• Nassau, The Bahamas
  The capital city and one of the Caribbean's busiest and most popular ports of call. Passengers can choose from an astonishing array of beaches, including world-famous Cable Beach, but it's Atlantis Paradise Island – with its enormous waterpark, marine habitat, eleven pools, and more – that remains the Bahamas' biggest draw (consider purchasing a day pass in advance of travel). Additional highlights include traditional Bahamian dining at the Conch Fritters Bar & Grill and a visit to the Ardastra Zoo, Gardens & Conservation Centre (the only zoo in the Bahamas, it's a great option for families).
• Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Dominican Republic
  The Dominican Republic's newest cruise port (it opened in 2015), Amber Cove is your gateway to an almost endless selection of exciting activities. Guests can opt for an exhilarating ATV ride through the rugged Dominican countryside, a deluxe catamaran sail with snorkeling, horseback riding along the beach, and more. Laid-back outings include a visit to a nearby chocolate-making cooperative, where guests can participate in the cultivation of the cacao plant and help produce/package chocolate bars, and the chance to swim among dolphins and sea lions at Ocean World.
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
  An exotic mixture of European, African, and indigenous influences, this colorful port of call blends the best of the past and the present. Old San Juan is the undisputed highlight: portions of the district remain encircled by massive and ancient walls, and the city's eclectic jumble of Baroque, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture is truly something to behold. San Juan is also home to a vibrant restaurant and nightclub scene; sample the mofongo (a classic Puerto Rican dish), then swing by Barrachina for a piña colada or two (the restaurant, legend has it, is the birthplace of the now-iconic cocktail).
• Philipsburg, St. Maarten
  Two ports in one! This beautiful island is shared by both the Dutch and the French (St. Maarten being the Dutch side, while St. Martin belongs to the French), but you can easily move between both halves during your time in port. You'll find some of the Caribbean's very best shopping on offer here, especially along Philipsburg's bustling Front Street, home to great deals on gems and jewelry, designer watches, perfumes, and more. The Dutch side of the island is also the site of some of the Caribbean's prettiest beaches including Little Bay and Maho (famous for its low-flying airliners)
• Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
  Virtually every Eastern Caribbean itinerary will include a stop in St. Thomas, making it one of the region's busiest cruise ports. One of the three major U.S. Virgin Islands (St.Croix and St. John are the others), St. Thomas is home to Magens Bay, considered by many to be the most beautiful beach in all of the Caribbean. Additional attractions include Blackbeard's Castle (a National Historical Landmark) and the panoramic SkyRide to Paradise Point (once you've arrived, be sure to swing by the Point's Restaurant & Bar for a world-famous Bushwacker).

 

• Belize City, Belize
  This tiny Central American nation may be small, but its spectacular and uninterrupted series of cays and reefs make it one of the region's foremost diving and snorkeling spots. Situated along the Caribbean Sea, Belize is also home to two must-see Mayan archaeological sites, Altun Ha and Xunantunich, both of which are accessible via shore excursion. Additional attractions include Jaguar Paw (cave tubing, a jungle zipline, and more), San Pedro Town (beach bars, terrific seafood restaurants, etc.), and the Belize Zoo & Tropical Education Center, home to a large collection of exotic species that are native to the country.
• George Town, Grand Cayman
  Grand Cayman truly offers something for everybody. Stingray City, the island's top attraction, offers visitors the chance to mingle with friendly stingrays as they congregate by the shoreline. Bloody Bay Wall is another highlight (no less an authority than Jacques Cousteau called it the planet's single-best diving/snorkeling site), as is Seven Mile Beach, with its crystal-clear waters and its crescent of coral sands. Families will want to pay a visit to the award-winning and interactive Cayman Turtle Centre, and every visitor should make time for at least one sit-down meal while in port (the island, home to a slew of spectacular restaurants, is now rightfully regarded as “the culinary capital of the Caribbean”).
• Montego Bay, Jamaica
  Montego Bay is the perfect port of call for active cruisers. Once your ship's docked, you're just a short drive away from a slew of exciting outdoor options including off-road safari adventures, extreme ziplining, bamboo rafting, river tubing, and more (there are also five championship-caliber golf courses located within a few miles of port). Mystic Mountain and Dunn's River Falls, both located in nearby Ocho Rios, are must-see attractions: Sky Explorer, a state-of-the-art chairlift, will transport you to the summit of the former; once you've reached the mountain's peak, you'll have an opportunity to take part in an unforgettable Bobsled Ride (inspired by the legendary 1988 Jamaican Olympic squad).
• Cozumel, Mexico
  The biggest Mexican island in the Caribbean welcomes over one million cruise passengers per year, but it remains largely unspoiled. One of the world's premier scuba-diving destinations, Cozumel is also the home of several ancient and historically important Mayan ruins including San Gervaiso, the largest collection of ruins on the island. Visitors will also find an exceptionally authentic selection of Mexican restaurants to choose from, many of which are located just minutes from the dock; examples include the family-run Comidas Caseras Toñita and Casa Denis, Cozumel's most venerable dining venue.
• Progreso (Yucatán Peninsula), Mexico
  This charming, low-key port serves as your gateway to the Yucatán Peninsula's more famous attractions. Visitors looking to stick close to their ship can relax on Progreso's gorgeous beach or go for a stroll along the town's impressive Malecón, but to hit all the highlights you'll need to venture inland. A trip to the ancient Mayan city of Chichén Itza is essential; en route, passengers with time to spare can also call upon Mérida, Yucatán's dynamic capital and its cultural epicenter, home to the oldest surviving cathedral in the Americas and some of Mexico's very best shopping.

