm so grateful for you and Steven, coming to see us all the way from Maryland especially because

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 1:17

list.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 1:18

you were definitely on the first draft of the guest list.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 1:21

We can do a live recording

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 1:22

You know, we're some of those jerky adult people that get married and don't want little kids at our weddings. So I gave you an excuse to have a kids free trip.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 1:32

To exciting Fort Wayne,

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 1:34

You know what I'm going to, you are staying in a cool part of town. I'm gonna give you a list of places to see. you're gonna be more surprised than you think you are about what Fort Wayne has to offer.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 1:47

All right. I can't wait. I can't wait.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 1:48

before we get into talking about some of the Caribbean's top shore excursions, I want to remind folks if you did not listen to last week's episode, we talked all about Kensington's personal heritage journeys, where they designed trips based around your ancestry

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 2:06

Okay. we do talk a lot about cruising, like I mentioned in the introduction, and we talk a lot about, getting on the ship, getting off

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 2:15

Yeah.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 2:17

Prepping what you need to know for the cruise and what you can do on board. But we've never really delved into what you do when you're off the ship, other than like the private islands. today I really wanna highlight. a lot of times when we are planning cruises for our clients, we are making recommendations for shore excursions. So I wanted to focus this episode on shore excursions that you should be looking at for your Caribbean cruises. And we're gonna start with The Bahamas and the Western Caribbean destinations. these are all very, very popular

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 2:50

Yeah, if you cruise the Caribbean, you're gonna hit up these places at some point.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 2:55

Right, exactly. the first one we're gonna do is Cozumel, which is very popular on Western Caribbean cruise itineraries. This is in Mexico, and the top shore excursion here is the Atlantis Submarine Adventure. this allows you to explore Cosmo's underwater world in a US Coast Guard certified submarine.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 3:18

Very cool. I want to do it.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 3:19

go. You get to go see a world famous reef, which is one of the largest reef barriers on earth, and dive almost 100 feet underwater to see the world of colorful sea life, including grouper and parrot fish. That sounds like a lot of fun and a great store excursion off your ship.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 3:39

So next we're gonna go to Nassau. I wanna talk about Discover Nassau with Atlantis. I just did a walking tour a few months ago when we went on our cruise. It was great. This one combines that and Atlantis. So explore the world renowned Atlantis Resort in Nassau. Take photos. Of the Queen Victoria Staircase shop, Nassau Bustling Straw Market. See the governor's mansion, an iconic Gregory's arch, and then you can bask in the beauty of Paradise Island. So my guess is what they're gonna do here is you're probably gonna do a walking tour in the morning and see all those highlights, which is really fun. then they're probably gonna take you to Atlantis for the rest of the day, and you can have kind of a resort day experience.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 4:25

Which sounds like a perfect combination of activities.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 4:27

I love it. Now, I will tell folks, if they're listening to this and they're like, well, yeah, but you know, Royal Caribbean's building this, or Disney has this, we're not gonna be talking about specific things that the, cruise lines have. We're gonna be talking about in general Shore excursion should be on the lookout for.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 4:44

Yeah, and most likely Royal or Disney or whoever you are sailing with is going to have an excursion very similar to the ones we're speaking about. All right, next up is Costa Rica. This is not on every western Caribbean cruise itinerary. It's a little, less traveled, I would say. there are two different cruise ports in Costa Rica. this one is focused around the Calera cruise port. you go to the jungle and you do a. You go to the canopy, you do a zip line, and you do a river cruise, which is exactly what I think of doing when I go to Costa Rica.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 5:18

Yeah.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 5:19

able, you're able to immerse yourself You're gonna be able to witness breathtaking views of the river and the tropical rainforest as you zip across 12 cables, 15 platforms and three hanging bridges, which sounds a little scary, but fun. Fun. This is a really small group tour. There's a max of 20 passengers for this specific one, The really exciting thing about this is Costa Rica has a lot of wildlife,

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 5:46

Yeah,

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 5:46

about on previous

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 5:47

I.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 5:48

So you can see wildlife ranging from scarlet McCalls and whiteface monkeys to massive crocodiles during your trip.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 5:56

Hopefully you don't see the crocodiles during your zip line adventure.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 6:00

That sounds scary.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 6:00

Yeah, this is definitely what I would want to do here. I can just imagine though, as a travel advisor, like 9,000 emails. Remember clothes told shoes. Remember clothes toed shoes? Remember clothes toed because, you know, this is one of those things you're like, oh yeah, I guess I probably need to have things specific for this day.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 6:17

right. Exactly. Exactly.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 6:20

