Our Travels: Caribbean Ports of Call in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Haiti
AAA Travel Consultant Rebecca Rayburn shares her expert advice on Caribbean cruising.
AAA Travel expert, Rebecca Rayburn, posing in port in front of her cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas.
Today’s cruise ships offer passengers captivating onboard entertainment like never before, including, zip lining, surfing, and even ice skating!
The walkability and charm of Old San Juan make it a must see when visiting the Caribbean.
Built by the Spanish in 1783 to protect San Juan from invaders, Fort San Cristobal offers some of the most breathtaking views on the island.
The unique variety—and volume—of items offered in Nassau’s straw market will please treasure hunters and shopaholics alike.
Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beachfront resort, offers an exclusive getaway for cruise passengers.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about cruising the Caribbean?
A: My favorite thing about cruising the Caribbean is the variety—a variety of islands, activities and dining options. You can choose to participate in as much or as little as you like. If you travel with others, everyone can do their own thing and then share those experiences later.
Q: What were the ports of call on your itinerary?
A: Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Labadee, Haiti. Each had its own unique charm and left us with some great memories:
Nassau, Bahamas, not only offers world-class beaches within walking distance of the dock, but the straw market is a shoppers’ paradise and the perfect place to pick up a variety of souvenirs or Christmas presents.
Outside San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the beautiful El Yunque rain forest, which was a great excursion. On the tour, we stopped at the Yokahu Observation Tower and climbed to the top (no elevator!) for a fantastic view of the lush forest surrounding it.
The port of Labadee is Royal Caribbean’s private beach, located on the northern coast of Haiti, and is for the exclusive use of cruise passengers. There are so many activities to choose from—from kayaking to zip lining to just relaxing on the beach. And there is a trolley to help get you around once we decided what we wanted to do.
Q: What are essential items to pack for a Caribbean vacation?
A: Plenty of sun block, a good camera and your spirit of adventure.
Q: What is something memorable you will take away from this experience?
A: Our cruise ship offered so many activities—it was amazing. You could choose to ice-skate, mini golf, rock climb, zip line, boogie board and surf—all on the same ship! Not to mention the excellent entertainment that was provided. The shows included a full production of Cats, a stunning aqua show and even an ice-skating show.
Explore all the possibilities that a vacation to the southern, eastern and western Caribbean can offer.
Read MoreQ: Given the opportunity to return to the Caribbean, where would you like to visit?
A: I would like to visit St. Kitts; also St. Lucia to see the Pitons. The hiking trails, waterfalls and beaches are supposed to be wonderful.
Q: Where are you planning to visit next?
A: I will be flying to London in November.
Great vacations start with AAA Travel. Learn what AAA Members are saying about their own Caribbean adventures.
“St. Lucia is like living in a botanical garden. Every day and every night we had perfect weather for sightseeing or ‘doing nothing’–which we did a lot of.”— ROBERT C., AAA MEMBER
“Our cruise experience to the Caribbean was relaxing and enjoyable. We wish we could have stayed another day in Puerto Rico. Old San Juan was just beautiful.”— MARLA SMITH, AAA MEMBER
Read more AAA Traveler Reviews at AAA.com/TravelerReviews.