Eastern on the Dawn or Southern on the Jewel?

[JWestShuh]

I have a 7 night Eastern Caribbean (BB balcony) on the Dawn booked for March, but have read all these wonderful things about the Southern Caribbean as well as the Jewel/Pearl. I was looking at prices and the two are comparable if we were to book an inside cabin for the southern route. So I have a decision to make and was hoping for your help. We have never had a balcony before and I was looking forward to it, BUT I have wanted to see St. Lucia for a long time now. Basically if we do the Eastern route we will have more luxury in terms of how we spend our time on the ship - balcony, money budgeted for the spa, casino and other extras. We would have an inside cabin if we opted for the southern route and still have money budgeted for the spa and casino, just not as much. SO...what would YOU do?:)

[Grandpaul]

You can't go wrong with either ship so that's not in the equation. You go to both Samana and Tortola on both itineraries so that's out. A balcony room is really nice and a bit bigger than an inside room. But it sounds like you like to party since you mention the casino etc. so you probably won't be spending a lot of time in your room. You can always turn on your TV to the bridge camera and use it as a window. LOL. I really like St. Lucia, more than St. Thomas. In fact we're heading there in a couple weeks, coincidentily on the Jewel. Plus, you will probably have less college students on a 9 day cruise as opposed to a 7 day cruise. Let's see, 9 days instead of 7? This is easy, the Jewel.

[JWestShuh]

My husband and I actually aren't big into partying. We like to do the casino a bit on the cruise because that is the ONLY time we can do it. I was really looking forward to the balcony because we would have some quiet while we read/nap during the day. 9 days would take some of the noisy kid equation out. Does anyone know how much the 9 day pass to the spa pool/sauna/steam is on the Jewel?

[starfamily]

The southern is my favorite route by far! The water seems bluer, the landscape more picturesque, the people so friendly, I would sleep in a life boat to go on the southern. St. lucia is a gorgeous island, we spent a week there last April, I could live there easily! Longer cruises are always nicer too since it seems to me that it takes a few days to get settled in on the ship, then before you know it day six is here and you need to be doing customs forms and packing up etc :( I noticed a HUGE difference on our last ten day cruise compared to the seven. Granted the Jewel is nine days but I still think two extra days are worth a lot. (obviously since we are doing the Jewel for Christmas LOL)

[bluesea777]

If this helps at all, we're doing 2 back-to-back cruises on Pearl next March - 9 days Southern plus 5 days Western - same ship and same cabin.

 

7 days ain't enough for us anymore, and our last 3 cruises have been 11 or 12 days!

 

:D :D :D

 

We just can't wait!!

 

:D :D :D

[CrusinAgain]

I would take the 9 days and book it after final payment is made as the prices go way down and for what you see showing for an oceanview is the price of a balcony. Check some out for those leaving after final payment was due and you will see what I mean.

[JWestShuh]

This is bizarre. I just looked again at the Southern Caribbean cruise in March, and now it is saying it is the Pearl rather than the Jewel. The Pearl does sound like a better deal to me. Will I really be missing out without the balcony that I was so looking forward to?!?

[CrusinAgain]

I do know that the Jewel and the Pearl have the same routes and alternate but not sure when they stop except the Pearl comes over to Seattle for the Alaska run but not in March.

[kruzkupple]

I'd recommend the 9-nt. S. Carib. (inside cabin) over the 7-nt. E. Carib. (balcony). My dw and I did the 9-nt. on Pearl in Feb. '07 (inside Cat. J) for a total fare of just under $1,500. The price for the Jewel 9-nighter might be a little less. A balcony on the Dawn's 7-nt. to the E. Carib. would probably cost you at least $1,500, I would think, or maybe somewhat more.

 

Cost considerations aside, you'd certainly not want to pass on the Southern (either on Jewel or Pearl). Our Pearl cruise itinerary was Miami/Barbados/Dominica/St. Lucia/Antigua/Tortola/Miami. And I have to tell you, the best tour we've ever taken in the Caribbean was the one we took on beautiful St. Lucia with Cosol. We also toured Dominica, which was nice, but couldn't compare with what we saw and did on St. Lucia! Antigua is nice too, and very interesting from an historical perspective. A tour down to English Harbour, Shirley Heights, etc. is not to be missed IMO.

 

If this is your best shot at doing the Southern Carib., you would be well advised to take it. It's a lot better than having to fly to San Juan, as you must do with most other lines. And the Jewel and Pearl are both great ships for the cruise. We're about to sail on the Jewel for the third time, so they must be doing something right! :)

 

Jack

[CrusinAgain]

I'd recommend the 9-nt. S. Carib. (inside cabin) over the 7-nt. E. Carib. (balcony). My dw and I did the 9-nt. on Pearl in Feb. '07 (inside Cat. J) for a total fare of just under $1,500. The price for the Jewel 9-nighter might be a little less. A balcony on the Dawn's 7-nt. to the E. Carib. would probably cost you at least $1,500, I would think, or maybe somewhat more.

 

Cost considerations aside, you'd certainly not want to pass on the Southern (either on Jewel or Pearl). Our Pearl cruise itinerary was Miami/Barbados/Dominica/St. Lucia/Antigua/Tortola/Miami. And I have to tell you, the best tour we've ever taken in the Caribbean was the one we took on beautiful St. Lucia with Cosol. We also toured Dominica, which was nice, but couldn't compare with what we saw and did on St. Lucia! Antigua is nice too, and very interesting from an historical perspective. A tour down to English Harbour, Shirley Heights, etc. is not to be missed IMO.

