A Venezuela cruise needs an honest answer up front. Venezuela has a long Caribbean coastline, including the historic port of La Guaira (gateway to Caracas) and the resort island of Margarita. But mainstream cruise lines have effectively stopped calling there. The security situation, ongoing political instability, and standing travel advisories from many governments mean Venezuela is not currently a viable cruise destination. This page exists for completeness rather than as a guide to a port you can book.

For context, Venezuela once featured on Caribbean cruise itineraries, particularly Isla Margarita as a beach call. La Guaira historically served as the access port to Caracas and inland attractions like Angel Falls, though those require flights, not port-day visits. Since the country’s economic and political crisis intensified over the past decade, virtually all major cruise lines have removed Venezuelan ports from their schedules. The realistic Caribbean cruise options now lie elsewhere, particularly the safe and welcoming neighboring Colombia, the Dutch ABC islands, and the wider Caribbean.

Quick Facts

Best Time to Cruise

Since mainstream cruise lines do not currently call at Venezuela, there is no cruise season to plan around. The country’s tropical climate is moot in cruise terms while regular calls remain suspended.

The broader Southern Caribbean cruise season, for the countries that do welcome ships such as neighboring Colombia and the ABC islands, runs December through April for the dry season. Browse the latest South America cruise deals to see itineraries that are actually operating.

There is no realistic prospect of mainstream cruise calls resuming in Venezuela in the near term, given the ongoing political and security situation. Travelers drawn to the southern Caribbean coast should focus their cruise plans on Cartagena in Colombia, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, and Grenada instead. All of those are safe, welcoming, and well-served by cruise lines.

Top Cruise Ports

No mainstream cruise calls (former: La Guaira and Margarita)

Venezuela’s historic cruise ports, La Guaira (for Caracas) and Isla Margarita, sit on the Caribbean coast and were once on Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries. Mainstream cruise lines have effectively stopped calling at both due to the security situation.

There are no current cruise excursions or cruise-visitor facilities operating in any meaningful way. Insider tip: there is no realistic cruise-visitor insider tip to offer for Venezuela at present, since regular calls do not happen. Travelers interested in the Southern Caribbean should focus on safely operating destinations like Cartagena and the ABC islands instead.

Which Cruise Lines Sail Here

No mainstream cruise lines currently include Venezuela on their itineraries. The combination of travel advisories, the security situation, and ongoing political instability has caused essentially all lines to remove Venezuelan ports from their schedules in recent years.

Even smaller specialist and exploration lines avoid Venezuela at present. They instead concentrate their Southern Caribbean and South America itineraries on the open ports of Colombia, the Dutch ABC islands, Panama, and the wider region.

If you are researching the southern Caribbean and Atlantic-coast South America, the realistic options bypass Venezuela entirely. Read our full Royal Caribbean review, our Princess review, and our Norwegian review for the lines that sail the region. Use the compare tool to weigh the itineraries that are actually available.

Shore Excursion Tips

There are no current cruise excursions in Venezuela, since mainstream cruise lines do not call. The country’s genuine natural and cultural attractions are not accessible by cruise visitor at present and require completely separate independent travel planning with close attention to current advisories.

For Southern Caribbean cruisers, the practical reality is that shore excursions happen in the safely operating ports of Colombia, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, and beyond, not in Venezuela. These countries offer excellent beach, cultural, and adventure excursions to compensate.

Spanish is the language and the Venezuelan bolivar is the official currency, though the bolivar has been severely devalued and US dollars are widely used in practice. Currency, language, and tipping practices are not relevant to cruise visitors right now, since there are no regular cruise calls. For excursions in actually operating regional ports, see our guide to cruise shore excursions.

Sample Itineraries

Current Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries do not include Venezuela. Sailings instead focus on Colombia, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, and Grenada, from around $799 per person for a 7-night Southern Caribbean cruise from Florida.

Current South America Atlantic-coast itineraries similarly skip Venezuela, focusing on Colombia and Brazil instead, from around $1,899 per person for a 14-night sailing.

There is no realistic current itinerary that includes Venezuela. Check the latest operating Southern Caribbean and South America sailings on the deals page for the actual cruise options, all of which currently bypass Venezuelan ports.

Packing & Practical Tips

There is no current cruise-specific packing for Venezuela, since mainstream lines do not call. For the Southern Caribbean or South America cruise you would take instead, focus on Colombia and the ABC islands. Pack light, breathable tropical clothing, swimwear, comfortable walking shoes, and strong sun protection.

There is nothing to prepare for a Venezuelan cruise call, since none are happening. For the packing list for a realistic Southern Caribbean cruise, see our cruise packing guide.

The Verdict

Venezuela is not currently a viable cruise destination, despite its long Caribbean coastline and the historic ports of La Guaira and Margarita. Travel advisories, the security situation, and ongoing political instability mean mainstream cruise lines have effectively stopped calling there. The honest verdict is that you cannot dependably cruise to Venezuela at present. Cruise itineraries have adapted by focusing on the safely operating neighbors instead.

Do not plan a cruise around visiting Venezuela at present, since regular cruise calls do not happen and travel advisories remain in place. Choose a Southern Caribbean or South America itinerary built on the safely operating ports of Colombia (especially spectacular Cartagena), Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, and Grenada. These deliver excellent cruise experiences without the current Venezuelan complications.

Related Guides (internal links)

• South America Cruise Guide: the full regional overview
• Read our full Royal Caribbean review
• Read our Princess Cruises review
• Read our Norwegian review
• Cruising Colombia: Cartagena and the Caribbean coast
• Cruising Brazil: Rio, the Amazon and beyond
• See this week’s South America cruise deals
• Compare cruise lines side by side
• Plan your route with the Itinerary Planner

Last updated: May 23, 2026. Written by Helena Marsh, Editorial Director.