4Butterflycruiser Posted August 20, 2018 #1 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Trying to decide between 2 cruises for Thanksgiving week this year.We've been to the Western Caribbean several times. Mexican Riviera is via Ruby to Cabo, Mazatlan & Puerto Vallarta Eastern C is via Royal to Princess Cays, San Juan PR, Amber Cover DR, Turks & Caicos We'll have a 12yo adventurous girl & my 78yo mom who both love to cruise! Any input is appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian1713 Posted August 20, 2018 #2 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Either is a good cruise , maybe research airfare and let that guide you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Butterflycruiser Posted August 21, 2018 Author #3 Share Posted August 21, 2018 thanks... yep was def looking at airfare -- LAX is around $400 and FLL is closer to $600!!! Once we book I'll be on the lookout for hopefully a great special...but odds are prob slim with it being a holiday week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Steelers0854 Posted August 21, 2018 #4 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Eastern Caribbean hands down. Have done the Riviera twice, doesn’t hold a candle to the eastern Caribbean which, other than the southern, is one of our favorite itineraries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Butterflycruiser Posted August 21, 2018 Author #5 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Great to know! thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sillyjilly Posted August 21, 2018 #6 Share Posted August 21, 2018 If saving on airfare and travel time, I would take the Mex Riv every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tapi Posted August 21, 2018 #7 Share Posted August 21, 2018 That Eastern itinerary is great. That would be my choice. In my humble opinion, the airfare difference is well worth it Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reedprincess Posted August 21, 2018 #8 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Mexican Riviera cruise. Hands down. Many more options for adventurous outings, varied scenery, history, etc. The eastern Caribbean is two privately built cruise line ports, San Juan - which is great, depending on your hours, and Turks and Caicos, which have beautiful beaches, but not much else.. Of beach is the priority, Eastern Caribbean. If adventure, scenery, history, etc is more important (along with great beach and water options), Mexico.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishywood Posted August 21, 2018 #9 Share Posted August 21, 2018 I haven't pulled up the exact itineraries but if either one has Thanksgiving Day as a sea day that is the one I would pick. You want to be rested and hungry for the meal and evening activities. I was on Ruby Princess in the western Caribbean for Thanksgiving 2014, her final season at Port Everglades and it ranks as one of my favorite Princess cruises. That cruise had over 700 British passengers on the second week of a fly/cruise B2B holiday who were all wondering why there was nothing but American Football on MUTS all day and what the heck the obsession with turkey was about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helencruising Posted August 21, 2018 #10 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Eastern Caribbean hands down. Have done the Riviera twice, doesn’t hold a candle to the eastern Caribbean which, other than the southern, is one of our favorite itineraries. I would typically agree with this but, not with the Eastern itinerary you have. I love San Juan. While I like Princess Caysit is a Princess private island and just a beach day. I did not like Amber Cove or the nearby town. Never been to Grand Turk but it doesn’t look like much more than a beach or water sport day. I like the Mexican Riviera. If you do research you can find lots of fun things to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted August 21, 2018 #11 Share Posted August 21, 2018 I will always choose Caribbean over West Coast Mexico. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neverbeenhere Posted August 21, 2018 #12 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Eastern Caribbean would be our choice. Better itinerary. Done both itineraries many many times, Cabo and PV are North American suburbs. Mazatlan is not our favorite place anymore. Thanksgiving cruise will lead to half of all the children in California on the ship. eastern itinerary will have some children, but most likely not the sheer quantity that a Mexican Riveria would have traveling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie3fan Posted August 21, 2018 #13 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Are you limited to 1 week? The Crown does a 10 day Eastern Caribbean starting Nov. 17th, Saturday to Monday, round trip Ft. Lauderdale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SusieS Posted August 21, 2018 #14 Share Posted August 21, 2018 I way prefer the Royal over the Ruby... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skynight Posted August 21, 2018 #15 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Trying to decide between 2 cruises for Thanksgiving week this year.We've been to the Western Caribbean several times. Mexican Riviera is via Ruby to Cabo, Mazatlan & Puerto Vallarta Eastern C is via Royal to Princess Cays, San Juan PR, Amber Cover DR, Turks & Caicos We'll have a 12yo adventurous girl & my 78yo mom who both love to cruise! Any input is appreciated! Here is some port information for E. Caribbean Princess Cays is a beach where you tender ashore. Be at the tender ticket early. Lunch is provided no charge. Drinks available using your cruise card. Some water activities for a cost, book through Princess tours. Outside the area are some local vendors. You must take gov't issued ID and cash. There are some local sites outside of Princess Cays. Bring water shoes, there is lots of coral getting into the water at the water line. Amber Cove is also a beach. Not sure about tours. Grand Turk is again a beach where the ship docks right there. There is a small shopping mall at the dock and a Margaritaville with large pool. If you walk up the beach to the left for about a half mile there is Jack's Shack, a nicer place than Margaritaville. You can buy lunch there, swim, sit on the beach. This is where you will find the crew. San Juan - If you want to stay in Old San Juan you can do the trip on your own. Take a cab to el Morro a US National Historic Site view the fort then walk back down to the ship touring old San Juan. Take a street map with you. If you want to tour outside of Old San Juan you will have to book a tour. El Yunque rain forest is interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morisnfan Posted August 21, 2018 #16 Share Posted August 21, 2018 We are actually going on the Royal for Thanksgiving this year. We have done Mexican Riviera a few times, so its a nice change. And with a short stay in FL before coming home to the cold Pacific NW, I'm happy for a bit of fun in the sun and ocean swimming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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