 

If this is your best shot at doing the Southern Carib., you would be well advised to take it. It's a lot better than having to fly to San Juan, as you must do with most other lines. And the Jewel and Pearl are both great ships for the cruise. We're about to sail on the Jewel for the third time, so they must be doing something right! :)

 

Jack

 

The Southern Caribbean trips have a different itinerary right now and Dominica is out and Samana is in and a longer stay at Tortola also.

[JWestShuh]

Ok, so the overwhelming response has been for the Southern Caribbean! This might be a stupid question for some of you...but did any of you think 9 days was too long? My husband and I did our first cruise in March and we were exhausted after the 7 night cruise! We were big into excursions and would probably be that way again...just wondering what some of you think. We also found that we missed our puppies. :o BUT, it hooked us to keep cruising!

[starfamily]

If the OP books before December 1st then the fuel surcharge is waived and on a nine day cruise that is a chunk of change!!

As to the question is nine days too long? No way, 90 days maybe but not nine LOL

[leno]

As long as you have never done a balcony then you won't miss it. We did a balcony a few years ago for the first time and now we are hooked...

I don't want to cruise again without it. It depends what you are looking for.

I just love the quiet retreat of my own balcony with a cold drink and a good book. We usually do the 7n and it is just long enough. We did 10n once to Alaska and we were happy to be back by the end. Of course the weather was alot cooler and we couldnt be outside much.

It is a big decision but remember what ever you decide you will have a great time.

[CrusinAgain]

If the OP books before December 1st then the fuel surcharge is waived and on a nine day cruise that is a chunk of change!!

As to the question is nine days too long? No way, 90 days maybe but not nine LOL

 

The balconies on our cruise were at 1399 starting with a BE, they are now 799 plus tax, I don't think that price difference outweighs the fuel surcharge. The fuel surcharge is 7 per person per day right? Well the OP can do the math with the tools given here.

[JWestShuh]

I honestly think I am too much of a chicken to book after the final payment. The main reason being that my husband and I basically have one week to vacation each year, so we have to get it right! He is still a full time student and trying to book my time off at work around his spring break can be a bit difficult (and we won't cruise during the summer - hurricanes!:eek:) I would be too afraid we would miss out on something completely. Hopefully when we have a bit more freedom in our schedules we could do that.

[Grandpaul]

I remember our first cruise in 1989. It was a seven day cruise and we were tired also at the end. Looking back I think the reason was we were so excited we never calmed down and that wore us down. We take a break now and then and pace ourselves. I think you'll find nine days not a problem.

[CrusinAgain]

I honestly think I am too much of a chicken to book after the final payment. The main reason being that my husband and I basically have one week to vacation each year, so we have to get it right! He is still a full time student and trying to book my time off at work around his spring break can be a bit difficult (and we won't cruise during the summer - hurricanes!:eek:) I would be too afraid we would miss out on something completely. Hopefully when we have a bit more freedom in our schedules we could do that.

 

So the best thing for you to do is book at the lowest you would accept category wise and after final payment ask your agent what it would cost to upgrade if you should see the prices fall. We were able to go from deck 5 oceanview to deck 9 balcony for $80 each. Our 9 day cruise on a balcony is $99 a day with all taxes and fees. We have never been on a 9 day and we are looking forward to it as 7 days is not enough anymore.

 

Spring break periods are also higher in price so if that is when you are booking, you may not be able to get a lower price or an upgrade so book what you would be happy with.

[sailandcruise]

They charge $20 for a day pass for the spa on the Jewel. On the five-day western Caribbean it was $90 for the whole cruise, so I assume there would be some sort of discount on the nine day also.

 

If you just want peace and quiet on the balcony (and don't need privacy) you can economize by getting an inside and using the promenade on deck 7 as your balcony. It's usually pretty quiet, has lots of reclining deck chairs, an overhanging roof for shade and protection from the rain, and as a bonus, you can choose your location on the ship for the best view and wind conditions (i.e., fore or aft, port or starboard). I spent a very enjoyable hour there sailing away from Cozumel as the sun went down, among other times.

[MrMate]

I've been to practically all the Caribbean islands and can say that a caribbean island is like a porn movie: If you've seen one, you've seen them all:D

[JWestShuh]

I like your perspective sailandcruise, about the promenade deck being my own private balcony.:)

[sailandcruise]

Well, it's not quite "private" but you do have more space than on a regular balcony. ;)

[starfamily]

The balconies on our cruise were at 1399 starting with a BE, they are now 799 plus tax, I don't think that price difference outweighs the fuel surcharge. The fuel surcharge is 7 per person per day right? Well the OP can do the math with the tools given here.

I guess it depends on the cruise, we booked our AB on the Jewel at 16 months out for just under 9800.00 for the three of us, I checked it a month ago while there was still one left and it had gone up to 17,000 for the three of us, granted it is christmas week but it is a substancial price increase. My experience (over 30 cruises) has consistently been we have saved a great deal of money by booking as far in advance as possible. The price has never gone down on our cruises only up, but we always book suites and they don't tend to "fire sale" them.