When traveling with a family, especially a family that includes young children, we tend to be very thoughtful about our travel plans.  That being said, given the rough 2017 hurricane season, some parents may be re-thinking their planned family cruises and others may be reluctant to plan Caribbean family vacations at this time because of the idea that the Caribbean islands are in bad shape right now.  While a number of the hardest hit islands have a long road to recovery ahead of them, there are many available options in the Caribbean that were virtually unharmed by the 2017 hurricanes.

Longtime tourist hotspots like Jamaica, The Dominican Republic, Grand Cayman, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, are just some examples of family-friendly Caribbean destinations that have been mostly unaffected during and after this most recent hurricane season.  All-inclusive resorts, of which there is variety on the islands mentioned here, are our family's preferred type of land vacation.  However, our family's overall preferred vacation option is, of course, a cruise vacation.  There are many cruise options to the Caribbean islands mentioned here, and more.  Most cruise lines offer Western Caribbean itineraries that include Jamaica and Grand Cayman (and often a Mexican port, such as Cozumel).  Additionally, the Dominican Republic has become a popular cruise destination.  Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao (known as the “ABC Islands”) are found on certain Southern Caribbean itineraries, usually available through Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Princess Cruises, to name a few. 

Most of the islands affected by the recent hurricanes are found on Eastern Caribbean cruise itineraries, and some Southern Caribbean itineraries.  Those vacationing via cruise ship, even during the hurricanes, were kept safe and out of the areas impacted by the storm.  Some of the islands impacted by hurricane season 2017 have re-opened to tourists and cruise ships, and the great thing about that is that accommodations and meals are taken care of on the ship, so guests need not worry about where they will stay or eat.  Again, cruising wins as a preferred vacation option. 

Are you dissuaded or persuaded to cruise to the Caribbean?