Caribbean Cruise Opinions

[Andy Haney]

I'm (we're) considering a cruise around Thanksgiving. Never been on one. Since we've never done it, I'm thinking one of the shorter duration trips.
From the looks of that I have reviewed, I think I want to target the EASTERN Caribbean, the SOUTHERN, but probably avoid WESTERN. Your opinions?

What are the best stops for a cruise newby? Also, I would like any feedback on particularly good (or bad) experiences with cruise lines or particular ships.

Andy Haney

[Eric Larsen]

I'd probably find a cruise forum. There's just too much information out there.

I've never been on a cruise, either. But the only company that interests me is Windjammer. It's tall-ships or nothing as far as I'm concerned.

I'm sure plenty of Creekers will be able to point you in the direction you want to go.

(PS -- I'm from the Caribbean. St. Maarten is my favorite island. Key West is my second-favorite. (And my hometown. Lived there 15 years.) Nassau is my third.)

(PPS -- In every port town in the Caribbean, you will find a T-shirt showing a doobie-smoking rastafarian flipping the bird to a tourist wearing a Hawaiian shirt and cheesy hat. The shirt reads, "Same [censored], different island." Pick your islands carefully. Some of them aren't as friendly as others.)

[Frank Hagan]

We've done both Disney and Princess cruises to the Caribbean. We like to snorkel, so our trips tend to focus on which ports have the best snorkeling.

We didn't like the western cruise on Princess. It was after a storm, and Cozumel was a mess, and the snorkeling trip was horrible (tour guides throwing fish food in the water, so you're swimming in a cloud of crap). We couldn't dock on Grand Cayman as planned, but were able to go ashore on the other side of the island (many of the excursions were canceled, but we saw a nice beach down the coast a ways, and got off and asked the police if we could walk down there ... it was a public beach and was the best snorkeling of the trip.) Jamaica wasn't our cup of tea; like Bermuda, you get accosted by very poor people trying to eake out a living by braiding hair and selling cheap goods. Our intended snorkeling beach turned out to be very commercial like in Mexico, with tour guides throwing fish food into the water to attract the fish.

The Disney 4 night cruise is our favorite in the region. Disney has two things people love or hate it for: no casino, and very little smoking. You get very few drunks staggering through the hallway, but it is "Disney". The comics have to try to be funny without cursing (mild profanity is allowed, but you won't hear N or F words from them). Pick the late dinner seating and you don't see as many kids (we like kids, so they never bother us). Princess has a slight advantage in that you can also choose "any time dining" (you aren't "stuck" with the same people in assigned seating each night). NCL has "freestyle dining" which doesn't have any set times.

The Disney cruise itinerary includes Nassau, the Bahamas, which like Jamaica is a place you don't want to go walking around on your own. The tours are more professional, and the sailing, snorkeling, etc. excursions are OK ... they observe normal marine habitat regulations there, so there's no fish feeding. Disney also has a stop on a private island (Princess has a similar thing), but we prefer the Disney island better.

We think the food is a bit better on the Disney cruise; others feel just the opposite. Its not great on either line, and until you get to the very top lines, you don't get food worthy of being in a Ruth Chris' Steakhouse. The one exception is the extra-fee Palo on the Disney ships; really very good food there.

We are planning a Feb. 2010 7 day Disney cruise to the eastern Caribbean; its about 30% more than the corresponding Princess cruise, but to us the difference is worth it.

You can also do a "land/sea" cruise with Disney; Disneyworld for three or four days and then the cruise for three or four. Very nice package.

Right now, the cruises leaving around Thanksgiving are on a pretty impressive sale. Check out http://vacationstogo.com/fastdeal.cfm?deal=17404 for an example; be aware that the price is "per person" so you have to double it, and then there are government fees and extras that add from $150 to $300 per person. The Disney web site will give you the all-inclusive fare, as will the folks at http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/cruise/index.htm ... and they seem to have the most generous "shipboard credits" that they throw in.

We have often done the land/sea package on Disney and book the cheapest room available. You get a nice inside cabin on the boat, but the same food, entertainment, etc. as the people paying 10 times what you are paying for bigger room and a balcony. For the land portion, you get one of the Disney hotels on DisneyWorld property, plus all the transportation to and from the airport, and admission to all the theme parks. The 7-day vacation all-inclusive price (taxes and fees included) is from $2,500 to $3,000 for 2 people in November (higher in the peak period months).

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

Have done a few cruisese.

Things to think about.

1. four day cruises. Lines try to cram 7 days of stuff into 4 days.

2. Seven day cruises usually give you a lot to do with time to relax, too.

3. 10-14 and longer cruises tend to have an older crowd. They can afford it.

Cruise lines.

Carnival (known as the FUN SHIP) leans to younger cruisers. Very vibrant. A lot of on board activities, especially athletic things. Good food.

Royal Caribean - middle aged cruisers - more intellectual activities. Good food

Norwegian - Haven't traveled with them, but have NOT heard anything good about them

Princess - Older cruisers (Blue hair set) we took a cruise with them. Didn't go very well, but I know others who like them.

Celebrity - A little up scale (pricier) Good line, but I would not suggest them for the first time.

