Which Southern Caribbean itinerary?

[genegri]

DH and I are planning a cruise around Nov or Dec this year. After reading all the wonderful reviews on CC, I have decided to go for a Southern Caribbean initerary and narrowed down to these two. I have read numerous ports of call posts in those sections and but still have a hard time deciding. :p

 

Could you let me know your opnions about them? Any input is highly appreciated!

 

Option 1 - Carnival Miracle

 

Day 1 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - 4:00 PM

Day 2 At Sea

Day 3 Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos -- 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Day 4 Catalina Island, Dominican Republic -- 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Day 5 Oranjestad, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles -- 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Day 6 Curacao, Netherland Antilles -- 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Day 7 At Sea

Day 8 At Sea

Day 9 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida -- 8:00 AM

 

 

Option 2 - NCL Dawn

 

Day 1 Miami, Florida -- 4:00 PM

Day 2 At Sea

Day 3 Samana, Dominican Republic -- 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Day 4 Tortola, BVI -- 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Day 5 Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles -- 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Day 6 Antigua -- 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Day 7 Roseau, Dominica -- 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Day 8 Bridgetown, Barbados -- 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Day 9 Basseterre, St. Kitts -- 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Day 10 At Sea

Day 11 At Sea

Day 12 Miami, Florida -- 8:00 AM

 

A little info about us: DH and I, both 30, low maintenance, no kids. We love rainforest, beautiful landscape and historical sites. Also love snorkling and beach but would prefer that's not all we do. We are not into shopping but don't mind it either.

 

Many thanks!!! :)

[Happy HALer]

Based on itinerary only, I would definitely go with the Dawn. Three more days of cruising is reason enough. It's also a much more interesting itinerary.

[jrsegrl]

I'd go with the Dawn also. More ports and better port times. It might help you to check the excursions offered by the 2 cruiselines. That will give you an idea of what there is to do at each port whether or not you book with them.

[Cubechick]

Saint Maarten and Barbados are two of my favorite stops so another vote here for the Dawn!

[PACRUISINNANA]

My daughter and I were on the southern cruise with the Dawn back in 2010 and we still talk about this cruise as being one of the best.

[spartymi]

We're booked on the Dawn in March and can't wait.

 

Parcruisinnana: I have a few questions, if you don't mind. What excursions did you go on? We've booked Jost Van Dyke (Soggy $), Kayaking in Antigua, & the Zipline in St. Kitts. Are there any "not to miss" sights in Barbados and Samana? Any other suggestions and advice you could lend to this cruise would be much appreciated.

[SuiteCruisin14]

We were in the same delemma for Jan 2012. After reading the advice here and from otheres, we went with the Dawn.

NCL gave up an awesome price on a suite and now we are counting the days.

 

Lynda

[lnrc]

could you tell me what week in jan 2012 you are going and what price they gave you for the suite?

[terrymtex01]

OP.. I will say you do have a tough choice, IMHO. The cruise with Carnival goes to two ports that are amongst our favorites, Aruba and Curacao plus it goes to a port we have never been to but would love to, Turks. On the other hand, three extra days of cruising on a ship I know is wonderful, the Dawn, is a huge decision factor as well. Samana, Tortola, Antigua, Dominica (if you love rain forest this is the place for you), and Barbados are great ports and we have never been to St. Kitts, but again, would love to. I really do think that we would choose going back on the Dawn. We did a very simular cruise on the Dawn Nov 09 except it was a 15 night and it went to a few different ports and was a wonderful cruise. Again, I can't advise you which one to pick, but I can tell you that you wouldn't be making a wrong choice with the Dawn.

 

Have you ever experienced Freestyle cruising?

[vols_159]

Well NCL is a great company been on one cruise booked a 2nd.. Just curious what the price range is between the two you are looking at but im with alot of the other members.. 3 more days speaks a ton! Good luck!

[halos]

Both are good! I have sailed on CCL Miracle twice and will be on the Dawn this Friday for my second sail on her :) Either cruise will be fabulous...but, all things considered, I prefer the Dawn. My first cruise on the Dawn was my favorite cruise to date :)

PLUS, I would always choose a 12 day over a 9 day :D

[cmdchiefthom]

Wow, 12 days, vs 9 days, to me, that is the question. IMHO, Samana sucks, been there X3, and Antigua is iffy, especially if safety is an issue, been there X3 as well. Catilina, don't know, nor do I know anyone who's been there. Dominica.....jungle, ziplines, mountain waterfalls:D absolutley. St. Kitt's, same deal, gorgeous. Aruba, beaches, and casinos. Curacao, beautiful beaches, colorfull downtown area. Grand Truk,??? don't know. St. Martin, $$$$. If I had to do it, I'd do the 12 days, for no other reason than the days onboard.:D