When you’re on a cruise, the urge to pick up a little something to take back home in every port can be irresistible. It’s not unknown for cruisers to buy an extra bag just for their souvenirs, and pay an extra fee to get them back home. It’s also not unusual for most of what they bought to end up in the back of a closet until it’s time for a yard sale. In order to keep this from happening we’ve created a short list of the best cruise souvenirs you’ll enjoy displaying, using, or consuming.
7. Rum and all Things Alcoholic
Only the fact that you’ve probably already thought of this one keeps rum, and all things alcoholic, from coming in higher on the list. Maybe it’s the relaxed atmosphere of the Caribbean, or maybe it’s the abundance of mangoes, coconuts, and other fruits whose juices blend so well, but the Caribbean is all about liquor. Every port has its own special varieties and distinct tastes. Bear in mind that customs will only let you bring so much back.
6. Hot Sauce
Possibly the reason the Caribbean has discovered cooling and refreshing alcohol is because of its love of the other sort of sauce. Every island has a habit of crafting their own blend of hot sauce. They range from flavorful with a bit of warmth, to invoking the heavens to end the inferno. There’s no limit on how much you can bring back, so find one type (or a few different types) you like and stock up.
5. Art
The Caribbean is a great place to discover your new favorite artist. Not just the painting of the beach and other seascapes, but abstract, portraits, and photography are all styles that are alive and well in the Caribbean. The Garifuna people on Roatan in the Western Caribbean are especially famous for their paintings. If you’re an aficionado or just want something nice for your walls, you should head to some of the art galleries on land. They’ll be cheaper than the auctions on the ship, and you’ll be supporting less established artists.
4. Handcrafts
Dominica is known for its leather hand bags. Ports in Belize are known for their woodcarving. The Bahamas famously can make nearly everything out of straw. Every port has its specialty, and the issue for most cruisers isn’t finding something to buy. It’s not buying at least one of everything, and an extra to give to a friend. The trick is to find something that you’ll really like. Instead of buying everything you can limit yourself to just one or two handcrafted items before you start your cruise. Budgeting yourself will inspire you to look for the best.
3. Bluemountain Coffee
The best coffee in the world according to some. Jamaica’s Blue Mountains are noted for their cool climate, and the coffee grown there is notable for its mildness and absence of bitterness. You can try some right off the pier if you dock in Falmouth, and you can pick up a bag to remind you of your cruise once your vacation is over. Be warned though that at $25 dollars a pound it isn’t for casual drinking, and it isn’t a gift for just anyone.
2. Del Sol
An increasingly common site in more and more cruise ports is the Del Sol store. They specialize in clothes and accessories that change colors when exposed to sunlight. More than a novelty its actually pretty neat to see the colors fill in on the graphics. With Disney and Marvel characters that go from line drawing to full color your kids will love it, and adults will probably like them too. And for the girls, color-changing nail polish is a unique souvenir you can take back home and impress some friends!
1. Jewelry
All of the Caribbean ports have their own unique style of jewelry. Cozumel has jade cut in a distinctly Mesoamerican style. Cartagena has an abundance of emeralds. St. Croix has silver bracelets with a distinctive hook and eye clasp. The Dominican Republic has amber jewelry. Regardless of material they’re all ways of remembering your cruise, and they do it in a more subtle way than a loud hat with Cozumel, Miami, or other cruise port printed on it. Jewelry, on the other hand, is something that looks good and can be worn every day in all sorts of occasions. If you’re a guy, then it makes the perfect gift for the lady back home.
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