What Is Considered the Eastern Caribbean?
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Dominica
- Grenada
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Anguilla
- Montserrat
- British Virgin Islands
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Guadeloupe
- Martinique
- St. Barthelemy
- St. Maarten
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Aruba
- Bonaire
- Curacao
- Puerto Rico
- Bahamas
Where Do You Go on an Eastern Caribbean Cruise?
These Eastern Caribbean cruises often include stops at Grand Turk, Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and/or St. Kitts. Some cruise lines even have their own private ports, such as Royal Caribbean's Labadee, on the coast of Haiti, and Amber Cove, Carnival's port in the Dominican Republic.
U.S. origin ports are mostly located in the southeast U.S., and departure cities include Tampa, New Orleans, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Galveston.
What Cruise Lines Go to the Eastern Caribbean?
Eastern Caribbean cruises are offered by several popular cruise lines, such as:
- Royal Caribbean
- Celebrity
- Norwegian
- Princess
- Carnival
- Holland America
Best Time to Travel to the Eastern Caribbean
When you travel to the Eastern Caribbean, you don't have to worry so much about the time of year you travel because you will experience lovely, warm weather all year. The high season is between December and April, and the best time to get Eastern Caribbean cruise deals is late summer and fall.
Eastern Caribbean Cruise Itineraries and Ports
These are some of the most popular stops included in the best Eastern Caribbean cruise itineraries:
- Bahamas: Nassau is home to the Straw Market, full of shopping opportunities and souvenirs. Paradise Island is famous for its beaches and has plenty of rentals for water sports.
- St. Thomas: This island has loads of duty-free shopping opportunities and one of the most-loved Caribbean beaches, Magens Bay.
- St. Maarten: You'll find both Dutch and French culture here along with many chances to buy duty-free jewelry and liquor. There are also plenty of fine dining opportunities.
Eastern Caribbean Cruise Tips
- Consider renting a car while in port; it's usually affordable and will give you more freedom to take your own excursions. You may want to plan in advance of your cruise because cars can go quickly if several cruise ships are in port.
- Don't worry if a port seems tourist-y: You can always find more secluded areas and beaches with a little planning. This is where a rental car can help you get off the beaten path.
- Look out for pickpockets while you're in port. A cross-body bag can help deter theft.
- Realize that the culture is different on the islands, and go with the flow. For instance, some beaches may allow beachgoers to be nude or topless. If you want to avoid these, a little research goes a long way.
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