Caribbean Island Voyages.com
Escape what's Ordinary!
Your guide to what’s included and what’s not on your island adventure cruise fare
Caribbean Island Cruise Packages
What's actually included in Caribbean island cruise packages?
Planning one of the best Caribbean cruise vacations for your family? Before you book, you'll want to know exactly what comes with your package — and what doesn't.
Good news: there's a lot more included than most people expect. Let's break it all down, section by section, so you can plan with confidence and no surprises.
What's Included in Your Caribbean Island Cruise Package?
One of the best parts of choosing a Caribbean island cruise package is how much is already bundled in. Here's a full breakdown of everything you can expect.
Your cabin or stateroom
Your cabin is your home base for the trip, and it comes fully included with your Caribbean island cruise package. Some cabins sleep up to five passengers and include twin or bunk beds, a television, closet, vanity area, and a private bathroom with shower.
What matters most is choosing the right cabin type for your family and budget. Here's how the four main options break down:
Most affordable - Inside cabin
No window or porthole. Compact but functional — ideal for families who plan to spend most of their time out and about on the ship or ashore.
Mid-range - Ocean-view cabin
A porthole or window looking out to sea. Great for families who want natural light and a glimpse of the ocean without paying balcony prices.
Popular upgrade - Balcony cabin
Opens onto a private balcony — perfect for watching sunrises, sunsets, and sail-aways. A favorite among families and couples alike.
Best in class - Suite
The most spacious option, often including a separate living area, premium amenities, and priority boarding. A true splurge — and worth it for special occasions.
One important tip: an inside cabin or "guaranteed cabin" will almost always cost less than the others. And remember — you'll spend most of your time outside the cabin anyway. That's the whole point of cruising!
All your meals on board
Yes, food is fully included in your Caribbean island cruise package — and there is a lot of it. We're talking breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus snacks and meals in between. The variety is genuinely impressive depending on which cruise line you sail.
Most ships offer a mix of formal dining rooms (where you'll be seated and served in a restaurant setting) and open buffets where you can grab what you want, when you want it.
My wife loves the formal dining experience; I personally prefer mixing it up between both. Room service is also included if you'd rather eat in the cabin — great for early mornings before a port day.
Cuisine options typically span Caribbean, American, French, Italian, Indian, and Chinese — so even the picky eaters in the family will find something they love.
See more on family dining options on Caribbean cruises.
Onboard activities for the whole family
Picture the cruise ship as a luxury resort at sea — with everything that comes with it. Pools, hot tubs, fitness centers, jogging tracks, movie screens, art galleries, libraries, card rooms, and daily organized activities led by the cruise director. There genuinely isn't enough time to do it all in one sailing.
Whether you want to keep up your workout routine, relax by the pool, catch a movie under the stars, or join a trivia contest, it's all included. The cruise director puts together a packed daily schedule — and it's entirely up to you how much or how little you participate.
Kids' clubs, camps, and supervised activities
This is one of the biggest selling points of Caribbean island cruise packages for families — and it deserves a proper look.
Every major cruise line (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, and others) invests heavily in kids' programming, and it shows.
Children are grouped by age and assigned to dedicated spaces — camps, club houses, and lounges — with trained counselors who guide, entertain, and supervise throughout the day.
The result? Your kids are genuinely busy and having the time of their lives, while you get some well-deserved time to relax or explore on your own.
Toddlers (2–5) - Supervised play, crafts, storytelling
Kids (6–8) - Games, scavenger hunts, pool time
Tweens (9–11) - Science activities, cooking demos, movies
Juniors (12–14) - Deck sports, team challenges, socials
Teens (15–17) - Exclusive teen lounges, arcades, events
Older kids and teens have their own separate spaces — ping pong, rock climbing walls, basketball courts, video arcades, and teen-only evening events. Every age group is genuinely catered for.
Our kids have sailed with us multiple times, and they ask to go back every single time.
Live entertainment every night
Your Caribbean island cruise package includes nightly entertainment that genuinely rivals what you'd find in a resort — or even Las Vegas. Each ship features a large theater where professional performers put on full-scale production shows, magic acts, comedy performances, and more.
There are also smaller lounges throughout the ship hosting karaoke, couples' games, singles' mixers, and live music throughout the evening.
One tip from experience: the theater fills up fast. Get there early if you want a good seat — latecomers often end up standing at the back.
Ports of call — the islands themselves
Every Caribbean island cruise package includes scheduled stops at some of the most beautiful destinations in the world.
The number of ports depends on the length of your cruise:
3-night: 1–2 ports | 4-night: 2 ports | 5-night: 2–3 ports | 7-night: 3–4 ports
Some of the most popular ports included on Caribbean island cruise itineraries include:
Cozumel, Mexico - World-class snorkeling and scuba diving on the Mesoamerican Reef, plus vibrant local markets and Mayan ruins nearby at Tulum.
Nassau, Bahamas - Crystal-clear water, stunning beaches like Cable Beach and Paradise Island, and the famous Atlantis resort just a short taxi ride from the pier.
St. Thomas, USVI - One of the Caribbean's top duty-free shopping destinations, with beautiful Magens Bay beach and stunning harbor views from hilltop lookouts.
Grand Cayman - Home to the famous Seven Mile Beach and Stingray City — where you can wade into shallow water and interact with friendly southern stingrays.
Ocho Rios, Jamaica - Climb the iconic Dunn's River Falls, explore lush tropical gardens, or simply relax on one of the island's beautiful sandy beaches.
St. Maarten - Two countries on one island — Dutch and French sides each offering their own unique restaurants, beaches, and shopping experiences.
