Things to Do in Caribbean

On the island of Providenciales, Grace Bay Beach is the Turks’ sandy gem, voted best beach by beach-lovers the world over.

The white sand here is stunning, offset by gently lapping turquoise waters. Taking advantage of those sunset and ocean views, it’s here that you’ll find the majority of Providenciales’ upmarket resorts.

Restaurants, dive outfits and other facilities are also based at Grace Bay, but the vibe remains relaxed rather than busy, and empty stretches of beach can easily be found.

Close offshore, the fringing coral reef sets divers’ hearts fluttering with iridescent tropical fish and flapping rays. It’s ideal for beginner snorkelers, with great visibility and little sea vegetation to spoil the pristine underwater view.

Located on Grand Turk, this is the island’s most celebrated beach. Popular amongst beachgoers, divers, and snorkelers alike, Governor’s Beach has the white sands visitors to the Turks and Caicos have come to expect, but it also has something else up its sleeve that makes it one of the peak attractions in all of the Caribbean.

Just offshore of Governor’s Beach lies the famous Wall, where the third largest coral reef structure in the world makes a sharp drop into 6000+ feet of blue Atlantic water. Divers and snorkelers alike come here to enjoy some of the best underwater diving in the world. A full spectrum of coral, fish, and larger creatures fill the waterways. Special sightings include hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, and the migratory North Atlantic humpback whales.

Those that choose not to enjoy the underwater world will appreciate Governor’s Beach’s pine trees for some shade. Picnic benches and accommodations are also to be found here, as is the Columbus Landfall National Park – a park dedicated to the original landfall of Christopher Columbus in 1492.

Get a glimpse of Tobago’s colonial history at Fort King George. Built by the British during the 1770s, the fort sits high above the capital of Scarborough, it’s cannon still looking down over the city and out to sea. The fort grounds are an easy, free place to take a walk among the historic walls and buildings, and enjoy the wonderful views of the city and the ocean. While there, you can also visit the Tobago Museum, which is found within the guardhouse. Here you can peruse a small collection of Amerindian artifacts—including an real Amerindian skeleton—maps from the 1600s, watercolor paintings by Sir William Young, military equipment and more. 

Outside of the southeastern peninsula of St. Kitts, Frigate Bay has long been considered the best beach on the island. Located just 3 miles from Basseterre, there is something going on day or night all year round. Swimming, windsurfing, kayaking, jet skiing and beach volleyball are all popular activities at this golden sand beach. After nightfall, the beach bars of South Frigate Bay come alive. Live music, dancing, bonfires, karaoke, food and fun alternate on different nights of the week.

This section of the beach also hosts the annual St. Kitts Music Festival. The western end of the beach is home to various sports bars, restaurants and nightclubs for visitors and locals seeking some excitement.  Things really heat up with events sponsored by area businesses that coincide with the end of semester at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (mud wrestling, anyone?).  

Located a mere 50 miles east of the US Florida coast, Grand Bahama Island’s Freeport Cruise Port at Lucayan Harbour is a popular and convenient jumping-off point for cruisers (especially Americans) to experience the Bahamas’ famous white-sand beaches and opportunities for water sports. In contrast with the other Bahamian cruise port in the capital city of Nassau on New Providence Island, this laid-back launch pad for Caribbean fun is less about the bustle and more about the beach break.

The Basics
Freeport shore excursions from Lucayan Harbour allow travelers to make the most of their stop on Grand Bahama Island. When you get off the cruise ship, take a full or half-day city tour for some Freeport sightseeing that includes duty-free shopping at the famous International Bazaar or Port Lucaya Marketplace, or book a Bahamian Brewery tour for some beer samples. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in nature while in the Bahamas, you can spend a day kayaking at Turtle Park or tour Lucayan National Park, home to a spectacular underwater cave system and a beautiful hidden beach.

Other Freeport excursion options include relaxing at the popular Taino Beach or all-inclusive Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach; taking a scuba diving or snorkeling tour; and joining in on a beach bonfire party, where you can sip rum cocktails and limbo just like the locals.

• Freeport cruise excursions include pickup and drop-off from the cruise dock.
• Given Grand Bahama Island’s size and Freeport’s central location, it is easy enough to see the top sites in one day.
• Most cruises run to the Bahamas from December to May, when temperatures are typically in the low 80s (F). The hurricane season runs from about June to November.

