The Caribbean was made for cruising. Island-hopping by plane is pricey at best, prohibitive at worst, making cruising your next best option to experience multiple islands on one trip.
You can let the sun melt all your cares away as you laze on a picture-perfect shore or head inland to unlock the culture that’s been brewing away for hundreds of years.
Best Eastern Caribbean cruises
Whether you’re up for a quick jaunt or an extended stay, these cruise liners are sailing to the Eastern Caribbean throughout the year.
Budget Option
Best for quick budget getaway: Carnival
If you’re simply seeking a quick escape, you can usually grab a five-night Carnival cruise from $250. You’ll get meals covered and all the amenities you’d expect from a floating resort and get to visit two or three islands along the way.
No free room service
No free alcohol
Food included
No price matching
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners, Paypal, Carnival EasyPay, Gift Card, Discover Card, Debit, Western Union, Cheque
In true Disney fashion, onboard you’ll find tailored kids’ programming, character dining, the Walt Disney Theatre featuring live shows, multiple pools including one specifically for the little ones, family-friendly cabins and multiple themed events including an epic deck party.
Room service included
No free alcohol
Food included
No price matching
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners, Discover Card, JCB
Whether you’ve got a toddler in tow, teens wanting to do their own thing or you’re looking for some adults-only time, Royal Caribbean’s got the four largest cruise ships at sea to entertain young and old alike. Think rock climbing walls, ziplining, surf simulators and water slides for the adventurous. Youth programs for the little ones and entertainment spanning stage, air, ice and water including hit Broadway musicals abound.
Room service included
No free alcohol
Food included
Price matches
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners, Discover Card
If nothing but the best will do, look no further than Regent’s all-inclusive midsize vessels. Winner of numerous awards including Best Luxury Cruise Line by CruiseCritic, you can expect flawless service and sophisticated entertainment. And the suites are definitely not an afterthought with their marble-lined bathrooms with tub, spacious sitting area and walk-in wardrobe.
Norwegian is a great all-rounder for cruising newbies looking to find their sea legs and figure out life onboard a ship. Whether you’re in it for the culinary delights (hello, 20+ bars and restaurants), onboard activities including waterslides, go-karts and virtual-reality play spaces or lazily luxuriating poolside, Norwegian’s easygoing style is sure to help you find your niche.
Room service included
No free alcohol
Food included
No price matching
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners, Discover Card
Somehow managing to marry the floating-city experience of the mega-liners with the intimacy and service standard of smaller lines, a cruise with Celebrity is great value for your cruising dollars.
Seabourn’s suites make your cruise as much about the journey as the destination and you wouldn’t be blamed for whiling your days away in your cabin. Along with a personal suite stewardess and a fully stocked bar, you can have dinner delivered to your suite, course by course.
When choosing cruises for this list, we looked at the quality of routes available from each cruise line, prioritizing well-paced itineraries with port stops at key destinations around the Eastern Caribbean.
We also considered dining onboard, weighing the number, variety and overall quality of restaurants against passenger reviews. Finally, we weighed cabin amenities against each price point, looking for cruise lines that are known to deliver the highest value.
Additionally, we sought out customer reviews on travel websites and personal travel blogs, considering first-person experiences and each company’s overall reputation.
When is the best time to cruise to the Eastern Caribbean?
Eastern Caribbean cruises sail all through the year with many cruisers choosing to sail in the winter and spring months. Find your best time to cruise by considering several factors:
Fewer crowds on summer sailing. Summer isn’t as scorching hot as you might think, often only slightly warmer than the winter months with fewer crowds. If the prices are right, then a summer cruise could be the ticket.
Avoid hurricane season. Hurricane season runs from June to October with storms most likely to happen in August, September and October. However, unlike a holiday at a resort, a cruise can change locations with an adjusted itinerary in the event of a storm. But to make sure you’re not hit with any surprises, consider cruise travel insurance before you leave.
Late summer and fall for cruise bargains. Look out for deals in the late summer and fall months when kids go back to school.
What are the must-do cruise excursions in the Eastern Caribbean?
There’s plenty of beach time to be had while cruising through the islands but if you’re up for something a little bit different, we’ve highlighted some of the best sights and activities in the Eastern Caribbean.
Mangrove Lagoon, St Thomas. Kayak and snorkel through clear channels and calm waters as you spot local wildlife like stingrays and brown pelicans.
Maho Beach, Sint Maarten. Watch as the planes pass close overhead at this popular beach spot on the Dutch side of the island.
Food tour, Puerto Rico. Get a real taste of the island as you try popular dishes like mofongo and camarones con cerveza. Make sure you sample a piña colada in the place where they make it best.
27 Waterfalls of Damajagua, Dominican Republic. You can either stay dry and admire them from afar or get wet and hike, swim, jump and slide along the waterfall route.
Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. Hop aboard a catamaran for a day filled with snorkeling, relaxing on a secluded beach, tropical cocktails and music as you explore the turquoise blue waters.
Ziplining, St Kitts. What better way to see the island’s tropical rainforests than soaring through the canopy, 25 storeys up? Make sure to keep an eye out for monkeys as you zip by.
Exclusive – up to $1,000 to spend on board, plus 10% off shore excursions! T&Cs apply. Ports of Call: Miami, Fl, Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, Miami, Fl
Get your island holiday fix and so much more while you explore one of the Caribbean’s most popular regions. Stay on top of the latest cruising sales with these top cruise deals.
Frequently asked questions
The region is hot and humid year-round so include plenty of warm-weather clothes in your suitcase. Sandals, sunscreen and a hat are a must while water shoes will be useful for any water activities and comfortable walking shoes ideal for exploring inland. Many cruise lines have at least one formal night on the itinerary so pack accordingly.
A good price on a five-night sailing with a more economical cruise line like Carnival starts from $250 for an inside cabin. On the more luxury end of the scale, you could sail with Seabourn or Regent from around $350 per night with most of your expenses included.
Cristal Dyer is a travel writer at Finder. She has been writing about travel for over five years and has visited over 40 countries around the world. Cristal currently travels full-time, writing about her favourite cities and food finds, and she is always on the lookout for amazing flight deals to share.
With babysitting and tot-friendly activities, these are the best cruise lines for toddlers that will have your little one smiling at sea from ear to ear.
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