Which Cruise.. Help!

[momtoty2001]

We are looking to go on a family cruise during the first week of October and are currently booked on a refundable rate Carnival Liberty Western Cruise.

 

We were originally planning to fly into Fort Lauderdale (cheaper than Miami) a couple of days before the cruise. I just found a great deal on airfare going to San Juan, PR and now am leaning towards changing our itinerary to Valor Southern Cruise.

 

I am looking for recommendations from anyone whose taken either of these cruises before.

We are a planning to bring our 10 and 11 year old kids on this cruise as well. We love to hang out at the beach as well as snorkel and we LOVED Half Moon Cay beach last year when we went on our first cruise. I know with the western itinerary we could do beach days in Cozumel, Roatan and Grand Cayman but aren't really excited about Belize as I'm not sure if we would enjoy cave tubing or ziplining...

I don't know much about any of the islands in the Southern Itinerary so looking for any advice.. We have seen pictures of beaches in St. Maarten that look amazing.

 

Here our the options: Each cruise itinerary is about the same price with airfare to San Juan costing about $200 more than Fort Lauderdale.

 

#1: Carnival Liberty (western)

Sea Day

Cozumel: 8am-6pm

Belize: 9am-6pm

Roatan, Hondurus: 8am-3pm

Grand Cayman: 10am-6pm

Sea Day

 

#2: Carnival Valor: (Southern) Cost about $200 more in airfare.

St. Thomas 7am-5pm

Sea Day

Barbados 8am-5pm

St Lucia 8am-5pm

St Kitts 8am-6pm

St. Maarten 7am-5pm

 

Thank you so much!

[panoramaofthepast]

We are looking to go on a family cruise during the first week of October and are currently booked on a refundable rate Carnival Liberty Western Cruise.

 

We were originally planning to fly into Fort Lauderdale (cheaper than Miami) a couple of days before the cruise. I just found a great deal on airfare going to San Juan, PR and now am leaning towards changing our itinerary to Valor Southern Cruise.

 

I am looking for recommendations from anyone whose taken either of these cruises before.

We are a planning to bring our 10 and 11 year old kids on this cruise as well. We love to hang out at the beach as well as snorkel and we LOVED Half Moon Cay beach last year when we went on our first cruise. I know with the western itinerary we could do beach days in Cozumel, Roatan and Grand Cayman but aren't really excited about Belize as I'm not sure if we would enjoy cave tubing or ziplining...

I don't know much about any of the islands in the Southern Itinerary so looking for any advice.. We have seen pictures of beaches in St. Maarten that look amazing.

 

Here our the options: Each cruise itinerary is about the same price with airfare to San Juan costing about $200 more than Fort Lauderdale.

 

#1: Carnival Liberty (western)

Sea Day

Cozumel: 8am-6pm

Belize: 9am-6pm

Roatan, Hondurus: 8am-3pm

Grand Cayman: 10am-6pm

Sea Day

 

#2: Carnival Valor: (Southern) Cost about $200 more in airfare.

St. Thomas 7am-5pm

Sea Day

Barbados 8am-5pm

St Lucia 8am-5pm

St Kitts 8am-6pm

St. Maarten 7am-5pm

 

Thank you so much!

This is just my opinion, but I would choose the second because of the itinerary. We've been to Belize and Roatan several times and have not been really excited about either stop. If you are interested in Mayan ruins, then Belize will be good. However, Belize is a tender port and the ride is a good 20-25 minutes! Roatan is good if you are looking for diving or snorkeling; very poor country. Grand Cayman is also a tender port - good for diving and snorkeling, but expensive to shop!

 

I love St. Thomas and St. Maarten; have not been to the other 2 islands.

 

But, a cruise is a cruise, right?!?!

[firefly333]

Roatan is my favorite port to date, and I love going with Victor who does private excursions at good rates. Last time I came home with a suitcase of souveneirs from Roatan and a bunch of drugs from Belize. Among them a blue pill that actually helps me sleep without a hangover.

 

I want to go back and replinish my drugs. I dont have health insurance and love Belize as a stop over. I talked to someone in the casino my last cruise who says they have a friend who goes there once a year to buy drugs .. I think he has a good idea.

 

Im not crazy about Belize city .. but the excursions outside the city are good. I fell in love with Roatan who reminds me of Hawaii with its green mountains.