So next we're gonna talk about Costa Maya, Mexico, which is a very common port for a Western Caribbean cruise. We are gonna talk about the Choc Chobin Extreme Tour. you're gonna take an extreme tour of the ancient city of choc Chobin, which is known as the place of red corn. You're gonna journey from the jungle to the clear waters of the seven color lagoon. You're gonna learn about the rich history of chobin from an expert guide, and you're gonna kayak or canoe on lake Baccala to relax in a shaded cabana.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 6:53

that sounds lovely.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 6:54

Yeah, what a great way to get away from everybody on the ship and just enjoy nature.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 7:00

Mm-hmm. Okay, so up next is the Jamaica Ports, and this is usually Falmouth, Ocho Rios or Montego Bay. The one we're gonna highlight is closer to Falmouth and Osha Rios, and it's the Duns River Falls and River tubing, which if you go to these ports, this is the thing to

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 7:19

Yep. Absolutely.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 7:20

You're gonna ascend the 600 foot tall Dunns River Falls, which is a must see attraction, showcasing Jamaica's beautiful landscapes. Enjoy a relaxed group setting. And again, these are smaller sizes because the adventure nature of the tour. So it would be similar regardless of where you're booking this type of excursion. You can indulge in the serenity of a lazy river. Float down the scenic White River, complete with a fun rope swing. There you go, Ryan. Floating down the lazy river.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 7:50

I love it. Seriously though. do you think that we should do this on our honeymoon,

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 7:56

Yeah.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 7:56

from Rose Hall? It's like an entire day excursion, but I think it's kind of half to do. Right.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 8:02

I think it's a must do.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 8:03

Okay. Alright. Sounds good.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 8:05

else are you gonna do in Jamaica?

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 8:07

sleep by the pool. Okay. Just gotta work that honey fund a little bit more. I'll, I'll, I'll put the link in the chat. Um, I, I'll put that on the, on our, on our Facebook page.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 8:18

You're so ridiculous.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 8:19

Watch Ryan do stupid stuff on his honeymoon. Our last, Western Caribbean location is Grand Cayman, and I'm gonna talk about the Stingray City Barrier Reef and Starfish Beach. here you're gonna take an unforgettable swim with stingrays in warm shallow waters. At Stingray City, you're gonna snorkel with fish In a colorful barrier reef, you're gonna unwind the Starfish Beach and see huge sea stars in clear waters. That sounds cool. Get up close with Grand Cayman's exquisite marine life and enjoy a relaxing small group Grand Cayman experience.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 8:59

That sounds lovely.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 9:00

What I like about all of these is, they are similar-ish, but each stop is kind of taking their thing right, and putting their spin on it.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 9:10

I agree. It's definitely specific to each island and we'll continue to see that as we. Delve into the Eastern Caribbean options

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 9:18

Julie, before we do that, let's talk about where in the world is wonder and beyond travel, when we're talking about cruising today, this is a cruise that not a lot of people do.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 9:29

You're right. this is a trans-Atlantic cruise with Royal Caribbean. I have a couple sailing on the cruise right around the time this podcast comes out. interesting thing is, this is only their second cruise. they did one cruise last year with Royal Caribbean, came back and we're like, we loved it. Let's book a 14 night cruise. I was like, are you sure?

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 9:50

I think for me, a transatlantic cruise where I have lots of time on the ship, I can completely unwind, relax. I know everything should be taken care of. I have good wifi for work and I can just do things at my own pace. I absolutely love it.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 10:09

Yeah, so with the transatlantic cruise. It's a one way usually. So they will be flying into London and then making their way to South Hampton, which is the port that the ship departs from, and then it goes from South Hampton all the way over to Miami. Now it doesn't have a lot of port stops, and that's something that can be really variable depending on the itinerary. this specific itinerary. goes to La Una, Spain, Vigo, Spain, Lisbon, Portugal, and Ponta Delgado Azore. So still some very beautiful places to see. And then you get to relax for like a week.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 10:47

And then since you're cruising, where do you have to stop next?

