Hey Friends, Help Us Decide Between Two Noordam Cruises!

[CruiserTarheel]

Option #1: 1/13/2012---FLL, HMC, Grand Turk, Samana, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, 4 sea days, FLL. (10 days)

Option #2: 1/23/2012---FLL, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, Dominica, St. Thomas, HMC, 3 sea days, FLL. (11 days).

We've been to St Thomas, so I guess we need to decide which would be better for shore excursions and scenery between Grand Turk, Samana, Bonaire, Curacao, and Aruba, or St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, and Dominica.

We've done Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. This will probably be our only Southern Caribbean cruise. Which would you choose, and why?

Thanks!

[KirkNC]

Based on our recent Jordan cruise you can't go wrong but I like option 1.

Kirk

[Love the beach]

Whoo---that's a tough one. I would pick # 2 because of the extra day!:)
Have been to all the ports and the only one I didn't care for was Samana. The ABC ports are really nice--my favorite is Curacao---. I really love St. Maarten the best out of all of them. I'm sure you will be happy no matter which one you choose, especially since you will be going on my favorite ship!
Marge

[Koshlong]

We've done option #2, and we're doing option #1 this March. I think there will be more variety in this one..........even with the ABC islands. What we plan to do:

Grand Turk ..beaches and wandering (Once you get out of the cruise terminal, it is probably the least developed island you'll visit on a standard cruise)

Samana, DR ..some kind of nature tour (I understand that this is not a port where we'll enjoy just wandering, but has lots of lush, unspoiled NATURE.

Bonaire - snorkelling (that's what you're supposed to do, isn't it)

Curacao - love the long stay ...rent a car and tour, maybe try a rijstaffel restaurant (sp)

Aruba - shopping (finally, got to that)

The other thing to consider is how you prefer your sea days.... on this itinerary, there are 2 together in the middle of the cruise and one at the end.

[eldercruser]

Hard to beat the ABC islands. We are doing Option 1 for the second year in a row.

[babygirl722]

Option 2 for the extra day!

[ariawoman]

Option 2 for 2 reasons, first the extra day and second 1 less day at sea. For me, cruising tends to be to see as many places as I can in a shorter time. Some go to enjoy the ship and chill, so if that's the case, then option 1 :-)

[sail7seas]

II prefer the first itinerary:

ABC Islands...... We love 'em. They're Dutch!!!! :)

[RuthC]

This is too easy---option 1. It has the ABC islands, and it doesn't have St. Thomas.

[sail7seas]

AND......... it's the Noordam. Of course, it will be out of this world wonderful!!! :)

[fann1sh]

Martinique is a "love it, or hate it" island. It's an actual département of France. Being able to speak some French, and bringing € in cash for the central market go a long way to enjoying Fort de France.

Noordam is one of the few ships which calls at Martinique. Whether you like all things French - or not - could help tip the scales one way or another.

[Willsot]

I would choose the second itinerary. I was just in St. Lucia and Barbados and thought both were just beautiful. Have not been to Bonaire, but have been to both Aruba and Curacao.
Not a big fan of Grand Turk. The extra day is a bonus.

[cruiseapril]

The ABC islands offer so much and are our favorite Caribbean ports. If snorkeling and beach time are some of your favorite activities- option #1 would be a good choice. Willemstad, Curacao is a World Heritage site- quite beautiful IMO. So if you want to add a fine cultural experience to beach time, this is another reason for option #1.

On the other hand, if you like lush green islands, the other option would be best because of St. Lucia and Martinique. The ABC islands have lots of desert conditions by contrast.

[Infi]

I love the ABC islands, they're probably my favorites in the Caribbean. Very unique and beautiful and relatively unspoiled by cruise ships. But if this is your only trip to the Southern Caribbean, I would choose option 2. St. Lucia, Dominica, Barbados, and Martinique just better embody the Southern Caribbean to me (beaches, lush vegetation, island features like the Pitons in St. Lucia and champagne reef in Dominica).

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have done both itineraries -- love both.

We have been to Martinigue several times. Really don't care for this port.

SOOOOO -- I would choose option 1.

