Port Canaveral just topped off a $93 million, 13-story garage next to Cruise Terminal 6 — 3,700+ new spaces, eight luggage-sized elevators, and a covered walk to the ship when it opens in fall 2026. If you drive in for a Carnival, Royal, Princess, or Norwegian sailing, embarkation morning is about to get a lot easier.

Every Caribbean port day is really a five- or six-hour race against the all-aboard clock — so the best excursion is the one matched to each port's strength. We rank the top picks port by port for Cozumel, Nassau, St. Thomas, Belize and more, with a price-and-time band for each and how to book smart instead of overpaying at the pier.

"What's the best cruise line?" depends entirely on who's asking. We rank the major lines by tier — budget, premium, and luxury — across five measurable dimensions: value, food, entertainment, service, and CDC cleanliness scores, with a direct pick for every kind of traveler.