Which Caribbean Itinerary?

[MariahJ]

DH and I will be going on our first kid-free cruise since our daughter was born 5 years ago. We'll be 36 and I guess you could say we are the adventurous types.

 

Which of the two itineraries below would you prefer?

 

Option 1:

Sat Nov 21 San Juan/Puerto Rico: Depart 8:30 pm

Day 2 Sun Nov 22 Saint Croix: Arrive 8:00 am Depart 5:30 pm

 

Day 3 Mon Nov 23 Basseterre: Arrive 8:00 am Depart 5:30 pm

 

Day 4 Tue Nov 24 Philipsburg/St. Maarten: Arrive 8:00 am Depart 5:00 pm

 

Day 5 Wed Nov 25 Fort-de-France: Arrive 9:00 am Depart 6:00 pm

 

Day 6 Thu Nov 26 Barbados/Bridgetown: Arrive 8:00 am Depart 5:00 pm

 

Day 7 Fri Nov 27 At Sea:

 

Day 8 Sat Nov 28 San Juan/Puerto Rico: Arrive 6:00 am

 

 

Option 2:

Sun Nov 22 San Juan/Puerto Rico: Depart 8:30 pm

 

Day 2 Mon Nov 23 St. Thomas/Charlotte Amalie: Arrive 8:00 am Depart 5:30 pm

 

Day 3 Tue Nov 24 Basseterre: Arrive 8:00 am Depart 5:00 pm

 

Day 4 Wed Nov 25 At Sea:

 

Day 5 Thu Nov 26 Oranjestad/Aruba: Arrive 8:00 am Depart 5:00 pm

 

Day 6 Fri Nov 27 Willemstad/Curacao: Arrive 8:00 am Depart 5:00 pm

 

Day 7 Sat Nov 28 At Sea:

 

Day 8 Sun Nov 29 San Juan/Puerto Rico: Arrive 6:00 am

Edited December 30, 2014 by MariahJ

[Clarea]

You cannot go wrong with either itinerary. The best thing to do is a back to back so you do both itineraries.

 

I personally prefer option #2 because of the extra sea day, and we really enjoy Curacao.

[Cruising Lions]

Either option is good. I did not like Martinique when we were there.

[Lionesss]

I think option #2

Like the ports.

 

St. Marteen, does not do anything for us, in fact we were quite bored.

 

But, to each his own.

 

Sea Ya

[George C]

Both are really good, but I would go with #1 St Marteen and St Croix

[BillOh]

For me, option 1 has one new port, option 2 would have 2 new ports, so everything else equal, that is the way I would go. My 2014 itinerary was closer to option 1, so when I go back to San Juan I will be looking at something like option 2.

[Canadian Cruiser98]

I'd definately go with option #2 myself. I agree with the other poster, Martinique was nothing to write home about and neither was St-Maarten. I really enjoyed Basseterre, St Kitts though and have always wanted to go to Aruba and Curacao. :)

[printingchick]

I'd opt for #1 because I prefer more ports. One sea day is enough for me. I'm also not a huge fan of Aruba.

[cruiseguy1016]

We will be on option #1 in March. The reason we chose that is because we have never been to Martinique.

 

Another thing to consider is the ship's features and the day it departs. My guess is option #1 will be on Jewel departing on Saturday and option #2 will be on Adventure departing on Sunday. We always go down a day early and would prefer to arrive on a Saturday (Adventure departs on Sunday) so we don't have to take the Friday off of work (Jewel departs on Saturday). Considering these factors, I would choose option #2. The Adventure has so many more options for things to do on board than Jewel does. We love the Radiance class ships (Jewel) but would prefer to be on the bigger Voyager class (Adventure) if all other things are equal. Again, we chose our upcoming cruise based on the fact that it was going to Martinique. If all of the ports available would have been repeat ports, we probably would have chosen the Adventure.

[LBumb]

option two

love aruba and curacao

[MariahJ]

My guess is option #1 will be on Jewel departing on Saturday and option #2 will be on Adventure departing on Sunday.

 

Correct!

[Scoobydobe7]

Option 2 -- an extra sea day with hubby and no kids plus IMO 5 ports is to much without a break in the middle and option two offers that. Use that sea day to unwind and just enjoy each other

[hamrag]

My preference....definitely both, with a B2B!!:):)

[debshomespun]

Cruise #2, Aruba & Curacao are 2 of my favorite stops in the Caribbean. Also, been to Martinique once, and nothing there!

[cruizefam]

Cruise #2, Aruba & Curacao are 2 of my favorite stops in the Caribbean. Also, been to Martinique once, and nothing there!

 

 

Agree, I would choose #2

[mrobstad]

Def 2....love the beach in Aruba....and orient Beach in St. Martin was swept away in last hurricane.....heartbreaking!

 

 

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[Kingisacruiser]

Both itineraries seem excellent. However, my preference is for itinerary 2 because of the extra sea day. The sea day can be used as a day f relaxation after all of those ports back to back. Either way, I think you will enjoy.

[ivanrocko]

You cannot go wrong with either itinerary. The best thing to do is a back to back so you do both itineraries.

 

I personally prefer option #2 because of the extra sea day, and we really enjoy Curacao.

 

 

I agree. Option #2

 

 

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[searoses]

Both are good....love barbados.....dislike st martin....check out the ports of call board.....Aruba hot and dry.....sort of like the food.....subjective.....you can't go wrong either way...