I've been on over 50 cruises. Here are 3 routes I'd sail again in a heartbeat and 3 I'd skip.

Mediterranean cruises start and end in various ports of call around Europe, typically throughout the summer sailing season.

Last year, my family and I took a Disney Cruise that started and ended in Barcelona, with stops in France and Italy.

My favorite part of this trip was splitting a day between Nice and Eze in the French Riviera. I was able to walk through cobblestone streets overlooking the ocean while sipping on limoncello.

I've taken many western Caribbean routes over the years on Carnival and Disney Cruise Line, and they never disappoint.

The route usually includes stops at Cozumel, Mexico, and Georgetown, Grand Cayman. But it may also include ports of call at Falmouth, Jamaica; Costa Maya, Mexico; or Roatán, Honduras.

I always get off the ship in Cozumel, even if it's just to have lunch at a taco shop. Don't get lured into the restaurants right at the docks because the best food is in the spots farther down the main street.

I also love getting off in Roatán. On a semi-recent cruise, I took an excursion to Roatan Island Brewing Company to try different beers made with local ingredients.

Every once in a while, I can find a short three-night cruise on Royal Caribbean or Disney that only visits the brand's private islands.

These short cruises are ideal weekend getaways and go to some of my favorite ports of call, like Royal Caribbean's CocoCay and Disney's Castaway Cay.

I love both of these destinations because there's so much to do — you really can spend the entire day at the beach or exploring the various parts of the island. I also love that food and drinks are all provided, so I don't have to return to the ship for lunch.

I love short cruises from Port Canaveral or Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but they often mean stopping at Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas.

I don't really think there's much to see at either stop once you've done it once or twice. If my route includes them, I usually stay on the ship to enjoy the less crowded pool and spa.

The trade-off for these two ports is often getting to visit a cruise line's private island, so I think it's worth it for that. However, I don't need to go on another long cruise through the Bahamas.

Many cruise lines, like Carnival and Virgin Voyages, are now taking cruisers to Bimini for an easy beach day.

In my opinion, though, if you're not a big fan of chilling at the beach, there's not much else to do on the island.

I love Key West in the Florida Keys, but as a port stop, it was hard to see a lot of the island and explore beyond Duval Street.

I'd prefer to spend a few days in the destination to explore all that it has to offer instead of making it a cruise stop.

This story was originally published on February 20, 2024 and most recently updated on March 17, 2025.