5 Cool Eastern Caribbean Shore Excursions

When it comes to taking a Caribbean cruise, there’s one thing you have lots of: options. Do you want to go to the Eastern Caribbean or Western Caribbean? Lie on the beach or be active? The sky is really the limit when it comes to your sun-seeking cruise vacation.

One advantage the Eastern Caribbean has over the Western Caribbean is the array of ports. There are dozens of Eastern Caribbean cruise ports to choose from.

Here are 5 cool Eastern Caribbean shore excursions worth trying:

Aquaventure Waterpark in Nassau

Families and couples flock to Paradise Island when they get off their cruise ship. You almost can’t help it after seeing the castle-like Atlantis Resort towering into the sky when you dock. On the grounds of the Atlantis is the Aquaventure Waterpark, easily accessible to cruise passengers. Here you’ll find twisting slides, river rides, pools, lazy rivers and even rock climbing to satisfy the kid in you — and your kids, too. The Discover Nassau Town and Atlantis shore excursion gets you to Atlantis, and then you can take advantage of all the options there!

Horseback Riding in Grand Turk

Grand Turk is a picturesque postcard island with white, sandy beaches and plenty of fun in the sun. The horseback riding excursions on this island give you the chance to take in breathtaking views via horseback and then actually ride your horse directly into the warm water for an experience you won’t soon forget. Bring your waterproof camera and wear clothes that can get wet on this one — it’s not your typical horseback ride!

SeaTrek in St. Thomas 

Not familiar with Sea Trek? Simply put, it’s helmet diving that requires no previous experience. Your head and hair stay completely dry while you walk upright underwater exploring coral reefs, schools of fish and colorful marine creatures. You’ll see a whole new world under the sea with a SeaTrek cruise excursion!

Bioluminescence Bay in San Juan 

This spectacular Puerto Rican bay is truly magical and considered a wonder of nature. You can experience the glowing bay via kayak or pontoon boat. This bay gets its glow from single-celled bioluminescent dinoflagellates, half-plant, half-animal organisms that emit a flash of bluish light when agitated at night. The glow they emit lights up the night sky.

Snorkeling in St. John

St. John, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands, features some of the most pristine beaches and renowned snorkeling locations in the Caribbean. Trunk Bay is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and even has an underwater snorkeling trail.

There is no shortage of cool things to do in Eastern Caribbean ports of call.

Tips

Consider booking a private tour for a more intimate cruise excursion experience.

Avoid looking like a lobster by bringing sunscreen with you on your cruise vacation. Sunscreen at an island store is sometimes double the price stores charge back home.

Invest in some type of protection like a water bag or a waterproof cover for your electronics.

Research your excursions directly through the company’s website, crowd-sourced websites like CruiseCritic.com or even your own social media channels like Facebook. Ask your friends if they have ever done the excursion you’re looking at booking — you’d be surprised how many have!

Regardless of where you go in the Caribbean, you’ll only have six to 10 hours in your cruise port, so you’ll want to make the most of it!