Which 7 night, the East or West for ages 7&8

[26555]

Any recommendations?

 

[mmouse37]

Really doesn't matter.....the Eastern you get 3 sea days, the Western 2 sea days...all depends how active your kids are....I would not choose the itinerary based on my kids ages...because that can be so subjective to so many things...no one can tell you how much better your kids would enjoy one over the other....the Western seems to have more water based shore excursions and my then 14 year old loved the Stingray excursion.....I personally love the extra sea day on the Eastern. We usually pick the itinerary based on when it fits our time off schedule.

MJ

 

[4 Cogs]

We went on the Eastern sailing last November. My boys were 9 & 11 at the time. They loved the sea days. Playing in the pools. Watching movies. Eating! I highly recommend the Eastern with the extra sea days. We are trying the Western in 2006 Really, you can't go wrong with Disney.

have a great crusie

 

[TheWog]

We did the Eastern with our son 6 at the time. Had the extra day at sea. We wil do the Western soon, because we want to try that one next to compare. I agree. Check out the ports and find out what interests you most and do that.

 

[logan1_2000]

We've done the Eastern twice, DS was 6 (almost 7) and 9 on the cruises, we've loved it (though I would not repeat going to St. john's, which gets kinda schleppy with two taxis and a boat each way, a lot of travelling time for a little one--just go to one of St. Thomas' wonderful beaches--Magan's Beach gorgeous and calm for little ones), and even if not in the Club/Lab he has found friends and hung out and found things to do. And treats to eat! And St. Martin is so easy to just take the water taxi to great bay beach and be in view of the ship if you need to go back for lunch or anything. Or Orient Beach was gorgeous and a very easy cab ride away--but a bit enlightening even at the end of the beach away from the au natural crowd.

We're doing a special Western next year, going to try one fewer sea day, two stops at CC, and a bit of Mexico with our then-10 yr old, but can't compare until then.

 

[kcashner]

DD likes Eastern better.

 

[DrCavin]

We choose Eastern over Western, because we didn't think our then 4 & 6 year olds would not enjoy Key West. The extra sea-day is really awesome, so that was the factor for deciding on our second Eastern cruise....

 

[lbgraves]

Our kids don't want to leave the ship so the extra sea day works best for us.

 

[26555]

Why are sea days so good? Wouldn't not getting off in Key West be like a sea day............. maybe just less crowded on the ship and at the pool? If its all about the boat, I guess I can do that on a 4 night. If there aren't kid friendly excursions that are "worth it" seems hard for me to justify a 7 night.

Any excursions on either East or West you would recommend for 7 & 8 year old? So far I've heard Turtle Farm (Western) and attempt snorkeling in St. Thomas.

Thanks for all the feedback!

 

[ljql_5969]

Thanks for the replys. We have cruised a Western itinerary before (not DCL)and really love those ports so we were worried about doing the Eastern as we had cruised there too and weren't as thrilled with the ports. We booked according to when we could go aslo, not where. I am glad to hear the positive reviews!!

 

[KelleyD]

We took our girls (7&8 at the time) on their first cruise to the Western Caribbean. We had stops in Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Coasta Maya and Key West.
Grand Cayman we had plans to rent a jeep and tour the island - hitting some fun stuff for them along the way. This was tough. Took forever to get clearance to leave the ship and then had to tendor. The tendors on the way back were very rough - kids did not enjoy that. So we only had half the day to see the island. Went to the butterfly farm - very expensive but kids really enjoyed this. Also went to the turtle farm - they had a good time - it was just ok. Not my favorite. I would have loved to gotten to the other side of the island.
Cozumel was the best port. Rented a jeep and stopped at a couple of beaches along the way. Kids had their hair braided. This is where the older one got to see an octupus while snorkeling. Had a fun time here.
Coasta Maya was just ok. Nothing to do but sit by the beach at the end of the pier. Younger girl went back to the boat. Older one hung around and snorkeled.
Key West was again just ok (for the kids). They shopped a little. Went to the pirates museum and the treasure museum (very expensive). Then went back. We would skip this port - or leave the kids on the ship and enjoy ourselves.
Took them on the eastern last year. They were a year older. St. Thomas was ok. Took a tour of the island - they were bored. Went to a beach - not a great one - I didn't enjoy that one. St. Maartin was beautiful...rented a jeep here - kids had fun in the water. Weather was real bad on our eastern trip - more rain then the islands had ever seen...lucky us...

