A Southern Caribbean Cruise is for vacationers seeking the maximum amount of fun-in-the-sun and time in port. This itinerary in the area's sunniest climate offers the most port-intensive Caribbean cruises with a fast and busy pace. Since these "island-hopping" cruises typically begin in San Juan, Puerto Rico, they combine the popular ports of call in the Eastern Caribbean along with the islands of the Southern Caribbean you can take a vacation that really has it all.

Famous for their shopping, historical sightseeing, and beaches the islands of St. Thomas and St. Maarten in the Eastern Caribbean are usually included on a typical Southern Caribbean itinerary. The ship also visits islands with stunning natural beauty deep within the Caribbean Sea. Swim beneath a waterfall on the island of Dominica or by a black sand beach beside a volcano on the island of Martinique. Aruba is an excellent spot for a bicycle tour and explore one of the largest limestone caves in the world on Barbados.

The Southern Caribbean offers a tremendous amount of variety and the influence of every European culture historically tied to the islands including the British, French, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese. Some of the islands are still territories of these countries and well maintained as destinations for European holidays. The personality of these islands combines great historical sightseeing as well as plenty of chances to enjoy the natural beauty found there.

You will find a selection of itineraries in the Southern Caribbean because there are so many islands close together. Some cruise lines even offer more than one itinerary on the same ship by alternating them back and forth. You can stop in as many as five ports of call during a 7-night cruise and have as little as one day at sea. Longer cruises will offer two or three days at sea.

Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International offer 7-night Southern Caribbean itineraries year-round. Other cruise lines offer the departures only on a seasonal basis during the peak winter months and some lines also sail for 9-12 nights at this same time.

The most popular point for Southern Caribbean departures is San Juan, Puerto Rico, but some ships sail from other islands, such as Barbados, and the longer itineraries usually depart from Miami or Fort Lauderdale. All types of cruise lines offer the islands of the Southern Caribbean and you can find resort-style cruises as well as luxury lines visiting these idyllic islands. This itinerary is also the most popular with the speciality sailing vessels.