Eastern vs Western vs Southern Caribbean Cruises: Ports, Ships & How to Choose

Western, eastern and southern Caribbean weeks can share a ship and still feel like different holidays! This set is 2,603 active itineraries and 9,338 open upcoming departures, on 14 cruise lines and 141 ships.

Quick facts

• An itinerary can touch more than one side. The counts below are not a pie chart.
• For the route-fit essay, read Eastern, western, or southern Caribbean: which route fits you.
• The map for the whole sea is Caribbean cruises.

Side by side

Western calls include Cozumel, Roatán, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman and the Jamaican ports. Eastern calls include San Juan, St. Thomas, Grand Turk and Philipsburg. Southern calls include Barbados, St. Lucia, Aruba, Curaçao and Cartagena. A week can pick up a port from a second list, so check the calls rather than the headline alone.

Western Caribbean

774 itineraries and 2,945 open departures call at least one port on this side. A separate line count and ship count for the side alone are Not listed. An itinerary can also appear on another side. Short Florida weeks often live here. Open cruises from Miami or Galveston and a port such as Cozumel.

Eastern Caribbean

1,279 itineraries and 2,903 open departures call at least one port on this side. A separate line count and ship count for the side alone are Not listed. An itinerary can also appear on another side. San Juan and the Virgin Islands are the usual draw. Open Philipsburg and cruises from San Juan when that pier is the start.

Southern Caribbean

1,042 itineraries and 1,920 open departures call at least one port on this side. A separate line count and ship count for the side alone are Not listed. An itinerary can also appear on another side. These weeks run longer and reach farther south. Open Barbados and cruises from Barbados when the island is the start, not only a call.

Ships with figures on Caribbean routes

Lowest listed fares across the Caribbean set

Open departures by month

January has 1,262 open departures, the busiest month in this set. Hurricane timing and sea state are Not listed.

How to choose

• Western: Mexico and Central America calls, often the shorter Florida week.
• Eastern: San Juan, St. Thomas and the northern islands.
• Southern: a longer reach toward Barbados, the ABC islands and the South American coast.
• If two sides both sound right, open the itinerary and count the calls. The overlap is real.

Fares are marketing prices, confirmed when you book.

Frequently asked questions

Can one cruise be western and southern?

Yes. These counts include an itinerary in every side it actually calls. They are not exclusive buckets.

Which side has the most open departures?

Western has 2,945, eastern has 2,903, and southern has 1,920. Use the larger number as the busier side, and remember one sailing can sit in more than one count.

Where should I read the route advice?

Eastern, western, or southern Caribbean: which route fits you is the companion piece. This page is the counts, ships and fares.

What is the lowest listed starting fare in the combined set?

6-Night Western Caribbean on Enchantment of the Seas: $158 starting cruise fare, as of October 4, 2026, from Tampa.