Eastbound TA - ports first or sea days first?

[dln929]

Two April 2013 transatlantics have been released: Independence of the Seas and Vision of the Seas. This is the itinerary for the Indy, leaving April 7th: Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Southampton, England. There's lots of port activity up front. There's not a block of sea days until April 12th.

 

This is the itinerary for the Vision of the Seas, leaving April 17th: Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Lisbon, Portugal; Vigo, Spain; Le Havre (Paris), France; Southampton, England. It's the exact opposite of the Indy. There's nine nights of cruising straight off the bat. Like the Indy, only three ports before docking in the UK.

 

So which one would you prefer and why? Sea days first or port days first?

[bigeagle12]

No preference on whether sea days are first or last. I would pick based on either which ports interest you most or which ship you prefer.

[Starry Eyes]

In general I like the ports first, followed by the sea days to relax. westbound TA's are great that way...We get the big flight out of the way, wear ourselves out in European ports, then relax on the long sail back to the states.

 

But in comparing you eastbound cruises, I think the question of which ports interest you...Caribbean islands or European cities...is a least as important as the order of events.