It’s a Shore Thing

Experience the Caribbean the Virgin Voyages way.
By Stacey Zable

Beach, culture, and nature lovers get ready to set sail on Virgin Voyages to the Caribbean. Home port Miami is the ideal starting point for long Caribbean days of fun and sun. Richard Branson’s new adult-by-design cruise line for the 18+ traveler features its own distinct take on shore excursions with its Shore Things. Nature explorations, deep dives into island culture and history, and the pure tranquility of white sand beaches await sailors as they navigate some of the world’s bluest waters. Here’s a look at our top picks.

Wild Dolphin Safari in Bimini

Virgin Voyages Beach Club at Bimini, The Bahamas

Virgin Voyages’ private island resort-like experience at the Beach Club at Bimini offers the purity of simple relaxation. Beachside yoga, private cabanas by a pool, and a beachside bonfire celebrating the sunset invite you to unplug. When you add on the Wild Dolphin Safari experience, you’ll get to swim and play with these magnificent marine mammals in their natural habitat while accompanied by a guide. Since dolphins like to mimic human behavior, go ahead and turn up the energy with twists, twirls, and dives and watch how your new pals imitate you.

Local Women’s Co-op: Recycled Art Project

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Beyond Puerto Plata’s natural beauty of canyons, mountains, waterfalls, and scenic coastline are its warm and welcoming people. A transformative experience, this exclusive Shore Thing invites you to work with a local group of women who recycle paper to create notebook covers, paper birds for jewelry, necklaces, and more. You’ll learn all the steps to recycle and produce the crafts while making an impact on a local neighborhood during your cruise.

Exclusive Hemingway House Experience

Key West, Florida

Key West has long been a draw for artists and writers and is where Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote for 10 years. This exclusive Virgin Voyages Shore Thing excursion invites you into the Hemingway House in the heart of Old Town Key West via a private entrance. You are met by a personal bartender serving mimosas, Bloody Mary’s, and Hemingway’s own favorite drink, rum daiquiris. Tour the premises with a guide with time to check out the grounds on your own as well as some of the approximately 60 polydactyl (six-toed) cats who call the museum home.

Beachside Salsa Cooking & Dancing

Costa Maya, Mexico

This lesser-known region of the Mayan Riviera invites Sailors to explore the special port of Costa Maya in an immersive way while in Mexico. This Shore Thing excursion combines local F&B with some serious dance moves. All these Mexican traditions are enjoyed while at a beachfront restaurant that offers time to also simply lounge on the white sands. A hands-on cooking class gets you slicing and dicing fresh ingredients for delicious treats you’ll be tasting while sipping on margaritas or Mexican beer. Salsa lessons from your guides invites you to take to the dance floor to fully embrace your newly-learned high-energy moves.

The Amazing Secret River

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Explore the natural beauty of the Mexican Caribbean’s jungle while stopping in one of Mexico’s most popular spots. Tour a millenary cave and learn about its geological history and take a nature walk with a guide that will inform and enlighten along the way. Swim in a secret river as part of your adventure. A private gourmet meal amidst the region’s scenic natural wonders rounds out this exclusive Shore Thing excursion.

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