Sailing The Caribbean With NCL’s Sky: Amazing 14-Day Cruise

Cruising in the Caribbean is a chance to explore stunning beaches, colorful towns, and the rich history of each unique island. During our 14-day dream cruise on NCL’s Sky, we visited lush rainforests, stunning waterfalls, quaint towns, bustling cities, and much more.

Our cruise started and ended at the port of La Romana, the Dominican Republic. We flew in from Frankfurt a few days before the cruise to give ourselves time to fight off the jet lag before starting the cruise.

We decided to stay in the Punta Cana area to relax and explore a bit of the DR, too. Dreaming of a holiday in Punta Cana but tight on money? Check out our first-hand tips on exploring Punta Cana on a budget.

For many, visiting the sun-drenched Caribbean is the ultimate dream. We are no exception! With its turquoise waters, lush islands, and vibrant cultures, this region is a paradise that captures the hearts of travelers worldwide.

Here is the full rundown of all the incredible spots we hit during our cruise.

Day 1. La Romana, Dominican Republic

We kicked things off in La Romana, where we spent the night before the cruise. Because of the limited time, we could not see much in La Romana.

However, taking a river cruise on the River Chavon, visiting Altos de Chavon (a replica 16th-century Mediterranean village), or relaxing on Bayahibe’s beautiful beaches are some of the top activities most do in and around La Romana.

Day 2. Isla Catalina, Dominican Republic

Next stop: paradise! Isla Catalina is pure tropical magic with some of the clearest waters we have ever seen. If you are a fan of snorkeling (or even if you are not!), dive in to see incredible coral reefs teeming with colorful fish.

Some local dancers and singers in traditional Dominican clothes welcomed us on the island. There was little to do here except snorkel, chill, and swim. Not that we would complain.

Day 3. Willemstad, Curaçao

This place is straight out of a postcard! The pastel-colored Dutch buildings made us feel like we had landed back in Europe but with palm trees and beach vibes.

We wandered through the Otrobanda and Punda and watched the Queen Emma Bridge swing open—do not miss that view! We also visited Hato Caves and Curaçao Liqueur Distillery at Landhuis Chobolobo to sample Curaçao Blue.

Discover our selection of the best highlights of Curaçao.

Day 4. Oranjestad, Aruba 

Aruba’s capital, Oranjestad, is lively and full of cool shops and restaurants. We spent the day exploring Druif Beach and trying out some local bites. The local beer deserves a shoutout, too!

Day 5. Kralendijk, Bonaire

Labeled as the “diver’s paradise”, Bonaire is heaven for water lovers. However, we did not dive, but we gave snorkeling a go, and it did not disappoint!

After exploring Kralendijk, we took a tour around the island and visited highlights like Washington Slaagbai National Park, salt flats, slave huts, and Lake Goto. Here are the 10 ultimate bucket-list things to do in Bonaire.

Day 6. St. George’s, Grenada

Hello, Spice Island! You can smell the nutmeg, cinnamon, and cocoa as soon as you step off the ship. And even more so if you visit Laura Herb & Spice Garden.

The spices are not the only captivating thing about Grenada. It is a gorgeous island with lush rainforests, stunning waterfalls, lakes, cute towns, and some of the friendliest locals in the Caribbean.

Our tour took us to the Grand Etang National Park and later on to Annandale Waterfall – a beautiful waterfall surrounded by lush greenery.

Day 7. Kingstown, St. Vincent

St. Vincent is lush and full of dramatic landscapes. We took a quick hike up to the Botanical Gardens, one of the oldest in the Americas, and got to see some amazing tropical plants.

We had not booked a shore excursion on St. Vincent, so we spent the whole day exploring Kingstown with its nice churches and super-friendly locals.

Day 8. Bridgetown, Barbados

Bridgetown is a mix of British charm and island spirit. The rugged coastline in the north, the breathtaking Bathsheba beach, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Bridgetown left us speechless.

Barbados is truly magical, and we would love to return to explore it more. Check out the ultimate highlights of Barbados, the best time to visit, and how to get around.

Day 9. Castries, St. Lucia

We will never forget the sight of the Pitons as we got off the bus. St. Lucia is gorgeous! We also took a trip to Sulphur Springs. We got to see the steaming, bubbling pools up close in this “drive-in volcano” – a truly surreal experience!

Day 10. Roseau, Dominica

Known as the “Nature Island” of the Caribbean, Dominica is a paradise of rainforests, waterfalls, and volcanic landscapes.

The moment we stepped off the ship, we called the island Hominica (a place that could be home). We fell immediately in love with Dominica.

We explored the lush Spanny Falls and Jacko Falls, where we took a dip in its refreshing waters – an unforgettable way to experience this stunning waterfall.

Day 11. St. John’s, Antigua

St. John’s has 365 beaches, one for every day of the year! We did not have time to see them all, but we did relax on Jolly Beach on the western coast.

We enjoyed immensely our visit to the English Harbour in the South and the scenic drive through this stunning island.  

Day 12. Basseterre, St. Kitts

St. Kitts is rich in history, and one of the best ways to explore it is by visiting Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site that offers panoramic views of the island.

Visiting the Garden of Romney Manor and marveling at colonial buildings in Basseterre were also highlights.

Day 13. Philipsburg, St. Maarten

St. Maarten has a Dutch and a French side (St. Martin), and luckily, we got to explore both.

The capital, Philipsburg, has cobblestone streets and colorful, colonial-style buildings. The real thrill on St Maarten, though, was Maho Beach, where planes fly in so low that you feel like you could reach out and touch them. It is an experience we will not forget soon.

Having a croissant and coffee and paying in euros in Marigot (the capital of St. Martin) was a fun experience, too. It felt like we were back home in Europe.

Day 14. Tortola, British Virgin Islands

We had a short day at the port of Road Town, Tortola. And to make matters worse, our shore excursion did not go as planned. Long story short – we had paid for a tour around the island, covering a couple of major highlights. But we were driven to a nearby beach instead.

Luckily, we were refunded, but it still felt like a missed opportunity to capture the beauty of this stunning island. Maybe we will go back for more in the future!

Day 15. Back to Punta Cana

Back to where it all began! We spent our last day soaking up the sun on the golden beaches of Punta Cana before our flight to one of the most amazing cities in the world – New York. We could not have asked for a better way to wrap up this Caribbean adventure.

This cruise was a non-stop adventure and relaxation in the most beautiful destinations. If you want to see all the best of the Caribbean in one epic trip, we cannot recommend this itinerary on the Norwegian Sky enough!

Read our honest review of the Norwegian Sky and the cruise for more details.