What is your favorite DCL itinerary?

[disneyfan551]

Hi! We just returned from our 1st cruise last week, and am now planning our 2nd one! (shhh...don't tell my dh! ) We took a 4 day Wonder cruise, but that was way too short. I would love to hear of your favorite itinerary! I'm getting confused, especially with the new special itineraries they have out. Thanks for your help!

Also, I've heard that the Western itinerary is more scenic/mountainous? Is this the case?

 

[xABearx]

I like the Eastern because of the extra day at sea. As far as which is better, it will depend on what you want to do....Shopping is better on the Eastern and excursions are better on the Western.....you have a $1200 duty free limit on the Eastern vs. $600 on the Western....you can bring home 6 liters of liquor duty free on the Eastern vs 1 on the Western.....they are both good itineraries and you won't be disappointed on either.....this is based on what we've experienced, I'm sure others will have different opinions.....Andy

 

[tecdavidt]

Eastern. 3 days at sea and St. Thomas, our favorite port. Kathy

 

[kcashner]

Eastern....I like the ports of call and the extra sea day. The reason for the differing customs free allowances (if that matters to anyone) is that eastern visits the US Virgin Islands. Allowances are different for US ports than for out of the country ports.

 

[jrabbit]

Ports of Call
Eastern: St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Western: Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozamel, Castaway Cay

The "mountanous" islands are the ones on the Eastern. The Western islands are mostly flat.

As far as the "special" iteneraries go, they are on the eastern for a limited number of trips. San Juan and St. Thomas twice in Sept/Oct 2004 and Antigua and St. Thomas two times also in Sept/Oct 2004. Then there is the biggie: 10 night Christmas in Dec. 2004. Don't remember the itenerary, but I really wanted to go - beyond my budget and to many holiday/sport conflicts.

I think that I like the eastern better than the western - but I enjoyed them both very much for different reasons. Best places to snokel: Grand Cayman, St. Johns, Key West. We have not snokeled at St. Maarten (they get a lot of wind and the sand gets kicked up a lot and therefor visibility is not good) and did not snokel at Cozamel.

Shopping - who cares - you're in the Caribbean, why shop, enjoy the islands and the water (just my opinion - others go strictly for the shopping)

DCL Service & entertainment - always top notch - it doesn't matter if you are on the 3,4 or either 7 night cruise. They make it so you don't want to leave!!

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

I prefer port days to sea days, and I prefer action to relaxation. The western islands seem to be a bit more on the activity heavy side where on the eastern, more for the shopping/sightseeing. I've done both itineraries numerous times on many different lines. Eastern is definitly more - Pretty - if your looking for scenery of the mountainous kind, with beautiful beaches and lush green hills. Western islands (on DCL itin.) are flat as pancakes, but have the absolute best snorkeling (Grand Cayman) best partying (Cozumel) and most gorgeous water (Grand Cayman) best nightlife (Key West). St. John comes in a close second for water and snorkeling, but Grand Cayman rules this contest for water sports. I do enjoy the shopping in Charlotte Amalie, and Orient Beach on St. Maarten, but overall, hands down, Western wins.

Mrsfuzzmo

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

My favorite itinerary is a combination of Magic, Wonder, and WDW. On our last trip, we flew in to MCO on Saturday, spent Sat. nite at the Hyatt, then headed to the port for the 4-day Wonder. On Thursday morning, we grabbed a rental car near the port and headed to the WDW resort. We spent all day Thursday and Friday at the parks. On Sat. morning, it was back to the port for a 7-nighter on the Magic. It was kind of a whirlwind tour, and we needed to do laundry on the last day on the Wonder and then once again on the Magic, but it was a lot of fun and I hope to be able to pull it off again sometime.

As far as the cruise itinerary, I'll cast my vote for the eastern, too. I like the extra sea day, and I especially like the first day being at sea. On the western, it's always a very long day at Key West, after having traveled to get to the ship and the excitement of the first night of the cruise.

 

[tigger53]

put my vote in for the eastern. i love the mountains surrounded by all that beautiful clear water, i think the views are breathtaking and i found that shopping in st martins can get you some real bargains