By Cassie Bailey | Published: March 4, 2020 | Updated: March 4, 2026
Goodbye sweater weather, hello sunshine — summer is just around the corner. For many New Yorkers, the change in weather usually heralds the beginning of a season of rooftop parties, live music in Central Park, longer days with plenty of blue skies and swiftly rising temperatures. It’s also the ideal time of year to get out of town and check some new vacation destinations off your bucket list on the perfect summer getaway. There are plenty of options for parents with kids out of school, students in between semesters and anyone who’s craving a little change in scenery.
This year, add a well-deserved Caribbean getaway to your summer agenda. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to plan a week-long family vacation to exotic southern shores or a last-minute sun-soaked island hop with your besties. You don’t even have to board an airplane — there are plenty of tropics-bound destinations for summer cruises from New York.
With its pastel-hued colonial buildings and stunning white-sand beaches, Bermuda is a sun-seekers’ paradise and the perfect place to take a break from the Northeast. Its claim to fame as a world-class diving and golf destination doesn’t hurt, either.
Unsurprisingly, it’s one of the best destinations to cruise to from the New York area if you like a combination of rest and play. That’s why you’ll find lots of itineraries with stops at this Caribbean-cool paradise. Hop on a five-night getaway if you’re pressed for time or set sail on a longer adventure if you aren’t counting vacation days.
Located just east of the Dominican Republic and west of the British Virgin Islands, sunny San Juan has everything you could hope to find in a Caribbean cruise destination — a vibrant culture, rich and fascinating history, beautiful historic buildings and breathtaking beaches.
Wander through the Old Town and sip rum while gazing out over the city’s centuries-old fortress walls or ride an open-air trolley around to San Juan’s most famous sites. You can reach the Isle of Enchantment on cruises out of New York in June that range between eight and 10 nights.