 

• Oranjestad, Aruba
  The Southern Caribbean's most popular port of call, blessed with dry and sunny weather year-round. The island's golden beaches – Eagle Beach and resort-laden Palm Beach, especially – are huge draws, as is all-inclusive De Palm Island, home to a waterpark, banana-boat rides, air-jumpers, and more (consider purchasing a full-day pass that includes transportation to and from port). Aruba's unusual desert-like landscapes, including its enormous Arikok National Park, are also well worth exploring; guests can traverse the island's rugged terrain aboard an ATV or view it from above via a helicopter tour.
• St. John's, Antigua
  Antigua's spectacular beaches (365 of them, supposedly, or one for every day of the year) are the island's main claim to fame. Sun-soaked and secluded, they're a great place for both relaxation and recreation during your time in port; popular examples include Carlisle Bay Beach (a great spot for snorkeling), Dickenson Bay (home to a wide selection of watersport rentals), and Half Moon Bay (widely considered Antigua's most beautiful seashore). Additional attractions include BeachLimerZ, a bistro bar located along historic Fort James Beach, and Redcliffe Quay, St. John's stylish waterfront promenade.
• Bridgetown, Barbados
  This friendly island, with its white-sand beaches and its British-colonial traditions, is a favorite among cruisers. Harrison's Cave – Barbados' leading attraction, an amazing subterranean environment accessible by tramway – is not to be missed; a guided tour, including lunch, of the Mount Gay Rum Distillery is another excellent choice for first-timers. Downtown, you'll find a number of historic landmarks that you can explore (including the George Washington House and the Garrison) and several of the island's leading beaches (e.g. Accra Beach and Paynes Beach) are located within a few miles of the pier.
• Willemstad, Curaçao
  Colorful Curaçao, with its pastel-colored houses and its famous floating pedestrian bridge, is one of the Caribbean's best-kept secrets. The island's eastern side, where you'll dock, is surprisingly cosmopolitan, home to top-shelf attractions like the Curaçao Sea Aquarium and Rif Fort Village. Venture south and west, however, and you'll encounter some of the Southern Caribbean's most rugged and exciting landscapes including the incredible Hato Caves and the cliffs at Playa Forti. Additional highlights include Cas Abao Beach, Playa PortoMari, and a guided tour of the Curaçao Liqueur Distillery.
• Fort-de-France, Martinique
  One of the Southern Caribbean's largest islands and an overseas territory of the French. Passengers will find a number of excellent attractions within close proximity to port including Jardin de Balata and Habitation Clément. Martinique's many natural wonders – majestic Mount Pelée, the island's primeval rainforest, Plage des Salines, and others – help make it a prime destination for active cruisers, too. Guests with time to spare will want to pay a visit to the historic remains of Saint-Pierre, the island's original settlement, once considered “the Paris of the Caribbean” and laid waste to by volcanic Pelée back in 1902.

Caribbean cruisers can choose from a wide selection of convenient U.S. departure ports (five in the state of Florida alone) including:

• Florida Departures: Ft Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa
• Southern Departures: New Orleans, Louisiana; Charleston, South Carolina; Galveston, Texas; Mobile, Alabama
• New England Departures: Boston, Massachusetts; Baltimore, Maryland; Bayonne, New Jersey; New York, New York
• Alternate Ports: Norfolk, Virginia; San Juan, Puerto Rico

Unlike many other destinations, you can sail the Caribbean year-round. Peak season runs from mid-December to April, when the region's weather is at its very best: warm, sunny, and dry during the daytime (with virtually no humidity), and comfortably cool/crisp in the evening. But this is also the busiest and most expensive time of year, so if you're looking to avoid the biggest crowds you'll want to steer clear of sailings that depart during the summer months and other periods of time when children are out of school and families cruise (e.g. late December/early January and mid-March through mid-April).

The Caribbean's hurricane season begins in June and runs through November; if storms do occur, they're most likely to appear between mid-August and late October. Generally speaking, you'll find the best prices on offer for cruises that depart during this timeframe, and if you're looking for a bargain then it's well worth it: the chances of your cruise ship getting caught up in a storm are incredibly slim, and today's cruise lines can reroute any itinerary at the drop of a hat.

Not necessarily. On many Caribbean islands, the Eastern Caribbean dollar is the legal tender, while others recognize the euro or some form of local money (e.g. the Barbados dollar, the Jamaican dollar, the Netherlands Antillean guilder) as their official currency. That said, the U.S. dollar remains the most widely accepted currency in the Caribbean, and it will be recognized virtually everywhere you go (it's also the official currency of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands); even those establishments that display pricing in a local currency will be happy to take your U.S. dollars (just keep in mind that you may receive your change in the form of a local currency).

It's always best to plan ahead, though. You may ultimately save some money by converting to a local currency in place of U.S. dollars. If you're unable to exchange currency prior to travel, you may be able to do so while you're aboard your ship or upon arrival in a port of call. Contact your bank, a local currency exchange, or your Caribbean cruise expert for more information/assistance.