An Eastern Caribbean cruise is a great itinerary for first-time cruisers and experienced travellers looking for a slow and relaxing pace in comfortable surroundings. Popular with both adults and children, Eastern Caribbean cruises visit the fewest number of ports, so most of your time is spent on board the ship and often with two consecutive days as sea.

The islands in the Eastern Caribbean provide a wealth of recreational opportunities including famous beaches, snorkeling, sailing, and golf. You can shop for souvenirs and luxury goods imported from around the world including jewelry, perfumes, crystal, porcelain, cameras, electronics and more at tax-free prices. You will be amazed at the selection. Gamblers won't be disappointed because some of the islands have the largest casinos in the Caribbean.

Rich in colonial history, an Eastern Caribbean cruise offers a look at churches, fortresses and government buildings constructed by the English, Spanish and Dutch settlers hundreds of years ago. Some of the most popular shore excursions include sailing and snorkeling tours in St. Thomas and St. John where you can snorkel right off the sailboat near a beach inaccessible by car. Or try your hand at sailing by joining the America's Cup Regatta in St. Maarten. A favorite spot of natural beauty on the island of Puerto Rico is the El Yunque Rain Forest, a national park not far from San Juan.

The world's most popular cruising region is the Caribbean Sea, and one of the most desirable itineraries includes the Bahamas and the eastern islands that define the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. You can plan on visiting three or four of the following islands:

Eastern Caribbean cruises are very affordable and available year-round for 7 nights. Longer itineraries from 10-12 nights are available during the winter months. Almost every cruise line offers an Eastern Caribbean itinerary, so it's often easy to find availability, even at the last minute.

Look for ships departing from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral and seasonally from eastern US ports as far north as New York. A variety of different types of cruises offer Eastern Caribbean itineraries from contemporary lines to luxury lines and even specialty sailing ships.