Eastern or Western Carribean Cruise with younger kids

[Momofboys1011]

Which one would you choose and why, Eastern or Western Carribean cruise? We have 2 boys, who will be 5 and 6 when we go on our cruise. The 6 year old is on the spectrum, if that makes any difference.
Thanks so much!

 

[dcassetta]

Both itineraries are pretty beach oriented. Depending on the western route you may have 1 less sea day than on an eastern. I love sea days as it gives you more opportunity to enjoy the ship's amenities.

 

[pdizzle27]

Western worked for us. I wanted more shore days, just in case our daughter needed time off of the boat. Everything eent fine, and the next trip will be Eastern.

 

[Hundredacre]

Western gives you an extra port day which gives more flexibility. You can always stay on the ship and make a port day a "sea day," but you cannot get off the ship if you want to on a real sea day.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Western worked for us. I wanted more shore days, just in case our daughter needed time off of the boat. Everything eent fine, and the next trip will be Eastern.

Western gives you an extra port day which gives more flexibility. You can always stay on the ship and make a port day a "sea day," but you cannot get off the ship if you want to on a real sea day.

Agree,having done both.

 

[JP350Z]

I'd go Western with the 4 port stops. Skip one or two and enjoy the wide open pools and aquaduck. The Fantasy pool deck is overcrowded on real sea days and I could see that being a problem with someone on the spectrum.

 

[lbus42]

Choose the Western itinerary. You will have more ports so you can get off the ship if being on it is a problem. If you stay on the ship during a port day, it is just like a sea day, but the ship will be virtually deserted and there is still lots of stuff to do.

 

[hanscarlet]

My 7 year old is on the spectrum and I have a 4 year old. This past April we did the Eastern and it worked out well. My Spectrum kiddo wanted to go back to the ship by noon each day so we actually found the more at sea days was a bonus for us. We did a beach day in Tortola and a private charter boat in St. Thomas. She was over the charter boat by about 11:30am but she loved the beach day. Overall she was much more at home on the ship and getting into the cruising routine. of club in the morning, lunch, swimming, activity, dinner prep, dinner, show... Either itineraries both will work for you! Have fun!

ETA: we were on the Magic and hung out in the kiddo pool section so the crowds weren't that bad on sea days... they would be much worse probably on the bigger ships so I can see why others are saying go on the Western so you'd have the ship to yourself

 

[Amy11]

No specifically for kids, but Eastern is a much better value considering how pricey it is to travel to the little islands by flying there (Usually via Puerto Rico). Mexico is cheap to travel to and I dislike Jamaica.