I would say overall we enjoyed the western trip better. But that probably had more to do with the ship and company.
Having said all of that - we are doing the eastern in January. We are bringing family that was with us on the western - and haven't been to the eastern. I had planned on going to St. John or doing a boat tour. And in St. Martin as short tour of the island agian with beach time.

I think its safe to say the kids really aren't to picky about what they are doing - as long as they aren't "bored". Pretty much any beach is fine.

 

[26555]

Thank you for your comments!

 

[Masonpips]

Why are sea days so good? Wouldn't not getting off in Key West be like a sea day............. maybe just less crowded on the ship and at the pool? If its all about the boat, I guess I can do that on a 4 night. If there aren't kid friendly excursions that are "worth it" seems hard for me to justify a 7 night.

Any excursions on either East or West you would recommend for 7 & 8 year old? So far I've heard Turtle Farm (Western) and attempt snorkeling in St. Thomas.

I totally agree re: Key West - Dh and I got off on our first Western and left the kids at the club, then came back and we all had a nearly deserted ship to ourselves. In addition, Stingray City at Cayman was fabulous (Captain Marvin's) and our kids LOVED it. The first Western we didn't get off at Cozumel (doing the deserted ship thing again) but last year everyone but me got off and went to Paradise Beach -they loved it and it's very kid-friendly (my kids were 5&7 at the time). I had the flu (we cruised over New Year's and I'm 99% sure I caught in on the plane, showed up 2 days into the cruise) so I just rested on board.

On the Eastern we did a private day-sail at St. Thomas and it was great for the whole family. Dh and I left the kids on the ship at St. Maarten and did Orient Beach on our own.

We're repeating the Eastern this year (on RCCL) and will go over to a beach on St. John for snorkeling (they have been snorkeling since 3&4 years old) and another beach on St. Maarten.

The Eastern is much more scenic with moutains/gorgeous scenery. The Western is very flat but with beautiful water/beaches.

 

[26555]

Thanks for all the info! So, you can leave your kids in the club and go off at ports w/o them? I sort of figured Disney wanted you a quick beep away, do the beepers work when you are off the ship?

 

[TheWog]

My son 6 at the time loved the Atlantis submarine excursion in St. Thomas. He still talks about it. We got off the ship in St. Thomas and went ashore for a couple hours and left him in the clubs. He barely knew we were gone. We were told the beepers would not work ashore. DW had a harder time leaving him than he had staying.

 

[mmouse37]

Many excursions on both itineraries are kid friendly....you have to go with what you think your kids will like.

Key West to me does not really feel like a "sea" day. To me a sea day is out at sea with nothing to look at but ocean and ocean breezes!!! But that is just me!!!

I love all DCL's itineraries and have done them all several times...that is why now I just book according to time off schedule.

MJ

 

[Popovich]

Last November we did the Eastern and loved it. Our kids were 7 and 5 1/2. We did the Doubloon Sail and Snorkel on St. Thomas and it was one of the best highlights of the whole trip. I even wrote a letter to disney complimenting the staff of the Doubloon. It was so kid and adult friendly and our guides were amazing with the kids. So worth the money. Our kids got tired of snorkeling after a half hour or so and our guides helped them get back on the ship and entertained them and the other children with stories and games. Our DD met a friend and they were inseparable for the rest of our cruise.

This year we're doing the Western. I hope we enjoy it as much as the Eastern!!

I think what really made the whole trip great instead of good is that we all pen paled with people on our cruise meet thread and interacted on the ship. The kids and DH and I will always remember the fun we had with our new friends. Some of us are cruising together again on this Western!

Good luck!