trying to decide - Mexican Riviera vs Eastern Caribbean

[ABQrobin]

My husband just announced last week that he wants to do another cruise, like NEXT MONTH,,,, so I am going crazy trying to come up with something fun.

 

We have only done 2 cruises, both departing from Galveston.

Roatan-Belize-Cozumel (had bad weather in Belize so we didn't get to do the ruins like we wanted, this is HIGH on our repeat meter)

Grandcayman-Jamaica-Cozumel (great time)

We have been to Roatan several times and Cozumel dozens of times on land-based vacations. Belize has so much to offer for us, so gotta go back.

 

BUT --- My husband wants to go someplace new... we have never been to any of the outer Eastern Caribbean islands, so I am looking at a departure from Miami or FLL. We have tons of Southwest airline points so airfare would be free for either.

 

We have also never been to western side of Mexico, leave from LAX down to Puerta Vallarta and Cabo. Looks like some cool cultural excursions.

 

WHAT WE WANT: We are both into adventure excursions, history, local flavor. We are big on local color, food, etc.

We do not care about onboard activities like casino or night clubs. We go on cruises to visit places we have never been.

 

WHAT WOULD YOU PICK??

If you have been to either destination, what did you like best? Least?

1. St Maarten/St Kitts/San Juan/Grand Turk itinerary

or

2. Puerta Vallarta, 2 days/Cabo itinerary

 

Prices work out to the same for either for us but excursions would be more for Carib destinations as more ports.

[crewsweeper]

I'd go the eastern C route.

 

San Juan has great food and lots of history, easily walked or this time of year take the free shuttles.

 

Not a lot in GT, but a scooter, jeep or golf cart rental and you can take your time up tot he lighthouse and hit downtown (Sandbar has good food and Turks Head is a decent local brew).

 

St Marteen is combo French and Dutch. Plus there's Maho and the plane watching (a one time experience, and maybe just 1 plane, is all you need), plus the lolos up in Grand Case for local food. I think Orient Beach is undergoing renovation and the places that are open are charging your first born for a lounger, but there are plenty of places to go.

 

Haven't been to St Kitts, but supposedly good beaches and a double decker train tour are there. Also catamaran sailings to Nevis right next door.

 

PV and Cabo get more storms than the Eastern C. Storms might disrupt San Juan or maybe GT, though usually not until late August or September.

[rnoli32]

How exciting!!! I have to wait 7 months for my cruise :(

 

I have been to Cabo and just loved it. Did parasailing and that was very exciting . My cruise in Feb will take us back to Cabo, Mazatlan and PV. I am excited to see PV . I had a friend travel their and said she enjoyed her time...from shopping, sightseeing and enjoying the beach!

 

Whatever you choose have a great time!

[Rock_ON!!]

What a great husband you have! I wish mine would say those words to me" let's go on a cruise, next month !"

Edited July 17, 2015 by Rock_ON!!

[coevan]

If water activities like snorkeling are important, the Pacific side is not very good. We find Cabo like Miami or Cancun, way too commercial and freezing water.

As to someone saying Nevis is "next door" to St.Martin, not by boat. It's about 45 miles or an 8 hour sail.

[beettruck]

eastern Caribbean wins no question about it

[SadieN]

What date are you thinking about?

There are two different Cabo/PV itins. One ports over night in Puerto Vallarta (August 22), using the ship as a hotel. The other one (August 1) does Cabo for two days. Since Cabo is a tender port Carnival pulls out at night then anchors again the next day.

There are also 3 cruises that are going to Cabo, PV and Mazatlan. (August 8, 15, and 29)

 

I'd do the PV overnight cruise or the one of the Cabo/PV/Mazatlan cruises.

 

All these ports have adventure activites--ziplines, snorkeling, scuba, ATV/Jeep excursions, etc

 

ETA--nvm saw that you are looking at the Cabo/Cabo/PV itin

Edited July 17, 2015 by SadieN

[mips]

you found cultural things to do in Cabo? I would do the Caribbean cruise, I have done the Cabo PV one twice this year, sadly the one in June was diverted and we didn't get to PV. Cabo has very little other than drinking.

