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In recent years, cruise lines have responded to passenger requests for something different by visiting a variety of ports, some they even built themselves.# The result has been an integration of some exciting destinations, previously not often seen by cruise ship passengers,# along with some pretty-hard-to-beat classic cruise destinations.# During 2011, sailing a variety of cruise lines, we got a chance to sample many of these warm Caribbean ports.# Let’s look at ten of our favorites.

Mahogany Bay in Roatan, Honduras
Safety and convenience are often top reasons that encourage cruise passengers to get off the ship when in port, adding a true richness to the cruising experience.# Lately, cruise line private islands and sponsored cruise centers have been gaining in popularity with cruise travelers.## We visited Mahogany Bay Cruise Center (MBCC) in Roatan, Honduras# recently while on board Carnival Liberty seeing their Funship 2.0 initiative in action.## Read More
See our Mahogany Bay Facebook Gallery

Cruz Bay, St Johns U.S Virgin Islands
We had been to St Johns several times but always via ferry after a big ship dropped us off in St Thomas. An advantage of sailing much smaller Seabourn Quest, the ship docked in Cruz Bay requiring just a short tender ride to shore. It’s one of the most popular destinations in the US Virgin Islands and arriving by small ship provided some distinct advantages. Read more

See our St Johns Facebook Gallery

Isla Catalina, Dominican Republic
Isla Catalina is a tropical destination island located on the southeast corner of the Dominican Republic, about 1.5 miles from the mainland and not far from La Alagracia and La Romana.## It was the scene for our second Beach Barbecue, which features Seabourn’s signature Caviar in the Surf tradition.# A pristine beach, watersports and some serious shopping opportunities framed that fun, pinnacle beach event.# Read more
See our Isla Catalina Facebook Gallery

Basseterre, St Kitts, West Indies
Saint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher Island is an island in the West Indies. The west side of the island borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean.# Visiting the island on a sailing of Seabourn Quest, it is the only port on our itinerary that we did not care for all that much.# Not that St Kitts is not a beautiful island.# It is.# But pestering merchants, prostitutes and drug peddlers greeted us upon arrival; kind of a turn-off.# Too bad too; the facility is new, clean and fully equipped to handle a big crowd.# Read more
See out St Kitts Facebook Gallery

Falmouth, Jamaica
On board Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas# we stopped at Historic Falmouth cruise port in Jamaica.# Still under construction, the clean, safe and well-organized area serves as both a monitored marketplace and launching area for a variety of shore excursions.# Investigating the “historic” claim, we made our way to the Good Hope Great House on a tour back to the Jamaica of yesteryear and a sprawling sugar cane plantation. Read more
See our Falmouth Jamaica/Hope House Facebook Gallery

Rodney Bay, St Lucia
St Lucia‘s Rodney Bay is home to Reduit beach and Pigeon Island National Landmark, one of the most important monuments to St Lucia’s history.# We were there for a day via Seabourn Cruise line‘s Seabourn Quest and had a chance to walk around the historic site.# Torn between the hilltop ruins of Fort Rodney and a panoramic view of the ocean and coastline the breath-taking photo opportunities were abundant.# Read more
See our St Lucia Facebook Gallery

Galveston, Texas
Not actually a Caribbean port but the big name in growing home ports of embarkation and surely worth considering as more than just a place to get on a ship.# We visited Galveston in advance of welcoming new Carnival Magic to her year round home at the Texas port and were impressed with all it had to offer as well as the warm and friendly people who live and work there. Read More

See our Galveston Facebook Gallery

Gustavia, St Barts, France
Columbus discovered St Barts in 1493 and French colonists from nearby St Kitts first settled it in 1648.# The island changed hands several times but was finally given legal status as a Department of France in 1946, much like Americans made Hawaii a state.# We toured the entire 8 square mile volcanic rock island via taxi off Seabourn Quest in less than two hours.# Read more

See our St Barts Facebook Gallery

Bridgetown, Barbados
The city of Bridgetown is the capital and largest city of Barbados located on the island’s southernmost coast.# A long call at the port (8am to 9pm) via Seabourn Quest allowed plenty of time to explore a favorite island we had not visited in years. On our visit we found a local driver for a private tour of the island and headed towards the Atlantic side where some world-class surfing happens year-round. Read More
See our Barbados Facebook Gallery

Mayreau, Grenadines
Mayreau is the smallest inhabited island of the Grenadines and with an area of about 1.5 square miles and a population of less than 300, the smallest island we have ever been to.# Stopping at Saline Bay in Mayreau, Seabourn Quest cast a stunning image against the tropical ocean backdrop where Seabourn crew members created a day at the beach like no other.# Read more

See our Mayreau/Caviar in the Surf Facebook Gallery
Photos: Whitney Owen
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