Eastern Caribbean Cruise: Barbados, Saint Lucia & British Virgin Islands

Nicknamed “Little England” by some, Barbados is home to many museums that chronicle the island's rich past and over 100 shipwrecks along its reefs that are a playground for divers from around the world.

Famed for its twin peaks shaped by a now extinct volcano, St. Lucia is one of the truly unspoiled islands in all the Caribbean, with a variety of landscapes and eco-systems not found anywhere else in the region.

The fascinating history of the West Indies tends to be overshadowed by the region’s breathtaking natural beauty—but it’s quite a story, and the beautiful Caribbean island of Dominica is the place to hear it.

St. Kitts is the epitome of a lush tropical Eden and likely to stay that way, as a quarter of its land mass is set aside as a national park, and uniquely its rainforest is expanding rather than shrinking.

Get to know Nevis—one central volcano and an area five miles by seven—with its circle island road less than a two-hour drive and featuring a championship golf course, tropical fruit trees and sugar plantations.

It’s hard to get lost in Philipsburg—one mile of colorful Creole houses long and four streets deep—but it’s also a place where you may find yourself on the brink of an adventure you have long imagined.

The largest of the British Virgin Islands and home of the capital, Road Town, Tortola is a big draw for outdoor enthusiasts thanks to fantastic hiking trails in the lush interior hills. For a more laid back island experience, Tortola is home to some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Imbibe on Brewer’s Bay beach, or dig your toes into the sand on Cane Beach, by far the most famous and popular beach on the island.

Ponce de Leon never did find the Fountain of Youth, but he did stumble upon San Juan, which had to be a close second, featuring an appealing array of golf courses, rainforests and beaches galore.