Western or Eastern??

[Marilyn]

We are booked for our first 7 nite cruise next Jan. (Eastern) but I was just wondering which is more popular and why...the eastern or the western.. Also which excursions on the eastern are really great? Thanks....Marilyn

 

[tigger53]

we like the eastern better, we've done two eastern's and one western. on the eastern the shore excursions we enjoyed were coral world on st thomas, the golden eagle cataraman snorkle on st martins, the st jonn island tour. this summer we're looking forward to doing the golden eagle again and a snorkling adventure on st. john's.

 

[kcashner]

We like the ports better on eastern, and also the "extra" sea day.

 

[disneybride96]

No question....eastern for the reasons above!

 

[brack]

We've done 3 East and one West. (This last trip was a back to back with the Western cruise first) We really like the East better for all the reasons already stated. Our next cruise is also an Eastern.

 

[prymsu]

both are good routes. I personally like that third day at sea on the eastern.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

The only problem I had w/the Eastern (2 years ago) was that the midnight dessert buffet was on the 2nd night and that's where I blew it! My clothes were a little too snug for a few days But that's what I loved about it too! LOL

For all the other reasons mentioned above, and the extra day at sea! We're doing our second Eastern in May!!!!

 

[Gina]

Definitely Eastern... All the reasons above, plus I can't stand how they trade out Tropicali for Mexicali in the parties and dinners... and when they greeted me as I got on the ship wearing sombreros and welcoming me in Spanish, I thought I would cry. LOL A cruise is tropical to me! Give me steel pan bands, not mariachis!!

/rant off

I also really really like having an extra sea day. Eastern, here we come again, 1 month from today!

-gina-

 

[KelNottAt]

We've never been on either, but are planning a 7-day for summer 2005. (Hurry up with the rates, dates and itineraries, already!)

Anyway, I've always thought we would go for the Western becuase it sees more ports. Plus, I'm dying to visit Mexico. Now that I hear the Eastern is more popular (and why), I'm really torn. The lower price on the Eastern even makes it harder to decide.

Ugh! I can't decide. The dilemma is even invading my dreams.

Thanks for the thread, Marilyn. I just have to keep reading to find out more.

Kelley

 

[SeaSpray]

Kelley:

We chose the western itinerary because we really wanted to visited Mexico and the Mayan ruins at Tulum. I found a great website with pictures from Tulum, I'd post it right now but I'm on the laptop and I have it saved on my desktop. If you'd like to see it, let me know and I will post it here when I get back to my desk.

Both cruises are the same amount of days, you don't HAVE to get off the ship at every port if you don't want to. I enjoyed being on the ship during our first (RCI) cruise so I can understand why people enjoy sea days, but I wouldn't choose an itinerary based on how many each one had.

Happy planning!

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

I prefer Western hands down. BUT I prefer a port to sea days, I prefer a little more Action to Relaxation, I prefer water sports to scenery and I prefer a stop at a local watering hole for beer/cocktails to shopping. Western ABSOLUTLEY for us.

 

[IrishCowboy]

I prefer the Eastern cruise (3 times, 2 more scheduled this year) over the Western cruise (1 time).

The Eastern ports seem to be more family-friendly than the Western ports. Key West and Cozumel are more of a party atmosphere than St Maarten and St Thomas/St John.

Golden Eagle Catamaran in St Maarten is a great excursion. Try to book the morning excursion and you'll return to ship in time for lunch and then have plenty of time to shop.

Have a great cruise!

 

[Bbgrizzle]

We've done both and I like the Eastern better because of the extra day at sea. Both routes have one good port (St. Thomas and Cozumel) and the other stops weren't that great. I realize you don't have to get off the ship if there is a port you don't enjoy, but there isn't much in the way of planned activities on the ship on a port day.

 

[max123]

last August we choose the Western, as we were not interested in the then current Eastern ports of call, and it was wonderful!

We are trying the new Special Eastern this year with San Juan, St Thomas and CC. I am looking forward to the extra sea day.

Being a Key West veteran there is quite a bit of family oriented things to do. Go online to the Key West site to see all the offerings.

thanks