Just back from Oct 16 Eastern

[BELLE16127]

Just got back to PA late last night we added a couple days after the cruise to visit DD at college. The Crusie was FANTASTIC. I want to post alot about it, right now have the laundry started and have to be at work at 11am so I will try and get on here tonight and post some specifics. I just had to get on here and post that it was a WONDERFUL TRIP and I am allready wanting to plan my next one!!!!!!!! Even through it was my 3rd cruise the excitment just never changes and you want to never leave that ship...

 

[rocketralph]

How did CC look and the other stops? Did the hurricanes tear them up badly?

 

[Skallywag]

Just wondering what the weather was like was it warm?

 

[BELLE16127]

To answer your questions....We stopped at St Marrten and St Thomas. Both of those looked completly untouched by any storms. They are both beautiful islands, Castaway was a bit battered. I am only saying this because I have been there twice before and remember all the beautiful flowers that were all around the island. There were no flowers they are gone. You can see where they have cut back alot of the plants around the island but I am sure that was because of damage from the storms. The island is still in wonderful shape though the beaches are wonderful and I didn't see any damage to any of the buildings at all so Disney has done a great job of fixing thins up and I am sure the plants will be thriving again soon.

As for the weather it was GREAT we had all sunny days and very warm weather it was in the high 80's everyday we were on the ship. One morning when we got up you could tell we had had some rain but it was late at night and I didn't even know it had happened except for the things that were wet around the ship. Bluye skies and a breeze when ou were out on the decks. The pools were set in the 70's as far as the temps and they were very refreshing to get into.

I can't wait to go back and haveing gone on both the Western and the Eastern 7 night now I do believe I would choose a Eastern again. First I thought about the 3 days at sea but they were great and the ports are wonderful to visit.

 

[castlegazer]

Tell us about what you did in port.

I am thikning about renting a car in St. Maarten because we have been there before and really want to explore this time.

I also have been to St. Thomas many times and now am hung up on what I want to do different then past trips and what would be appropriate for our kids who are young.

Oh by the way, we have done cruises where you stop at a port every day - a Celebrity cruise - and we like the DCL Eastern Cruise because you don't. It is so much more relaxing to have days at sea. I value seeing different islands, but I also value some relaxation time too and the Magic needs to be explored.

 

[BELLE16127]

Ok in Port it was our first time to both of these Islands so we kind of wanted to look around a bit too. In St Marrten we went to Orient Beach it was Beautiful and just getting there was a wonderful drive. We got a taxi there and the scenery was beautiful all the flowers and the homes were great to look at on the drive. DO NOT be affraid to go to this beach even though it is labled as a NUDE beach. Where we were it was not NUDE. We saw a couple people in various stages of dress...a few topless women and a couple men in thongs but nothing offensive. Now we did take a walk down the beach and around a point and THAT section of the beach is NUDE and there is a sign telling you that but it is NOT visable unless you round the edge of the beach. Our son who is 17 and my husband rented a jet ski and went out on that had a great time. Then our DS went out on a big trampoline type thing in the water and spent alot of time on that. After the each we headed back and got cleaned up on the ship ate lunch and then did some shopping in town, and just looked around. I bought a couple pieces of jewelery (just seemed the thing to do) and I have to say I really enjoyed shopping in St Maarten better than St Thomas it seemed to be more layed back and not as pushy to me for some reason.

St Thomas we were heading to the Skyride but ran into a taxi driver who offered to take us to THREE Stops rather than one and opted to do this even though I was set on the Skyride before I left home and I was thrilled we went with him I have AMAZING pictures of the port and Megan's Bay and many other things. He charged us $20.00 each and the Skyride is $16.00 each I would suggest to anyone to take a taxi instead it is a hilly and windy ride but really very nice. We didn't go to any beaches in St Thomas and when I og again I would go to Megan's Bay as it looked beautiful and not too crowded whhen we saw it. I would spend alot of time at the beach in St Thomas next time as I was not so thrilled with walking around there it was REALLY crowded as there were THREE other ships in port with us and the traffic congestion was REALLY BAD. I am deffinatle looking forward to going back on the Eastern Cruise I can't book one soon enough. I want to get my stuff together and make one of those photo albums on here like many others have done....that is as soon as all the laundry is done and everything is put away where it really goes instead of on my living room floor.

If you wanna know anything else please let me know and I will do my best to answer anything I can for you. And I am dying to post my pictures of this wonderful trip......