At each port you'll have several hours to explore freely — hit the beach, browse local vendors, sample the cuisine, or simply soak in the scenery. It's one of the things that makes Caribbean island cruise packages so special: multiple destinations, one price.
Once you're on board, you don't need to spend another dollar for food, entertainment, or activities. That's what makes Caribbean island cruise packages exceptional value — especially for families who want a predictable vacation budget.
What's Excluded from the Base Cruise Fare?
In the spirit of full transparency (nobody likes surprises on vacation), here's what you'll need to budget separately for, even on the best Caribbean cruise vacations:
Spa treatments
Onboard massages and spa services are a wonderful add-on, but come at an extra cost.
Soda, specialty drinks and alcohol
Juices, lemonade, milk, and tea are included. Sodas and alcoholic beverages are not. A soda plan can save families a meaningful amount here.
Casino - Onboard Donations
Fun for adults, but chips are purchased separately. Budget accordingly if this is part of your plan.
Bingo
A popular pastime on Caribbean cruises, but requires a separate purchase to play.
Game arcades
Provided for the kids, but tokens must be purchased separately.
Internet service
Staying connected at sea costs extra. Most cruise lines offer daily or weekly plans.
Specialty restaurants
Beyond the included dining, ships offer premium restaurants with a per-person cover charge.
Shore excursions
Activities at each port are not included. Book in advance — third-party providers often offer better rates than the ship's own excursion desk.
Gratuities
Some cruise lines charge a mandatory daily gratuity per person. Check your cruise line's policy when comparing packages.
Understanding Caribbean Island Cruise Package Pricing
Here's something that surprises a many first-time cruisers: the bigger your group, the better the deal. Caribbean island cruise packages are built around cabin pricing — meaning the first two passengers pay full fare, but the third and fourth people sharing that same cabin often pay less - often a significant amount.
Quick pricing example:
A 4-night cruise starting at $450 per person means the first two guests in a cabin pay that rate. The third and fourth guests in the same cabin can pay as much as 50% less. That's a real saving for families — and a great reason to cruise together.
Your base fare generally covers the cabin, taxes, and port charges. Everything else below? Consider it your floating all-inclusive resort. And once you're on board, you can genuinely leave your wallet in the cabin for most of the trip. (You actually do not use cash on the cruise ship.)
Is a Caribbean Island Cruise Package Worth it?
In a word: Yes — especially for families.
When you factor in accommodation, all meals, nightly entertainment, kids' programs, onboard activities, and stops at multiple gorgeous island destinations, all rolled into one price, Caribbean island cruise packages deliver exceptional value compared to piecing together a land-based vacation.
The extras you'll pay for — drinks, excursions, spa — are entirely optional. And with a little advance planning, particularly booking shore excursions through third-party operators before you sail, you can keep those add-on costs well under control. (Consider if you should add a drink package.)
For families especially, the combination of supervised kids' activities, round-the-clock dining, built-in entertainment, and multiple island destinations makes it one of the best Caribbean cruise vacations you can plan.
We've done it multiple times with our own kids — and every time, they're already asking when we're going back before we've even disembarked.
Frequently Asked Questions on Caribbean Island Cruise Packages
1. What is a Caribbean Island Cruise Package?
A Caribbean Island cruise package is a bundled vacation that includes your cruise fare, onboard accommodations, meals, entertainment, and access to multiple island destinations in one trip. Many packages also include perks like drink plans, Wi‑Fi, or shore excursion credits depending on the cruise line.
2. What’s typically included in a Caribbean cruise package?
Most packages include your stateroom, meals in main dining areas, onboard shows, kids’ programs, pools, and transportation between islands. Some upgraded packages may include specialty dining, beverage packages, gratuities, or onboard credit.
3. How much does a Caribbean Island cruise package cost?
Prices vary based on cruise line, ship, travel dates, and cabin type. A typical 3–5 night package ranges from $350–$900 per person, while 7‑night packages often run $700–$1,800 per person. Holiday and summer sailings cost more.
4. Do I need a passport for a Caribbean cruise package?
For closed‑loop cruises departing and returning to the same U.S. port, a passport is recommended but not always required. However, a passport is strongly encouraged because it makes emergency travel or unexpected flight changes much easier.
5. Which cruise lines offer Caribbean Island cruise packages?
Popular options include Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises. Each offers different styles—from budget‑friendly to luxury to family‑focused.
6. What is the best time of year to book a Caribbean cruise package?
The best value is usually found during January–April and September–early December. Peak season (June–August and holidays) offers great weather but higher prices and larger crowds.
7. Are Caribbean cruise packages good for families?
Absolutely. Most cruise lines offer kids’ clubs, splash zones, family cabins, and island excursions suitable for all ages. Packages often make budgeting easier for families since so much is included upfront.
8. What islands are usually included in a Caribbean cruise package?
Common stops include Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Thomas, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, St. Maarten, Aruba, and the Dominican Republic. Many cruise lines also feature private islands like Perfect Day at CocoCay or Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
9. How far in advance should I book a Caribbean cruise package?
For the best cabin selection and pricing, book 6–12 months in advance. Last‑minute deals exist, but they’re unpredictable and may not include ideal cabin types or travel dates.
10. Are shore excursions included in a Caribbean cruise package?
Most packages do not include excursions by default. However, some promotions offer excursion credits, bundled tours, or discounted island activities. Booking early ensures the best selection, especially for popular beach days and adventure tours.
Ready to explore Caribbean island cruise packages for your family? Click now to view and compare cruise package rates.
Contact Us
Have questions? Reach out and we'll help plan your perfect island cruise.
The included activities kept our days fun and filled with laughter on the crystal-clear shores.
Tanya & Tim
Meals were delicious and convenient, making every moment aboard truly relaxing.
Nina P.