Hope this helps. If you would like to talk about it, PM me.

Bruce

[Eric Larsen]

Nassau, the Bahamas, which like Jamaica is a place you don't want to go walking around on your own.

I can't believe you'd describe Nassau this way. Nassau? Dangerous? Jamaica dangerous? You can't be describing the same island. What happened to you there?

LOML and I spent at least two weeks in Nassau every year for more than 10 years. (It's only 150 miles from home, after all.) You could drop me off in the middle of the night in the "worst" part of Nassau. Fifteen minutes later, I'd be hanging out with friends, eating conch salad, listening to reggae and drinking a Kalik.

The people are the main reason I put Nassau #3 on my list. Otherwise I'd go with Anguilla or St. Barth's.

[Tom Godley]

I am sure I will get some who do not agree with me on this: Most cruse ships spend so little time in any one port throughout the Caribbean -- all the islands look the same. I pick the ship - that is what matters to me.

I really like the Star Clippers - I have been to almost all the locations they sail -- really nice. The ships are spectacular.

I would also rather have a smaller room on a better ship then the reverse.

[phil harold]

My wife is in the travel industry and we have gotten to do a few cuises:
twice norwegian (NCL) - nice private island
thrice Carnival - great kids program
once Holland America - Nice
once Disney - Never again

If you do a cruise get a balcony if you can or at least a window
I did not like an inner cabins
Southern Carribean would be my choice again but the problem with cruises is you have to get back on the boat before you are ready
So last thanksgiving day we flew to Curacao and stayed at Breezes Curacao Resort Spa & Casino while we read the the reviews (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g147278-d254238-Reviews-Breezes_Curacao_Resort_Spa_Casino-Willemstad_Curacao.html)
we expected to do things rather than expect to be waited on hand and foot
we had a great time went snorkeling, free scuba lesson and dive, rented a car drove (do this accross the street from the resort 1/3 the money)
beaches galore, clearest water I have ever been in, I felt safe every where I went check out our trip
http://philspages.com/curaco/default.htm
I will say that we where told the place was packed the week of thanksgiving
we stayed the week after

I want to go back! pretty island, not expensive, clear water, underwater national park outside of the resort you swim in, did I say clear water and tons of fish?

[Frank Hagan]

I can't believe you'd describe Nassau this way. Nassau? Dangerous? Jamaica dangerous? You can't be describing the same island. What happened to you there?

LOML and I spent at least two weeks in Nassau every year for more than 10 years. (It's only 150 miles from home, after all.) You could drop me off in the middle of the night in the "worst" part of Nassau. Fifteen minutes later, I'd be hanging out with friends, eating conch salad, listening to reggae and drinking a Kalik.

The people are the main reason I put Nassau #3 on my list. Otherwise I'd go with Anguilla or St. Barth's.

My experience is more limited than yours, but our first time on the island we decided to walk from the port over towards Atlantis. My wife, my two teen daughters, and me. We turned around after walking down one street and getting jeers and leering from young men who needed to be working somewhere, and the things they yelled that they were going to do to my daughters and my wife were not pleasant things. Three followed us for quite a while after we turned around and went back to the boat.

[Ted Shrader]

Andy -

Check out Cruise Critic (http://www.cruisecritic.com/) for reviews of ships, ports, embarkation/debarkation. Lots of good cruise info there. Sort of like here, except for cruises. :)

We have been on three Royal Caribbean ships and one Norwegian. Good food, service and entertainment on all. No complaints from us. Each cruise is what you make it. If you go to have fun, you will. If you go to be critical, well . . . .

Most recent (this spring) was a 9 night out of Norfolk, VA to San Juan, PR; Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas; Samana, Dominican Republic; and Labadee - RC's private beach off Haiti.

After you choose your cruise, look for the ship and sail date on Cruise Critic under the Roll Call forum. You will have to register (free) to look at the Roll Call forum. You can get ideas about what to do in the ports from the experienced travelers and then sign up to meet them on board. Sort of like a Creeker get together.

Regards,
Ted

[Lee Schierer]

We did the eastern carribbean with Carnival and it was great the food and service was good. We went in February so there weren't many kids and the population was about evenly mixed of young (30-40) and older people. We visited Nassau, St. Thomas and St Maartin islands. Lots to do on all of them At St Thomas we did the Americas Cup race and it was good fun.

I also recommend Crusise Critic as you will get lots of tips and ideas of what to take and what not to take as well as tips on the various tours. We booked our own tours and saved money over the cost of the ship tours and saw the same places.

[Eric Larsen]

My experience is more limited than yours, but our first time on the island we decided to walk from the port over towards Atlantis. My wife, my two teen daughters, and me. We turned around after walking down one street and getting jeers and leering from young men who needed to be working somewhere, and the things they yelled that they were going to do to my daughters and my wife were not pleasant things. Three followed us for quite a while after we turned around and went back to the boat.

Well, that's certainly pretty bad. It would turn me off to a country if something like that happened to me. Sorry to hear about that.

I hope you can give the Bahamas another try some day.

[Andy Haney]

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the feedback. We're now refining the search, and your input has been very helpful.

Andy