Eastern Caribbean Cruise Ports

Eastern Caribbean cruise ports are close and convenient for many people living in the United States, which makes them a tempting choice for someone going on their first cruise.

Common departure ports are Miami and Fort Lauderdale in Florida for people who want the convenience of flying into Florida without any stopovers.

Typical eastern Caribbean cruise ports of call include:


The most popular islands in the Caribbean have numerous tourist attractions, recreational activities and shopping opportunities.

It is arguably the most commercialized and will give visitors the most feeling of familiar settings. Nassau and Freeport are typical ports of call.

Treasure Cay Beach and Harbour Island Beach are two of the most popular and well-publicized beaches in the islands.

Duty free shopping includes Port Lucaya Marketplace on Grand Bahama Island and the Welcome Center at Festival Place on Nassau.


BVI is a place of quiet beauty, beautiful beaches and great snorkeling and scuba diving.

Unique attractions include Dolphin Discovery, a chance to interact in the waters with dolphins; the historic forts Burt and Recovery, both dating back centuries; and Trotola's Main Street, which is both a shopping and historic district.

The most likely port of call is Tortola, the largest in this chain of dozens of islands.

They are closely packed together, which makes it easy for someone to make an excursion out of boating from one island to another.


DR is the second most popular island overall. Its main draw is its plush, numerous resorts on fantastic white sand beaches.

It is one of the few islands with whitewater rafting. Although people visit DR mostly to stay at the resorts, eastern cruises do stop there at cities such as La Romana.


San Juan is a key stopping point and starting point for many cruises in the Caribbean.

Old San Juan is one of the top tourist attractions in the region because of its history, architecture, shopping and quaint winding streets.

The shopping is extensive and the old Spanish forts are massive.


Turks and Caicos is not two islands but 40 islands and cays. This British overseas territory -- like the nearby British Virgin Islands -- have become a popular stop for eastern Caribbean cruises. Cruise ships typically dock on Grand Turk.

Popular attractions include migrating humpback whales from January through April, the largest cave system in the Caribbean and a variety of historical tours.


The main cruise port at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, is one of the most popular duty-free shopping meccas in the Caribbean.

It also offers excellent snorkeling. Cruise visitors can spend an easy afternoon at a good assortment of public beaches near the cruise port.