Resort or cruise

I am planning our 10 year anniversary trip in May. I have no clue where to go. We have traveled the last 7 years with kids and have never been away over night away from them. DH And I have cruised 3 times in carribean and love HAL. We've been to Jamaica resort stay and I have been to Punta cana without him 8 years sgo. Hawaii several times, peurto rico. I'm torn between a cruise or a carribean destination. Top 2 places are Punta Cana or st. Lucia. We live in Seattle I have a budget of 3500 with flight. I don't want a 100% sitting around relaxing. Probably 50/50. If We select a resort I don't see us venturing too far from resort so it must have a lot of activities. Must have is good food. We are not much into parties . I nice glass of wine (or rum) is our thing. I'd love to hear some ideas. I'm overwoverwhelmed with choices especially since I don't know whewhere to go. On a cruise it's a must have balcony and maybe Suite.

Have you thought about a cruise to Alaska? No flight required since you live in Seattle. We've gone there twice on HAL and both trips were fantastic. BTW, Happy Anniversary!

Never will do Alaska. I grew up on the very nothern tip of Vancouver Island and have been up and down that coast many many times by boat, sea plane. I would spend money on it . Lol

You might want to check the May weather for many of the "resort" areas and see what the temps are. That might shorten your list a bit. ;)

I think that by May Holland America is repoing their ships out of the Carib to Europe and Alaska for the summer season.

Thanks! I did notice I had more choices in April for cruises. Which we can go then too. We travel in April/may every year for the past 13 years. The weather will work for us.

Perhaps longer, and a bit more pricey, but why not do a repo from Miami/FLL through the Panama Canal to Seattle or Vancouver. Lovely experience, and only a one way flight, or a shorter flight home. These cruises would be leaving in April, arriving on the west coast in May.

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/visitingpanamacanalcruisingcanal-may2015.html

these are just the cruises that transit the canal in May. For earlier cruises, click on Prev. month at the bottom of the list. EM

You will get a much nicer room in a resort, for less money, than on a ship..just saying!

Congratulations on your forthcoming 10th anniversary!

Just thinking outside the box:

Have you ever been to Sedona, AZ? Check this out:

http://www.visitsedona.com

http://www.adobegrandvillas.com

or the less expensive, but extremely nice:

http://www.sedonarouge.com

or

http://www.lauberge.com

you could also pair a stay in Sedona with a trip to Las Vegas, just to keep things really interesting.

Things to do?

Grand Canyon Tour

Tour Jerome

Red Rocks jeep tour/hiking

Wineries

Casino

Hot air balloons

golf

tennis

spas

art galleries

American Indian markets and ruins

vortex tours

horseback riding

great food available at restaurants all over the area

Fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor, rent a car and drive to Sedona (about 2 hours).

Back to the Caribbean. St. Lucia - Currently the top honeymoon destination, know for luxe resorts with open air rooms and in-room swimming pools on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Huge "Wow" factor! Jade Mountain is one of the finest:

http://www.jademountain.com

Lots to do:

Pitons (hiking and viewing)

snorkeling

World's only drive through volcano

botanical garden

banana plantations

watersports

Negative: Can take 2 days to fly down there from most US airports - typically the route is through Miami where you spend the night, then fly on the next day to St. Lucia. BTW, I absolutely love St. Lucia! To me, the trouble to get there is worth it, but it might not be to others...

Where else?

Have you thought of going to Xplor Park and staying at the Occidental Grand Xcaret all inclusive? Xplor Park is HUGE and although you can take a shore excursion there, there is not enough time to really experience the whole park, plus much of the park is fun to do after dark.

http://www.xplor.travel

http://www.occidentalhotels.com/resort/occidental-grand-xcaret/deals-and-special-offers?gclid=CjwKEAjwwo2iBRCurdSQy9y8xWcSJABrrLiSEBDZFVMufiJ8uHIyA6hFD-VJbcF09fn4UavsAM7spxoCajTw_wcB

the Xcaret park is right next door to Xplor, so you could do both parks on the same trip, if you want.

http://www.xcaret.com

Well, as you've been on 3 cruises and have done a Jamaican island resort, you're familiar enough with both. Regardless of the destination..which do you think you'd prefer? Decide that first, then the destination. If you're leaning to a cruise, how about Bermuda? And if you "love" HAL, they are cruising to Bermuda out of Boston in May.

Never will do Alaska. I grew up on the very nothern tip of Vancouver Island and have been up and down that coast many many times by boat, sea plane. I would spend money on it . Lol

Oops, Sorry. My bad.

Try Club Med. It'll be easy to get your 50% relax and 50% do stuff from them.

There's one in Florida if you don't want to travel as far.

I am planning our 10 year anniversary trip in May. I have no clue where to go. We have traveled the last 7 years with kids and have never been away over night away from them. DH And I have cruised 3 times in carribean and love HAL. We've been to Jamaica resort stay and I have been to Punta cana without him 8 years sgo. Hawaii several times, peurto rico. I'm torn between a cruise or a carribean destination. Top 2 places are Punta Cana or st. Lucia. We live in Seattle I have a budget of 3500 with flight. I don't want a 100% sitting around relaxing. Probably 50/50. If We select a resort I don't see us venturing too far from resort so it must have a lot of activities. Must have is good food. We are not much into parties . I nice glass of wine (or rum) is our thing. I'd love to hear some ideas. I'm overwoverwhelmed with choices especially since I don't know whewhere to go. On a cruise it's a must have balcony and maybe Suite.

Since you live in Seattle, why would you choose the Atlantic over the Pacific? How about a week in Fiji or New Caledonia OR, if cost is a big factor, head south to Zihuatanejo or all the way down to Valparaiso?

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or haiwii? (spelling wrong i know)

Have you done a Southern Caribbean cruise?

I would suggest a repositioning cruise from Ft Lauderdale to Seattle.

We have done several of them and they are great.

I would suggest a repositioning cruise from Ft Lauderdale to Seattle.

We have done several of them and they are great.

And in May they will be repositioning and the weather will be warm. There will be ports for beaches and ports for sightseeing. And 2015 should see the widening of the Canal finished.