What are better cruising destinations?

[Island Princess]

Hey Girls,

I am from Australia and have never been to the caribbean before.

I am having a hard time trying to decide what cruise to go on.

 

Am I better off going for an older ship with more destinations.

 

Here is my first option:

 

• Departs from:Miami, FL
• Ship:Carnival Glory
• Ports of call:Half Moon Cay, Bahamas, St. Thomas, USVI, San Juan, Puerto Rico , Grand Turk

 

 

Or RCCL - Freedom of the seas - which does just coco bay, St Thomas and St Maarten.

 

The reason why I thought option 1 may have been better is beacuse there are only 2 days at sea and might keep my husband who isn't into the whole cruising idea occupied.

 

Where as the second itinerary there are 3 days at see.

 

I guess if we go Carnival and its cheaper, would you suggest a window or pay extra and get a balcony?

 

All suggestions welcome!

 

Thanks girls

[Dream43011]

I've always selected cruises based on the theory that more stops are always better!  While the at sea days are fun too...there's nothing better than arriving in a new port each day!  My vote's for the first option with more stops!

 

At minimum you should get a room with a window!  If you can swing the extra for a balacony room, I would definitely do it!  It's SO much nicer!  We got a balcony room on our last cruise and are totally spoiled!  It's WELL worth the extra money in my opinion.  There's no way you can go back to a regular oceanview room after having a balcony!

[clgriffi7]

I select my cruises wanting to minimize the days at sea.  If I want a vacation to relax by a pool, there are regular hotels and all-inclusives that have much bigger pools with fewer people.  I choose cruises because I want to visit as many different places as I can.  So I definitely recommend the first option - especially if your husband isn't so sure about the whole cruising thing.

 

A couple pieces of advice: 1) when in St. Thomas, take an excursion over to St. Johns.  St. Thomas is quite commercial, but St Johns can only be reached by ferry and is FAR prettier.  I have a picture of one of the beaches in St. Johns in my office and I am now staring at it longingly :-)  2) take some time exploring Old San Juan - you can enter a couple different old forts overlooking the Caribbean and can get some really neat pictures.

 

As for the room selection - if you have plenty of money go for the balcony.  I haven't gone with a balcony, because I have always wanted to spend extra money on excursions instead.  But I can imagine it would be relaxing and beautiful to arrive in port and depart port with great views from your balcony instead of standing at the railing on the top deck with everyone else.  However, I have tried both inside rooms and rooms with a window.  Do not waste your money on a room with a window.  I never looked out the window - not once.  On a cruise I stay active, so the room is used for sleeping and washing up/getting changed.

 

Hope that helps!

[rosieposie]

I've been on the Freedom of the Seas before, did Western last year (2 full days at sea, 4 stops), doing the Eastern one you mentioned above next month. We wanted an extra day on the ship this time because we felt we could have spent more time enjoying the activites around the ship (like the surf simulator and rock climbing). 

 

Cruise Critic is a great place to check out reviews:
http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=280
http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=358
 

We first went on the cruise thinking we were NOT cruise people but friends found a great deal, so we figure, why not. It turned out there was so much stuff to do that we never get bored, daily activities, rock climbiming wall, surf simulator, ice rink, ice show, concerts...most of the time we forgot we were on a ship....mmmmm and the food was amazing. (If you do the Freedom, try Portofino, so worth the extra $20).

 

I haven't been on a Carnival ship, but that itinerary offers some great ports nd first time cruisers might be more comfortable to be on land a bit more.

 

I agree with clgriffi7 on the room, don't bother with a window - go inside or balcony. If you have the money a balcony is nice to relax and eat your room service on  =) Otherwise the room is just for showering and sleeping, since there's a lot going on.   I don't think you could go wrong with either, everyone will have so much fun!   Happy planning!

[jenrick]

I would also say to splurge and go with a balcony room.  It's your Weddingmoon!  And in my opinion when I go on a cruise, I always get the one with the most stops.  It feels like more bang for you buck!  Congrats and happy planning!

[dai69]

We've done both Carnival & Royal Caribbean. Although I constantly read that people like RCCL better, we both enjoyed our Carnival cruise so much more. Of course they say Carnival is the 'party' boat, but we both aren't into partying and yet we still preferred Carnival. Our wedding cruise will be on Norwegian Jewel and this will be our first NCCL.

 

Even though we enjoyed our first Carnival cruise more than our RCCL cruise, I truly believe that we will never have a favorite cruise line. If anything we will probably have a favorite cruise 'ship' since each line probably has both good & bad.

 

One day we plan to cruise Carnival Glory as it leaves out if NYC to Canada as well.

 

~Happy Wedding Planning~

[Parfait]

Morning or afternoon depending on time zone!

 

 

I am Australian also although live in the Cayman Islands south of Cuba....I just got back last week from visiting home (Tasmania), so beautiful there.

 

I own a Wedding and Event company in Grand Cayman, so let me know if you want to chat about having your wedding here as there are many cruise ships that stop in for the day.

 

Happy planning!

[JanineA]

I have to agree with the ladies, fewer days at sea the better. I prefer Celebrity and RCCL but Carnival also has some awesome itineraries. I would go with the Carnival itinerary on this one. Half Moon Cay is a private Island in the Bahamas, its not a really developed island in fact there aren't tons of things to do, but that is the beauty of it. You can go horse back riding, there is a sanctuary on the island and the beach is gorgeous and private. I agree with clgriffi that you should hop the ferry to St. Johns, and Grand Turk is the diving mecca of the caribbean if you like snorkeling or diving. Good luck and I hope you have a fantastic time no matter what you decide. 

[Aumuller]

I definitely say go with the one with more stops. You want to get your moneys worth. But if you decide on the other option I've heard from people that the ships are so amazing sometimes those days are more fun than port days.

[sinesbride]

Yes, go with more ports. If it were me, I would want to see as much as I can.