Destinations Caribbean

Best beaches in the Caribbean

You’ll find some of the world’s best beaches in the Caribbean and, just like its islands, no two are quite the same. From the best beaches for scuba diving to the spots you’ll want to fill your camera roll with, our Shore Experience experts recommend their favorite beaches to visit on a cruise to the Caribbean.

3 min 17 Mar 2026

Cristina Azorin

Cunard writer

Best Caribbean beach for relaxation… Valley Church Beach, Antigua

Best Caribbean beach for swimming... Eagle Beach, Aruba

Best Caribbean beach for scuba diving… Carlisle Beach, Barbados

Best Caribbean beach for mixing with the locals… Grote Knip Beach, Curaçao

Best Caribbean beach for a bite to eat… Grande Anse Beach, Granada

Best Caribbean beach for lively nightlife… South Frigate Bay, St Kitts

Best Caribbean beach for getting lost in a good book… Reduit Beach, St Lucia

Best Caribbean Beach for crystal clear waters… Magens Bay, St Thomas

Best Caribbean Beach close to the cruise port… Great Bay Beach – Philipsburg, Sint Maarten

The best Caribbean beach for escaping it all… Long Bay Beach, Tortola

Best Caribbean beach for relaxation… Valley Church Beach, Antigua

If discovering the true meaning of peace and serenity on your Caribbean cruise appeals, look no further than the sugar-white sands of Valley Church Beach in Antigua. This heavenly stretch of sand, nestled between azure-colored waves and swaying palm trees, is a picture of paradise you’ll have to pinch yourself to believe is real. Swim in the glistening sea or simply soak up the sunshine as the waves gently lap the shore. The journey from port is equally captivating, offering glimpses of Antiguan countryside peppered with colorful villages.

Best Caribbean beach for swimming... Eagle Beach, Aruba

Eagle Beach is Aruba’s widest beach and also one of its most picturesque. Located just a 10-minute drive from Oranjestad (private tours and public buses are available), it’s become insta-famous for its pristine white sands studded with Fofoti trees, the twisting trunks of which bend towards the ocean as if bowing to its greatness. Calm, millpond-like, waters also make Eagle Beach a favorite for swimmers. Even if you don’t want to go all the way in, the gentle slope of the sands descending into crystalline sea makes this a fantastic spot for simply letting the waves gently wash over your feet on the shoreline. Finding a more idyllic escape on Aruba would be quite the challenge.

Best Caribbean beach for scuba diving… Carlisle Beach, Barbados

Located just 2km from Bridgetown cruise port, where your Cunard Queen docks, Carlisle Beach is a crescent shaped bay and natural harbor on the west coast of the island. Situated within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s the perfect spot to soak up the Caribbean sunshine on a port call to Bridgetown. It’s also a mecca for scuba divers, boasting six shipwrecks that attract marine life including turtles, rays, and shoals of colorful tropical fish. The beach itself is perfect for scenic walks and there are some great beach bars, as well as shops and restaurants nearby.

Best Caribbean beach for mixing with the locals… Grote Knip Beach, Curaçao

Curaçao’s most popular beach with locals, Grote Knip, is the perfect location to sample a true taste of what life is like for those fortunate enough to call this tropical oasis home year-round. Located near Kleine Knip (around a 40-minute drive from Willemstad) Grote Knip bucks Curaçao trends by being free to use, which only adds to its popularity. As you approach from the cliff-top car park, spare a moment to drink-in the sweeping views this elevated vantage point affords, before pitching up among the locals who come to while away another sunny day on Grote Knip’s powdery sands.

Best Caribbean beach for a bite to eat… Grande Anse Beach, Grenada

Stepping onto the soft white sand of Grand Anse Beach is a moment you’ll never forget. With two miles of beach, lapped by shimmering turquoise waters, this Grenadian jewel – once voted Best Caribbean Beach by USA Today readers – is a picture of coastal perfection. Go for a cooling swim. Dive into a good book. Hunt for shells along the shoreline. Or just stretch out a towel and soak up the sun. If you get peckish, there are plenty of beach bars and restaurants to tempt you – including a craft and spice market nestled right on the beach, where you can complete the Caribbean vibe with a cooling cocktail and a trinket from your travels.

Best Caribbean beach for lively nightlife… South Frigate Bay, St Kitts

If your Caribbean cruise includes a port call to Basseterre, you’ll be perfectly placed to visit South Frigate Bay. Located a mere 2.5 miles from where your ship docks, this popular beach, backed by luxury hotels and a casino, is a hive of activity come day and night. Kayaking, wind surfing, and jet skiing are just a few of the options South Frigate Bay offers to tempt you into those warm sparkling waters. In June, the beach plays host to an annual music festival but on any given night the waterfront comes alive with live bands providing a backing track to dancing and beachfront bonfires.

Best Caribbean beach for getting lost in a good book… Reduit Beach, St Lucia

You’ll never regret a few blissful hours spent on the golden sands of Reduit Beach. One of St Lucia’s best beaches, there’s no better place to relax in a lounge chair and bask in the glorious Caribbean sunshine as the gentle breeze rolls off the waves. It’s a wonderful opportunity for a little ‘you’ time, perhaps getting lost in the pages of this year’s must-have holiday read. The beach at Reduit slopes very gradually so a dip to cool off is equally inviting in this idyllic bay. If you’ve come without a picnic packed, there are a few laidback beachfront bars and restaurants ready to come to your rescue.

Best Caribbean Beach for crystal clear waters… Magens Bay, St Thomas

Rated one of the top 10 beaches in the world by National Geographic Magazine, Magens Bay isn’t only the nicest beach on St Thomas, it’s one of the best in the Caribbean. The drive from port (around 10-20 minutes depending on where your cruise ship docks) takes you via Drake’s Seat, from which you’ll get your first tantalizing glimpse of Magens Bay and the surrounding area. The view of these azure waters and white sands from above, however, is nothing compared to when you set foot on the beach itself. With water so clear you can see the seabed, Magens Bay is precisely the kind of beach you hope to encounter on a Caribbean holiday.

Best Caribbean Beach close to the cruise port… Great Bay Beach – Philipsburg, Sint Maarten

So close to port you’ll be able to see your Cunard Queen glinting in the Caribbean sunshine, Great Bay Beach is a stunning curve of pristine sands and one of the only Caribbean beaches situated within a short walk from the cruise terminal. Its proximity to Philipsburg also makes it easy to pass a few idle hours here and still find yourself with plenty of time to explore a little of what the Dutch side of the island has to offer. Access to Grand Bay Beach from your ship is via a beachfront promenade, dotted with bars and restaurants. Front Street, the main shopping street of St Philipsburg is just the other side, so you couldn’t find yourself in a more convenient location.

The best Caribbean beach for escaping it all… Long Bay Beach, Tortola

Located on Beef Island, a roughly 24-minute scenic drive from Road Town across the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, Long Bay Beach is one of Tortola’s best kept secrets. The long curving bay of this secluded hideaway is lined with rustling palms and sea grape trees. It also boasts striking views of the islands of Great Camanoe and Little Camanoe. The sheltered water is perfect for swimming all year round and there are local vendors willing to rent you a beach chair and umbrella if you want to lay comfortably on the sands for a few hours or retreat into the shade.

All of the beaches included in this guide can be reached by local public transport or visited on one of our Cunard Shore Experiences, which includes travel to and from your ship. You can view and book Shore Experiences for your ports of call by logging on to My Cunard, where you can enjoy 10% off if you book before your cruise. Shore Experiences are also available to book on board your voyage at your ship’s Shore Experience desk.

Discover the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean for yourself - book your Cunard voyage today.