Caribbean Cruise Travelogue

Caribbean Cruise — Why the Eastern Caribbean Islands Left Me Speechless

There are trips you forget after two weeks. And then there are trips that burn themselves so deeply into your memory that you're still talking about them years later. My cruise through the Eastern Caribbean was definitely the latter. St. Lucia, Barbados, Martinique—each island a world of its own, each arrival a new adventure. In this travelogue, I'll take you on a journey that changed me as a content creator and as a person.

I'd heard quite a bit about cruises before—mostly from people who were either absolutely thrilled or dismissed them as floating mass tourism. The truth, as is so often the case, lies somewhere in between. But I can say one thing right now: the combination of a ship and Caribbean islands is hard to beat, especially if you're traveling with a drone and camera like I was.

The route — From island to island through turquoise waters

Our route started in Barbados and took us via St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, and Guadeloupe before we returned to Barbados. Seven days at sea, five islands, countless impressions. Every morning began with a new panorama outside the cabin window—sometimes the dramatic Pitons of St. Lucia, sometimes the colorful fishing boats of Martinique.

What surprised me was how incredibly diverse the islands of the eastern Caribbean are. Barbados has a British influence, with perfect English and driving on the left. Martinique is like a piece of France in the middle of the ocean—baguettes, croissants, and European prices. Dominica, on the other hand, is wild, untouched, and feels like stepping back in time. It's precisely these contrasts that make the route so exciting.

St. Lucia — The Pitons from the air with my DJI Mini 5 Pro

St. Lucia was the absolute highlight of the entire cruise for me. Even as you sail into the port of Castries, you can see the famous Pitons in the distance—two volcanic peaks that rise like sentinels from the sea. But it's only from the air that you realize how dramatic this landscape truly is.

I launched my DJI Mini 5 Pro right on the beach in Soufrière and ascended to an altitude of 120 meters. What I saw on the monitor literally took my breath away: the two Pitons, framed by dense rainforest, with the turquoise Caribbean Sea in the background. This image has become one of my absolute favorite photos—and has received over 180,000 likes on Instagram.

Important note for drone pilots: St. Lucia doesn't have extremely strict drone laws, but you should check with the St. Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) beforehand. I had no problems flying on Soufrière beach as long as I flew respectfully and not over people. The flying conditions were perfect—hardly any wind, clear visibility, and warm updrafts that kept the drone stable.

Sulphur Springs — The world's only drive-in volcano

After the drone flight, we headed to Sulphur Springs, the world's only "drive-in volcano." It sounds touristy, and it is—but still impressive. You literally drive into a volcanic crater and see bubbling sulfur springs with hot steam rising from them. The smell takes some getting used to (think rotten eggs), but the experience is worth it. The mud baths right next door are a must—you smear volcanic mud on your face and feel reborn afterward.

Entry to Sulphur Springs costs approximately $7 per person, with the mud baths an additional $5. For the complete package of volcano, mud bath, and subsequent soak in the hot springs, this is an absolutely fair price.

Barbados — British flair meets Caribbean joie de vivre

Barbados was the starting and ending point of our cruise and deserves far more than just a transfer day. I was fortunate enough to spend a full day on the island at both the beginning and the end — and both times Barbados surprised me.

The south of the island, around Bridgetown and St. Lawrence Gap, is lively, vibrant, and steeped in history. Bridgetown's UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town captivated me with its colonial architecture and bustling markets. Cheapside Market, in particular, is a feast for the senses—fresh tropical fruits, local spices, and the warm hospitality of the Bajans (the people of Barbados).

The east coast, on the other hand, is the complete opposite: wild, rugged, and deserted. At Bathsheba Beach, towering waves crash against massive rock formations—a paradise for surfers and photographers. Here, I took some of my favorite long-exposure shots of the entire trip with my Sony A7 IV. The combination of the raw Atlantic and the soft evening light is simply unbeatable.

Culinary delights of Barbados

Food in Barbados is a whole different ballgame. The national dish is flying fish with cou-cou (a kind of polenta made from cornmeal and okra). It sounds unassuming, but it tastes fantastic—especially in the small rum shops found on almost every street corner. My tip: Oistins Fish Fry on Friday evenings. Freshly grilled fish, cold Banks beer, and live music right on the beach. That's Barbados at its purest.

Regarding costs: Barbados is significantly more expensive than most other Caribbean islands. A main course in a typical restaurant costs between $15 and $30, a cocktail around $10-$12. In the upscale restaurants on the west coast (the so-called "Platinum Coast"), you can easily expect to pay $80-$150 per person.

Drone footage from on board — tips and challenges

One of the most intriguing questions I'm frequently asked is: Can you fly a drone from a cruise ship? The short answer: No, not from the ship itself. The long answer: There are ways to still get spectacular footage.

Launching drones is strictly forbidden on the ship itself—understandably so, for safety reasons. But I had absolutely no problems at the harbors and beaches of the individual islands. My workflow was as follows: leave the ship, walk to a good launching point (ideally with a view of the ship and the coast), launch the drone, and capture the perspective that would be impossible from the ground.