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 10:51

Nassau, Bahamas, and some of these, actually, since this is specifically with Royal Caribbean, some of these itineraries also go to Perfect Day at

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 11:01

Would that not be awesome? you're on the ship and then you get to stop a perfect day at Coco K. By the way, since on our most recent cruise that, uh, Jasmine and I did with your family Since we went to Perfect Day at Coco K on a Sunday, I think every Sunday since our trip, Jasmine, and I've been like, can we just teleport to Perfect Day at Coco K Like, just have a Sunday there.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 11:25

Well, no, because it's football season now.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 11:27

Oh, well, I could give up some football for Perfect Day at Coco K.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 11:33

So we love celebrating where our clients are headed. It definitely inspires curiosity, and we hope sharing that with you inspires your curiosity. We can't wait to hear about their trip, and maybe yours will be the next one we highlight.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 11:46

let's talk about the Eastern Caribbean, which is another common itinerary for cruise lines, Julie. we are gonna talk about Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, and this is gonna be a quick zip and waterfalls of dama. So we're gonna experience the waterfalls of dga, the highest rated attraction on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Jump slide and swim through crystal clear waters as you make your way down seven waterfalls. Feel the adrenaline rush as you sail along. Quick zips, three sip lines after. I love how it says this after a mandatory, safety briefing. I now realize when we talked about Costa Rica, they just talked about seeing alligators. They didn't talk anything about having safety training. And then after your stomach settles from all that, you are gonna savor a home cooked Dominican lunch at a country house bar featuring traditional dishes like rice, beans, chicken tenders, and fried plantains,

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 12:50

Chicken

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 12:50

chicken tenders. Okay? All right.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 12:53

it's not the chicken tenders

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 12:54

Uh, you know, that, that, that could be, that, that could be, you can stroll through the tropical garden and meet friendly parrots before returning to your cruise ship. I like this one it's that balance of excitement, seeing nature, having some yummy food, getting away from the hustle and bustle of the cruise ship.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 13:14

Yeah, Agree. It sounds great. this next port stop is a very different opportunity than a lot of the other ones we've talked about. And this is going to San Juan in Puerto Rico. tour is San Juan Old and New tour, which I've been to Puerto Rico, and this is exactly what you wanna be doing there.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 13:32

Yeah,

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 13:33

you're gonna experience the best of the old and new worlds in San Juan. Discover the vibrant nightlife of the Condado area and then unearth the rich history of Old San Juan. You can see the Governor's Palace, San Juan Cathedral, Kaia de Cristo, Fort San Cristobal, and a lot of shopping and restaurants are also in that same area, so you'll have some leisure time to go do that.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 13:57

Yeah. And nightlife and dining, because oftentimes in San Juan ships are staying later in that specific port.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 14:06

Yep.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 14:08

Alright, the next is Tor Toa and the bath discovery. you're gonna be going to Virgin Gorda to the, natural bass there, which is a, a must see for any outdoor enthusiast. You're gonna enjoy ferry transfers from your ship, so it's nice and easy. You're going to navigate the winding trails and boulders, and you're gonna discover Cavernous structures, sandy beaches and vivid marine life at the white sand beaches of Devil's Bay.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 14:41

And again, that's the thing to do in Tart is to go to the baths.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 14:46

Go to the baths.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 14:48

so next up is St. Martin, is actually has heritage with Dutch and French. So there's a lot going on on that island. a lot of different history to see there. The tour we're gonna focus on is the St. Martine Sites shopping and sand tour. So you're gonna see a lot of hidden spots that are rarely seen by cruise guests capturing stunning vistas from the Harold Jack Lookout Point uncover the quaint French village charm of Margo and immerse in the beauty of sweeping white sand Orient Bay. You're gonna be able to spend time in phillipsburg shopping or unwind at a local beach restaurant. And I just love the, I feel like with the Eastern Caribbean we're getting a lot more, variety between water activities and experiencing the islands themselves.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 15:39

Yeah. The next two that we're gonna share, if you hear people talk about doing the a, b, C islands, the C in that is carousel. And so we're gonna do a Carousel Complete Island tour from. East to West Tour, the Carousel Liquor factory where the island's namesake Lahara Fruit Liquor is produced. Visit the Queen Juliana Bridge, the highest bridge in the Caribbean. Immerse yourself in the west side's natural beauty and charming villages, and discover gorgeous views of the Boca Tabla Cave and Nip Bay.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 16:14

And then the A in those ABCs is Aruba, this is the anti shipwreck sail and snorkel trip where you get to dive into the underwater world of the famous Antia shipwreck home to an array of vibrant sea life. You're gonna be going on a 50 foot catamaran yacht, to get to this site, and then you'll spend 45 minutes at the anti, and then 45 minutes at the coral reef. You'll have a refreshing light lunch on board and open bar.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 16:44

This is my trip snorkeling at a shipwreck Totally cool.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 16:48

It's the open bar that sold it.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 16:50

No. it's checking out a shipwreck just really sounds like, man, I am in the Caribbean.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 16:57

