Southern Caribbean Cruises
The islands near South America: Dutch-flavored beaches, volcanic peaks and rainforest.
Get Southern Caribbean QuotesThe Far End of the Caribbean
The Southern Caribbean is the arc of islands closest to South America: the dry, Dutch-flavored ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, and the green, mountainous Windward and Leeward islands such as St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, Barbados and St. Kitts. It is where you go for volcanic peaks, rainforest waterfalls, spice plantations and some of the Caribbean’s most reliable sunshine.
Because these islands are so far from the U.S. mainland, the way you start your cruise matters more here than in any other part of the Caribbean. This site explains the ports, the three main ways to get there, and what the hurricane season really means this far south. For the Virgin Islands and St. Maarten, see Eastern Caribbean Cruises; for Cozumel, Belize and Jamaica, see Western Caribbean Cruises.
Two Very Different Groups of Islands
The ABC islands
Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are low, dry and windswept, with cactus on the hills and some of the best beaches and dive sites in the region. They are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, so you will see Dutch architecture, hear Papiamento and Dutch spoken alongside English and Spanish, and find a cuisine shaped by Europe, Africa and South America.
The volcanic islands
St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica and St. Kitts are steep, green and wet in the hills, with rainforest, waterfalls, hot springs and black- and gold-sand beaches. Barbados, a flat coral island to the east, is known for its beaches, rum and cricket.
Explore the Ports
Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao
Beaches, diving, flamingos and the UNESCO-listed old town of Willemstad.
The ABC islands →
St. Lucia and Grenada
The Pitons, a drive-in volcano, nutmeg plantations and Grand Anse beach.
Two volcanic islands →
Dominica and St. Kitts
Rainforest waterfalls and a fortress on a hill, plus a scenic railway around St. Kitts.
Nature and history →Barbados is both a port of call and one of the region’s departure ports; see our Barbados page.
How a Southern Caribbean Cruise Is Put Together
| Starting point | Typical length | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan, Puerto Rico | 7 nights | Flight to San Juan; five or six ports and few sea days |
| Bridgetown, Barbados | 7 nights or more | Longer flight; you begin right among the islands |
| Florida (Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral) | Usually 8 to 14 nights | No long flight; several sea days each way |
Our where-to-start guide compares these options in detail. Longer voyages that link the Southern Caribbean with the Panama Canal or South America are covered on A Voyage Travel, our sister site for longer voyages.
Southern Caribbean Questions
Which islands are in the Southern Caribbean?
Cruise lines use the term for the islands in the lower arc of the Caribbean: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao off Venezuela, plus Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, St. Vincent, Martinique and, on many routes, St. Kitts and Antigua farther north.
Is the Southern Caribbean outside the hurricane belt?
Partly. Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao lie south of the track most Atlantic hurricanes follow and are rarely hit directly. Grenada, Barbados, Dominica and St. Lucia are farther from the main track than the Virgin Islands but have been struck by major storms. See our hurricane season page.
Why are Southern Caribbean cruises often longer?
These islands are a long way from Florida, so round trips from Florida usually need ten nights or more. Starting in San Juan or Barbados puts you among the islands on day one and fits five or six ports into a week.
Finding the Best Value
Southern Caribbean fares depend on the starting port, the length of the voyage and the season, so we do not publish prices. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise compare live fares across the lines, including the flights you need to reach San Juan or Barbados, and send free quotes. For seasonal promotions, Wave Season collects the year’s biggest cruise offers, and Cruising for Less lists the discounts you may qualify for. On a longer voyage, a better cabin makes a bigger difference; Cruise Upgrades explains how upgrades work.
Who Is Behind This Site
Southern Caribbean Cruises is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a quote, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle it personally — not a call center — and book everything for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
Plan Your Southern Caribbean Cruise
Tell us which islands you most want to see, how many nights you have and where you would like to start. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare the southern routes for you and send free quotes.
Get Southern Caribbean Quotes