The best drone spots of my cruise:

• Soufrière, St. Lucia: Pitons from above — an absolute must-have
• Bridgetown Harbour, Barbados: The cruise ship from above with the old town in the background
• Roseau, Dominica: The harbor with its colorful houses and the rainforest behind it
• Fort-de-France, Martinique: The bay at sunset

Equipment tips for your cruise

My setup for this trip: DJI Mini 5 Pro (under 249g, so registration-free in most countries), Sony A7 IV with the 16-35mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens and the 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom lens, plus a DJI Action 6 Pro for underwater shots while snorkeling. A total of about 8kg of camera equipment—significantly more than most passengers had with them, but essential for me as a content creator.

My most important tip: Bring plenty of memory cards and batteries. There's no way to buy equipment at sea. I had three drone batteries with me and was glad for every single one—with such spectacular views, you don't want to have to stop after 30 minutes.

Cost of a Caribbean cruise — what you really need to budget for

Position	Costs (approx.)
7-day cruise (inside cabin)	from €800 per person.
7-day cruise (balcony cabin)	€1,200–2,000 per person.
Beverage package (all-inclusive)	€60–80 per day
Excursions per island	€50–150 per person.
Tips (automatic)	$14–18 per day
Wi-Fi package	€15–25 per day
Flight to Barbados (from Germany)	€500–900 (return)
Total (realistic, 1 person)	€2,500–4,500

The biggest hidden cost on cruises: the extras. The cabin itself is often surprisingly affordable, but beverage packages, specialty restaurants, excursions, and Wi-Fi quickly add up. My tip: Only book the beverage package if you really drink several cocktails every day. Otherwise, water (which is free) and the occasional beer at the bar will suffice.

Martinique and Dominica — The underrated islands

While St. Lucia and Barbados are the well-known stars of the eastern Caribbean, Martinique and Dominica surprised me the most — precisely because I had little expectation.

Martinique feels like a Caribbean France. In Fort-de-France, you stroll through markets fragrant with vanilla and rum, eat crêpes in small cafés, and pay in euros. The beaches in the south—especially Les Salines—are among the most beautiful in the entire Caribbean. White sand, coconut palms, turquoise water. And then there's French cuisine with a Caribbean twist: accras (fried cod balls), colombo de poulet (chicken curry), and of course, rhum agricole, which here is distilled from fresh sugarcane juice instead of molasses.

Dominica, on the other hand, is the antithesis of Instagram perfection. There are no luxury resorts or white sand beaches here. Instead: pristine rainforest, bubbling volcanic lakes, and waterfalls that look like something out of a Jurassic Park movie. The island calls itself the "Nature Island of the Caribbean"—and that's no exaggeration. Boiling Lake, the second-largest hot spring lake in the world, is only accessible via a challenging six-hour hike. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time, but Trafalgar Falls alone (a 20-minute walk from the parking lot) was worth every drop of sweat.

My conclusion — Who should take a Caribbean cruise?

A cruise through the Eastern Caribbean is especially worthwhile if you want to experience several islands in a short time without constantly having to book flights and change hotels. You trade flexibility for comfort—and in return, you get a floating hotel that takes you to a new paradise every night.

For content creators and photographers, a cruise is a jackpot: you get enough material in one week to last for months. Each island offers completely different subjects, lighting, and stories. Using a drone amplifies this even further—the bird's-eye view of Caribbean islands is simply incomparable.

What I would do differently next time: Plan more time in Dominica (this time it was only 6 hours) and book a separate beach day in Barbados before or after the cruise. The west coast of Barbados at sunset is too beautiful to only admire from the ship's deck.

Frequently asked questions about Caribbean cruises

Do I need a visa for the Caribbean islands on a cruise?

As a German citizen, you don't need a visa for most eastern Caribbean islands for stays of less than 90 days. On cruises, the stay is only a few hours anyway—a valid passport is sufficient. Important: The passport must be valid for at least six months upon entry. For French overseas territories like Martinique and Guadeloupe, even a national identity card is sufficient, as they are part of the EU.

When is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

The best time to go is from December to April—the dry season with pleasant temperatures of 26–30°C and little rain. Hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking in September. Cruises in the off-season (May, November) are significantly cheaper, but you risk worse weather. I went in February and had glorious sunshine every single day.

Am I allowed to take my drone on cruise ships?

Most major cruise lines allow drones on board, but prohibit launching them from the ship. Storing them in the cabin is no problem. On land, the respective drone laws of the country apply. I had my DJI Mini 5 Pro (under 249g) in my hand luggage—it was only briefly inspected during boarding, nothing more. Tip: Check the drone laws of each island on your route in advance.

Is the drinks package worth it on the cruise?

Do the math: A cocktail costs an average of $12-15, a beer $7-8, and a soft drink $3-4. The all-inclusive package on most cruise lines costs between $60 and $80 per day. If you drink 4-5 drinks a day, it's worth it. If you drink less, it's not. Water and coffee are free on most ships—so the package is primarily worthwhile for alcohol drinkers.

How much cash should I take with me?

You don't need cash on the ship itself—everything is handled via your boarding pass. On land, I recommend about $50-100 USD in cash per island for taxis, street food, and small souvenirs. Euros are accepted on the French islands (Martinique, Guadeloupe). Credit cards work in most restaurants and shops, but not at street stalls or with local taxi drivers.

About the author: Max Haase is Germany's most influential travel influencer with over 4.2 million followers. He specializes in drone footage and luxury travel. Cooperation requests here.