Help needed - Western, eastern again or 11 day if at all

[swimfin]

Hello! Thank you in advance for your help ... here's my dilemma and I know it's a "good" dilemma to have! We took the 7 day eastern last summer (June 4th sail date) and LOVED it!!! We (DH and DS13) are an outdoor, history loving, hike 14ers and tent camping type family. We the took Aristocats all day sail and snorkel in Tortola and fell in love with the BVI. We headed to St. John and got my son's Jr. Ranger Badge from the National Park Service and spent the day at a secluded beach area We prefer LOW crowd levels and prefer tours that other cruise lines might not flock to as well. Luckily for us, last summer, we were the only boat in port both days!

Questions:

1. Are there places to go/excursions in Mexico and Jamaica that won't be crazy crowded for the things we enjoy doing? (I have been to the Caymans and know the area well and I know we can find low crowds there) Basically, is the western cruise worth the money? I am very nervous that we will be stuck in wall to wall people excursions. I guess I need convincing that Mexico and Jamaica are "worth it."
2. LOVE the idea of an 11 day cruise and might possibly be able to pull it off ... if we can, I am concerned about all the ports being very similar ... any experts on these ports of call?
3. Has anyone done the eastern twice in a row? I do love the idea of exploring Tortola's waters again and spending the day sailing while also exploring more of St. John, so I know we wouldn't be sad to do the eastern again, but struggling with maybe we should do something "new??"

Thanks again!
Cheers!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hello! Thank you in advance for your help ... here's my dilemma and I know it's a "good" dilemma to have! We took the 7 day eastern last summer (June 4th sail date) and LOVED it!!! We (DH and DS13) are an outdoor, history loving, hike 14ers and tent camping type family. We the took Aristocats all day sail and snorkel in Tortola and fell in love with the BVI. We headed to St. John and got my son's Jr. Ranger Badge from the National Park Service and spent the day at a secluded beach area We prefer LOW crowd levels and prefer tours that other cruise lines might not flock to as well. Luckily for us, last summer, we were the only boat in port both days!

Questions:

1. Are there places to go/excursions in Mexico and Jamaica that won't be crazy crowded for the things we enjoy doing? (I have been to the Caymans and know the area well and I know we can find low crowds there) Basically, is the western cruise worth the money? I am very nervous that we will be stuck in wall to wall people excursions. I guess I need convincing that Mexico and Jamaica are "worth it."
2. LOVE the idea of an 11 day cruise and might possibly be able to pull it off ... if we can, I am concerned about all the ports being very similar ... any experts on these ports of call?
3. Has anyone done the eastern twice in a row? I do love the idea of exploring Tortola's waters again and spending the day sailing while also exploring more of St. John, so I know we wouldn't be sad to do the eastern again, but struggling with maybe we should do something "new??"

Thanks again!
Cheers!

About the only input I can give you is that you can't do 2 easterns back to back. Eastern & western itineraries alternate.

I don't know that I'd go on my own in Jamaica.

 

[Geomom]

How about Alaska? We did DCL to Alaska this past August. Our kids (12 and 16) got 2 Junior Ranger badges--one for Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park in Skagway (we did the workbooks at home and brought them with us), and the Tongass National Forest at Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau--did the badgework there. Plenty of outdoor adventures and history in Alaska!

 

[tee11]

What are the ports for the 11 day?
I think the Western is worth it, but there are certain excursions you won't want to do, if you want to be the only ones there.
One that comes to mind is Dunn's River Falls - the climb!
We LOVED IT! But supposedly it is always full of people.
I think with some research and readiness to spend money you can find something private/less crowded/awesome in ANY port.

 

[swimfin]

About the only input I can give you is that you can't do 2 easterns back to back. Eastern & western itineraries alternate.

I don't know that I'd go on my own in Jamaica.

Hi Princess Shmoo!!! Sorry for the confusion ... Meant eastern 2 years in a row ... Looking to do either 7 day eastern or 7 day western or 11 day. Agree about the Jamaica part!!

 

[swimfin]

How about Alaska? We did DCL to Alaska this past August. Our kids (12 and 16) got 2 Junior Ranger badges--one for Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park in Skagway (we did the workbooks at home and brought them with us), and the Tongass National Forest at Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau--did the badgework there. Plenty of outdoor adventures and history in Alaska!

Hi!! THANK YOU for the idea! We did AK in 2011! One way up to Seward on Royal Caribbean just after dry dock! LOVED it!!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi Princess Shmoo!!! Sorry for the confusion ... Meant eastern 2 years in a row ... Looking to do either 7 day eastern or 7 day western or 11 day. Agree about the Jamaica part!!

If I had to choose with those choices, I'd go with 11 nights. But, then, I'm in the "longer is better" camp.
We did an Eastern/Western B2B. I'd do either of those again (or both).

 

[swimfin]

What are the ports for the 11 day?
I think the Western is worth it, but there are certain excursions you won't want to do, if you want to be the only ones there.
One that comes to mind is Dunn's River Falls - the climb!
We LOVED IT! But supposedly it is always full of people.
I think with some research and readiness to spend money you can find something private/less crowded/awesome in ANY port.

THANK YOU!!! I'll keep researching and see what areas/excursions seem less crowded. Did Dunn's in early 90s and it was CRAZY crowded! Ugh!!

I think the 11 day is:
Aruba
Barbados
St. Marteeen
St. Kitts
Tortola (1/2 day)
Maybe 1 other too??
Then CC

 

[swimfin]

If I had to choose with those choices, I'd go with 11 nights. But, then, I'm in the "longer is better" camp.
We did an Eastern/Western B2B. I'd do either of those again (or both).

Ahhh!! Good to know!! We are longer is better too and are intrigued by the 11 day!! Woukd love to do eastern and western B2B!! Will need to wait until summer of 2020 when my husband is retired!! (I'm a teacher so summer travel is wide open!)

 

[mhconley]

We've sailed the Western and Eastern on the Fantasy. We loved both but the Eastern is the only one we'd do twice. Our Western did not go to Jamaica and we have no desire to go there either. Our next cruise is the Southern on the Magic. We'd do the 11 night Southern on the Fantasy in a heartbeat if we could afford it. In our mind longer is better and that itinerary looks very nice. We'd love the ports and really enjoy back to back sea days. Do the 11 night Southern.

Martin

 

[swimfin]

What are the ports for the 11 day?
I think the Western is worth it, but there are certain excursions you won't want to do, if you want to be the only ones there.
One that comes to mind is Dunn's River Falls - the climb!
We LOVED IT! But supposedly it is always full of people.
I think with some research and readiness to spend money you can find something private/less crowded/awesome in ANY port.

Hi again! Here are the correct ports:
Aruba
Barbados
Martinique
St. Kitts
Tortola (3/4 day)
CC

 

[swimfin]

We've sailed the Western and Eastern on the Fantasy. We loved both but the Eastern is the only one we'd do twice. Our Western did not go to Jamaica and we have no desire to go there either. Our next cruise is the Southern on the Magic. We'd do the 11 night Southern on the Fantasy in a heartbeat if we could afford it. In our mind longer is better and that itinerary looks very nice. We'd love the ports and really enjoy back to back sea days. Do the 11 night Southern.

Martin

THANK YOU!!!!