Eastern Vs Western Caribbean ?

[smalltowngirl504]

No idea, which to pick.... also , I've never traveled there, so is there a difference between late September and mid October as far as weather?? Thank you so much for all of your input, we were going to cruise the dream but I think we've changed our minds to do the fantasy instead... Any input would be helpful on eastern or western...

 

[lbgraves]

We have asked the tour guides on both the western and eastern what the weather is like year round and have been told it is always very warm to hot. We have been to both in December and it was hot on the days we were there. Personally, DH and I prefer the Eastern cruise. There is an extra sea day to relax and we like the look of the eastern ports more than the western.

 

[peg2001]

I have no real experience (yet!) but read that Western is better for new cruisers as it has less chance of rough seas. That was enough for me.

Pegasus

 

[polly p]

we did western in April. Loved grand cayman and cozumel, not so much key west and of course loved castaway cay. Weather great, but they said it doesn't vary much year round. Watch out for hurricaine season sept and oct.

 

[Southfloridadisney]

No idea, which to pick.... also , I've never traveled there, so is there a difference between late September and mid October as far as weather?? Thank you so much for all of your input, we were going to cruise the dream but I think we've changed our minds to do the fantasy instead... Any input would be helpful on eastern or western...

As a Floridan i know all of these questions.

Eastern Caribbean- this is a cheaper cruise compared to the western this one will travel to st. Tomas, st. martin, and castaway cay. The hurricane is in full speed during that time but the eastern Caribbean is less active(not as many hurricane) then the western Caribbean.

Western Caribbean- this cruise vists Mexico. Cozumel, costa maya, and Grand Caman. the weather their during sept. and oct. is BAD!!!!

Hope that answers you questions!

 

[llnolte]

We did the Western last October and the weather was fantastic-a little rainy for part of the day in Grand Cayman but still a great day. We have booked the Eastern on the Fantasy in 2012. We haven't done those ports yet and we want the extra sea day.

 

[lbgraves]

I have no real experience (yet!) but read that Western is better for new cruisers as it has less chance of rough seas. That was enough for me.

Pegasus

The 1/8/11 western was horrible leaving Cozumel. We had 50 knot winds and 15 foot swells. The pools were closed the entire day. The fact is you can have rough seas at any time.

 

[KristiMc]

We loved the Eastern and the extra at-sea day.

 

[blessedmomofboys]

I've never cruised the western but loved the eastern so much that we booked the eastern again. Loved having 3 sea days.

 

[dsnydaddy]

If you like to scuba, I've heard that the Western is better. Personally, I hated the ports for the Western. (I'm not much of a third world person) The ports on the Eastern were LOADS better. And Trunk Bay is a slice of heaven on earth! The extra at-sea day was awesome. I really thought that I'd like more ports (that's why we did the Western for our first cruise) but found that the fewer port days and greater ship time was just what I needed to relax and enjoy myself.

 

[rorhoshots]

We have cruised several times all to the Western Caribbean. Last Sept we planned an Eastern trip but Hurricane Earl (I think) had a different plan and we again went to the west. Grand Cayman and Cozumel are great ports with lots to do. We are so looking forward to our Eastern adventure next year and seeing some new ports. We love cruising in the off season but Sept and Oct are high hurricane season so be prepared for some rougher seas or changes in itinerary. Happy Cruising!

 

[bbn1122]

If you like to scuba, I've heard that the Western is better. Personally, I hated the ports for the Western. (I'm not much of a third world person) The ports on the Eastern were LOADS better. And Trunk Bay is a slice of heaven on earth! The extra at-sea day was awesome. I really thought that I'd like more ports (that's why we did the Western for our first cruise) but found that the fewer port days and greater ship time was just what I needed to relax and enjoy myself.

Grand Cayman is the furtherest thing form 3rd world. It one of the richest island in all of the Caribbean. It a small beautiful island. As far, as Cozumel, it was beautiful, clean and the people were wonderful. Again, Cozumel is very seperate from the Mexican mainland.