[MzOhioLady]

The Eastern Caribbean wins out for me too. However, I like the itinerary on the Glory out of Miami. It goes to: Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Grand Turk. I'd do that route tomorrow if I could.

[SadieN]

you found cultural things to do in Cabo? I would do the Caribbean cruise, I have done the Cabo PV one twice this year, sadly the one in June was diverted and we didn't get to PV. Cabo has very little other than drinking.

 

 

There's lots to do culturally on Cabo just need to walk past the Marina and Cabo Wabo---

The Plaza and museum, a tour to the desert gardens, Los Cabos and its little museums.

[coevan]

using the ship as a hotel

 

 

when is the ship not a hotel?

[Miller_KC]

If you are really just going for the ports, then spend a few more Southwest points and take the Southern Caribbean out of San Juan. Stay in the Sheridan in Old San Juan right across the street from the port. Go a day or two early and really enjoy the Spanish forts and great restaurants in Old San Juan. The on the ship you get a new port almost every day. Usually St Maarten, St Kitts, St Thomas, and St Lucia. All of them very beautiful and you wouldn't believe the deep blue of the ocean there on a sunny day.

[ABQrobin]

If you are really just going for the ports, then spend a few more Southwest points and take the Southern Caribbean out of San Juan. Stay in the Sheridan in Old San Juan right across the street from the port. Go a day or two early and really enjoy the Spanish forts and great restaurants in Old San Juan. The on the ship you get a new port almost every day. Usually St Maarten, St Kitts, St Thomas, and St Lucia. All of them very beautiful and you wouldn't believe the deep blue of the ocean there on a sunny day.

 

We had thought of that, but I see that one as being a bit of a hassle getting there and back. We would have to get hotel each way for night, as well as 12-15 hours of travel each way. It might still happen, husband likes that one best, but I don't want to spend the extra days and $$$.

[SadieN]

using the ship as a hotel

 

 

 

 

 

when is the ship not a hotel?

 

 

Not many itins have overnight stops. If you arrive back at port at 1am usually your ship us long gone. Hence the hotel reference.

[JMHAM1]

Option #1 without question. Can't go wrong. Mexican Riveria in my opinion doesn't compare. A cruise is a cruise though!

[bethco]

I've done the cruises out of Galveston a lot since I live about 4 hours from the port and have also done the Eastern Caribbean and Mexican Riviera. I too would choose the Eastern Caribbean. The only way I can do the Mexican Riviera again is if I go with my girlfriends. DH has said he won't ever do that route again.

[Putterdude]

No question my mind, it would be the eastern Caribbean all day long. You are visiting Island Nations with a completely different cultural. We have done quite a number of Caribbean cruises and a couple of MEXRIV cruises and really have never found anything that interested us on the MEXRIV.

[Keith1010]

I know you didn't ask but if you did I would say Southern Caribbean.

 

But since that was not on your list I would go with the Eastern Caribbean.

 

Keith

[ABQrobin]

I think we have decided to do the cruise out of San Juan next year(maybe winter or early spring), when we can take a full 10-11 days in a row off. This trip we can only take a week off, and we are trying to sneak it in before fall when we have no chance for time off.

 

I like the Eastern Carib itineraries... we have been to Bahamas but only by dive boat liveaboard so we never hit shore. All the other islands out there would be new to us.. my DH is excited about that.

 

this trip I am leaning more towards doing the Roatan-Belize-Coz itinerary out of Galveston again. I just love the Mayan culture and have got to hit more ruins. My DH loves it all and there are land adventures that interest him....

 

the Mexican Riviera cruises sounds like it would be best in winter for whales and to get away from all the crazy storms that have been hitting that coast lately during hurricane season. There is just no place to divert if you get a storm coming towards you.

 

UUGGGHHHH....... this is driving me crazy!

Gotta make a decision this weekend though as the week we want to go there are very few inside rooms left. (we are okay with that, had balconies last two trips but spent so little time in room we thought we could save money and skip that this trip)

[Flatbush Flyer]

My husband just announced last week that he wants to do another cruise, like NEXT MONTH,,,, so I am going crazy trying to come up with something fun.

