Oceania Sonata: 14-Night Pacific Coast from Miami

Miami cruise port, officially called PortMiami, is the busiest cruise port in the world by passenger volume. Millions of people pass through here every year, and nearly every major cruise line uses it as a home port.

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.

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.

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.

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. John's is the capital and main cruise port of Antigua, one of the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean. The Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay cruise terminals sit in the heart of St. John's, directly adjacent to the duty-free shopping district.

Tortola is the largest of the British Virgin Islands, a mountainous, lush Caribbean island where Road Town serves as the capital of this British Overseas Territory. The cruise port at Road Town Pier Park handles two large ships simultaneously (up to 180,000 GT).