Mariner of the Seas: 9-Night Western Caribbean

New Orleans cruise port is the largest Gulf Coast cruise departure point after Galveston and the gateway for Western Caribbean itineraries out of the deep South. The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) operates two cruise terminals along the Mississippi River downtown: the Erato Street Cruise Terminal (serving Carnival and Disney Cruise Line) and the Julia Street Cruise Terminal (serving Norwegian and Royal Caribbean).

Cozumel cruise port is one of the busiest in the Caribbean, with multiple ships docking on the island every day during peak season. Cozumel is a flat, laid-back island off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, and it's been a cruise staple for decades.

Costa Maya cruise port sits on the southern tip of Mexico's Caribbean coast, about 150 miles south of Cancun and close to the border with Belize. The port is not a city.

Belize City is the largest city in Belize, a small Central American country on the Caribbean coast known for its barrier reef (the second largest in the world), jungle ruins, and laid-back culture. The city itself has about 60,000 residents and a rough, unpolished feel that can surprise passengers expecting a typical Caribbean port.