Cruise ship and sail boat

The Eastern Caribbean in one of the world’s foremost cruise destinations. The Eastern Caribbean officially includes the British Virgin Islands, the American Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten and St. Martin, however the Bahamas are commonly included as they are a major stop in many cruise itineraries. Cruises range in length from a weekend trip through to 10+ night stays, and range in price from ultra-affordable through ultra-luxury.



Time

Boats moored at Pigeon Point, Tobago

A major question concerning embarking on an Eastern Caribbean cruise is what times of year are best to go. Though there are cruise lines offering year round itineraries, the two main cruise seasons are winter and summer. Winter, from December to April, is the “high season”, generally comprised of North American and Europeans tourists escaping cold weather back home. Summer cruises are becoming increasingly popular, especially for families. Summer cruises do of course involve warmer weather, but it isn’t as blisteringly hot as one would assume. Furthermore, the summer represents the best bargain, as it is the time of the year with the lowest ticket prices. Be forewarned, hurricane season extends from June to the end of November, and the months of August through September are notoriously storm heavy.



Itinerary

View of deck

When planning an Eastern Caribbean cruise itinerary selection is straightforward, as cruises will generally hit select main ports. The most common ports are: St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Maarten’s, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico’s San Juan. Of more significance is deciding on the length of your vacation and your port of departure. Traditional Eastern Caribbean cruises are seven night stays departing from Florida in Port Canaveral, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. Such trips are offered by a plethora of cruise lines. For shorter trips, Disney and Carnival cruise lines specifically have year-round offerings, also departing from Florida. If leaving from Florida isn’t for you, perhaps taking advantage of the new trend of departing from the U.S. Eastern Seaboard will serve you better. Common departure points include Jacksonville, Baltimore, Charleston, New York and Philadelphia. New York has become an especially popular year-round departure point, with ships leaving from Manhattan, New Jersey and Brooklyn. Trips from the Eastern Seaboard range from classic seven nights voyages, to more uncommon 11 night cruises, the extra time allowing for visits to the more exotic of Eastern Caribbean destinations.

Cruise Ship Stern


Highlights

Formerly an exclusive stop for small-ships, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands is now a booming stop for big-ships. Tortola is in close proximity to St. Thomas and Virgin Gorda, offers many exciting activities and attractions, and is certainly worth checking out. If you do make it to Virgin Gorda visit the “The Baths” and its prehistoric boulders, a great place to swim and snorkel. When in St. Thomas take a trip to Coral World’s underwater observatory and then head to Coki Beach, another great snorkelling spot. If you’re looking for what’s new and exciting you should consider The Dominican Republic, also a recent addition to Eastern Caribbean itineraries. Nassau in the Bahamas is a great destination for families, and young archaeologists will enjoy the recreated Atlantis that is Atlantis Resort’s “Dig”. St. Maarten is likewise great for families, and fun attractions for all ages include the Butterfly Farm on the St. Martin side of the island. If you feel the need to stretch your legs you’ll enjoy the El Morro historic monument in San Juan. Its grounds make it great for hiking.