Before your cruise

Caribbean and Central America

Island beaches, Mayan ruins and the Panama Canal. Every ship has its own ports, so pick the countries on your ticket.

Say: Buenos días (BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs), Good morning, helloMuchas gracias (MOO-chahs GRAH-syahs), Thank you very much
Try: Tacos al pastor, Mole poblano, Chiles en nogada
See: Chichén Itzá, Teotihuacan, The Metropolitan Cathedral
Money: Mexican peso (MXN)
Good to know: Drink bottled water. Do not drink tap water. Use bottled or boiled water, and be careful with ice in drinks. Many hotels and restaurants use purified water and ice, so ask if you are unsure.

Say: Good morning (gud MOR-ning), Good morning
Try: Ackee and saltfish, Jerk chicken and pork, Curry goat
See: Blue Mountain Peak and the Blue and John Crow Mountains, Port Royal, Bob Marley Museum
Money: Jamaican dollar (JMD)
Good to know: Check on the west after Hurricane Melissa. Hurricane Melissa hit western Jamaica very hard in October 2025. As of May 2026 the British government reported that some communities there still lacked electricity and piped water, and that healthcare was limited in the worst-hit areas. Check the latest travel advice and ask your hotel or tour operator before you go.

Say: Buenos días (BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs), Good morning, helloMuchas gracias (MOO-chahs GRAH-syahs), Thank you very much
Try: La bandera, Sancocho, Mangú
See: The Colonial City of Santo Domingo, The Cathedral of Santo Domingo, The Columbus Lighthouse (Faro a Colón)
Money: Dominican peso (DOP)
Good to know: Know the seasons. It is warm all year, about 28 °C on the coast and cooler in the mountains, where nights can be chilly. January and February are the coolest months and August the hottest. The hurricane season runs from June to November, and the sea can be rough then; follow local warnings and check the forecast before you travel.

Say: Buenos días (BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs), Good morning, helloMuchas gracias (MOO-chahs GRAH-syahs), Thank you very much
Try: Ropa vieja, Moros y cristianos, Picadillo
See: Old Havana, Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, The Malecón
Money: Cuban peso (CUP). The Cuban convertible peso (CUC) was withdrawn in 2021
Good to know: Check the travel advice first. As of September 2026, the UK government advises against all but essential travel to Cuba. Fuel shortages have caused repeated failures of the power grid, cancelled flights and cuts to transport, medical care and communications. Check your own government's advice and your insurance before you book.

Say: Buenos días (BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs), Good morning, hellogracias (GRAH-syahs), thank you
Try: Gallo pinto, Casado, Olla de carne
See: National Theatre of Costa Rica, Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, Irazú Volcano
Money: Costa Rican colón (CRC), named after Christopher Columbus
Good to know: Respect the rip currents. Rip currents are very common on Costa Rica's beaches, and many have no lifeguards. Every year dozens of people drown, and a third of them are tourists. Ask locals or surfers about conditions and swim only where it is known to be safe.

Say: Buenos días (BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs), Good morning, hellogracias (GRAH-syahs), thank you
Try: Ropa vieja, Fried fish with coconut rice, Patacones
See: The Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal, Casco Viejo, Panamá Viejo
Money: Panamanian balboa (PAB), fixed at one to one with the United States dollar, which is also legal tender. Panama mints its own coins, but all paper money is US dollars
Good to know: Come in the dry season if you can. Panama is warm all year, around 30 to 33°C by day on the coasts. The dry season, called verano (summer), runs from about December to April and is the most popular time to visit. In the rainy season, called invierno (winter), from about May to November, mornings are often sunny and the rain comes in the afternoon. The mountains around Boquete are cooler, so bring layers and a rain jacket.

Say: Buenos días (BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs), Good morning, helloMuchas gracias (MOO-chahs GRAH-syahs), Thank you very much
Try: Ajiaco santafereño, Bandeja paisa, Sancocho
See: The walled city of Cartagena, Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, The Gold Museum
Money: Colombian peso (COP)
Good to know: Check which areas to avoid. As of September 2026, the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to several parts of Colombia, mostly remote border and rural areas, such as along the Venezuelan border and parts of the Pacific coast. Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena and the coffee region are not among them. It also reports heightened security measures in Santa Marta after an operation against armed groups, and risks on Route 90, the coast road from Santa Marta to Tayrona National Park. If you go, follow the advice of local authorities. Check the latest advice before you book.

Say: Buenos días (BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs), Good morning, hellogracias (GRAH-syahs), thank you
Try: Pepián, Kak'ik, Tamales colorados
See: Tikal National Park, Antigua Guatemala and the Santa Catalina Arch, Lake Atitlán
Money: Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ), named after the national bird
Good to know: Know the seasons. Guatemala has a dry season from about November to April and a rainy season from about May to October, when afternoon downpours are common and roads can suffer landslides. The highlands are spring-like by day but cold at night, especially in Quetzaltenango, while Petén and the coasts are hot and humid all year.