western carribean

[mexlyndi]

Hi! I have a question. I am in charge(as always) of a cruise next Dec. to the carribean. I have cruised over 10 times and love it. 10 or so on Carnival and one on RC. I just like Carnival for some reason.
O.K. , I know NOTHING about the cruises that do the carribean except I have heard that people tend to like the western cruises. We have always done close to home--Mexican Riviera--I guess a few to many times.
For those of you who have done the Carribean alot, which is your favorite? We also have to think of flights and which airport is good to fly into. Is going out of Galveston the best? We are in Sacramento, CA area.
Any help on this would be great.
Thanks!

 

[LisaD]

My husband and I have done 3 Caribbean cruises: 2 western and 1 eastern, and we are leaving Jan 1 on another western with my extended family. We preferred the eastern. The islands were gorgeous! The only reason we are more frequent on the western side is that we can drive to the port instead of having to fly. We still enjoyed the western, obviously, or we wouldn't be going back, tho.

 

[serene56]

People sailing with kids tend to pick the western side as there is soo much more to do.
Eastern is just as nice but its a shopping paradise. (Kids may get bored there)
Grand Cayman has wimming with stingrays. Ocho rios has dunns river falls. Cozumel has a few things plus shopping. (Im not too sure about Montego bay- never been there

 

[mexlyndi]

Thanks for responding,
Now what should I do? There will be no kids just couples. We are all active and like to do outdoor activities. We are not into shopping or tourist trap stuff. We would want to explore or hike to waterfalls or swing through the rain forest---interior stuff. Love to go where the locals are in the interior--love to bring things for the children and just experience the real feel of a place. I realize that we are only there 8 hours, if that ,and you can only get so much into a day. We like simplicity and usually go by the seat of our pants and set up a driver outside of the on board cruise excursions......soooo I need help deciding what would be the best itinerary! Any advise is great--
Thanks again!

 

[RosieRosie]

I love the western caribbean because I like to see the Mayan ruins and it is a great opportunity to sknorkel. We're doing another western (3rd time) next week because my hubby wants to scuba with my brother - they will be diving in Belize and Grand Cayman and if they want to they can also dive in Cozumel. I think my sister will be bored because she likes to shop. I told her she will love Grand Cayman because they have a nice little down town area. We also have been to the eastern caribbean twice - we love that also. And the southern is great also - you really have to see it all!

 

[mexlyndi]

Rosie,
Thanks! I wish I could decide what cruise to do but maybe any of them will be fine. Maybe I am trying to hard to pick the perfect one and that is all relative to each person. But, if you could only choose ONE in the Carribean, which one would you pick?? Anyone!
Thanks! You guys have all kinds of great info. on this site.

 

[serene56]

Galveston has a few choices. .

Grand Princess heads out f Galveston.Majahual, Roatan, Belize City, Cozumel

COnquest Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, Cozumel

Rhapsody -
Montego Bay, Georgetown GCM, Cozumel

 

[lainie]

Hi, I have sailed ALL over in the Caribbean mostly on Carnival and 2 x on Windjammer and I have to say that my favorite itinerary was on Carnival to the islands of St Maarten/St Martin, Barbados and Martinique. This itinerary is great for adults -- St Maarten/St Martin is an island tat is half Dutch and half French -- beautiful beaches, great snorkleing trips, great shopping, casino, you can do a tour where you race sailboats called the Americas Cup Regatta -- we've done it twice!! Barbados has a lot to oofer as well as Martinique which is French. Check out the excursions lists for these ports and see what you think.