WHICH SHIP/TRIP for WESTERN CARIBBEAN? ADVICE!!!

[CyndiNYC]

Hi there, my hubby and i are planning on taking a 4 or 5 night cruise in January 2006 for our anniversary. We just got bk from the Golden Princess and LOVED IT but they don't do 4 or 5 night cruises so we are looking at the Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Carnival and others that do. Any advice on which ship is best for a short cruise in the Western Caribbean (i.e. Grand Caymen, Ocho Rios, Cozumel, etc.). Also any tips on which ship excursion to take would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a whole bunch!

[yj2cute]

Cyndi,

 

Definitely go with Rccl for the shorter cruises. Their ships are the best of all lines for the short trips. I would recommend the Enchantment of the Seas. The Enchantment even does a 4 day over the weekend. The Carnival and NCL ships for the shorter cruises can't compare. Also, I think it's a more sophisticated atmosphere on the RCCL short cruieses. The Carnival cruises are cheaper, therefore many folks use these trips as "party" weekends. Since you loved Princess I think it'll be more your style than Carnival.

 

Happy cruising!

[Sheffie]

In Grand Cayman be SURE to do an excursion to Sting Ray City. We went there on our first cruise and it is one of the top 5 things I have done in my life. We went with the ship's excursion the first time and will be doing a private excursion this time. I have researched these boards and have a list of the companies recommended by cruise critics. We chose ours based on whether we wanted to do a catamaran or a power boat, and the time of the excursion. Hope this helps.

 

I have NO CLUE why this (below) has copied so large! :eek:

 

Michelle

 

Sailboats:

Buccaneer: http://caymanislandsdiscounts.com/Stingray_City_Buccaneer_Excursion.htm

Captain Bryan’s: http://grandcaymancruiseexcursions.com/StingrayCityCaptBryans.htm

Motorized:

Captain Marvin’s: http://www.captainmarvins.com

Nativeway: http://www.nativewaywatersports.com/shiptours.html

Sotos: http://www.sotoscruises.com

Kelly’s Watersports http://www.kellyswatersports.com

[Cruisekrazy63]

We have gone to the Western Caribbean twice on Carnival (I have sailed RCCL also) and they are the best. If you want to have fun go with Carnival. I don't really drink and I have had more fun on there ships. There are a lot of activities. A lot of people say they are "Party ships". I didn't find any more of a party atmosphere on Carnival than I did on RCCL just more fun activities. Just my opinion.

 

Mindy

[momofmeg]

Carnival Inspiration is about 10 years old and is still a decent ship. It does 4 and 5 day cruises from Tampa.

 

I have been on five cruiselines. Carnival is no more of a party ship then RCCL. I have found if you do the 3 and 4 day mini cruises-you find the hard partiers. But I have only experienced this twice. Carnival Tropicale back in 98 and RCCL Sovereign of the Seas in 2001.

 

I have been on Princess once. HAL once. RCCL twice , Carnival 4 times and Disney once. May fav. cruises have 3 top contenders-the original Pacific Princess "Love Boat in 2002,Carnival Miracle for a 3 day mini back in April 2004 when she was only 6 weeks old( no real hard partiers then but that cruise was expensive-the hard partiers seem to be mostly blue collar-now don't flame me I am just middle class myself-I think the reason is why as these people's income is less so they try to live years of cruise vacationing in one trip as they do not expect to cruise very often) My other fav was Disney Wonder in Sept. 04. I just found the Disney ship so much better quality which made her nicer.

 

Now I have never had a bad time on a cruise-those 3 are just my favoirite ones.

 

Celebrity is starting to do more mini cruises too. I have seen that Celebrity Zenith this next fall-winter are doing shorter cruises out of Ft. Lauderdale.