Southern Caribbean Islander

Keep the island day simple.

Road Town docks in the capital of the British Virgin Islands, a working harbour rather than a resort strip. The day most people want is the ferry to Virgin Gorda and The Baths, which is the boulder-and-grotto swim the BVI is known for, so check the return times before you commit.

At your own pace.

Port Zante puts you in the middle of Basseterre, so the town is a walk and the beaches are a short ride south to Frigate Bay. The scenic railway around the old sugar estates is the excursion that is genuinely hard to arrange independently.

City streets or a cross-bay beach.

Fort-de-France docks at Pointe Simon, a short walk from the market, the cathedral and the Schoelcher library. Martinique is French in a way that surprises first-time visitors, and the beaches worth the drive are all south at Les Anses-d'Arlet and Sainte-Anne.

Start with your own terminal.

Castries docks right in town at Pointe Seraphine or La Place Carenage, either of which is a short walk or water taxi from the market. The Pitons are the reason to come and they are an hour and a half south, which makes this one of the calls where the ship's tour earns its price.

A town walk or Carlisle Bay.

Bridgetown docks at the Deep Water Harbour, a hot fifteen-minute walk or a short taxi from the centre. Barbados rewards going further than the town: the west coast beaches, Harrison's Cave and the Atlantic surf at Bathsheba are all different islands in effect.

Town flavors or a beach day.

Oranjestad docks in the middle of town, with the pastel Dutch frontages and the shops immediately outside the terminal. Aruba's draw is the beach rather than the capital, and Eagle and Palm are both short rides north.

Overnight stay. The ship stays overnight, so this call runs across two days. Check the all-aboard time before heading out.

Town flavors or a beach day.

Oranjestad docks in the middle of town, with the pastel Dutch frontages and the shops immediately outside the terminal. Aruba's draw is the beach rather than the capital, and Eagle and Palm are both short rides north.

Second day in port. The ship stays overnight, so this call runs across two days. Check the all-aboard time before heading out.

Choose town or the coast.

Willemstad docks beside Otrobanda, and the walk across the Queen Emma pontoon bridge into the painted Handelskade frontage is the best free thing in the southern Caribbean. Curaçao's shore diving is unusually good and starts a short ride east.

New River views, coastal gardens, Fort Lauderdale history.

Port Everglades is the cruise port for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. It is about 4 km (2.5 miles) from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and is a major departure point for Caribbean sailings.