There are two kinds of cruisers: the ones who drink the same beer at every ship bar, and the ones who treat every port like a treasure hunt. This guide is for the second kind.
Rule one: drink local, every port
The Caribbean alone is a masterclass — rum punch in Jamaica, painkillers in the BVI, ti' punch in Martinique, ponche crema around the holidays in Curaçao. Ask the bartender what they drink after a shift, not what's on the laminated menu. That question has never once failed us.
Rule two: the sea day pace
Sea days are marathons, not sprints. Something light at the pool, water in between, and save the serious cocktail for sunset when the deck empties out and the light goes gold. The best bar on any ship is the one facing west at 6pm.
Rule three: skip the ship's front-row bar in port
The bar directly at the pier exists for people who don't want to walk. Walk. Ten minutes inland is where the prices drop, the pours get honest, and the bartender has opinions worth hearing.
Rule four: bring evidence home
Not a shot glass with the island's name on it. A story, a bartender's name, and maybe a bottle you can't get at home. That's the itinerary that matters — the liquid one.
Dressed for the deck: shop the Cruise Collection.