Which do you prefer, Eastern or Western Caribbean Cruise? - The DIS Discussion Forums

MarineFam · 01-13-2013, 06:43 PM

We have been on 2 Eastern Caribbean cruises on the Magic and now we are getting ready to go on the Fantasy for the first time in April on a Western Caribbean. I have heard that it is much more calm than Eastern. Just curious which everyone liked better.

noahsmom · 01-13-2013, 09:04 PM

Both have their positives and negatives. I LOVE Grand Cayman - my favorite island after Castaway Cay. We have only sailed in July and have not had any weather issues with either itinerary.

lbgraves · 01-13-2013, 09:11 PM

I always feel the easterns are more calm with the extra sea day.

pillow · 01-14-2013, 07:09 AM

I like the extra sea day on the Eastern. Also, I'm not a fan of Key West. Eastern wins for me!

jodical · 01-14-2013, 07:17 AM

Just got off a Western (so perhaps I am a bit biased, though I have also sailed an Eastern Itinerary in the past) and loved it! I like the cultural mix of Grand Cayman and Mexico stops.

In response to to the above poster, I would have loved a stop in Key West - I've never been - but perhaps your reasons for disliking Key West are similar to mine with the U.S. Virgin Islands, that is, one stop there is more than enough to last a lifetime. I could care less to ever go back!

pillow · 01-14-2013, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jodical

In response to to the above poster, I would have loved a stop in Key West - I've never been - but perhaps your reasons for disliking Key West are similar to mine with the U.S. Virgin Islands, that is, one stop there is more than enough to last a lifetime. I could care less to ever go back!

Exactly! I'm a beach fan. No good ones on Key West. Love Magens Bay in St. Thomas. Enjoyed the beach in St. Maarten too.

Jodie

disneywonderfun · 01-14-2013, 07:55 AM

My vote is West. Dislike three sea days, two is enough for me. Nothing better than being at port with the ship to ourselves as everybody is off doing excursions. Also, cannot beat Cayman.

DWF

TinkBell10 · 01-14-2013, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disneywonderfun

My vote is West. Dislike three sea days, two is enough for me. Nothing better than being at port with the ship to ourselves as everybody is off doing excursions. Also, cannot beat Cayman.

DWF

This is exactly why we prefer Western! For our family, it's all about the ship! We don't get off very often, so don't really care about which ports we're in. So, having an extra port day and the ship more to ourselves is just awesome.

disney1990 · 01-14-2013, 10:38 AM

We have only done the Eastern -- and we loved it. Love St. Thomas and the beautiful island of St. John. Would love to do it again. Have mixed feelings about the Western. For one, we donate blood every two months and you cannot donate for a year if you have been on the Western cruise.

havaneselover · 01-14-2013, 10:44 AM

Eastern (but am going on Western in 75 days). I like more sea days and LOVE Magen's Bay in St. Thomas. St. Maarten wasn't for me though. I just am not really a fan of Mexico. That said, when my kids were tiny we did Western and it worked out well because they were too young (both in diapers) for the pool so sea days weren't as important.

ETA: Our first Western stopped in Key West. Yuck. What a waste. So glad we are not doing that this time.

RedxPanda · 01-14-2013, 10:49 AM

I have done an Eastern on Carnival. I try not to hold that against the Eastern itinerary.

Our stops were St Maarten, St Thomas, and San Juan PR. The islands were nice enough, but it seemed like a lot of the same thing. We live in Florida... it felt like we didn't even leave home.

I have not done a Western yet, but we are about to sail a 2 stop Western (5 night Miami on Wonder).

Just from my research, Westerns appeal to us more because we'd like to see all the ruins, love to snorkel, and generally like port days over sea days. Western ports seem more adventurous.

bitlerzx4 · 01-14-2013, 12:02 PM

this is a great thread. I love everyone's different views on east and west.

