Picking a Caribbean cruise

Hello

My wife and I our trying to find a Caribbean cruise for next March.We don't know anything about them .Do we want to go Southern or Westeren Caribbean cruise for the island or is their something else we might be missing. We are looking at 10 -14 days

Looking for any help or island that we should try and see.

Thanks

Rick

Since you aren't familiar with the Caribbean, go to the library, and get a guidebook...read up on some of the places you MIGHT go! That will give you a good idea of which itinerary you might like! My preference would be Eastern or Southern...I'm not really a fan of Mexico!

Then, head to a local travel agency...they will give you brochures for all the different cruise lines....you can get a pretty good "feel" for which might suit you!

You will find (with few exceptions) that most of the islands are very similar, both with activities and appearance! The exception is Aruba, which is a true desert island...flat and dry and doesn't have that natural "lushness" the other islands have.

There are also Panama Canal cruises....either full transit or partial.....you will go to a couple other places on that route...like Costa Rica and maybe Aruba, if you're doing a partial canal route. What that means is your ship will enter from the Caribbean, go to Lake Gatun, turn around and come back out later in the day. You go through 3 sets of locks, so it gives you the flavor of the canal and it's operation. Very HOT in Panama!!!!

Bear in mind that ship cabins are MUCH smaller than a standard hotel room...many 1st timers don't realize how tiny they can be....so book the largest you can afford, if space is important to you! This is where the brochures come in handy...there are deck plans that show the sq. footage of each type of cabin!! The sq. footage INCLUDES the bathroom space.

You will likely spend about 1/2 of the cost of the cruise in "extras"...excursions are the most expensive, and the guidebook can help you do things on your own, so you don't have to pay those prices! On all but the true "luxury" lines, soda and alcohol are extra costs....many ships have "specialty" restaurants, that are extra costs, and of course there are charges for the spa, some exercise classes, bingo, photos, etc....

Thank You

We did a 14 day Eastern Mediterranean cruise last year with a balcony on RCI. I have been looking up thing to do and see , just not sure witch way to go . Thinking Easteren looks nice

Also think of a back to back (B2B) cruise. This is when you get on a ship for 7 days then stay on the same ship for its next 7 days but to different ports. We have done B2Bs where we go to the eastern Caribbean then back to port and then Western Caribbean.

If the island is flat it had been a coral reef, if it is hilly with almost mountain tops, it was a volcanic island. (Volcanoes are dead now.)

We much prefer Southern -before western or even eastern.

You may also find 10-14 days just going the southern route. You can Google 10-14 days cruises to southern Caribbean and will find some choices. A few years ago we were very happy with 10 days, Princess, Southern Caribbean!

From a completely biased point of view, have a look at the Celebrity Eclipse's Exotic Southern Caribbean Cruise (14 night).

We did it in in 2014 and enjoyed it so much we have it booked for 2016.

There is a good mix of islands, Aruba, so interesting because of the desert like landscape, cactus! Curaçao, a lovely old Dutch style town, St Lucia, you just have to take the tour with the mud baths, St Maartin, just a beautiful island for shopping, strolling or lazing at the beach.

I just love this cruise.

Cheers, h.

Sent from the nether world using magic

Thanks again, never heard of back to back will look into it. looking at RCI southeren that stops at Aruba,Bonaire,St George,Barbados,St Lucia and St John. The only thing is that it is on the same ship we took last year sernade of the sea offering the same floor 9th , looking to try different ship.

Rick

It all depends are what your are interested in. The Western Caribbean itineraries will offer you to chance to visit Mayan ruins such as Chichen Izta, Tulum, Uxmal, Kohunlich, and Lamanai. The Southern itineraries are more about beach and water activities.

Go to the cruise line website and compare the shore excursions offered on each itinerary. It may help you decide.

It all depends are what your are interested in. The Western Caribbean itineraries will offer you to chance to visit Mayan ruins such as Chichen Izta, Tulum, Uxmal, Kohunlich, and Lamanai. The Southern itineraries are more about beach and water activities.

 

Go to the cruise line website and compare the shore excursions offered on each itinerary. It may help you decide.

To elaborate on this theme, the Western have more of an "exotic" feel to them; some of the stops such as Roatan and Costa Maya are relatively undeveloped - the cruise ship industry is the main source of that area's economy. Belize is heavily focused on the water - the port itself is very tiny and most cruisers end up either going inland for cave tubing or some form of snorkeling/diving as the reef is one of the largest in the world.

Both the Eastern and the Southern routes are more "westernized" in their feel. Places like St. Thomas and San Juan on the Eastern have countless activities, shopping, night life etc and are heavily American influenced. The Southern with Aruba, Curacao etc are also highly developed but have more a European feel.

Hope that helps!

For your FIRST cruise to the Caribbean an Eastern is a good choice. :)

LuLu

Thanks all for the help. I think that 14 day Celebrity Exotic Southeren Caribbean is what we our looking for.

Rick

Thanks all for the help. I think that 14 day Celebrity Exotic Southeren Caribbean is what we our looking for.

Rick

That is an excellent choice! Look forward to having a wonderful time! :D

LuLu

You could also sail from California thru the Panama Canal to Ft Lauderdale or Miami.