Destinations

The Caribbean area comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cayes. Even though the Caribbean islands are close in distance to each other, they have diverse cultures because of their unique histories and influences.

British Dependency: Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat

United States: Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico (US Commonwealth)

Netherlands: Aruba, Curacao, Saint Martin (shared)

French: Guadeloupe

Activity Ideas

All of the islands in the Caribbean offer eco-tourism, local festivals, weddings, water sports, shopping and more. With the diversity of island opportunities, here are a few ideas for off-ship excursions.

St. Martin - Visit a butterfly farm where more than 30 tropical species can be seen. Also, many couples are married on St. Martin because weddings are easier and faster to arrange on the Dutch part of the island.

Barbados - Visit Sam Lord's Castle - he was a pirate famous for trickery. See Pelican Dooflicky which is held every Wednesday. This is a unique cultural extravaganza created to give visitors exciting glimpses into the colorful history and traditions of Barbados.

Bahamas - Go snorkeling or diving underwater. The visibility in Bahamian waters is perfect for diving – often more than 100 feet (30 m). Off Abacos and Eleuthera, divers can see the wrecks of two trains which sank while being transported by ship. Visit Nassau and Paradise Island for luxury shopping excursions or fun cultural island events.

St. Kitts - Explore nature with an ATV tour of this beautiful island and see some unique local animals - Purple-Throated Carib Birds or the Green Vervet Monkey. Divers will not only experience beautiful underwater vistas but can also explore St. Kitts' many sunken pirate ships. Visit Romney Manor which was once owned by the Great, Great, Great Grandmother of Thomas Jefferson. The estate was originally acquired in the 17th century by the Earl of Romney. In 1834, Lord Romney declared his slaves free men. This estate became the first one in St. Kitts to emancipate their slaves.

U.S. Virgin Islands - St. Croix, St John and St. Thomas encompass the US Virgin Islands. Explore their secluded coves or their untouched rainforests. Shopping in the ports of the U.S. Virgin Islands is duty-free and there is no sales or luxury taxes. Make sure to visit Christiansted's King's Alley on St. Croix, or Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas. These are the "best shopping ports in the world".

Gaming - The islands of the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Aruba and Curacao all have casinos.

Requirements

With the change in the laws for a U.S. citizen, a passport is now required for travel when leaving and returning to the USA. Many of the island territories require a visa for travel into their countries. Only Cruises can help by informing you of all the required documents necessary to make your shore excursions.