[CruiserTarheel]

OK, thanks for all of your replies. It's clear we can't go wrong with either option. We'll do more research before we decide.

[DutchByAssociation]

option #1: 1/13/2012---fll, hmc, grand turk, samana, bonaire, curacao, aruba, 4 sea days, fll. (10 days)

option #2: 1/23/2012---fll, st. Maarten, st. Lucia, barbados, martinique, dominica, st. Thomas, hmc, 3 sea days, fll. (11 days).

We've been to st thomas, so i guess we need to decide which would be better for shore excursions and scenery between grand turk, samana, bonaire, curacao, and aruba, or st. Maarten, st. Lucia, barbados, martinique, and dominica.

We've done eastern and western caribbean cruises. This will probably be our only southern caribbean cruise. Which would you choose, and why?

Thanks!


#2 :)

[English_in_Spain]

We did both last year as a B2B (just before the TA)

As someone else said, ABC islands are more suited if you are into beach and snorkelling etc. Itinerary #2 has more variety of things to do.

[boards]

We would like to do Option #2 only because we have visited most of Option #1 ports a number of times and did very enjoy them, but we haven't been to several of the Option #2 ports. Whichever one you choose, I am sure you will enjoy the Noordam and the ports.

[x lindsay x]

A vote for #2!


St Lucia and Dominica are great when you get off the beaten path. Book a tour through a guide before you leave (check the ports of call board) and you will see so much for far less than the cruise line and before the cruise line crowds get there. Plus ending your trip with HMC is lovely.

[bepsf]

I've done #2 and enjoyed every minute of it
We're doing #1 in less than 4 weeks - So looking forward to the ABC islands!
I'll let you know which I prefer in February...

...but you can't go wrong either way.

[kazu]

I would take number one myself - I love curaco, but DBA's comment for #2 makes me wonder - so I would defintely suggest research and do what you like - do what the two of you are going to enjoy - and have a great cruise :):)

[doncarlos]

lots of good points both ways= solution:D: take both b2b [ collectors voyage ] ...we did just that in dec :).........great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! review coming ;)

[CruiserTarheel]

OK, thanks to all of you. We have selected....door number2! We're getting a little too old to snorkel and lay on the beach so we decided #2 might offer more things to experience. If we ever take a Panama Canal cruise maybe we'll visit one or two of the ABC islands.

Thanks again!

[signora]

Speaking French I would opt for Martinique and we just got back from Dominica and absolutely loved it. Levi Baron is the best tour guide ever--do the gorge and the waterfalls/hot springs. Really memorable. But, if you go for Samana, Terry Lee Bandini is equally fantastic: horseback ride to the falls. Got both these folks off the port of call boards. Of course, you can't go wrong with either option.

[innlady1]

Option #1: 1/13/2012---FLL, HMC, Grand Turk, Samana, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, 4 sea days, FLL. (10 days)

Option #2: 1/23/2012---FLL, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, Dominica, St. Thomas, HMC, 3 sea days, FLL. (11 days).

We've been to St Thomas, so I guess we need to decide which would be better for shore excursions and scenery between Grand Turk, Samana, Bonaire, Curacao, and Aruba, or St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, and Dominica.

We've done Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. This will probably be our only Southern Caribbean cruise. Which would you choose, and why?

Thanks!

Do the Collectors Cruise and enjoy both...we did that the last two winters!

[Philip217]

Option #1: 1/13/2012---FLL, HMC, Grand Turk, Samana, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, 4 sea days, FLL. (10 days)

Option #2: 1/23/2012---FLL, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, Dominica, St. Thomas, HMC, 3 sea days, FLL. (11 days).

We've been to St Thomas, so I guess we need to decide which would be better for shore excursions and scenery between Grand Turk, Samana, Bonaire, Curacao, and Aruba, or St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, and Dominica.

We've done Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. This will probably be our only Southern Caribbean cruise. Which would you choose, and why?

Thanks!

Option #1 has Samana, which is not well regarded by many passengers.
Option #2 has more days.

It would be an easy choice for me.

[shandryl]

I love the collectors and would recommend do both too!! :D Looking forward to be on the Noordam this March can't wait!!

Do the Collectors Cruise and enjoy both...we did that the last two winters!