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

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St. Maarten (Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock)

St. Maarten (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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Pictures of the Best Eastern Caribbean Beaches

When it comes to Eastern Caribbean cruise ports, heading to the beach always tops the list of excursion picks. Some passengers sign up for pre-booked escapes to tried-and-true locales, while others look for nice beach resorts fronting the turquoise sea and purchase a day-pass to make it easier all

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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?

Best Eastern Caribbean Shore Excursions

Why cruise miles into the Eastern Caribbean for the same outlet-style shopping and crowded beaches that can be found stateside? The traditional jewelry canopies, duty-free shops, cocktail bar chains and hard sells on the waterfront have run their course with some cruisers, and the quest for new perspectives and unique thrills has begun. Travelers are pushing for more active and enriching port excursions that avoid traditional tourist pursuits and replace them with authentic thrills that are unique to the islands. Whether it's hiking through lush rainforests, touring the homes of native artists or saddling up a dune buggy for a high-adventure ride, cruise passengers are getting better acquainted with the people, culture and terrain of these gorgeous islands during their time ashore. Below is a sampling of some of the more extraordinary excursions offered by the cruise lines. Activity levels range from mild to intense, so whether you want a leisurely stroll through an authentic village or a heart-pumping hike to reclusive views and endangered species, there is something for every thrill-seeker.

Embarkation in San Juan Cruise Port

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

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Fan of the underwater experience and swimming with the fishes? Here are our top picks for snorkeling and diving in the islands of the Eastern Caribbean.

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

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St. Thomas/St. John Beach Guide

There's a reason so many cruise ships stop in [St. Thomas](/ports/newport.cfm?ID=17) (and it's not just because its two ports, Havensight and Crown Bay, are big enough to handle up to six vessels at a time). While compact, the hub of the U.S. Virgin Islands contains plenty of beaches -- and enough

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