Cruise Shore Excursions in the Southern Caribbean

Sail away to the Southern Caribbean for exciting shore excursions.cruise ship image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com

Cruises to the Southern Caribbean are an ideal vacation match for travelers who want to combine gourmet dining, relaxing accommodations and lounging by a pool with adventure. Think trekking through rain forests, water sports, high-powered vehicle touring and tasting local liquors. Depending on the itinerary, the cruise ship stops at several ports, where guests may embark on a variety of port excursions, getting to know the new cities by foot, boat and vehicle.

Barbados

When your cruise ship docks in Barbados, you'll step into adventures such as riding a four-wheel-drive vehicle and visiting with the Bajan green monkey. Other Barbados shore excursions include snorkeling along an ancient shipwreck, joining a 48-person Atlantis submarine trip, ziplining through the Barbados treetops, hiking into caves, visiting a rum distillery for a tasting, shopping for crafts and souvenirs, playing the Sandy Lane golf course and taking a narrated bus tour.

Carnival Cruise Lines warns that guests should take special care not to wear camouflage clothing in Barbados during a shore excursion, as it is illegal.

In San Juan, Puerto Rico, you can walk through two fortresses, El Morro and San Cristobal, with restored tunnels, troops quarters, 200-pound mortar shells and a guardhouse. Also explore the El Yunque rain forest, stop for a taste at the Bacardi Distillery, walk through the Caguas botanical gardens, play a round of golf at the Hyatt Dorado East Course, fly through the trees on a canopy adventure and enjoy horseback riding. Day and night horse rides are available, depending on when your ship is docked. Other options include a bio-luminescence kayaking trip, catamaran sail, beach adventure and ATV safari ride.

In St. Maarten, try your luck at snuba (bicycling under water with a helmet), go on a four-wheel-drive ride, snorkel, fish, sail aboard the Captain Morgan, scuba dive, ride a Segway, hop on a Harley-Davidson, kayak, take a bicycle tour or power raft.

Cruisers looking for a little less adventure may enjoy excursions such as the Butterfly Farm, shopping, bus tours, riding a tall ship, relaxing on the beach, taking an art tour and viewing St. Maarten's wildlife.