The islands of the Caribbean Sea , collectively known as the West Indies are sorted by size and location into the Bahamas ( or Lucayan archipelago ) , the Lesser Antilles and the Greater Antilles . The islands of the Caribbean Sea , collectively known as the West Indies , are sorted by size and location into the Bahamas ( or Lucayan archipelago , which includes the Turks and Caicos Islands ) , the Lesser Antilles , and the Greater Antilles .