 

 

 

We have only done 2 cruises, both departing from Galveston.

 

Roatan-Belize-Cozumel (had bad weather in Belize so we didn't get to do the ruins like we wanted, this is HIGH on our repeat meter)

 

Grandcayman-Jamaica-Cozumel (great time)

 

We have been to Roatan several times and Cozumel dozens of times on land-based vacations. Belize has so much to offer for us, so gotta go back.

 

 

 

BUT --- My husband wants to go someplace new... we have never been to any of the outer Eastern Caribbean islands, so I am looking at a departure from Miami or FLL. We have tons of Southwest airline points so airfare would be free for either.

 

 

 

We have also never been to western side of Mexico, leave from LAX down to Puerta Vallarta and Cabo. Looks like some cool cultural excursions.

 

 

 

WHAT WE WANT: We are both into adventure excursions, history, local flavor. We are big on local color, food, etc.

 

We do not care about onboard activities like casino or night clubs. We go on cruises to visit places we have never been.

 

 

 

WHAT WOULD YOU PICK??

 

If you have been to either destination, what did you like best? Least?

 

1. St Maarten/St Kitts/San Juan/Grand Turk itinerary

 

or

 

2. Puerta Vallarta, 2 days/Cabo itinerary

 

 

 

Prices work out to the same for either for us but excursions would be more for Carib destinations as more ports.

 

 

Considering that you have air points to use and want culture, food, etc, forget the Caribbean - ultra boring and no comparison to Polynesia, Hawaii, or even Mexican ports on the Pacific side.

For a real treat, consider an 18 day cruise from Lima or Valparaiso to or from Tahiti. Oceania has these itineraries and their new "O Life" promotion includes airfare, gratuities, internet, excursions, et al.

[ABQrobin]

Considering that you have air points to use and want culture, food, etc, forget the Caribbean - ultra boring and no comparison to Polynesia, Hawaii, or even Mexican ports on the Pacific side.

For a real treat, consider an 18 day cruise from Lima or Valparaiso to or from Tahiti. Oceania has these itineraries and their new "O Life" promotion includes airfare, gratuities, internet, excursions, et al.

 

1. Southwest does not fly there, that is who we have points with to use.

2. I said we only have a week.

3. We have been to Palau and Hawaii both, week long scuba trips.. not happening this time.

[SuiteTraveler]

My husband just announced last week that he wants to do another cruise, like NEXT MONTH,,,, so I am going crazy trying to come up with something fun.

 

We have only done 2 cruises, both departing from Galveston.

Roatan-Belize-Cozumel (had bad weather in Belize so we didn't get to do the ruins like we wanted, this is HIGH on our repeat meter)

Grandcayman-Jamaica-Cozumel (great time)

We have been to Roatan several times and Cozumel dozens of times on land-based vacations. Belize has so much to offer for us, so gotta go back.

 

BUT --- My husband wants to go someplace new... we have never been to any of the outer Eastern Caribbean islands, so I am looking at a departure from Miami or FLL. We have tons of Southwest airline points so airfare would be free for either.

 

We have also never been to western side of Mexico, leave from LAX down to Puerta Vallarta and Cabo. Looks like some cool cultural excursions.

 

WHAT WE WANT: We are both into adventure excursions, history, local flavor. We are big on local color, food, etc.

We do not care about onboard activities like casino or night clubs. We go on cruises to visit places we have never been.

 

WHAT WOULD YOU PICK??

If you have been to either destination, what did you like best? Least?

1. St Maarten/St Kitts/San Juan/Grand Turk itinerary

or

2. Puerta Vallarta, 2 days/Cabo itinerary

 

Prices work out to the same for either for us but excursions would be more for Carib destinations as more ports.

 

I would pick St. Maarten (great snorkeling), St. Kitts(historic, great beaches) and San Juan (history in Old San Juan, zip lining, biolumenesce bay - something really cool if your ship is there at night)