If you were a couple in your 30's...

[PhotobearSam]

...with no kids and you don't party too much, which one would you choose?

Eastern or Western 7 day???? and why???

Thanks for any and all input...

 

[alexandrew]

Better beaches than the Western...also, an extra day at sea....Western is more for partyers i.e Key West and Coz (Carlos and Charlies)

 

[CGC33A]

it all depends where you want to go. My decision was based in WHEN I could go (what the itinerary was for my available dates).

 

[WDWLVR]

I would choose Eastern especially if it is your first cruise. The sea days are wonderful and both ports (St. Thomas and St. Martin) offer a nice variery of excursions.

Since my favorite port is Castaway Cay you really can't go wrong with either the Eastern or the Western.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

eastern of course. so many days at sea to relax. we like to relax at sea and relax we will do.

 

[TheWog]

Eastern here as well would be my choice. Extra day at sea and graet ports.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

We're a couple in our 30's as well. We do have children but I'm not sure what the difference is with that- for us- because we didn't choose based on things for the kids to do... we know they'll have fun in the club/lab and have fun doing whatever we do wherever we go!
So we chose Eastern as well- for the extra day at sea and the itinerary just seemed more for us (we're not into partying either...). It seemed like a more relaxing vacation to us. Just personal opinion.

 

[CM_Mom]

If you can go in November this fall, the Western sailing November 20 has TWO days at Castaway Cay because there's a fishing tournament and they can't dock in Key West. So instead of Key West, they're going to Castaway Cay, then sea day to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Sea Day and Castaway Cay again.

We're older than 30 (our DD is a CM) but we definitely loved the Eastern because of the ports and the extra Sea Day. St. Thomas/St. John have to be some of the most beautiful places on earth and I've heard good things about the beaches on St. Maarten although we didn't include them in our schedule this trip since we had 80 somethings with us so tailored our excursions to stuff they would enjoy.

But we'll be back.

 

[Sabor]

Regardless of Partying - It more depends on what you want to do at port.
The Extra Sea day is nice but you could just stay on the ship at Key West.
I am not sure I would classify the ports more scenic on the Eastern. St John is one of the best places on earth if you want to commit to that. But both St Marteen and St Thomas have some nice beaches and some not so nice areas and locals.
If you like snorkeling/scuba - the western is far better.
If you like history - the Mayan ruins of Tulum are breathtaking.
Xcaret is also a wonderful place as is the national park on Cozumel itself.
Grand Cayman has Stingray City - nothing like it.
Some say the shopping is better on the Eastern but I did not see much differnece in those two ports and Grand Cayman . However Cozumel is a totally differnt type of shopping experience.
I Love St thomas have been there on three cruises and Stayed on the Island. I love the Yucatan , been to Cozumel on two cruises and Cancun twice.
All of those trips except for one Disney Eastern was done without kids. (We did Eastern because the date worked for us - DOing western in Sept 05). Just to add my wife and I are not party people never were.

Although you cannot go wrong with either I would choose the Western. Ist is nice to have the one late night in Port at Cozumel.

The trip will be as relaxing as you let it be whichever you choose.

 

[Masonpips]

Here's a thought - if you think you want a lot of "relaxing" time on the ship and not so many excursions, you could consider the Western and STAY ON BOARD while everyone else gets off. The pools are deserted, the movie theater is empty, it's easy to get spa appointments, there are no crowds at lunchtime, etc. If this sounds like your idea of fun, I'd choose the Western!

We did the Western first with two small kids. We left the ship for aobut 3 hours in Key West (kids stayed in clubs) and never got off the ship in Cozumel (btdt in past vacations) - the kids wanted to be in the clubs so we hung out at the Goofy Pool and it was fabulous.

 

[kpros]

I agree with Masonpips, you don't have to get off the ship. We have been on both and we liked various things about both.

Sea days on the Eastern were great. Sting Ray City on the Western was great.

If we were going to go again on a 7 day, it would be on the Eastern.

You will have fun either way.

Ken

 

[Hygiene99]

No kids mid 30's we would choose the western....

 

[PhotobearSam]

Is this a new Puppy in your post Hygiene99???

I know the special place pets hold in our hearts. I have two 12 yr old cats right now and I don't know what I would do without them.

I have wanted to tell you how beautiful your Dog was...

Thanks everyone for the advice.

If you had to consider sea sickness, which would be better? Eastern or Western? Are they both the same as far a sea sickness goes?

 

[Masonpips]

Our Eastern was MUCH more rocky than the Western - the inner Gulf of Mexico doesn't tend to be as rough (unless there's a hurricane and then you have other things to think about). Crossing the gulfstream on the Eastern to head out to sea can make the first night slightly rocky but we had gale force winds and many people missed the first dinner.

No one in my family felt sick at all - in fact we were laughing walking down the hallway holding our arms out and hitting either side. Leaving the theater the first night was an experience - some people would lean down and hold on to the step in front of them as the ship was literally going UP, then DOWN, UP, then DOWN (it was fun!).

The CMs all said this is NOT normal for a cruise; yes it tends to have some motion the first night, but this was very out-of-the-ordinary.

I was really worried about sea-sickness for our first cruise, but didn't even think about it for the 2nd one. My DD does get carsick when we go skiing and drive through a lot of switchbacks and did get sick once on our private daysail in St. Thomas, but she was perfectly fine on the cruise itself.

 

[lookingforward]

All I can say is that I WISH we were still a couple in our 30's. Sigh!

 

[CamColt]

We are a couple in our 30s, and if we were going without kids(or even with for that matter) we would choose the Western.

 

[lsutigger2]

We are a couple - no kids, in our 30's a long time ago! - and loved the Eastern. It was our first cruise so I don't have anything to compare it to. I'm planning on doing the eastern again in "06!

 

[HooKooDooKu]

I would go on which ever you have not been on before.

So assuming that you've never been on either, then I would suggest taking which ever is cheaper. Usually the Eastern is about $100 per person cheaper than a Western for the same time of year (I think it has mainly to do with an extra port of call on the Western).

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

We are a couple in our late 20's and we just did the Western and had a blast. It was a perfect mix of relaxation and fun. After reading all these posts, now I can't wait to try the Eastern! It seems to me that you can't go wrong with whichever one you pick!!

 

[cindalu]

Just my two cents

I have three girls and also a couple in our 30's. I was on the Magic on May 8 and loved Key West,Cozumel and Grand Cayman. I would do the Western again in a heartbeat. We were in the ports for a few hours then took the girls to the pool.

You can still relax if you do the Western


After seeing those ports it doesn't interest my to go to St. John and St. Thomas