LaneyB72 Posted November 20, 2018 #1 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Hi all. I am booking our next cruise soon for Feb 2019. We have been on only one cruise, which was Carnival from Baltimore to the Bahamas. We enjoyed it, but would not go out of Baltimore in the winter again. I am having a really hard time narrowing the choices down. For our next one I am looking at a few options out of Florida: Eastern Caribbean from Port Canaveral on Breeze - Amber Cove, St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk (7 day) Southern Caribbean from FL on Conquest - Princess Cays, Grand Turk, Curacao, Aruba (8 day) Easter Caribbean from Miami on Magic - Amber Cove, St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk (7 day) Eastern Caribbean from FL on Conquest - St. Marteen, St. Kitts, San Juan, Grand Turk (8 day) Easter Caribbean from Miami on Glory - Amber Cove, St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk (7 day) Any pros and cons to these ships/itineraries would be appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesmiths Posted November 20, 2018 #2 Share Posted November 20, 2018 (edited) We are doing this one but on the Magic in May 19. Eastern Caribbean from FL on Conquest - St. Marteen, St. Kitts, San Juan, Grand Turk (8 day) My pro would be the 8 Days for that one and this one. Southern Caribbean from FL on Conquest - Princess Cays, Grand Turk, Curacao, Aruba (8 day) My con would be the others are 7 days. All depends on where you want to go, what ship ..If you want me to pick, 8 day to Aruba. We just did the Southern in May and loved it, But on the Vista and Did La Romana instead of Princess Cays. We'll only do 8 days from now on. Have fun planning! Edited November 20, 2018 by thesmiths 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoDidly Posted November 20, 2018 #3 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Princess Cays, Grand Turk, Curacao, Aruba (8 day) 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyStar Posted November 20, 2018 #4 Share Posted November 20, 2018 All these itineraries look awesome, how are the prices including airfare to each port? But I'm a nerd, I'd make a spreadsheet. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarmat1 Posted November 20, 2018 #5 Share Posted November 20, 2018 We've done both of the 8 days that you've listed. Either one is great. Given your choices and all else being equal, I'd choose the 8 day with Aruba and Curacao as those are beautiful beach ports that don't show up on many itineraries. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted November 20, 2018 #6 Share Posted November 20, 2018 1 hour ago, LaneyB72 said: Southern Caribbean from FL on Conquest - Princess Cays, Grand Turk, Curacao, Aruba (8 day) This absolutely would be our choice! It takes you to the DEEP Caribbean (Curacao & Aruba) Please don't miss the opportunity to go to those lovely islands. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillyFan33579 Posted November 20, 2018 #7 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Easy decision in my book...8 day cruise to Aruba and Curacao. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serene56 Posted November 20, 2018 #8 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Id pick the aruba and curacao but it would depend if I got a nught time in Aruba. I need a sunset in aruba 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrate13 Posted November 20, 2018 #9 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Another fan of the 8 day southern on Conquest. We did it and loved it.😍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaxsMama Posted November 20, 2018 #10 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Aruba 100% 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xDisconnections Posted November 21, 2018 #11 Share Posted November 21, 2018 If I had to choose, either one of the Conquest 8 day options. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayscore Posted November 21, 2018 #12 Share Posted November 21, 2018 I would go for the Aruba included cruise. One thing to check out, for any itinerary, would be if there might be a religious holiday at any of the ports. Our last time in Aruba it happened to be one of these occasions, and all the local businesses were closed. I only ran into this once, but, I thought I'd mention it.😏 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trueblueky Posted November 21, 2018 #13 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Is there a big difference in airfare or flight schedules? That might help me decide among Orlando, FL, Miami. Orlando is more distant from the cruise terminal, if that matters. I would probably fly in the day before but leave the afternoon of arrival. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoolOne56 Posted November 21, 2018 #14 Share Posted November 21, 2018 13 of us, family & friends, did - Southern Caribbean from FL on Conquest - Grand Turk, La Roman, Curacao and Aruba (8 day), in October of last year - awesome time!!! I love 7-8 day cruises, especially when there is 2 sea days coming home. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNJCruisers Posted November 21, 2018 #15 Share Posted November 21, 2018 If you're port driven, then the only option is 8 day Southern. If you're ship driven, then the Breeze or Magic would be the way to go. I would also factor in the bottom line cost including airfare 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evandbob Posted November 21, 2018 #16 Share Posted November 21, 2018 I would not even consider any itinerary with Amber Cove. That leaves just 2 choices, and either will be great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaneyB72 Posted November 29, 2018 Author #17 Share Posted November 29, 2018 Thanks everyone! I ended up doing Magic for the Western Caribbean. Not my first choice, but my husband did not like the cost of the Southern Caribbean. I am super excited for February! