During our stay in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, we were determined to visit more of the Caribbean.  The most affordable way to accomplish this was ultimately a cruise ship. We were rather excited to find a great deal for a 7-day Caribbean cruise out of the Puerto Rico port. Even though we were not necessarily prepared for this kind of trip, we were definitely looking forward to it.  With such culture, beaches, activities, and of course the Rum, who wouldn’t be?

St. Thomas

A relaxing day at, what some may argue to be, the best beach in St. Thomas. We walked to the nearest town at port and hopped on a local Taxi to arrive at Lindquist Beach.  The cost to enter the beach is currently $2 per person (keeping it clean and beautiful). This particular beach is highly recommended by locals and is somewhat hidden. Although Megan’s Bay tends to get the most attention from tourists, Lindquist Beach is not crowded and is perfect for those who are looking for some true rest and relaxation (Featured Image: Lindquist Beach).

St. Kitts

A scenic drive around the tropical and luxuriant island was the perfect way to see the many beautiful sites in St. Kitts.  We partnered with a local taxi driver, Austin Powers as he preferred to be called, and a few others from the cruise. The streets were a bit crowded because we happened to be there during election week, but once we were out of the downtown area, it was a smooth ride. We made a few stops throughout the day and enjoyed the tropical paradise that surrounded us. Our favorite stops were the botanical garden with the 400-year-old Saman Tree  and the highest peak on the island with a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea (featured above). Although we didn’t visit, we hear Nevis (neighbor Caribbean island) is a must-see when visiting St. Kitts. Who knew this island had so much to offer?

St. Maarten

St. Maarten is the smallest island in the world divided between two different countries (Netherlands and France). Both Dutch and French sides have much to offer. A recent tourist favorite on the island has been the runway at Princess Juliana Airport on the Dutch side. Given the extremely close proximity of the runway to the ocean, planes appear to land dangerously close to people on Maho Beach. Although we heard so much about it, we unfortunately did not visit this modern highlight on the island. However, we did spend our day on the Dutch side of the island and explored a unique underwater experience. Water taxi, floating platform, rum punch, snorkeling, sea trek and spectacular views! An exciting day indeed.

Barbados

Primarily known for the birthplace of Rihanna (among us millennials), property ownership by many celebrities, sugar cane, wildlife preserves, and swimming with the turtles, Barbados was by far our favorite stop on this cruise. This island has it all! We took a 5-hour scenic drive around the entire island and stopped in each parish to indulge in the history, culture and beauty that this nation has to offer. Bridgetown is the capital and largest city in Barbados. One doesn’t need to travel far from the capital to enjoy a great vacation. The people and history of the island is what make this destination a favorite for many. The sugar plantations and beaches (Carlisle Beach to be exact) were among my favorites. As for Enoc, after tasting the local beer from each island, he claims that ‘Banks’ beer from Barbados was the best during the cruise.

We hope you enjoyed reading this post. Don’t forget to visit the gallery (click here) to see more pictures from each destination.