Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise ships at port in St. Thomas. Credit: Jemingway.

By Kim Windyka

A Caribbean cruise is the classic tropical escape, complete with sun-drenched white-sand beaches, stunning turquoise waters, and gorgeous weather. You can certainly find all of these things no matter where you set sail in the Caribbean, but each region has its own distinct personality and style, depending on what you’re in the mood to see and do. Here’s a look at the most popular types of voyages and itineraries.

Eastern Caribbean
If it’s your first cruise, or just your first time cruising to the Caribbean, an Eastern itinerary is a great introduction to the vibrant ports and wide variety of activities you can choose from. From shopping up a (duty-free!) storm or learning about island history, to taking a deep-sea dive or just lounging shoreside, you’ll get to enjoy all of the fun that cruising to paradise offers.

Depart from Miami on a 7-Night Eastern Caribbean cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line, and head to Samana, Dominican Republic, where a wealth of beaches await – more than 70 miles of them! Take a scenic bike ride before picking up a souvenir, handcrafted by a local artisan, in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. When you sail on to Road Town on the British Virgin Island of Tortola, don’t miss the chance to snorkel in The Baths at Virgin Gorda, an impressive formation of pools and grottos created from boulders strewn along stretches of beach. Finally, enjoy the peace and quiet of Norwegian’s own private island, Great Stirrup Cay.

Western Caribbean
Adventurous types will love these sailings, which can include stops at ports in Mexico, Jamaica, Central America and more. Set out on exciting shore excursions like ATV tours, zip line trips through the rainforest, or scuba diving expeditions. History buffs can dig into Mayan culture with a trip to ancient ruins at Chichen Itza.

Set sail from Fort Lauderdale on Celebrity 7-Night Western Caribbean cruise, and give into the temptation to send a postcard from the area of Grand Cayman island known ominously as “Hell”. Divers will hit their stride in Cozumel, Mexico, which boasts several prime scuba sites. Take inthe ancient world with an archeological excursion in Costa Maya before ending your journey with a kayak excursion in Roatan, Honduras.

Southern Caribbean
The islands of the Southern Caribbean offer a charming taste of the tropics with an exotic flair. Aruba’s a perpetually popular vacation spot that has water sports galore, while Curacao offers a more unusual experience, featuring an ostrich farm and caves for exploring.

Leave from San Juan, Puerto Ricoon a 7-Night Southern Caribbean Explorer with Princess Cruises, and soak up the sun on the sands of Oranjestad, Aruba before trying your luck at one of the island’s many casinos. Continue on to the quiet, serene island of Bonaire, where you can observe a unique and colorful sight: a 135-acre flamingo sanctuary.  Hike up to a waterfall in St. George’s, Grenada, and spend your last day soaking up the sun in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.

Kim Windyka is a travel brands copywriter, bona fide Twitter addict and freelance feature writer whose work has appeared in Metro Boston, the New Hampshire Visitors Guide and the Nashua Telegraph. Despite being a Northeast native, she dreams of palm trees daily.

Tagged: Caribbean, Cruise