MarineFam · 01-14-2013, 12:13 PM

Love the Beach and the nice water. Don't have any idea if there are any nice beaches close to port at Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Cayman. We are thinking of doing maybe a beach shore excursion or something but if not I do hope there is one close by as an option. Also, don't know much about the ports as it is the first Western cruise for shopping too.

manateesmom · 01-14-2013, 12:43 PM

Eastern. Love the private islands that each cruise line seems to have on the Eastern itineraries. Loved San Juan PR, love St. John's. I'd do Western, I suppose, but far prefer Eastern. In fact, I'd really rather do a Southern itinerary some day.

Im_A_Princess · 01-14-2013, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disney1990

For one, we donate blood every two months and you cannot donate for a year if you have been on the Western cruise.

Really? I did not know that.
Do they ask you?

I love the Eastern. Given a choice we sail the eastern. But ANY cruise is better than no cruise,

01-13-2013, 06:43 PM	#1
MarineFam Remember, It all Started with a Mouse... Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Maine Posts: 118	Which do you prefer, Eastern or Western Caribbean Cruise? We have been on 2 Eastern Caribbean cruises on the Magic and now we are getting ready to go on the Fantasy for the first time in April on a Western Caribbean. I have heard that it is much more calm than Eastern. Just curious which everyone liked better. __________________ Follow Me on Twitter https://twitter.com/DJMARTIN95 DVC Members AKV August 1996 WDW Honeymoon (Shades of Green); November 2003 WDW; September 2005 WDW; May 2007 WDW; December 2007 DCL (Magic) Eastern; May 2009 WDW; April 2012 DCL (Magic) Eastern; April 2012 WDW; April 2013 WDW (Pop Century); April 2013 DCL (Fantasy)Western; April 2014 WDW (DVC Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas); April 2014 DCL (Magic) Bahamas

01-13-2013, 09:04 PM	#2
noahsmom 2002 - Poly & Wonder; 2004 - Poly & Wonder; 2006 - AKL & Magic; 2007 - SSR & Wonder; 2008 SSR only; 2009 Kidani, SSR & Magic to Tortola; 2010 Double dip Wonder & WDW road trip Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,280	Both have their positives and negatives. I LOVE Grand Cayman - my favorite island after Castaway Cay. We have only sailed in July and have not had any weather issues with either itinerary. __________________

01-13-2013, 09:11 PM	#3
lbgraves Little Cinderella's Mommy The bad news is...they are driving me nuts!!! Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 44,691	I always feel the easterns are more calm with the extra sea day. __________________ Lisa Magic: E 11/15/2003, W 12/4/2004, E 12/10/2005, W 12/9/2006, EBPC 8/2008, W 1/8/2011 Wonder: 3N 1/11/2010, Alaska 7/26/11 Fantasy: MV 3/31/2012, E 3/23/2013

01-14-2013, 07:17 AM	#5
jodical Mouseketeer Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 133	Just got off a Western (so perhaps I am a bit biased, though I have also sailed an Eastern Itinerary in the past) and loved it! I like the cultural mix of Grand Cayman and Mexico stops. In response to to the above poster, I would have loved a stop in Key West - I've never been - but perhaps your reasons for disliking Key West are similar to mine with the U.S. Virgin Islands, that is, one stop there is more than enough to last a lifetime. I could care less to ever go back! __________________ WDW - 1977, 1983, 1989, 1994, 1998, 2004, 2010 DL - 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009 Disney Fantasy Nov. 2012 Trying to decide what our next Disney trip will be... Thinking DL in Sept 2013

01-14-2013, 07:55 AM	#7
disneywonderfun Mouseketeer Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 483	My vote is West. Dislike three sea days, two is enough for me. Nothing better than being at port with the ship to ourselves as everybody is off doing excursions. Also, cannot beat Cayman. DWF __________________

Sponsored Links
The DIS Register to remove Join Date: 1997 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,000,000

01-14-2013, 07:09 AM	#4
pillow DIS Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,590	I like the extra sea day on the Eastern. Also, I'm not a fan of Key West. Eastern wins for me!