How to Get to Port Lucaya From the Freeport Cruise Port
While it’s too far to walk from Freeport’s Lucayan Harbour to the downtown area known as Port Lucaya, the cruise ship port is located on the west-central part of the island, and cruisers can take a 10-minute taxi ride to get downtown. Most taxis will offer to make the trip for a flat fee of about $15. Also near the docks are shuttle vans offering rides from the pier to Port Lucaya for about $5 per passenger. The harbor is located just over five miles (nine km) from the International Bazaar.

Port Information
Grand Bahama Island is a frequented stop on cruise lines arriving from Florida. The tropical island’s close proximity to the United States means that English-speaking travelers are not likely to run into any language or culture snags. Both American and Bahamian dollars are accepted all over Grand Bahama Island.

One look at Grand Cayman Island and you can see why it’s among the most popular cruise ports in the Caribbean. Its pristine white sand beaches, picturesque ocean side villages, and plethora of sports and activities, Grand Cayman may well be the archetype of what all of those Caribbean cruise stereotypes are based off.

How to Get to Georgetown

Grand Cayman harbor has a tender wharf, and ships must remain at sea for the duration of their stop. Passengers must board smaller ships to shuttle them to the island and back. However, once on land you will find yourself immediately in the heart of Georgetown’s shopping area.

One Day on Grand Cayman

Despite being small, Grand Cayman is a bustling cruise hub that hosts almost two million visitors a year. Grand Cayman is especially known for its lush underwater ecosystems. Try the semi-submarine and fish feeding show or the Atlantis Submarine Excursion to take it all in from the safety of an Atlantis underwater vehicle. Or, get up close and personal with some rays in a one-tank dive during the Stingray City Dive.

Visitors looking to keep their heads above water can wander through the beautiful Queen Elizabeth II botanical garden, or get their retail therapy on at the mall in Governor’s Square featuring designer and luxury goods.

Port Information

Many major cruise lines dock at Bridgeport, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, and Norwegian. The Caymen Islands are a British territory, so the locals should all speak English fluently. The official currency is the Cayman Island Dollar, but American dollars are accepted almost everywhere. There are over 500 ATM’s around the island, so access to cash should never be far.

Bermuda boasts two lighthouses, but the one at Gibb’s Hill is the most notable, the first of only a few in the world to be made from cast iron.

Standing 108m (354ft) above sea level on one of Bermuda’s highest hills, the sparkling white lighthouse was first lit in 1846, and was automated in 1964. Shipwrecks in these parts were legendary, and in just 10 years before the lighthouse was built almost 40 ships came to grief. The lighthouse helped make Bermuda’s waters much safer, its light visible for miles out to sea.

On a visit to the lighthouse you can ascend the 185 spiral steps to the top for stunning views out to sea and over the island. If you visit between February and May, you might even spot a passing whale!

The steps aren’t too steep, and there are resting places and exhibits along the way.

Next door, in the colonial-style former signal station, there’s a gift shop and the swanky Dining Room restaurant serving lunch and dinner.

What makes an underwater experience great isn’t always what you see – sometimes it’s what you do. And while the Turks and Caicos have some amazing snorkeling and diving spots, Gibb's Cay is a place where animal lovers can come and have an altogether different experience – one playing with gentle sting rays.

Don’t let their harsh name fool you – these underwater flying creatures are often as gentle as a cat. While you disembark from your boat, you’ll likely notice the velvety feel of friendly sting rays about your feet. Something of a symbiosis has developed here over the years, and now stingrays approach boats and people by the dozens to play with them and be fed by them. The stingrays are wild, and so best treated with the utmost respect, but Gibbs Cay offers what other islands cannot – a magical experience and a chance to interact with one of Mother Nature’s most delicate underwater creatures.

Among the myriad natural and geological wonders you’ll find in Dominica’s Morne Trois Pitons National Park is Freshwater Lake, also known as Warmae Letang. This water-filled volcanic crater sits at around 2,500 feet above sea level, and it’s surrounded by moss, ferns and lush vegetation of Dominca’s interior rainforest, making it great place to spot the elusive Carib hummingbird. As the island’s largest lake, it’s the headwaters of the Roseau River, and a hydroelectric dam at the riverhead provides power to the island. In recent years the lake has become a popular eco-tourism destination with boating and kayaking trips available on the lake itself, and an easy hiking trail that circumnavigates the lake, which takes an hour or two to complete. From Freshwater Lake you can also continue hiking another mile to explore nearby Boeri Lake, which is the island’s deepest.

Discover the natural beauty and the wildlife of the Bahamas at the Garden of the Groves, an idyllic botanical garden filled with lush plant life, native animals, and plenty of photo opportunities.