If your primary interstest in cruising was just nice beaches.......

[USA41018]

It was the Voyager that went West. The Explorer went East. We cruised on both. Both stopped in Haiti. We've had enough of Haiti (Labadee). IMHO four ports are plenty. 3 is not enough and anything more would be exhausting.

[Nik]

I love the beaches in St. Maarten - Orient Beach and Trunk Bay St. John. I have been to many of the top beaches in the world and truly enjoyed these. I like to get off the ship early and get to the beach before it gets really crowded.

 

As one person pointed out, if its really just beaches you want why cruise? For me, the cruise ship provides a little of everything that I'm looking for in a cruise. Great beaches, shopping, good weather, lots of various types of entertainment.

[big al]

Which cruise would your recommened based on beaches only. Not so much interested in excursions or sight seeing. We like beach days and at sea days. Thanks for your opinions!

 

Fun-I've been to most,and as a P/T cruise agent myself,I tell people "if you like nice beaches and great shopping,do the Eastern route..if you like water sports & diving or snorkeling and some history,do the Western...if you want more exotic ports,try the Southern routes.."...we prefer Eastern because we love St.Maarten and St.Thomas because of their beaches and cheap,cheap liquor prices...we've been to both E & W routes 5-6 times each and Southern route once and NO DOUBT we like the Eastern best.Also the locals in the Western routes (Jamaica,Cozumel) can be especially aggressive and I find they bother you ALOT more than the Eastern or Southern....IMO.....

 

Big Al

[Fun~N~Sun]

Fun-I've been to most,and as a P/T cruise agent myself,I tell people "if you like nice beaches and great shopping,do the Eastern route..if you like water sports & diving or snorkeling and some history,do the Western...if you want more exotic ports,try the Southern routes.."...we prefer Eastern because we love St.Maarten and St.Thomas because of their beaches and cheap,cheap liquor prices...we've been to both E & W routes 5-6 times each and Southern route once and NO DOUBT we like the Eastern best.Also the locals in the Western routes (Jamaica,Cozumel) can be especially aggressive and I find they bother you ALOT more than the Eastern or Southern....IMO.....

 

Big Al

 

Thanks for the info! We did the Destiny cruise and we loved St. Thomas (I would love to go to St. John), Barbados, and Aruba. We like nice beaches but fun. We like a little of the party scene with some music, drinks, shopping nearby. I have been to Naussau before and enjoyed that too. I would like to do the Western route just for something different but am a little concerned about safety and language barriers. The Southern route concerns me too, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, will these ports and beaches have the atmosphere I am looking for? I want to cruise from one of the Florida ports too, I prefer not to sail from San Juan EVER again.

[markandstacie00]

Thanks for the info! We did the Destiny cruise and we loved St. Thomas (I would love to go to St. John), Barbados, and Aruba. We like nice beaches but fun. We like a little of the party scene with some music, drinks, shopping nearby. I have been to Naussau before and enjoyed that too. I would like to do the Western route just for something different but am a little concerned about safety and language barriers. The Southern route concerns me too, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, will these ports and beaches have the atmosphere I am looking for? I want to cruise from one of the Florida ports too, I prefer not to sail from San Juan EVER again.

 

I would suggest you do a western trip. There is no language berrier on the typical route (Cayman, Coz, Jamaica). The first and last speak english and practically everyone does in this part of Mexico. There also is great snorkeling. The thing I like the most about the western is the different environments. Cayman - wealthy European feel ( white, there I said it) Jamaica - Black English speaking proud population and a beautiful country, Cozumel/Costa Maya - Spanish and lots of history.

[Tabsmom]

Half Moon Cay and Grand Turk. Half Moon Cay is a private island. Nothing but beach and water sports. I've been to a couple of other lines private islands, but HMC is probably the most beautiful.

 

Grand Turk is really pretty too. Nice facilities right off the dock.

[sharecruises]

I would suggest you do a western trip. There is no language berrier on the typical route (Cayman, Coz, Jamaica). The first and last speak english and practically everyone does in this part of Mexico. There also is great snorkeling. The thing I like the most about the western is the different environments. Cayman - wealthy European feel ( white, there I said it) Jamaica - Black English speaking proud population and a beautiful country, Cozumel/Costa Maya - Spanish and lots of history.

