Just back.....obsessed! Questions

[Spork24]

We just got back from our first DCL cruise (3 night on the dream), and despite the cold temps and unsuccessful attempts to dock at castaway cay, it was one of our very best vacations. We are already planning 2 future cruises, another short one with the same family and friends from this cruise, and another longer cruise with just our immediate family unit.

That being said, our kids will be 3 and 4 at the time of our next cruise. We are looking at something in the first half of 2019. We are somewhat flexible on travel dates and departure ports, with a slight prefernce to Canaveral (it’s within a days drive so would save us a bit on flights).

The iteneraries that look best to me are th southern and western carribean. But I’ve heard/read that many don’t like the western iteneraries. If that’s you I would love to hear why! I’m leaning western because it’s out of Canaveral, and stops at castaway cay. Eastern doesn’t appeal to me that much because the recent hurricane damage, but if you think that’s incorrect I would love to here why as well.

I guess my question is since we are looking to travel before the Alaska and European seasons begin, what are some of your favorite carribean iteneraries and why? Just trying to collect some data to help us decide what would be best for our family.

Thanks in advance!

 

[lorimay]

We have taken a few Western itineraries and love it. Each time we have done one there is one new port on the schedule to enjoy. The Fantasy is an amazing ship so much to do and see. We only left the ship in Jamaica and Castaway Cay in October. We have done a port adventure in Cozumel that was great for kids, it offered a great kids zone splash area with a pirate ship and other fun things. My grandkids were 4 & 2 at the time. the spent hours there.

But I loved our Southern Caribbean, I have never seen water so blue in my entire life. This was a couples trip so I don;t have anything to offer in port adventures with kids.

Personally, I don't think you will be dissapointed with a Western itinerary since this will be your first 7 night cruise. You will just become more obsessed with all things Disney Cruise......

Have fun.

 

[Shanti]

I'm so glad you had a great cruise! Bummer about the freak winter weather. I hope it doesn't happen again next year!

I've never done a western or southern, but have done an eastern Caribbean on the Fantasy, and will just put in my 2 cents that in our opinion the eastern Caribbean was nothing amazing. I had read prior to the cruise that the Eastern islands were the most upscale in the Caribbean, but everything we saw was quite run-down, impoverished and/or blatantly touristy. There is some natural beauty there, but it is very much a 3rd world setting. The beaches that I'd read were gorgeous gems: well, one was so crowded with beach chairs for "sale" that you could barely see the beach, and another had an extremely run-down restaurant and another dilapidated building next to it. It was pretty gross when my son had to use the bathroom there. I learned on that trip how much hype and salesmanship there is in travel writing...

So in your shoes, I wouldn't worry about which region of the Caribbean to go to. I would simply choose the region that worked best for my schedule.

Please don't interpret my post as snobby. I'm just giving an honest report. My grandfather (who I never knew) was from St. Croix (grew up working on a plantation there), and then made his way to mainland America. Visiting the Caribbean gave me a profound respect for how much he was able to improve life for himself and his descendants. I also have total respect for the hardworking people of those islands and the challenges they face. I'm just being honest that as a traveler, I don't enjoy being confronted with poverty while on vacation. I've seen it and worked with it in mainland America as a schoolteacher, and go on vacation to escape from life's troubles.

 

[MUN]

I heard the Dream wasn't able to dock at CC that day. I was very sorry to hear that. We were on the NYE cruise on the Wonder out of Galveston and we lucked out on the weather. We had great weather at Key West (NYE) , CC (Jan 1) , and Nassau (Jan 2). Our 3 sea days were ok weather wise. I managed to hit the pools on all 3 days.

 

[cmph]

I know exactly what you're talking about from reading this forum - but I've learned that some of the preferences you are reading have nothing to do with the ports/itinerary. A lot of people who love DCL just want to be on the ships, so they prefer the eastern b/c of the extra "at sea" day. Sure, you can stay on the ship any port day, but scheduled days at sea will have more activities planned on-board. In any case, if you've never been on either, I wouldn't worry that much about it. I've been on eastern and southern cruises and would pick a western over those just for that reason - to see something new. Nothing we did in the places I've been had me convinced I would only return to a certain one.

 

[Spork24]

We have taken a few Western itineraries and love it. Each time we have done one there is one new port on the schedule to enjoy. The Fantasy is an amazing ship so much to do and see. We only left the ship in Jamaica and Castaway Cay in October. We have done a port adventure in Cozumel that was great for kids, it offered a great kids zone splash area with a pirate ship and other fun things. My grandkids were 4 & 2 at the time. the spent hours there.

But I loved our Southern Caribbean, I have never seen water so blue in my entire life. This was a couples trip so I don;t have anything to offer in port adventures with kids.

Personally, I don't think you will be dissapointed with a Western itinerary since this will be your first 7 night cruise. You will just become more obsessed with all things Disney Cruise......

Have fun.

Thanks, did you book the Cozumel excursion trough Disney? My son is obsessed with pirate ships and that sounds right up our alley.

I appreciate your response!

 

[Spork24]

I'm so glad you had a great cruise! Bummer about the freak winter weather. I hope it doesn't happen again next year!

