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COVID-19: Which Caribbean and Bahamas Cruise Ports Are Open?

Cozumel Port

Gina Kramer

Contributor

Cruising from the United States has resumed since the COVID-19 pandemic first halted operations in March 2020, and while most ports in the Caribbean and Bahamas are now open, others remain closed to all tourism or have tight restrictions when it comes to who can get off the ship.

If you're planning a Caribbean or Bahamas cruise and interested in specific destinations, we break down which ports are open and closed to cruising. Strict entry caveats -- namely vaccination requirements -- also are outlined below. (Cruise lines manage and facilitate necessary rapid antigen and PCR COVID-19 tests.)

Some cruise lines sailing these itineraries require all passengers be fully vaccinated. Rules enforced by countries/territories and cruise lines are subject to evolve and change as new data becomes available, so remaining flexible with your plans is key.

Note: Ports are listed as they appear on most cruise ship itineraries. Some are in countries outside the Caribbean and Bahamas but accessible from ships that sail to those regions. The information in this story is accurate as of August 2021.

Bahamas

CocoCay's Thrill Waterpark (Photo: Royal Caribbean Intenational)

A temporary emergency order requires all cruise travelers to the Bahamas over the age of 12 be fully vaccinated. The guidelines also apply to cruise line private islands.

Ports that are open:

Bimini (The Beach Club at Bimini)

Castaway Cay

Freeport

Great Stirrup Cay

Half Moon Cay

Nassau

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

Perfect Day at CocoCay

Princess Cays

Eastern Caribbean

St. Maarten (Photo:Sean Pavone/Shutterstock)

Ports that are open:

Anguilla: Only fully vaccinated travelers are allowed on the island.

Antigua

Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands

Nevis: All travelers must be fully vaccinated.

San Juan, Puerto Rico: Only fully vaccinated cruise passengers are allowed to disembark the ship.

St. Barts: All travelers must be fully vaccinated.

St. Kitts: All travelers must be fully vaccinated.

St. Maarten

St. Martin

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Ports that remain closed:

Montserrat: Montserrat has shut down all tourism to the territory until further notice.

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands: Closed to cruise tourism

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands Closed to cruise tourism

St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands Closed to cruise tourism

Western Caribbean

Cozumel (Photo:CAN BALCIOGLU/Shutterstock)

Ports that are open:

Amber Cove, Dominican Republic

Belize City, Belize

Cienfuegos, Cuba

Colon, Panama

Costa Maya, Mexico

Cozumel, Mexico

Falmouth, Jamaica

Harvest Caye, Belize

Havana, Cuba

La Romana, Dominican Republic

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Progreso, Mexico

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Roatan, Honduras

Samana and Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic

Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Ports that remain closed:

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands: The Cayman Islands' government has outlined a phased reopening to tourism, which aims to allow only vaccinated travelers on the island October 14, 2021. Beginning November 18, the country expects to open travel to children under 12, accompanied by vaccinated travelers. The country is still closed to cruise tourism as of September 1, 2021.

- Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos

Labadee, Haiti: Although Haiti's COVID-19 travel policy allows for both vaccinated and unvaccinated cruisers to enter the country, barring test results, a “Do Not Travel” order has been issued by the U.S government due to civil unrest. As a result, Royal Caribbean – which operates the private island – has suspended calls until further notice.