01-14-2013, 10:38 AM	#9
disney1990 Wow, it make my heart skip a beat I'm going to miss these when the season ends Lighting the Way to Paradise Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,746	We have only done the Eastern -- and we loved it. Love St. Thomas and the beautiful island of St. John. Would love to do it again. Have mixed feelings about the Western. For one, we donate blood every two months and you cannot donate for a year if you have been on the Western cruise. __________________ Life is a Journey – remember to appreciate everyday -- be happy for this moment...this moment is your life

01-14-2013, 10:44 AM	#10
havaneselover Mouseketeer Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 490	Eastern (but am going on Western in 75 days). I like more sea days and LOVE Magen's Bay in St. Thomas. St. Maarten wasn't for me though. I just am not really a fan of Mexico. That said, when my kids were tiny we did Western and it worked out well because they were too young (both in diapers) for the pool so sea days weren't as important. ETA: Our first Western stopped in Key West. Yuck. What a waste. So glad we are not doing that this time. __________________ Me DD 9 DS 7 2005 Boardwalk Inn, 2006 Disney Magic (Western), Walt Disney World Swan, 2007 Wilderness Lodge, 2008 Grand Floridian, 2009 Disney Magic (Eastern), CR

01-14-2013, 10:49 AM	#11
RedxPanda DIS Veteran Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 1 hr to WDW :: 30 mins to PC Posts: 537	I have done an Eastern on Carnival. I try not to hold that against the Eastern itinerary. Our stops were St Maarten, St Thomas, and San Juan PR. The islands were nice enough, but it seemed like a lot of the same thing. We live in Florida... it felt like we didn't even leave home. I have not done a Western yet, but we are about to sail a 2 stop Western (5 night Miami on Wonder). Just from my research, Westerns appeal to us more because we'd like to see all the ruins, love to snorkel, and generally like port days over sea days. Western ports seem more adventurous. __________________ Kristina - CM Summer of '01 - Main Street, MK \|\| Marc \|\| Sofie (1.5) Past Sailings/Recent Trips CCL Triumph - 7N E. Caribbean - 12/2006 \|\| NCL POA - 7N Hawaii - 3/2010 \|\| CBR - 3N/4D 4 Park Marathon - 5/2010 Disney Magic - 4N Bahamas - 5/2012 - Trip Report Disney Wonder - 5N W. Caribbean - 1/28/2013 - CC Review Booked Sailings Dummy Date on Disney Dream

01-14-2013, 12:02 PM	#12
bitlerzx4 Mouseketeer Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NC Posts: 467	this is a great thread. I love everyone's different views on east and west. __________________ March 2001(just us) October 2008 (as a family of 4) December 2011 Dream/WDW October 2013 Fantasy Cruise

01-14-2013, 12:13 PM	#13
MarineFam Remember, It all Started with a Mouse... Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Maine Posts: 118	Love the Beach and the nice water. Don't have any idea if there are any nice beaches close to port at Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Cayman. We are thinking of doing maybe a beach shore excursion or something but if not I do hope there is one close by as an option. Also, don't know much about the ports as it is the first Western cruise for shopping too. __________________ Follow Me on Twitter https://twitter.com/DJMARTIN95 DVC Members AKV August 1996 WDW Honeymoon (Shades of Green); November 2003 WDW; September 2005 WDW; May 2007 WDW; December 2007 DCL (Magic) Eastern; May 2009 WDW; April 2012 DCL (Magic) Eastern; April 2012 WDW; April 2013 WDW (Pop Century); April 2013 DCL (Fantasy)Western; April 2014 WDW (DVC Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas); April 2014 DCL (Magic) Bahamas

01-14-2013, 12:43 PM	#14
manateesmom Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 172	Eastern. Love the private islands that each cruise line seems to have on the Eastern itineraries. Loved San Juan PR, love St. John's. I'd do Western, I suppose, but far prefer Eastern. In fact, I'd really rather do a Southern itinerary some day. __________________

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread: