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Basic cruise-route areasThe two traditional ones are the Western and Eastern Routes. Eastern is defined as east of Puerto Rico, and Western as everything else.

The Western Caribbean is generally
better for snorkeling and diving.
It also offers you a greater
variety in culture, cityscapes, seascapes, and landscapes.

Because the distance between
islands is often shorter than in the Western Caribbean, you spend less time
traveling between islands.
The Eastern Caribbean is your best
bet for finding beautiful beaches.
The islands are typically smaller
and less developed than in the Western Caribbean, so you stand a better chance
of enjoying a quiet, relaxing setting for your vacation.
Some cruise lines reclassified the Bahamas (along with the Turks & Caicos) into a new category, the "Northern Route". The Bahamas is conveniently close to Florida, which makes it geographically desirable for cruises originating in that state.
Also, some cruise lines moved Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, Curacao, Grenada, and Trinidad & Tobago into a new "Southern Route" category. Most of the area lies south of the classic hurricane belt.
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