Now we plan to pirate the Caribbean sea once again. We have signed up for a cruise on Celebrity Solstice, departing Puerto Rico (USA) and returning to Puerto Rico. The table below lists destinations the ship is visiting, and the visa situation.
| Destination | Visa on Cruise | Visa Otherwise | Motivation to go |
| Puerto Rico (USA) | Need a valid US visa to enter Puerto Rico. The cruise starts from here, and we arrive here by air. | Valid US visa needed |  |
| St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands | Valid US visa needed. The cruise company has advised us that we require a US visa for the US Virgin Islands, despite going there for 1 day on a cruise. | Valid US Visa Needed |  |
| Sint Maarten / Saint Martin | Cruise Ship passengers do not require a visa for stays of less than 48 hours. | The Dutch embassy in London (and I assume other cities around the world) issues visas to Sint Maarten. Not sure if the French Embassy issues visas for Saint Martin. FYI, the island is shared by Netherlands and France. |  |
| Antigua | Cruise Ship Passengers do not require a visa to Antigua & Barbuda | Tourist visa required by Indian passport holders. There is no Antiguan embassy in India. However, their High Commission in London will accept applications from Indian nationals. |  |
| St. Lucia | Cruise Ship Passengers do not require a visa to St. Lucia | I have written to the High Commission to find out. I have read somewhere that Commonwealth citizens do not require a visa |  |
| Barbados | Cruise Ship Passengers do not require a visa to Barbados | Tourist visa required by Indian passport holders. There is no Barbados embassy in India. However, their High Commission in London will accept applications from Indian nationals. |  |
Hope this helps you plan your travels to the region!
Update:
I am just finishing up this trip. I had no trouble at all with visas. My US B1/B2 visa was perfectly valid for Puerto Rico (this was my 3rd entry to the USA on this visa). I have had no trouble using the B1/B2 visa for business and tourism. No other country on this trip demanded a visa (or even a passport).
Sources:
St. Maarten: http://www.dutchembassyuk.org/consular/index.php?i=538
Antigua & Barbuda: http://www.antigua-barbuda.org/Agtip01.htm
St. Lucia: http://www.stlucia.gov.lc/faq/do_i_need_a_visa_to_enter_saint_lucia.htm#Visa_Fees_And_Exemptions