[readytotravel44]

We are going on the one leaving San Juan in December, so I can't tell you about it JUST yet! lol! I will say we have done all of the other islands on the other itinerary. We too LOVED our tour with Victor in Roatan. We went to a mini zoo and were permitted to old baby monkeys. Our daughter was THRILLED, as were we. We also visited the iguana farm. Awesome tour. We would do exactly the same thing if we returned.

We tubed in Belize. Great fun! Easy and worth doing.

Lots to do in Cozumel and Grand Cayman.

 

With kids, I'd do that itinerary.

 

BTW - Where did you get the deal on flights for San Juan. We are looking.

[kris12]

Belize has some of the most amazing snorkeling locations I've ever seen.

[APDMOM]

My vote is definitely for the second option. We have been to most of these ports (just not St Lucia). I would pay the extra $200 in a heartbeat to return to Barbados, St Maarten and St Thomas! The water is so clear and the beaches are beautiful!!!

 

Maybe this will help:

 

Barbados..

 

 

St Maarten

 

 

St Kitts

 

 

I don't have a beach pic of St Thomas in photobucket, but here is a view of the port...

 

 

Hope this helps :)

 

[regina7778]

I would definitely choose the Valor one especially since you would be able to get a good deal on airfare. It just seems more exotic.

[mikel24m]

We are looking to go on a family cruise during the first week of October and are currently booked on a refundable rate Carnival Liberty Western Cruise.

 

We were originally planning to fly into Fort Lauderdale (cheaper than Miami) a couple of days before the cruise. I just found a great deal on airfare going to San Juan, PR and now am leaning towards changing our itinerary to Valor Southern Cruise.

 

I am looking for recommendations from anyone whose taken either of these cruises before.

We are a planning to bring our 10 and 11 year old kids on this cruise as well. We love to hang out at the beach as well as snorkel and we LOVED Half Moon Cay beach last year when we went on our first cruise. I know with the western itinerary we could do beach days in Cozumel, Roatan and Grand Cayman but aren't really excited about Belize as I'm not sure if we would enjoy cave tubing or ziplining...

I don't know much about any of the islands in the Southern Itinerary so looking for any advice.. We have seen pictures of beaches in St. Maarten that look amazing.

 

Here our the options: Each cruise itinerary is about the same price with airfare to San Juan costing about $200 more than Fort Lauderdale.

 

#1: Carnival Liberty (western)

Sea Day

Cozumel: 8am-6pm

Belize: 9am-6pm

Roatan, Hondurus: 8am-3pm

Grand Cayman: 10am-6pm

Sea Day

 

#2: Carnival Valor: (Southern) Cost about $200 more in airfare.

St. Thomas 7am-5pm

Sea Day

Barbados 8am-5pm

St Lucia 8am-5pm

St Kitts 8am-6pm

St. Maarten 7am-5pm

 

Thank you so much!

 

We have done both option 1 a lot :)

 

I would say option 2 just because the exotic western is easier to get to than PR

 

We love Roatan the most but have to be honest you may want to try the southern itinerary and see monkeys on the beach, mongoose running around and maybe stop by the boatyard for a beach day

[LOVECRUISING100%]

We are going on the one leaving San Juan in December, so I can't tell you about it JUST yet! lol! I will say we have done all of the other islands on the other itinerary. We too LOVED our tour with Victor in Roatan. We went to a mini zoo and were permitted to old baby monkeys. Our daughter was THRILLED, as were we. We also visited the iguana farm. Awesome tour. We would do exactly the same thing if we returned.

We tubed in Belize. Great fun! Easy and worth doing.

Lots to do in Cozumel and Grand Cayman.

 

With kids, I'd do that itinerary.

 

BTW - Where did you get the deal on flights for San Juan. We are looking.

Try Southwest (if its available in your area & you're ok with cattle call) . I was able to book mine for about $200 -300 cheaper than all the other airlines.. Good Luck !

[chill6x6]

IMO you just can't beat the western Caribbean and I see no reason to pick anything else unless you have all ready done it and want to hit different ports. I really enjoy Belize, Roatan, and Cozumel!

[MaraBerk]

My vote is for option 2, better ports IMO

[wrigley80]

I would choose the cruise on the Carnival Valor. St. Maarten and St. Kitts are gorgeous.

Is the $200 more per person or total??

[APDMOM]

mikel24m has stated what I have been thinking too. Western itineraries are more common and you can frequently get great deals to do the western, departing from several ports. Southern is more exotic and fewer ships go there. We had to wait many years before we found a good deal to do the southern route during our school break.

