7 day - Eastern or Western Caribbean? What one do you prefer and why?

[knyisles]

Given the choice of a 7 day Disney cruise, would you do the Eastern or Western Caribbean cruise? Please provide an explaination as to why you would pick that itinerary. I am sure the number one reason will be choice of ports...but I am curious what other reasons people would have for deciding between the two......I am looking to book a December 2005 7-day cruise and I am really torn between the two choices........any advice?

 

[Bella2000]

Great question I wondered myself. We chose the Western because it was a speciality cruise with two castawy cay stops and less days at sea.

 

[missmulan]

we chose eastern because it was two days at sea, two days in a row...we love at sea days and it gave us a chance to get to know the ship before we went to port.

dh is not fond of the key west stop on the western because it's just florida. kinda like us here in los angeles sailing over to san diego.

 

[budwmn]

I might get some heat by saying this, but personally, I don't think the ports really matter (unless your heart is set on seeing something you can only do in one place like Tulum in Cozumel or Stingray City in Grand Cayman). Both itineraries have great beaches, shops, and diving/snorkeling.

As a result, I think you need to decide which you'd rather have: more sea days or more port days.

We were nervous about 3 days at sea for our first longer cruise, so we picked the Western. My DH and I agreed that we wish we had had more time on board to do all of the activities/tours. Now we're booked on an Eastern and Special Western.

Think of it this way, your'e in a win/win situation. After all, you're on the Magic!

 

[knyisles]

Thanks for all the great responses.....can anyone tell me what a specialty cruise is that stops at castaway cay twice? Is that in place of grand cayman? What dates and what cruise (eastern or western)?

 

[budwmn]

This is the "Special Western" that I'm booked on. It skips Key West and Grand Cayman, and visits Costa Maya and Castaway Cay (twice).

7-Night Caribbean Cruise to Costa Maya

Drop anchor in Costa Maya and Cozumel on a magical cruise to Mexico. And spend two fun-filled days at Disney's private island paradise, Castaway Cay, on this special 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise.

Dates: May 27; June 24; July 22; August 19; September 16; October 14; November 11; December 9, 2006

Saturday Port Canaveral
4:00 pm

Sunday Castaway Cay
8:30 am
4:30 pm

Monday At Sea

Tuesday Costa Maya
7:30 am
5:30 pm

Wednesday Cozumel
7:30 am
10:30 pm

Thursday At Sea

Friday Castaway Cay
9:30 am
4:30 pm

Saturday Port Canaveral
7:35 am
---

 

[MarkLem]

We chose Western because the Ports were more to our liking (Grand Cayman & Cozumel).

 

[UGAFan0829]

Actually, if all goes well, we are thinking of booking the 7 day cruise on the cruise that we are going on next week. And we've decided that if we do, then we will definitely take the Western. Mainly because of the ports being Key West. I would love to go there and eat at Margaritaville! I just thought that the ports for the western were better than the eastern based on what my husband and I like.

 

[faireygod mother]

We prefer the Eastern because we really love St Thomas, but we are booked on a Western 11/11/06 because it has 2 stops in CC and we really love CC.

 

[TheWog]

We chose the Eastern for the Ports and extra days at sea.

 

[Boaguy]

Personally, I'd choose for the ports..because after having 2 days in row and then a 3rd on the Disney Magic..its really not that exciting. Theres only so much you can do on the boat but these islands are miles and miles of stuff to do