 

???? Yes, the western is nice...but...did you even read the OP question...they are looking for great beaches apparently

 

They apparently are not looking for history, ruins, cultures...but for beaches

 

Grand Cayman seemed just like South Florida to me...except we have better beaches...7 mile was crowded like sardines

 

Jamaica?? I enjoyed dunn's river falls but the beach was not great...you can not just walk off the ship and find a wonderful beach on your own, you really need a tour/excursion

 

Belize?? You have to tender to a caye or private beach....

 

I am looking forward to Belize and Mexico but I don't feel that they are really as simply "beachy" as some of the classic Eastern ports and/or the private island type ports

 

Have you ever been to the Eastern?? Many of the ports are quite close to spectacular beaches, you can walk right off the ship, no tenders, no fuss, and easily get to a beach day without paying huge excursion fees or setting up all sort of logistical tactics.

[phlydude]

I'll give you a listing of where I have been and give you a rating of stars (1-4, 4 being excellent)

 

Aruba - 3 - free beach was decent and easy enough to get to - not crowded at all

Curacao - 0 - essentially no beaches on this island

St Thomas - 4 - beautiful beaches and St John is easy to get to

St Marteen - 3 - Orient beach was nice but maybe I caught it on a bad day, it was very rough

Puerto Rico - 2 - beaches were small and average

Jamaica - 2 - beaches were OK but I don't care for the island...too pushy

Grand Cayman - 4 - Sea Grape beach was beautiful, one of the best

Cozumel - 3 - Paradise beach was nice, a little murky but the atmosphere made up for the beach shortcomings

Costa Maya - 3 - beaches were nice, no complaints

Roatan - 3.5 - Tabyana beach was one of the best

Belize - 2.5 - have to go out to the Cays to get to a beach...that takes away from the time to enjoy it

Dominican Republic - 4 - beautiful beaches along Bavaro beach area

Barbados - 3 - water is the saltiest I have ever experienced...guy selling "smoke" was interesting as well but the beach was nice

[Fun~N~Sun]

Thanks for the info. We went to Coki beach in St. Thomas and we liked it. We ran into your guy smelling smoke there.

 

Barbados - we went to the Boatyard and had a blast. Locals there were very friendly and helpful but not pushy. I didn't notice the water being any saltier there than anywhere I've been.

 

Beach in Aruba was nice but didn't think it was anything special so we went on a last minute snorkel trip that was great.

 

We also have stayed at Atlantis in Naussau. Thought the beaches and the beach service was great but I think Atlantis itself is very overrated; especially the night life unless you are really into the casino.

[shan9700]

Fun~N~Sun,

 

I really like Costa Maya and Coz too. For Lazy beach days because the water is as beautful as in the eastern carribean. The water was so clean and warm with a sandy bottom. There was a little sea grass in areas in Costa Maya but it was so beauitful.

 

The best thing about mexican beachs is that the local people really enjoy you being there and your money goes a long way. My vote a day at Teq. Beach in Costa Maya.

 

shan9700:)

[deeolasingh]

I recently visited

 

Condado beach in San Juan nice

Megans Bay in St Thomas awesome

Malibu Beach in Barbados beautiful

Pineapple Beach in Antigua beautiful

 

In the past I visited

Sapphire Beach St Thomas really pretty

One of the many beaches maybe 5 min from the port in Antiqua beautiful

cant remember the name it was in 2005

 

To me any beach with palm trees and blueish greenish turquoise water

is BEAUTIFUL.....

[beachlady58]

I am an avid beach goer and prefer the Western Route...Grand Caymen - 7 mile beach down by the marriott Courtyard is nice and not too crowded - Cozumel has nice beaches and the bluest water ever. We just did Eastern and the weather stunk and the beaches were OK. We did Morningstar near the Marriott and then orient beach in St Maarten. They were nice but West is better. Also Labadee is really nice on RCCL - in Jamaica there are nice beaches but it is a bit rough...

[snownyet]

Half Moon Cay and Grand Turk. Half Moon Cay is a private island. Nothing but beach and water sports. I've been to a couple of other lines private islands, but HMC is probably the most beautiful.

 

Grand Turk is really pretty too. Nice facilities right off the dock.

 

 

Half Moon Cay has one of the very best beaches in the caribbean. Sand like flour and beautiful water. The sharing of what was once Holland Americas exclusive beach is a great bonus to carnival passengers.