Favorite Southern Caribbean Island

What is your favorite island in the Southern Caribbean...and why?

So many interesting islands, but if I had to choose only one, I'd have to go for Bonaire for the snorkeling.

Aruba...I had always had such a negative thought (you know why) about this island and felt I had no interest in going there..but when I finally did last October I ended up loving it ...so beautiful... and am looking forward to my B2B cruise that will visit there again next May.

Oh man... OK.. Aruba. I mean, so many are worthy, but we LOVED Aruba. The ocean was pristine and the color was stunning...

I was just talking to a co-worker yesterday and she went there on her honeymoon last month, and she told me that Aruba has among the highest "call-backs" of anywhere in the Caribbean. It's easy to see why when you stop there for 8 hours on a cruise ship, and you know you want to return there one day for a land vacation. :) It is just beautiful.

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For quaintness, charm, shopping, and dining, we've enjoyed Curacao most as a Southern Caribbean cruise port. We've only been to Bonaire once now, but would gladly return for the incredible snorkeling, but overall, Curacao holds more for us.

#1 - Dominica hands down for it's natural setting. Undeveloped by corporations and big hotels and I hope it stays that way. However if you just want beaches and everything "disneyfied" it's not for you.

#2 - Bonaire for the pristine snorkeling.

A

B

C

D

Nothing with an E :confused:

St. Maarten

Maho Beach!!!

Curacao- Lived there for 2 years and have been back twice by cruise ship.

Enjoyed the snorkeling at the cove beaches, the charming city of Willemstad, the diversity of cultures, the ships coming in from all over the world, the Dutch influence, and the proximity to Aruba and Bonaire.

If I had to pick one, I would choose Curacao. Been there twice and love the culture and Dutch atmosphere.

Aruba

beach - Palm Beach

restaurant - Madame Jeannette's

product - Aloe manufactured here

casino's - sports betting (horses)

Natural Pool

Butterfly farm

Bird sanctuary

Safari trips in the state park

Snorkeling - Baby Beach

Sperlunking

California Lighthouse

2 malls to shop in

Seaport Village for charted fishing

Sunset sails (Red Sail Sports)

Cunucu bus - bar hopping

Always sunny year round - less than 20" a year in rain

Below the hurricane line - only one in the last 100 years

Friendly people island wide

They drive on the right side of the road

We must have caught Aruba on an off day, as we did not get the same positive feel for the island. The water was certainly blue, and the beaches were gorgeous, but the natives all seemed to be generally annoyed with us, and I am not sure why. It is possible that they did not like the cruise ships or possibly Americans - I do not know, but we try to be as unlike the "ugly american" tourists as possible. I have never seen that type of reception anywhere else - not any of the other Caribbean islands, or either coast of Mexico and the associated ports in those areas.

Now, I did enjoy Curacao very much, and any trip back there will probably include Aruba, so I will certainly give it another shot. I want to get to Bonaire so I can complete the ABCs and try out that snorkeling I hear so much about!

Antigua then Curacau, Barbados & Aruba in a three way tie

I though Aruba was not as beautiful as the other islands...it's not lush...it's flat...it's a desert!!!

Here's an oddball one for you. Quite a few years ago we did a cruise that included Panama and one of the islands near there that we toured was one of the San Blas Islands. That is still my favourite. Very different. Barely above sealevel. Very small. No vehicles. Small hotel where you slept in a hammock. Small pond of sea water where you could fish for your dinner and of course a tourist trap little convenience store. I've never seen this place mentioned since but it sure was a great place to see.

Are you telling me there is more than one? I thought there was one giant island and several different docks, and a few areas where they set up Tender landings.....ships just head out to see and then make a turn and head to a different port location on the big island....seems like at the fort locations, they could just change the name of the fort and the history slides and photos and keep going round and round.

Oh just kidding....but after I have seen a few forts and heard a few different sets of Island history,,,, they came, they conquered then a few year later others came and conquered.....they all seemed the same.

Nevis. We took the shore excursion there from St. Kitts. It's not very developed/only developed in pockets, so it felt authenticity Caribbean. Full of lovely people proudly showing us their home.

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Curacao

St. Lucia-so much to see and do!

While not technically a port stop, my favorite island was Virgin Gorda, The Baths as visited on an excursion. Gorgeous, I'd love to go back when they put Tortola back on the schedules.

Since the OP said Southern, and I have to choose only one, I'd have to go for Aruba for the snorkeling.But my real favorite is St Thomas, USVI.

So far:

1. Aruba - because we are "cheap" and like that we can walk to a beautiful beach within 10 minutes from the port.

2. Curaçao - we love the quaint and colorful city of Willemstad.

Still need to see Bonaire...

St Kitts, Dominica and Barbados were nice too, but not my top 2.

Dominica- Beautiful and Tropical rain forest- undeveloped which makes it feel more authentic (not just a built up shopping center)

Virga Gorda- The Baths You get to from Tortola

We just took the kids back on a cruise to these places but Tortola was cancelled as they used the excuse the port wasn't finished.

I believe it was a money thing as they could have used their lifeboats as tender boats. We we disappointed!:(

Aruba! Spent a week on the island and stopped for a cruise once as well. Extremely friendly people, beautiful beach, great restaurants and shopping. It's been 16yrs since we've been back. :confused: What's wrong with this picture?

Love Antigua. Is this really southern?

I'm tied on this one. I vote Aruba for the beach, and Curacao for the beauty, friendliness, and diversity of the people.