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsglow Posted November 29, 2018 #18 Share Posted November 29, 2018 On 11/21/2018 at 4:55 AM, evandbob said: I would not even consider any itinerary with Amber Cove. That leaves just 2 choices, and either will be great. Well, that leaves you out of the vast majority (maybe all) of the Carnival 7 day eastern itineraries. But we all know you've graduated to other lines mostly. To the OP, you'll have a great time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amydresh Posted November 30, 2018 #19 Share Posted November 30, 2018 On 11/20/2018 at 10:03 PM, CoolOne56 said: 13 of us, family & friends, did - Southern Caribbean from FL on Conquest - Grand Turk, La Roman, Curacao and Aruba (8 day), in October of last year - awesome time!!! I love 7-8 day cruises, especially when there is 2 sea days coming home. I am loving to see all the responses about Aruba and Curacao being the best ones. My family and my 2 sisters with their families are going on the Horizon doing the ABC islands in Jan 2021. My dh and I did St Kitts and St Maarten and those were our favorite islands so far so I would have chosen them from the OP's list. I can't wait to do this cruise and experience even better islands! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNJCruisers Posted November 30, 2018 #20 Share Posted November 30, 2018 On 11/21/2018 at 7:55 AM, evandbob said: I would not even consider any itinerary with Amber Cove. 11 hours ago, jsglow said: Well, that leaves you out of the vast majority (maybe all) of the Carnival 7 day eastern itineraries. That was a bold statement to make, so I just did a bit of quick research, and it's not all or a vast majority, but 5 out of 9 that goes to Amber Cove. Over the entire 2019 season on Carnival, there are 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruises on the Glory, Breeze, Magic, Sunshine and Conquest that stop at Amber Cove. There are 7 day cruises on the Pride, Dream and the Fascination out of San Juan and also out of Barbados that do not stop there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsglow Posted November 30, 2018 #21 Share Posted November 30, 2018 8 hours ago, SNJCruisers said: That was a bold statement to make, so I just did a bit of quick research, and it's not all or a vast majority, but 5 out of 9 that goes to Amber Cove. Over the entire 2019 season on Carnival, there are 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruises on the Glory, Breeze, Magic, Sunshine and Conquest that stop at Amber Cove. There are 7 day cruises on the Pride, Dream and the Fascination out of San Juan and also out of Barbados that do not stop there. Then I stand corrected. I guess I was referring to the Florida departures. Although I don't consider anything the Pride does as an 'Eastern'. Grand Turk doesn't really make it so in my view. It's an alternative Bahamas run really. And if you can point me to an 'Eastern' out of New Orleans on Dream I'm all ears. Your not suggesting that Jamaica counts, are you? Or their one run next year to the Bahamas? As for the Fascination, you are correct. I've sailed that route twice myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1lizette1 Posted November 30, 2018 #22 Share Posted November 30, 2018 On 11/20/2018 at 2:25 PM, LaneyB72 said: We have been on only one cruise, which was Carnival from Baltimore to the Bahamas. We enjoyed it, but would not go out of Baltimore in the winter again. Why? Is it because it was too cold at the beginning? Any other reasons? I'm asking because we're from Toronto and we're looking into a Baltimore sailing but if there are enough "cons" then we'll cough up the extra $$ and fly to Florida 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaneyB72 Posted November 30, 2018 Author #23 Share Posted November 30, 2018 We drove from Michigan to Maryland, and on the way home there was a huge snowstorm. It wasn't a fun drive back. We also both hate the cold (probably from living in Michigan our whole lives), and decided to only go from warmer ports. But it was a nice cruise, and the port in Baltimore was easy to find and to park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNJCruisers Posted November 30, 2018 #24 Share Posted November 30, 2018 5 hours ago, 1lizette1 said: Why? Is it because it was too cold at the beginning? Any other reasons? I'm asking because we're from Toronto and we're looking into a Baltimore sailing but if there are enough "cons" then we'll cough up the extra $$ and fly to Florida Go out of FLA. You pay a premium to sail out of Baltimore because of the limited competition. You can sail out of FLA on a larger, more modern ship at a cheaper price, especially during early January when prices are usually pretty good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoneman69 Posted November 30, 2018 #25 Share Posted November 30, 2018 Were sailing the Southern Caribbean from FLL on Magic in sept 2019 Grand Turk, Curacao, Aruba (8 day) . Had done and Really enjoyed the Eastern trips as well. You can't go wrong Cruising. (well getting caught in a hurricane was a little scary) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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