Norwegian Gem: 11-Night Southern Caribbean

Tampa cruise port is a Gulf Coast embarkation point for Western Caribbean cruises, sitting on Florida's west side about 85 miles west of Orlando. Port Tampa Bay is the state's largest port by tonnage, but its cruise operation is modest compared to PortMiami or Port Everglades.

Great Stirrup Cay is Norwegian Cruise Line's private island in the Berry Islands chain of the Bahamas, about 120 miles northwest of Nassau. The island has been NCL's exclusive beach destination since 1977, making it one of the oldest private cruise islands in the Caribbean.

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.

Falmouth's historic port was purpose-built for mega-ships and sits in a town known for its well-preserved Georgian colonial architecture. Popular excursions include Dunn's River Falls, bamboo rafting on the Martha Brae River, and Montego Bay beaches.

Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the western Caribbean known for Seven Mile Beach, exceptional diving, and its role as a major offshore financial center. George Town serves as the cruise port, but there's no pier large enough for cruise ships.