All the major cruise lines have ships that sail on Caribbean itineraries, even if they are only seasonal. Even the mighty Queen Mary 2, the Cunard line's flagship, passes through the Caribbean several times a year. For this reason, you'll find the widest range of ships and itineraries sailing here than in any other cruising region. Big ships visit major ports of call such as St. Thomas, St. Maarten/St. Martin, Nassau, and San Juan; when they call at smaller islands with shallower ports, passengers must disembark aboard shore tenders (small boats that ferry dozens of passengers to shore at a time). Or they may skip these smaller ports entirely. Small and midsize ships can visit smaller islands, such as St. Barths, St. Kitts, or Tortola, more easily; passengers are often able to disembark directly onto the pier without having to wait for tenders to bring them ashore.