Which do you prefer- Eastern or Western?

[karebear1]

I keep going back and forth between Hawaii or a DC for our 25th wedding anniversary next March. We've never cruised before, but we love Disney and believe we'll love the cruise because we know Disney does things right. So- if we did the cruise we'd do the seven day cruise and then would have to choose between the Eastern or Western cruise. It all seems so overwhelming to me! Which cruise have you taken and why did you choose that one? What about rooms? I can tend to get a little chlostrophobic (sp?) and realize I won't be spendoing all that much time in my room- but what would be the best room for someone like me? I really need your opinions- PLEASE!!! OH... is there anything I can arrange to have doone for our 25th? We never went on a honeymoon so I want this to eb extra special! THANK YOU ALL!!!

 

[alexandrew]

IMO:

Western- better shopping
Eastern - better beaches (especially an excursion from St Thomas to St John), and an extra day at sea...

If within your time and budget, have you considered back to back Eastern/Western cruises?Nothing more special than that!!!....others have done it and loved it!

If you are claustrophobic, I would recommend minimally a stateroom with a porthole....category 9 is the best value costwise in an outside stateroom....these are located mostly on deck 2...My personal favorite is an aft stateroom near the elevator bank (convenient and contrary to what people may think, very quiet)....aft for my family is where all the action is(restaurants, deck 9 stuff)....I like starboard vs port, as the views are generally better....you cant go wrong with 2614, 2612, 2618, 2620, 2610, 2114, 2112 in that order....

If you decide to go, book soon....that way, you will get your choice of stateroom and a nice discount....

DCL offers vow renewals, which I looked into for our 10th anniv, but at over $1000.00, it was too exp....

Congratulations!!!!

 

[Werner Weiss]

We've cruised the Eastern Caribbean itinerary with Disney and a Western Caribbean itinerary on another line. Our Western Caribbean cruise included Key West, Cozumel, and Grand Cayman. Also, we'll be taking a Western Caribbean cruise with Disney.

I think either itinerary can be equally good in terms of the ports of call. And, of course, either itinerary is on the Disney Magic with the same great crew, same great shows, and same great ship.

But here's what I really liked about Eastern Caribbean: After leaving Port Canaveral, you spend two full days at sea. That gives you a chance to enjoy all the ship has to offer. It really feels like an ocean voyage. When you finally arrive in St. Maarten on the third morning, it feels like a distant place. You have arrived!

In comparison, on the Western Caribbean itinerary, you arrive in Key West on the day after you leave Port Canaveral. I'm not complaining about Key West. The timing is a factor of the relative distances from Port Canaveral.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

All of this advice might seem overwhelming when trying to make a decision about the Eastern vs. Western, but keep in mind that since you're doing DCL, you can't go wrong with either.

My DH would tell you to do Western because of shore excursions and one less day at sea (that's a shocker to some, as many people love the extra day at sea, including me!) and I'd tell you to do the Eastern because I LOVE the extra day at sea, and I think the shopping is better. (I love shopping in St. Thomas!)

Either way, it'll the very best 25th anniversary celebration if you choose DCL!

If you're clausterphobic, choose a room that has a verandah or at least a window. (The inside staterooms are the smallest w/no window.) But don't let that keep you from cruising! You won't spend too much time in your room anyway.

And since you've never done a cruise before, rest assured you're starting out w/the 'cream of the crop' by crusiing Disney!

 

[Hygiene99]

Do Both of them Back to Back We like the Western route Better...

 

[tvguy]

We have only done the Eastern, but my wife and I have done 6 cruises altogether, and I've done 7 total. I think the folks that commented on shopping versus days at sea hit the nail on the head. You have to decide which is more important to you.
In our household, it's days at sea, because the ship is not just your hotel and your transportation, it is a DESTINATION itself.

 

[prymsu]

To me, they are both wonderful routes to go. I do like the watersports better on the western, however, that third day at sea is heavenly!

 

[BobandLee]

We have done both. We decided to do the Western again because we probably enjoyed it more.

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4 day cruise-1998 7 day eastern -2000 7 day western cruise with Payton-2002
MEMBERS CRUISE --2003
We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us About!

 

[natdencro]

Done Eastern twice and Western once, so far! On balance, think we prefer the Eastern - scenery is far superior. However: it was ALL fantastic! Yes, do BOTH, if you can afford it. Nat

 

[minniesota]

To manage that claustrophbia, definitely go with a verandah room! It makes the room feel so open and much larger. And as for not spending that much time in your room, you may re-think that once you settle in on your verandah with your sweetie. Some of our favorite times were hanging out together on the verandah - reading, snoozing, watching the sea go by, watching the activity in St. Thomas harbor (the prettiest little harbor you can imagine!), star-gazing, or enjoying an evening beverage before or after dinner. We found our verandah on the eastern Magic to be our favorite romantic spot! Congratulations on 25 years!

 

[IrishCowboy]

3 Easterns so far, with 2 more booked for this year, only 1 western.


In my opinion, Eastern seems to have more family oriented ports. Western seems to have more of a party theme ports (Key West and Cozumel )