Small Ship Cruises in the Caribbean Islands

The Caribbean Sea includes thousands of islands running the gamut from overcrowded ports of call stuffed with shopping opps and loud bars catering to the throngs pouring off the big ships to much quieter, far more appealing isles where you can absorb some local culture and good food along with the sea and sun. Small coastal ships tend to stick to the islands in the eastern and southern parts of the Caribbean — the Windward and Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles — where the islands are small and clustered together. Here they can dock or drop anchor almost anywhere to give you access to the islands’ charms. Many sprout mini-marinas at the stern for easy access to swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding and other watersports. Life doesn’t get much better. Cuba is the new major attraction, and small ships can dock in so many more ports.