Which is the best cruise line for an Eastern Carribbean Cruise?

[Jamnuts]

I am planning on an Easter Caribbean cruise in October. Does any one have a preference to which cruise line and ports and embarkation port would be best. We are going to have to fly from Western Canada to take this cruise. Thank you:o

[Host Caroline]

Nearly all Eastern Caribbean cruises from Florida regardless of where they depart from go to St Thomas and St Maarten. HAL and RCI have a few that spend a day in San Juan; Carnival goes there but most port calls are in evening. IMHO only the best "private islands" are Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays. We also like Grand Turk which is becoming pretty popular. Nassau is just an afternoon to figure out what to do and if you're coming that far I wouldn't put that at top of a ports list.

Since ports don't vary much w/ departure you should check Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami to see which has best air fares? Figuring of course that you have to add shuttle costs/car rental which will be more from Orlando to Port Canaveral.

[Lard Greystoke]

I am planning on an Easter Caribbean cruise in October. Does any one have a preference to which cruise line and ports and embarkation port would be best. We are going to have to fly from Western Canada to take this cruise. Thank you:o

 

Fort Lauderdale is a very short ride from airport to pier. Miami is longer and Orlando is quite long.

 

Otherwise you tend to have similar itineraries such as Private Island/Bahamas/San Juan/Virgin Islands, with St Maarten about at the limit of a 7-day trip. A few routes go further at the expense of more sea days. Eastern Caribbean is a nice area. They get lots of tourist traffic so they make it easy for you to find things to do.

 

Everyone does have preferences - trouble is they're all different. Unless you're extremely unlucky you'll have a good time whichever line and itinerary you choose.

[serene56]

Ilike my cruises to be on the cheap side.

 

What week are you heading out?

 

check the price of the vairious ports for cruises.

How much will it cost you to fly to--Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa

 

Dont discount a southern cruise out of san juan-- that airfare might be the cheapest of them all

 

then once you get that done-- find the ship that is sailing out of there.

 

 

does one port catch more of your attention then another?

[Keith1010]

When you say best criuse line I am not sure what you mean? For some that could be lowest cost and for others it could be most luxurious. If you can expand on what you mean that would be very helpful.

 

Keith

[Jamnuts]

Thanks for all your help. We ended up taking a Carnival cruise out of New York, which allows us to spend some time in New York prior to the cruise. Getting pretty excited!! It is an 8 day cruise with Grand Turks, Half Moon Cay and Nassau as the ports:p