Caribbean Cruise Ports of Call List: Eastern, Western and Southern
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Eastern and western cruises are more popular than southern cruises. The eastern Caribbean offers the most islands and most beaches. Historical attractions are common.
Western cruises are especially popular during late winter and early spring. They often include some combination of western islands, the Mexican coast and the Central American coast. They also have some of the most memorable shore excursions.
Southern cruises often include Aruba, sometimes the nearby Curaçao and the smaller and nearby Bonaire. Otherwise, they often visit eastern Caribbean islands that lie farther south than others.
The following guides include the ports of call for each of the three Caribbean regions.
Eastern Caribbean
The Bahamas are not technically part of the Caribbean, but eastern Caribbean cruises often include them.

Grand Turk is a popular eastern Caribbean
cruise port; © Dreamstime.com
cruise port; © Dreamstime.com
One of the best and most popular cruises is a combination of the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. San Juan, Puerto Rico, is often a starting point for western and southern cruises.
- Antigua: St. John's
- Bahamas: Freeport, Half Moon Cay, Nassau
- British Virgin Islands: Tortola
- Dominican Republic: La Romana
- Puerto Rico: San Juan
- St. Thomas: Charlotte Amalie
- Turks and amp; Caicos: Grand Turk
Western Caribbean

Stingray City, a western Caribbean
excursion; © StockPhoto.com
excursion; © StockPhoto.com
- Belize: Belize City
- Cayman Islands: George Town, Grand Cayman
- Costa Rica: Puerto Limon
- Cozumel: San Miguel
- Jamaica: Ocho Rios, Falmouth, Montego Bay, Port Antonio
- Roatan: Coxen Hole and Mahogany Bay
Southern Caribbean
The ever-popular southern Caribbean cruise port at Philipsburg, St. Maarten, draws many visitors who enjoy the beaches and especially the shopping. Barbados and St. Lucia also are major destinations.
Aruba is better known for long-term stays, but it and neighboring Curaçao are attracting more cruise visits to the southwestern part of the Caribbean.
- Aruba: Oranjestad
- Barbados: Bridgetown
- Curaçao: Willemstad
- St. Kitts: Basseterre
- St. Lucia: Castries
- St. Maarten: Phillipsburg
The best ports combine good shopping and dining, easy access to beaches and the ability to explore the island. Our picks for the best ports are:
- Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas (eastern)
- Ocho Rios, Jamaica (western)
- Philipsburg, St. Maarten (southern)
- Oranjestad, Aruba (southern)
- Nassau, Bahamas (eastern)
Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas.
> Category: Cruise Tips Destinations
- November 06, 2019