And again, a lot of these excursions seem similar, but that's something that you're only gonna be doing in Aruba.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 17:03

So next is St. Lucia, and we're going to be doing the SU free air sale. Cruise aboard a spacious catamaran Enjoy unparalleled views of Marigo Bay and coastal villages. Explore stunning diamond falls and botanical gardens and savor local cuisine at a charming restaurant in Fri Air.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 17:23

let's head over to St. Thomas where you're gonna do a half day sale and snorkel with the turtles. Experience the unforgettable thrill of snorkeling with giant green sea turtles. turtles are my favorite animal. This sounds like perfection.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 17:37

would be you.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 17:38

This is me. You're gonna get to learn the history and pirate lore of St. Thomas. Dive into the marine sanctuary at Turtle Cove and see octopus starfish, tropical fish, and coral. Now, I would love to see some big sea turtles. I've seen some before in Mexico, but this sounds like the place to go. I don't really know if I wanna see octopus that, that kind of scares me a

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 18:03

I think that'd be cool.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 18:03

grab you? don't know. Like they've got all those tentacles. Ugh.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 18:09

next we're heading to Barbados and doing a similar excursion with the Barbados beach day and Turtle Swim. Swim with sea turtles and explore shipwrecks on our Barbados beach day. you're going to be swimming with turtles and exploring shipwrecks Savor the tranquil beauty of Carlisle Bay while spending a relaxing day at a local beach bar. Complete with a welcome drink. Enjoy a 90 minute snorkel trip, offering a unique window into six spectacular shipwrecks.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 18:36

And last is. Per De Plata, Dominican Republic. this is Explore the best of Per de Plata from Tino Bay. You're gonna have a fully narrated drive to and around the historic center. Stop at Fort San Felipe for photos and Malcon Beach to see the statue of Neptune positioned on the small island and spend some free time. a park for a brief history of the Victorian era architecture, you're gonna also have time at one of the local resorts, with access to the beach bars, restaurants, and their beach area there. this is also a really popular port stop on many cruises. So having something to do there is great.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 19:16

people are used to everything being included on the cruise. I like those excursions that focus on that too. your lunch is taken care of, your drinks are taken care of, your activities are taken care of, so that, again, you're not having to worry about all that because it is a little jarring sometimes when you're like, I'm not on the ship. I can't just go up and eat something. I've gotta find a restaurant.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 19:37

Yeah, or even just knowing that the transfers are included and you don't have to like take a taxi and meet somewhere.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 19:43

Yeah, so can I just say how proud I am of us, Julie, that we talked about some fantastic shore excursions and not once did we mention the most disgusting idea of swimming with a pig in a Caribbean island.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 19:59

That is listed as a really popular

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 20:03

I know it is.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 20:04

I never recommend it.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 20:05

I know it is. and when we were doing our walking tour in Nassau, even the, Bahamian gentleman that was giving us a tour, he is like, I don't understand it. It's the most popular excursion that we have and why people want to do it, I'm not quite sure. What would your ideal Caribbean excursion be? When you've got a day on an island, how do you want to spend it?

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 20:29

So when I look back at these the Eastern Caribbean really calls to me and I wanna do a cruise that goes to Tortola and St. Thomas. I just think those would be some really beautiful islands to see. I'm pretty sure Disney Cruise Line offers that.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 20:45

I'm pretty sure every cruise line offers that.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 20:48

Yeah, but I wanna go on Disney.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 20:50

Okay. I think for me, I want to do like a little bit of a walking tour so I can get my historical bearings straight. Learn some facts, right? I like to learn my Jeopardy facts about where I am, and then you're gonna get me on a catamaran. You're gonna take me out someplace. Interesting to snorkel and then we're gonna go grab a local lunch. That sounds like a perfect shore excursion to me.

j_1_09-05-2025_141722: 21:15

perfect.

ryan_1_09-05-2025_141722: 21:15

The world is full of wonder and your next great adventurous waiting and wonder and beyond travel, we work with you to create a one of a kind journey, taking the stress off your plate so you can focus on the joy of exploring and the memories that will stay with you forever. If you're ready to start planning or you just want to dream a little bigger, head on over to Wonder and beyond travel.com. We would love to help get you started. We look forward to talking to you next week on All Things Travel. When we continue this conversation and talk about the top European shore excursions,​By the way, since on our most recent cruise that, Jasmine and I did with your family since we went to Cocoa Day on Coco, uh, perfect Day at Cocoa, since we went to co, since we went. All right. I will take a pause and start again. Since we went to Perfect Day at Coco K on a Sunday,