Explore more while spending less with Eastern Caribbean cruise deals onboard our best cruise ships
Whether your idea of adventure is historical or adrenaline-pumping, the best Eastern Caribbean cruises are something that will light up your senses during your vacation. Explore the colonial past of the region's vibrant cities, or take a trek through dense rainforests full of singing tree frogs and exotic parrots.
Explore the area in style. Hop on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway and be transported back in time as you visit the old sugar plantation. Wander down the cobblestone streets of San Juan and admire the colonial houses of the old town. Or visit Blackbeard's Castle in St. Thomas and learn all about the pirates who once came there.
The Eastern Caribbean is home to some of the best zip-lining courses in the world, and adrenaline lovers will have more than one chance to soar through the sky. Fly high over the rain forest canopy at Toro Verde Ecological Adventure Park in Puerto Rico, or rise to the challenge of the longest zip-line over water in Labadee, which is one of the main attractions on the island.
Cruises to the Caribbean are full of adventure and things to do. Jetboat or parasail over the sea in Labadee. Hike to the steaming rim of Mount Liamuiga volcano in St. Kitts and Nevis, or hike through a former sugar plantation turned eco-reserve at Loterie Farm in St. Maarten.
Set sail on a Eastern Caribbean cruise to slow down your sense of time and soak in it’s relaxing beaches and vibrant streets. With the warm, coral-filled waters lapping at your feet or lazing in a beachside cabana, you'll be on island time before you know it.
Enjoy your Caribbean vacation the way you want to. Dive into the turquoise sea off Nassau in the Bahamas, where you can get up close and personal with vibrant coral reefs and beautiful parrot fish or get in touch with your daring side and hang out with sharks and barracudas. Come face to face with monkeys in El Yunque, or see mongoose, sheep and goats in St. Kitts.
Treat yourself to some retail therapy on your Eastern Caribbean cruise. Browse the duty-free shops and markets on Front Street in Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Window-shop for traditional Taino arts and crafts like straw hats in Nassau, Bahamas. Visit the Caribbean to peruse upscale fashions at the Port Zante Mall in St. Kitts.
Kick back, relax and listen to the calming sounds of the ocean while the soothing tones of the steel drum fill the air. Sip on a Bahama-mama or mojito as your toes glide through the white sand of picture-perfect spots like Junkanoo Beach in the Bahamas or Condado Beach in San Juan.
The cuisine of the Eastern Caribbean is shaped by the fresh seafood and shellfish pulled from the region's pristine waters. Blend that with a taste for richness expressed through coconut-based desserts and hearty plantain side dishes, and you've got an approach to food that checks all the boxes for the pleasure-seeking palate.
Whether your taste buds prefer fried food or something fresh, conch is the go-to in the Caribbean. Snack on some conch fritters with a delicious dipping sauce or indulge in conch salad, which is usually prepared with raw conch, bell peppers, onion, tomato and a sweet dressing.
Satisfy your craving for something delicious with some mofongo, green plantains that are fried first and then mashed up with meat. Finish off a meal with a freshly made coconut flan in Puerto Rico, and enjoy it as the sweet custard melts in your mouth.
The Bahama Mama, Painkiller, Rum Runner, Mojito, Mai Tai and Rum Punch all have one thing in common — they're incredibly refreshing on a hot Caribbean day. Oh, and they're made with rum. Sip on a rum cocktail while soaking up the sun on a white sand beach and watch as your troubles melt away.
There's a lot of similarity between the soul food of the southern U.S., and Bahamian cuisine, that blends the Caribbean tang with its very own spice, creating a trademark flavor unique to the region.
Little-known as a culinary ingredient in the continental U.S., conch is a large mollusk (akin to clams) with a meaty texture. Locals use it to prepare conch salad, conch fritters, conch chowder and more.
Pigeon peas are mixed with onions, tomatoes and spices, and incorporated into cooking rice. Often simply called Peas n' Rice, but there's a lot of savory flavors thrown in, like tomato paste, fresh thyme and salted pork or bacon.
Switcha, which many locals consider the official Bahamian drink, blends lemons and limes to concoct a powerful accompaniment to dessert or a refreshing beverage on a hot sunny day.