We were on the Magic in 2010 Easter week West cruise. The cruise still stop a Key West and then on to Cozumel and Grand Cayman. April weather was perfect. But, more importantly the ports wer fantastic.

I do want to try the Eastern Caribbean cruise too.

As far as the weather goes, Hurricane season is June to November, so anything can happen. We are in the Dream in August, praying for the best scenario possible.

Good Luck with your plans.

 

[smalltowngirl504]

I am so very torn, I thought asking here would surely lock in my decision..haha but it didnt.... silly me.. Id love to go grand cayman and St.Thomas, thats why I am so torn... but now I am researching weather... holy 6 month long hurricane season I guess I will ask that question next on the board.. which is the best month for a Caribbean cruise, east or west,I want to book soon, so I need to get it all figured out!!!!

 

[lbgraves]

You cannot always get to Grand Cayman since it is a tender port. The water can get choppy during the day and then you have a rough ride back. That's another reason we prefer the eastern...no tenders to deal with. Just walk off the ship and you are there.

 

[blessedmomofboys]

You cannot always get to Grand Cayman since it is a tender port. The water can get choppy during the day and then you have a rough ride back. That's another reason we prefer the eastern...no tenders to deal with. Just walk off the ship and you are there.

We tendered in St. Thomas

 

[lbgraves]

I remember do that on our first eastern but since they built the dock I didn't know that they still tendered. We docked the last time we were there.

 

[DoomBuggyHitchhiker]

I remember do that on our first eastern but since they built the dock I didn't know that they still tendered. We docked the last time we were there.

I did the Eastern in April and we did not tender in St. Thomas. The new dock is very nice, but isn't near anything. You have to take a cab or book an excursion to go anywhere. St. Maarten is wonderful because you can walk into town from the dock.

 

[lbgraves]

I guess they rotate the docks that are used by each ship. Last time we docked at the main one, right across the street from the Paradise Point entrance.

 

[DisPrincess26]

We haven't cruised to either destination yet, but we had to make the same choice recently. We decided to book our next DCL sailing on the Magic on the Eastern Caribbean cruise.

One of the main reasons we picked Eastern over Western was for the extra days at sea, IMO the whole idea of cruising is to have time to enjoy the ship and settle into a relaxing vacation mode, so the extra days at sea are a huge plus in my book. Also, the Eastern ports look more appealing to us then the Western ports do.

I have heard a lot of good reports concerning taking an Eastern Caribbean cruise over the Western so my personal vote is for Eastern.

Good luck

 

[BealsRwe]

Hello. We have done eastern and western 3 times each. I have cruised in Aug, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, & March. We absolutely love the eastern, and love that extra sea day. I think a lot depends on personal preference and what you enjoy doing. One of our favorite ports is Key West, FL (western). Yes, I live in FL, but it is a 7 hour drive to KW from the Orlando area...I much prefer getting there on a ship. The western on the Fantasy won't include Key West, but rather Costa Maya. If you have ever wanted to see Mayan Ruins, Costa Maya is better than Cozumel from that...you are only about 1.5 hours away from the Chochoban Ruins...beautiful! Our roughest weather ever was in Dec 2010 on the western...a huge front passed through Cozumel with lots of rain, and very rough seas on the next day at sea. DH and I didn't mind the rough weather while in Cozumel as DD stayed on the ship and we went to Margaritaville. The sea day, we all spent the day inside our stateroom and just relaxed and watched tv, and took naps...rough seas had DD and I laying flat!

I live in Florida, and yes, hurricane season is June-Nov. The best thing about crusing, is you won't sail near a hurricane if one happens to be out there. They even skirt thunderstorms and rainy weather if they can get around. Your ports might change, but your safety won't be in question.

We loved Tortola when the Magic had a scheduled deviation from St. Maarten a few years back. We also love St. Maarten, and St. Thomas/St. John. We have enjoyed Grand Cayman on the western...we have been to Boatswain's turtle farm a few times.

My vote would be eastern, but only slightly edging out western...to me any day on a ship is better than one on land!