 

I know there are many opinions here, so good luck on making a decision. Once you make one, just have fun planning & enjoy your cruise. Either itinerary will be great! :)

[dperki1]

My 2cents worth....I would do the Southern only because the price sounds like a good deal....you can do a Western pretty cheap at any time, but not always a good deal going out of PR. (never flew out of there but I have checked prices) Check out the Fort there too, it's really cool and your kids would like that probably.

 

St. Martin...do some research....they have optional clothing on some of the beaches...Maho with the planes is a great stop to see the planes land.

St. Thomas...Megans Bay is gorgeous an so is the rest of the island...Sunny Liston does a great tour of the island with beach and shopping.

 

Barbados...not yet....pics look great.

 

St. Kitt, loved the Fort there...beautiful island.

St. Lucia...did Carnival Catamaran with Piton....beautiful island

[put me on a ship]

We are looking to go on a family cruise during the first week of October and are currently booked on a refundable rate Carnival Liberty Western Cruise.

 

We were originally planning to fly into Fort Lauderdale (cheaper than Miami) a couple of days before the cruise. I just found a great deal on airfare going to San Juan, PR and now am leaning towards changing our itinerary to Valor Southern Cruise.

 

I am looking for recommendations from anyone whose taken either of these cruises before.

We are a planning to bring our 10 and 11 year old kids on this cruise as well. We love to hang out at the beach as well as snorkel and we LOVED Half Moon Cay beach last year when we went on our first cruise. I know with the western itinerary we could do beach days in Cozumel, Roatan and Grand Cayman but aren't really excited about Belize as I'm not sure if we would enjoy cave tubing or ziplining...

I don't know much about any of the islands in the Southern Itinerary so looking for any advice.. We have seen pictures of beaches in St. Maarten that look amazing.

 

Here our the options: Each cruise itinerary is about the same price with airfare to San Juan costing about $200 more than Fort Lauderdale.

 

#1: Carnival Liberty (western)

Sea Day

Cozumel: 8am-6pm

Belize: 9am-6pm

Roatan, Hondurus: 8am-3pm

Grand Cayman: 10am-6pm

Sea Day

 

#2: Carnival Valor: (Southern) Cost about $200 more in airfare.

St. Thomas 7am-5pm

Sea Day

Barbados 8am-5pm

St Lucia 8am-5pm

St Kitts 8am-6pm

St. Maarten 7am-5pm

 

Thank you so much!

 

We've done the western itinerary several times, and the southern once. My recommendation? For the price difference? Go for the southern....it is incredible!!! St Lucia is one of the most beautiful islands we've ever been to. All the islands are awesome on this one!

 

The western is great if you like to dive or snorkel (which we do). Belize and Roatan have some of the best snorkeling! Grand Cayman barrier reef is good, too!

[cruise_girl2002]

never sailed the Liberty (yet lol). but the valor is an amazing beautiful ship! I would go with the valor based on the itinerary .

[etwright]

We have done the first Itinerary. Great cruise! Doing the second in August. Both look to be great choices. :cool:

[Socref124]

We would choose the Valor. St Thomas, St Kitts and St Lucia are beautiful and a trusted frien who has been to Barbados tells us it is gorgeous as well.

On the other side of the coin, Cozumel and Roatan are nice but Grand Cayman is boring and Belize is not my cup of tea. We may stay on the ship when we go there this Oct on the Dream.

[momtoty2001]

Thank you everyone for the great replies!

 

readytotravel44: We found a good deal on airfare using Southwest. PLUS we each can bring 2 bags of luggage free!

 

wrigley80: yes the cruise + airfare is only about $200 more for the Valor itinerary vs Liberty and that is TOTAL not per person.. Pretty good deal. although we do give up the 2.0 upgrades going on Valor vs Liberty.

 

So.... we are leaning towards the Valor itinerary and now are trying to research how much excursions will cost going to 5 ports vs 4.

When we were looking at the Liberty we were figuring it would cost around $850 extra for all 4 of us for excursions..

Cozumel: we were planning Mr. Sanchos All Inclusive

Belize: Cave tubing

Hondurus: excursion to Maya Key or Little French Key

Grand Cayman: Catamaran to Stingray city

 

I will start looking at excursions for each of the ports for the Southern itinerary and see what it may cost..

 

Are there any ports in any of the Southern Itinerary that have a beach area or something to do without doing an excursion?

We were in Grand Turk last year as well as Half Moon Cay and we really liked that we could get off the ship and enjoy an awesome beach without having to do an excursion. (although we did rent a cabana in HMC.. which was WELL worth it!)

 

Thank you again for all the replies!