Need help on a destination!

[imagineit]

I'm getting ready to book a 5 night Carnival cruise for September. Can't decide between the Bahamas and the Caribbean (Mexican). Any advise on which is most enjoyable? I'm not much on just laying on the beach. Need a little adventure.

[kcwingwalker]

I'm getting ready to book a 5 night Carnival cruise for September. Can't decide between the Bahamas and the Caribbean (Mexican). Any advise on which is most enjoyable? I'm not much on just laying on the beach. Need a little adventure.

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic imaginet:)

 

My personal choice would be the Caribbean rather than the Bahamas. Also, if possible I would think about a 7 day cruise.

[packedandready]

Another vote for the caribbean. We've been to the Cozumel/Cayman/Jamaica/Belize/Honduras areas quite a number of times. Went to the Bahamas in sept. The only thing I can say about the Bahamas was that we had the best snorkeling than just about ANYWHERE we've snorkeled. Probably only way we'd go back to the Bahamas was if we found a price we couldn't pass up.

[beachbum53]

I'd like to throw in something to think about. We once took a 5 night Western Caribbean cruise in Sept. The price was just too good to pass up. However, we also knew that Sept. is right in the middle of hurricane season, and the weather can be a little "iffy". Sure enough, we had to skip Grand Cayman, because there were ten foot swells and it was too dangerous to take the tenders into port. You may get lucky and not have bad weather. But, it's best to be prepared for a little disappointment if the weather causes a change in your itinerary. At worst, you could end up with an extra day at sea. That being said, I would choose the Caribbean itinerary.

[Sipsey]

Having done both, I prefer the Caribbean. We also missed Grand Cayman because of weather, which was a disappointment. But this is possible at any time, with any port of call.

 

I just didn't find much to recommend Nassau. We went to Atlantis resort via water taxi, packed in like sardines in a can. They wouldn't let you in any of the resort if you weren't a paying customer, except for the casino where the table minimums were high. We walked around the straw market and all the stuff was made in China or elsewhere. At that time it was a temporary space as it was being rebuilt. Everything in the shops nearby was expensive compared to Mexico. I ended up spending more time on the ship instead of going anywhere.

 

I agree with liking 7 nights over 5. But if you are just trying this to see if you like it, maybe 5 would be better. Our first trip was a 5 with stops in Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, and we enjoyed it enough to do it some more.

[Husky61]

I'm getting ready to book a 5 night Carnival cruise for September. Can't decide between the Bahamas and the Caribbean (Mexican). Any advise on which is most enjoyable? I'm not much on just laying on the beach. Need a little adventure.

 

Very subjective. Some like the Mexico cruise while others like the Caribbean. So how do you choose?:)

[imagineit]

Thank you all for the advice. I was leaning for the Caribbean also. Now I can tell the husband it was highly recommended by the experts.