Kayaking in tropical paradise - Canoe floating on transparent turquoise water, Caribbean sea, Belize

Destinations Caribbean

Top ten things to do in the Caribbean

With dozens of islands, each with their own personality, it can be difficult to know where to start when planning your Caribbean cruise. We’ve narrowed down our top experiences ashore to help you discover the very best of this vibrant archipelago.

5 min 05 Jun 2024

Rebecca Proctor

Cunard writer

Savour Caribbean cuisine in St Kitts

This special Shore Experience will impart the true art of Caribbean cooking from Basseterre, St Kitts, with a sprinkle of history and folklore added in for good measure.

Your day begins at Fairview Great House and Botanical Garden, where you can see mouth-watering dishes prepared right before your eyes. As ingredients are added, your host will recount historical tales about regional foods, and talk about combining African, European, and Indian cooking methods. Then comes the best bit – sampling the dishes! You can even take copies of your favourite recipes to try at home if you wish. When you’ve had your fill, wander the authentically furnished, colonial-style Great House, and get a taste of colonial island life. Browse local handicrafts and stroll through the beautifully landscaped botanical garden at your leisure.

Encounter the real Antigua

Enjoy a true taste of island life with a tour of the picturesque sights of Antigua, a delicious lobster lunch, and an enticing sandy beach: the perfect Caribbean day.

First, take a drive to the Antiguan National Park in English Harbour for a visit to Nelson’s Dockyard. This historic Georgian shipyard has been refurbished as a colonial style village, and there’s plenty of time to explore before your meal of fresh lobster is served. Drive to the Blockhouse Ruins and Shirley Heights, two panoramic vantage points with spectacular views, and complete your tour at the beach, with around an hour and a half to bask on the warm sands or bathe in the clear waters.

Go kayaking in St Maarten

This Shore Experience favourite features an exhilarating paddle across Simpson Bay Lagoon, the Caribbean’s largest saltwater lagoon.

After you board your kayak, you’ll follow your guide at a leisurely pace across the saltwater lagoon, past the magnificent mega-yachts that make St Maarten their winter base from November to April. During your paddle, your guide will point out sites of interest, including the imaginary water border between the Dutch and French sides of the island. A brief stop by the mangroves will give you a chance to learn about the island’s vibrant history and the lagoon’s complex ecosystem. Your kayak paddle will conclude at Kim Sha Beach, where you can enjoy a swim and a complimentary drink, prior to returning to your ship.

Be enchanted by Dominica’s Emerald Pool

Uncover one of Dominica’s most spectacular natural attractions with a visit to the Emerald Pool. Your journey to this famous site takes you through green valleys and dense rainforests, immersing you in the natural beauty of Dominica.

As you travel through the Canefield Estate and verdant fern-covered hillsides, you’ll enter the Morne Trois Piton National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to your destination: the spectacular Emerald Pool. Cloaked in lush rainforest filled with beautiful plants, flowers, and ferns, this serene grotto, hosting a 40-foot waterfall and emerald-coloured pool, is simply stunning. Stand behind the waterfall, swim in the green-tinted pool, or marvel in the breath-taking beauty of it all. You’ll also stop at a guest house for a refreshing fruit punch on your return to your Cunard Queen.

Ride above the rainforest on St Lucia’s aerial tram

Thanks to its unparalleled views, 2,000 feet above sea level, we think this is the best way to explore St Lucia's magnificent rainforests.

Sit back and relax in your open-air gondola as you quietly glide through the lofty canopy, brimming with vibrant wildflowers, colourful berries, and the scent of fragrant Magnolia, Gommier, and Giant Chatannier trees. Your journey even includes a naturalist guide, so you can learn all that you see, hear, and smell as you travel at a leisurely pace above the forest. Once you disembark, you can also take a short walk to explore the forest at ground level and enjoy a refreshing drink at the Hummingbird Café.

Explore underwater depths in Barbados

Descend into the magical underwater world of Barbados on board the incredible Atlantis Submarine.

Dive into the hidden world under the waves and see an astonishing array of marine life in its natural environment. Fluorescent tropical fish and colourful coral formations. Spectacular sponge gardens and hawksbill turtles. Who knows, you may even encounter an intriguing shipwreck you traverse the seabed.... With large portholes, each journey in the Atlantis Submarine offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience rarely seen views of the aquatic world. Your experienced crew will point out and identify the sights in detail, immersing you into this otherworldly land beneath Barbados’s shimmering waters.

See the sights in St Thomas

Experience another side to St Thomas, explore the famous ‘Mountain Top’, and perhaps even indulge in a little retail therapy, on this panoramic Shore Experience.

After disembarking your Cunard Queen in port, you’ll set off along Skyline Drive, one of the most scenic routes on St Thomas. Along the way, you’ll pause momentarily to drink in the views across to Charlotte Amalie and your ship below. You’ll then head to ‘Mountain Top’, 1,400 feet above sea level, to admire the far-reaching panoramas stretching over Magens Bay and the surrounding Virgin Islands. Returning to downtown Charlotte Amalie, you’ll enjoy two free hours or so, to explore the duty free shops at your leisure. Perhaps you’ll even find a much-loved keepsake to remind you of your Caribbean holiday.

Soak in the scenery in Tortola

Immerse yourself in the dazzling island scenery and the warm waters of Cane Garden Bay. Marvel in the awe-inspiring views over Tortola and the surrounding islands, as you traverse one of the island’s highest peaks, along the Ridge Road.

The scenic splendours continue as you drive up to Fort Hill and wind your way through the picturesque villages of Belle Vue, Long Trench, and Fahie Hill. Considered one of Tortola's finest beaches, Cane Garden Bay will welcome you next with its powdery white sands and rustling palms. With some free time here you can stroll along the long curving bay, cool off in the crystal-clear waters, or simply relax in the Caribbean sun and enjoy the scenery. Your return journey along the scenic Doty High Road offers a bird's-eye view of Road Town Harbour. You may even spot the iconic red funnel of your Cunard ship…

Taste a winning combination in Grenada

Experience rum distilling, the traditional Grenadian way, and learn the process of the island’s cocoa production with this delicious Shore Experience.

After meeting your group and guide on shore you’ll set off to the Grenada Distillers, which has been in operation since 1937. A captivating tour of this historical factory will weave you through the processes that go into making their award-winning rums, the flavours of which you’ll have a chance to savour in the sample-bar at your tour’s end. Next, enjoy a brief drive to the Belmont Estate, where you’ll learn the process of the cocoa production, with your guide nearby to explain each stage – ‘turning’, ‘polishing’ and grinding – and (perhaps the best bit) tasting! On your return journey, pause momentarily at Grand Etang Lake to admire the views, before continuing the drive to the port, while enjoying a complimentary beverage.

Find artistic flair in Curaçao

Choose this colourful tour to discover the perfect combination of Willemstad's historical sites and contemporary street art.

Your Shore Experience will start with a fun ride through the historic district, with photo stops at some of the island’s most iconic street art, including ‘Rainbow Stairs’ and ‘The Naked Chicken’. Visit old fortresses, sample curaçao liquor, and see a collection of sights including the governor's mansion and wedding-cake building. Then, soak up an authentic island experience as you stroll through picturesque ‘old Amsterdam meets Caribbean’ style streets, with a chance to see, touch, and feel the incredible street art murals, and meet the artists. You’ll also see the oldest synagogue in the hemisphere and have some free time to explore before returning to your ship.