East/West Caribbean

[Tapi]

Although I always find something fun to do away from the port area, I place Cozumel and Costa Maya farther down the list of my preferred ports. A little too commercialized and Americanized for my taste, and not very attractive (flat and not very lush). 

 

In general. I do tend to favor the Eastern itinerary. The islands tend to provide more natural beauty. When I think of Eastern, I think of beautiful beaches, mountains, lush vegetation, and a slower pace with more relaxing time at sea. However this Eastern itinerary is a bit blah. St Maarten and St Thomas are beautiful islands, but they are also very commercialized and overrun with tourists. 

 

But if I had to choose between these two itineraries, I’d lean towards the Eastern Caribbean. I’d pick St Thomas and St. Maarten over the western ports mentioned, plus Princess Cays is always relaxing. 

Edited January 16, 2019 by Tapi

[BarbinMich]

15 hours ago, Bostonjetset said:

Thanks for posting the itineraries that the OP has to choose from.  I will double-down on the Western since their choice doesn't include Jamaica or Grand Cayman but rather the more "exotic" Mexico/Central America itinerary.  Roatan is one of the loveliest ports in the region [IMO] and I'd much rather go anywhere in Mexico than to Princess Cays [which I found to be mediocre as the beach was pleasant enough to look at but was very rocky]. 

 

We enjoyed our several visits to Jamaica (Montego Bay in 2006; Ocho Rios in 2008, 2011), but would not want to return.  The locals were pretty aggressive back then trying to sell stuff to cruise pax and I assume it's probably gotten worse so that may be why only one Princess ship (Island) stops at Ocho Rios (much busier than Montgeo Bay) anymore and only once a month.  In looking at stops scheduled over the next year only Carnival and MSC are stopping there with an occasional stop by a HAL ship.  Interesting to note that MSC always stops there (Montego Bay) on the same day as Carnival so almost 6,000 pax at once.  Another consideration:  perhaps the larger Princess ships are too large to be accommodated by the Jamaican ports.

[txwriter]

I wanted to thank you all again for the replies.  I've decided if I do this plan, I'm going with the Eastern route. 

 

However, now, I've gone and gotten a new monkey wrench in the plans.  A friend of mine is traveling with her husband on a Disney holiday cruise in December, so now I have to pick between them.  Ugh.  It's so hard to choose.

 

It would be my first solo trip, so part of me likes the idea of fun with friends, and I am a Disney fan.  But part of me loves the idea of a brand new ship that is just a few months old.  Plus, the rate is slightly better and with All Aboard sale, I'd get $300 OBC for a balcony room, and I'd get two cruise credits towards my captain's circle status.  I'm not a big drinker or gambler so fewer bars/no casino on Disney is a non-factor.  And I've always wanted to try a Disney cruise, so this might be my best chance.