Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean cruises may sound similar when you first start looking at them. Wherever you go, you’ll be treated to sunny days, sandy beaches, sparkling seas, and cool breezes. But the reality is that the personalities of Caribbean islands can vary as much as the personalities of regions in the United States.
Also, it’s important to remember that Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean refer to types of cruise lines and not literal descriptions of locations on the map.
So which Caribbean cruise is best for you? Read on for our take on how to make the right choice for your next cruise.
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Port of embarkation
Typically, you sail to the Eastern Caribbean from ports in Florida — in most cases, Miami, Fort Lauderdale And Port Canaveralports on the coast near Orlando — as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico, and several East Coast ports, such as New York City. For trips to the Western Caribbean, you can depart from Florida ports, as well as Galveston, Texas; Mobile, Alabama; and New Orleans.
So, which port of embarkation is best for you? There’s no secret: whichever port you can get to the quickest and cheapest.
That said, if you see a cruise that departs from the Caribbean, know that you’ll get a little more time on the islands in exchange for a longer flight. On the other hand, itineraries that depart from the Northeast require you to sail through the often-rough Atlantic to reach those pale blue Caribbean waters. You’ll also need more than a week to sail from more northern home ports to destinations outside the Bahamas.
Trip
Week-long round-trip cruises are popular in both Caribbeans, but you can also find shorter or longer trips.
Popular ports in the Eastern Caribbean include both large, busy, touristy options and some smaller, quieter islands, often accessible only by small ship or on shore excursions. Itineraries may include visits to Grand Turk, St. Maarten (the Dutch side of St. Martin), the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix), the British Virgin Islands (Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, and Virgin Gorda), Puerto Rico, and ports in the Bahamas—including cruise lines private island. Small ships (and some larger ones) can also call at Antigua, Anguilla and Dominica, as well as the beautiful island of St. Barts.
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In the Western Caribbean, you can call at Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Honduras, Belize, and Mexican ports like Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Progreso. Some of these ports—during the peak of the Caribbean cruise season—can be lined with large cruise ships; for example, you can see up to seven ships calling at Cozumel on a busy day.
Related: A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing a Cruise Line
Beach and water sports
If your fantasy is to lounge in the sun and splash in the waves, you’ll want to choose your Caribbean itinerary carefully to live out your dream. When it comes to beaches, the Eastern Caribbean islands often trump the Western ones in most cases, but you can find sandy shores on most Caribbean itineraries.
Just a short taxi ride from the cruise port, you can escape the crowds and find a quiet stretch of sandy beach to call your own. After a few hours in the sun, you’ll agree it was worth it, especially in Grand Turk and the Virgin Islands.
When it comes to water sports, some of the easiest opportunities for sailing, kayaking, and parasailing are available on cruise lines’ private islands, mostly located in the Bahamas. At Disney Cruise Line Castaway Island, Netherlands America‘s Half Moon Cay, Norwegian Cruise LineHarvest Caye and Great Stirrup Cay, Royal Caribbean Perfect Day at CocoCay And Labadeeand MSC Cruises’ Ocean IslandYou will have more opportunities to go to the beach than you can take advantage of in just one day.
You can find cruise line visits to private islands on many week-long or longer itineraries in the Eastern or Western Caribbean.
Related: Visiting a Cruise Line’s Private Island? Don’t Make These 11 Mistakes
Coastal excursion
The Mexican ports of Cancun, Costa Maya and Progreso in the Western Caribbean shine when it comes to historical sites, especially when it comes to the spectacular pre-Colombian Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza and Tulum. You can also tour Mayan sites from Belize.
Equally impressive, though a completely different experience, is a day of snorkeling or scuba diving around the reefs off the western Caribbean coast of the arid Grand Cayman Islands (famous for their sea turtles and manta rays), Jamaica (famous for its underwater cliffs and unusually colorful coral) and Belize (where you might even see whale sharks).
However, you will have your choice of island tours, water activities and boat trips on any itinerary you choose.
Shopping
In both the Eastern and Western Caribbean, you’ll find ports designed for shopping, with a mix of luxury boutiques and souvenir shops spread throughout the cruise ship terminals.
In Nassau, Bahamas, the famous straw market sells everything from cheap souvenirs to local crafts, designer T-shirts and knockoffs. St. Thomas and Grand Cayman also have plenty of jewelry and knick-knack shops, as well as duty-free liquor stores that offer rum tastings.
If you’re lucky enough to have a cruise that includes St. Barts, you’ll find small French-Caribbean-style boutiques stocked with chic resort wear and elegant sandals, as well as rum made from Tahitian vanilla beans.
Last line
While each cruise line has its own personality and the type of traveler it is ideal for, so does each itinerary. You will want to choose your route carefully and research each island to ensure that you are not only choosing a ship, but also a trip that suits your interests.
That said, our advice is that if you’re a beach lover looking for some peace and quiet among the palm trees, the Eastern Caribbean is the place to be. Those prone to sunburn and looking for activities other than the joy of dipping their toes in the sand—including history buffs and divers—should consider the Western Caribbean their ideal choice.
If you’re looking for a fun-filled vacation in the sun, combining active and relaxing days, you’ll be satisfied no matter where your Caribbean cruise takes you.
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