5 Best Eastern Caribbean Cruises 2019 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to the Eastern Caribbean on Cruise Critic

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St. Maarten (Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock) — St. Maarten (Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock) (Photo:Sean Pavone/Shutterstock)

St. Maarten (Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock) (Photo:Sean Pavone/Shutterstock)

Cruises to the Eastern Caribbean

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Your first Caribbean cruise is likely to visit the islands of the Eastern Caribbean, which include the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten and Puerto Rico. Enjoy shopping in popular ports such as St. Thomas, or explore Spanish history in Old San Juan. And of course, there are plenty of places for beach bums to grab sun and a cocktail.

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Top Eastern Caribbean Cruise Itineraries

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Pictures of the Best Eastern Caribbean Beaches

When it comes to Eastern Caribbean cruise ports, heading to a great beach always tops the list of excursion picks. Some passengers sign up for pre-booked escapes to tried-and-true locales, such as beach bars specifically designed for daytrippers, while others look for beach resorts

Eastern Caribbean: Top 9 Cruise Ports to Snorkel and Dive

The Eastern Caribbean provides variety for divers and snorkelers, from Florida's underwater state park in Key Largo to some signature wrecks like the RMS Rhone in the British Virgin Islands. The mostly shallow shorelines of the islands listed here make Eastern Caribbean a perfect itinerary to get your face wet. If you plan on diving more than once or twice, it's worthwhile to bring your own gear (if you have it); even casual snorkelers might consider bringing their own mask and snorkel for both fit and hygienic purposes. Newbies can take a Discover Scuba Diving "resort" course -- offered by many dive shops -- which takes uncertified divers down to a depth of 40 feet, accompanied by an instructor, of course. Here are some of our top cruise port choices to explore life underwater.

Embarkation in San Juan Cruise: Cruise Terminal Parking, Address and Amenities

Everything you need to know before cruising out of San Juan.

St. Thomas/St. John Beach Guide

Which beach should you choose when your ship docks in St. Thomas? From popular Magens Bay to protected beaches of St. John, here's our rundown of the best beaches available during a typical port stop in the USVI.

Best Eastern Caribbean Shore Excursions

The eastern reaches of the Caribbean are a unique blend of melding cultures and tropical waters, as well as territories that remain a part of the United States. Eastern Caribbean shore excursions are also a blend of familiar beach days and more unique and adventurous sights and activities. It's a part of the world with a surprising amount of history if you wish to unlock it, but miles of sand stretch before you if you'd rather not think about anything at all. Before the sun melts all your cares away (including the ability to make decisions), we mapped out some of the best Eastern Caribbean cruise excursions so you can sprinkle your next sailing with the right amount of exploration and relaxation.

10 Cool Things About Amber Cove in Pictures

The Caribbean's newest port of call, Amber Cove raises the bar for cruise line private islands. The Carnival Corp.-owned village, which welcomes lines including Carnival, Princess and Holland America, offers a combination of fun, history and culture on the Dominican Republic's northern coast. (Most

Island Hopping in St. Maarten

Arguably, St. Maarten is one of the Caribbean's most popular ports of call. There's a pretty good chance your first Caribbean cruise called here. After a couple of return visits, you probably started looking hard for the offbeat, the unusual. Two more visits and you figured you could conduct a ship's port lecture singled-handedly. So, here's an idea you might not have thought of: A great thing to do for repeat visitors in St. Maarten, might actually be to leave the island. Why? Besides being a frequented destination for cruisers, St. Maarten is a popular base for yachters and other island-hopping vagabonds. That's because being positioned amid a clump of nearby islands -- many very different in ambiance, resources and personality -- makes a great jumping-off point for a day trip. Since many voyages arrive in St. Maarten early and depart late, ranging far afield would seem both easy and economical. But while you can use St. Maarten as a departure point from which to venture to neighboring islands, you'll want to do a bit of homework before heading off. Ferry or flight delays (should you choose to fly) could mean missing your cruise ship's departure, so you'll want to have an alternate plan in your back pocket, in case your day trip does not go according to schedule. Itching to try something new during your next call at St. Maarten? Why not opt for visiting one of the following?

St. Maarten vs St. Thomas

Cruise Critic breaks down the differences and similarities betweens St. Maarten and St. Thomas as Eastern Caribbean cruise stops.

By: Chris Gray Faust, Senior Editor

Eastern Caribbean Cruise Tips

Eastern Caribbean cruise tips are important to know - almost every cruise line, sails to this tropical paradise. So what do you need to know when it comes to Eastern Caribbean planning? It's all covered here - including when is the best time to go to the Eastern Caribbean

By: Chris Gray Faust, Senior Editor

Eastern Caribbean Cruise Ports

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Top Eastern Caribbean Cruise Ships

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