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There’s no party quite like Carnival and no place that gets in the spirit quite like the islands of the Caribbean. The eye-goggling parades, fantastical characters, and energetic jump-ups that fill the eyes and ears originated as acts of defiance, where slaves lampooned their masters and celebrated their own culture.
PUERTO RICO
Meet the Vejigantes. You might not fancy these multi-horned, buck-toothed characters for neighbors, especially as they have a habit of bopping passers-by with inflated cow bladders. But these are friendly folk just trying to chase away bad spirits in Carnival’s never-ending battle between good and evil. It’s all part of the fun at Ponce on the island’s south coast, where the streets transform into one big dancefloor, with people moving to the bomba and plena beats for which Puerto Rico is famed.
Experience the final day of Carnaval De Ponce on our cruise Fort Lauderdale Roundtrip, February 9-26, 2027.
MARTINIQUE
Preparations start early in Martinique where Vaval, the French Caribbean’s King of Carnival, ensures all hell lets loose – until he ends up on a pyre on the eve of Lent in an act of purification. As the big event approaches, there’s a fair chance of happening upon one of the impromptu parties, or vidés, that burst onto the streets. Listen out for the distinctive sound of biguine vide, an up-tempo mix of voices, brass and drums.You might even catch sight of a Red Devil, the impish ghoul that islanders like to dress up as in costumes glittering with tiny mirrors.
Visit Martinique in the run up to Carnival on our cruise Fort Lauderdale-Manaus/Amazon, January 15-27, 2027.
CURAÇAO
You can feel the excitement in the air on the Saturday of Carnival weekend, just before the big events hit the streets of Curaçao. Head to rural Barber in Bandabou, in the west of the island, to see a parade with a truly local flavor, and catch the Battle of the Drums in Punda in downtown Willemstad to hear African rhythms that echo down the centuries. Make a note to return one day to see the island’s unique Horses Parade, when riders in full Carnival attire process on horseback around the capital.
Enjoy the main Carnival weekend on our cruise San Juan-Cartagena, February 19-29, 2028.
ARUBA
Soca and oompah music may sound a discordant mix but that’s the legacy of Dutch colonialism in Aruba. And it’s what they like to shake a tailfeather to at the Grand Carnival Parade. Everyone is welcome on the streets of the capital, Oranjestad, which becomes a moving stage of marching bands, dancers shimmying in their sequins, and grotesque characters running riot among the crowds. It’s the culmination of more than a month of celebrations, the last hoorah before Carnival ends with the symbolic burning of King Momo.
Catch the Grand Carnival Parade on our cruise Fort Lauderdale-Cartagena, February 12-19, 2028.
