rileyshadow

OMG! I did it! I just booked our cruise and flights. My blood is pumping right now I'm so excited/nervous/anxious. I'm feeling a little buyer's remorse right now; hopefully that goes away soon! There's so much to do and not very much time (41 days, to be exact).

We went with the Glory leaving Miami and sailing to HMC, St Thomas, San Juan, and Grand Turk. After researching all of the ports, and taking into consideration our schedules, this felt like the best fit for for us. We leave on June 28!

Thanks for all of the feedback; it was really helpful!

Now to search the boards for the answers to the gazillion questions that I have!

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied so far; awesome information! We are very appreciative!

We are looking to book our first cruise for our 15-year anniversary and the options are overwhelming! Please help me choose!

I should mention: my dh is "nervous" to venture outside the US (I'm 40; he's 37; and neither of us have ever left the country - pathetic, I know), so ports of call are VERY important - I don't want to choose the wrong ports because I don't want him to say this is our last cruise. No pressure, right?!

As for our interests, we would likely look to do something different in each port - zip lining, shipwrecks, snorkeling, snuba, caves, island tours, cultural, sight seeing, and shopping all appeal to us. And while we wouldn't just plop down on the beach for the day, I'd love to visit a beautiful beach with turquoise waters... :)

Above all else, we want to feel safe wherever we go; we don't want to visit places that have us clutching our belongings and looking over our shoulders. ;)

Our options:

1) 7 Day San Juan (Valor) - St Thomas, Barbados, St Lucia, St Kitts, St Maarten (estimated costs with airfare, hotel, and transfers $2,600)

2) 7 Day Miami (Glory) - Half Moon Cay, St Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk (estimated costs with airfare and transfers $2,400)

3) 7 Day Miami (Conquest) - Cozumel, Belize, Mahogany Bay, Costa Maya (estimated costs with airfare and transfers $2,265)

4) 6 Day Miami (Breeze) - Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel (estimated costs with airfare and transfers $2,135)

5) 5 Day Tampa (Paradise) - Grand Cayman, Cozumel (estimated costs with airfare and transfers $1,955)

6) 4 Day Miami (Ecstasy) - Key West, Cozumel (estimated costs with airfare and transfers $1,680)

I am only including costs for reference. I want to book the right cruise that'll make us want to do it again - and I'm willing to pay more for a better ship and better destinations.

I appreciate any advice you want to offer!!!

Thanks!

Wendy