Silver Spirit: 12-Night Caribbean

Barbados cruise port is in Bridgetown, the capital of the easternmost Caribbean island. Bridgetown Port (Deep Water Harbour) sits just outside the city's UNESCO-listed historic center, with modern terminal facilities including 21 duty-free shops, restaurants, car rental agencies, and a tourism office.

St. Lucia is one of the Caribbean's most topographically dramatic islands, defined by the twin volcanic peaks of the Pitons rising sharply from the southwestern coast. The Castries cruise port sits on the island's northwest side, with ships docking at either Pointe Seraphine (a duty-free shopping complex within walking distance of downtown Castries) or the La Place Carenage terminal on the opposite side of the harbor.

A diver's and snorkeler's paradise, Bonaire is surrounded by a protected marine park with over 80 marked dive sites accessible from shore. The island's laid-back atmosphere and flamingo sanctuary at Goto Lake offer a quieter Caribbean experience.

You've probably seen photos of Willemstad even if you don't realize it: that row of pastel-colored Dutch colonial buildings along the Handelskade is one of the most photographed waterfronts in the Caribbean. It's been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Aruba's capital sits just 15 miles off the Venezuelan coast, and it's one of the southern Caribbean's most popular cruise stops for good reason. Five berths across three air-conditioned terminals handle up to five ships at once, with water depths of 32 to 36 feet.

Basseterre cruise port in St. Kitts uses the Port Zante terminal, a purpose-built cruise facility in the heart of Basseterre, the capital of St. Kitts and Nevis. Port Zante includes two dedicated cruise piers capable of berthing the largest modern ships plus a marina, restaurants, shops, and the Amina Craft Market.

Martinique gives you something most Caribbean ports can't: an actual piece of France in the tropics. This is a French overseas department, so the bakeries are real, the wine is good, and the Creole cuisine draws from both metropolitan French technique and Caribbean soul.