Southern Caribbean: Port or Starboard?

[marniegirl]

Hi all! This is my first post here and I sure hope to contribute as well as receive.

 

My partner and I are sailing out of San Juan PR on a Southern Caribbean Cruise in Jan. We're booking a room with a balcony and would love to hear opinions on which side is better to be on and why.

 

The Ports of Call are:

St. Thomas USVI, Dominica, Barbados, St.Lucia WI, Antigua and St. Kitts.

 

Anyone have experience with this itinerary and suggestions on the better side (Port or Starboard) to experience the most dramatic and or beautiful entrances?

 

Suggestions on how to find this info out also welcomed.

[Aplmac]

Ain't no Better Side of the ship to be on, girl..;)

 

So much depends on what berth the ship gets

whether they back it in, or go straight in, all sorts of factors...hard to tell

 

Just be glad you got a balcony and enjoy da view!

 

 

 

 

 

These balcony shots were taken

on a recent Puerto Rico to Barbados trip we made -on Carnival Victory

[caribbeanchickie]

Ain't no Better Side of the ship to be on, girl..;)

 

So much depends on what berth the ship gets

whether they back it in, or go straight in, all sorts of factors...hard to tell

 

Just be glad you got a balcony and enjoy da view!

 

 

 

 

 

These balcony shots were taken

on a recent Puerto Rico to Barbados trip we made -on Carnival Victory

 

GORGEOUS PICTURES!

 

If you don't mind my asking, what kind of cam did you use?

[Aplmac]

GORGEOUS PICTURES! ===> Thank you.

 

If you don't mind my asking, what kind of cam did you use?

It's not the camera..it's the lens! ;)

 

The camera's a Nikon D60

but the lens is a Sigma super-wide 10-20 mm. zoom

 

 

______________________________

You'll find all those shots (bigger too)

at the Cruisecritic Photo Gallery -at URL..

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/showgallery.php?cat=513

where you can click on the pictures for a larger image

 

[caribbeanchickie]

It's not the camera..it's the lens! ;)

 

The camera's a Nikon D60

but the lens is a Sigma super-wide 10-20 mm. zoom

 

 

______________________________

You'll find all those shots (bigger too)

at the Cruisecritic Photo Gallery -at URL..

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/showgallery.php?cat=513

where you can click on the pictures for a larger image

 

 

I've been shopping around for a new camera and the D40 & D60 are the two that are highly recommended.

These are the ones I am trying to decide on...

NIKON D60 w. AF-S DX 18-55 VR LENS :D

 

NIKON D40 w. DX 18-55 LENS

Price difference is about $150 CDN

[Aplmac]

I've been shopping around for a new camera and the D40 & D60 are the two that are highly recommended.

These are the ones I am trying to decide on...

NIKON D60 w. AF-S DX 18-55 VR LENS :D

 

NIKON D40 w. DX 18-55 LENS

Price difference is about $150 CDN

Go with the former

i.e. the D60 -it's 'more camera' than the D40, and worth the extra money.

 

Right now I have a girlfriend who owns a D40

and she's looking for the more-megapixels D60,along with its auto-sensor-cleaning mechanism.

The D40 doesn't have those features,I'm fairly sure.

 

 

The 18-55 zoom lens that comes with both cameras is adequate and sharp -don't be fooled by the light weight-

(mine was the VR(Vibration Reduction) version)

..even though I just sold mine(the lens)

after I bought the newly-issued (longer in Tele dept.) 18-105 mm. Nikkor Zoom

to shoot ship pics

only becox the max. of 55 mm. on the 'kit' lens simply wasn't long enough for what I do.

 

 

[marniegirl]

Yes, I realize now that it doesn't make a difference which side we have our balcony on. TA said that the only time it might matter would be on an Alaskan cruise.

Thanks for the replies! Now I'm reminded that I need to get the wide angle lens for my camera I've been wanting. Practically mandatory for great scenic shots!

[Aplmac]

Yes, I realize now that it doesn't make a difference which side we have our balcony on.

TA said that the only time it might matter would be on an Alaskan cruise. ===> And even then..

 

Thanks for the replies!

Now I'm reminded that I need to get the wide angle lens for my camera I've been wanting.

Practically mandatory for great scenic shots!

Even on the Alaska cruise, you'll have great scenery rolling past, on the way up the coast

- and lots and lots of Ocean View(literally) on the way down the coast.

Or vice versa.

 

 

Solution:

Change cabins at the turnaround point, so you have a great view in both directions!! :D

 

 

___________________________________

Yes, get the wide-angle lens definitely.

 

 

[amapola]

For port days, it really doesn't matter. However, I look at which direction the ship will be traveling on a sea day (northbound or southbound) and choose the side that would face east that day. That way, the balcony will be shady in the afternoon. :cool: