Carnival Freedom: 15-Night Journeys - Southern Caribbean

Orlando's cruise port is Port Canaveral, located on Florida's Space Coast about 45 miles east of the city. It's one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, and almost entirely an embarkation port.

Known as 'One Happy Island,' Aruba docks ships at the port in Oranjestad, just steps from the colorful Dutch colonial architecture and Royal Plaza Mall. Eagle Beach and Palm Beach offer powdery white sand, and the island sits outside the hurricane belt.

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.

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.

St. Maarten cruise port is one of the busiest in the Caribbean, with ships docking at the A.C.

St. Thomas cruise port is one of the busiest stops on Eastern Caribbean itineraries and the hub of the US Virgin Islands cruise scene. The port handles two main cruise terminals.