I've never done a western or southern, but have done an eastern Caribbean on the Fantasy, and will just put in my 2 cents that in our opinion the eastern Caribbean was nothing amazing. I had read prior to the cruise that the Eastern islands were the most upscale in the Caribbean, but everything we saw was quite run-down, impoverished and/or blatantly touristy. There is some natural beauty there, but it is very much a 3rd world setting. The beaches that I'd read were gorgeous gems: well, one was so crowded with beach chairs for "sale" that you could barely see the beach, and another had an extremely run-down restaurant and another dilapidated building next to it. It was pretty gross when my son had to use the bathroom there. I learned on that trip how much hype and salesmanship there is in travel writing...

So in your shoes, I wouldn't worry about which region of the Caribbean to go to. I would simply choose the region that worked best for my schedule.

Please don't interpret my post as snobby. I'm just giving an honest report. My grandfather (who I never knew) was from St. Croix (grew up working on a plantation there), and then made his way to mainland America. Visiting the Caribbean gave me a profound respect for how much he was able to improve life for himself and his descendants. I also have total respect for the hardworking people of those islands and the challenges they face. I'm just being honest that as a traveler, I don't enjoy being confronted with poverty while on vacation. I've seen it and worked with it in mainland America as a schoolteacher, and go on vacation to escape from life's troubles.

No worries, I get what you mean, and totally understand!

I guess a big factor would be kid friendly excursions or whatnot. Which sounds from what I’m reading the eastern especially after this years storms is probably not ideal for that.

 

[Spork24]

I know exactly what you're talking about from reading this forum - but I've learned that some of the preferences you are reading have nothing to do with the ports/itinerary. A lot of people who love DCL just want to be on the ships, so they prefer the eastern b/c of the extra "at sea" day. Sure, you can stay on the ship any port day, but scheduled days at sea will have more activities planned on-board. In any case, if you've never been on either, I wouldn't worry that much about it. I've been on eastern and southern cruises and would pick a western over those just for that reason - to see something new. Nothing we did in the places I've been had me convinced I would only return to a certain one.

Yeah, I would actually prefer the extra port day. Though there are less activities on Port days if we decide to stay on board it will likely be less crowded on board.

 

[Spork24]

I heard the Dream wasn't able to dock at CC that day. I was very sorry to hear that. We were on the NYE cruise on the Wonder out of Galveston and we lucked out on the weather. We had great weather at Key West (NYE) , CC (Jan 1) , and Nassau (Jan 2). Our 3 sea days were ok weather wise. I managed to hit the pools on all 3 days.

Glad you had fun on your trip! Nassau weather was pretty good, we still hit the very warm heated pools on CC day (that turned into a day at sea) in the morning and ended up booking some extra nursery time to get some more adult time in the afternoon, so it worked out well for us.

 

[lklgoodman]

I understand your not wanting to go where there has been a hurricane. But I wouldn't let that be a deciding factor. Any of the islands in the EC or WC could be hit in the 2018 hurricane season. We are cruising to St. Maarten and San Juan in March. I know there's still a lot of damage and not as many port excursions as before, but we're not letting that stop us. We were on the Fantasy doing a WC this time last year. We enjoyed it. Our excursion at Grand Cayman was cancelled because of rough seas, so we stayed on the ship. Haven't done a Southern, but would love to some day.

 

[lorimay]

Thanks, did you book the Cozumel excursion trough Disney? My son is obsessed with pirate ships and that sounds right up our alley.

I appreciate your response!

Here you go:
Cozumel Beach Break (CZ15) sorry its so big, yes booked thru Disney.

 

[Spork24]

I understand your not wanting to go where there has been a hurricane. But I wouldn't let that be a deciding factor. Any of the islands in the EC or WC could be hit in the 2018 hurricane season. We are cruising to St. Maarten and San Juan in March. I know there's still a lot of damage and not as many port excursions as before, but we're not letting that stop us. We were on the Fantasy doing a WC this time last year. We enjoyed it. Our excursion at Grand Cayman was cancelled because of rough seas, so we stayed on the ship. Haven't done a Southern, but would love to some day.

Describing the 2017 hurricane season in the eastern carribean as just “a hurricane” may do a disjustice to the devistation caused by these storms. I live on the gulf coast, and worked on rebuilding after Katrina in 2010 (Katrina hit in ‘05, and we were still working in 2010) I’m well aware that hurricanes can be unpredictable and we are all susceptible.

My concern is that executions/ attractions that are tailored to children my kids age might take longer to come back than some of the things for adults. The more I read I think eastern may have had less for the kids to begin with and especially now. (N

Hopefully 2018 will be a little easier on the severity of hurricanes, but I can’t plan for what might happen the same way I can for what has happened.

I do appreciate your response though, and I hope you have a blast on your upcoming trip.

 

[sefowler1]

We have done both eastern and western, and had excursions in the various ports. I agree that the ports are all very run down and depressing. I think you have to go to the beach excursions to see the really nice areas. We have enjoyed the ruins in Cozumel and the Dunn River Falls in Jamaica. The hike in St. Maarten was more strenuous that we expected but still great views. St. Thomas has a pretty port.

So, I would recommend finding a trip that works with your schedule and then just finding some excursions that really interest you. No matter which way you go, you will be happy.