Mexican Riviera vs. Southern Caribbean

[Diplomat1]

We are considering which 7-8 day cruise to take next. The choices are:

 

A) Mexican Riviera 7-day out of San Juan on Carnival Destiny

B) Southern Caribbean 7-day out of Los Angeles on Carnival Pride

C) Southern Caribbean 8-day out of Ft Lauderdale on Carnival Miracle

 

Question:

 

1) Which beaches are better (clear water, warmer, gentle waves, gentle breeze)?

2) Which ports are better?

3) Which ship is better?

4) (If the choice is "A"), Are there cheap airfares to San Juan?

 

Cruise will probably be in Jan 2008 or so.

 

Thanks!

Diplomat

[Ephraim]

Bit of a mix up there...

 

I sailed the Mexican Rivera out of San Diego. We liked Mazatlan and Cabo was okay, but we hated Puerto Vallarta's beaches, too rocky and too much current.

 

I sailed the Southern Caribbean out of San Juan. Dickenson Bay in Antigua, Baie Orientale (Orient Beach) in St Martin and Trunk Bay in St John (the next island to St Thomas were great. I haven't been to the beach in St Lucia, we went to see the Pitons and the botanical garden (falls and sulphur baths.) The only beach I went to in Barbados was quite rocky, we loved going to see Harrison's cave, though.

 

Personally, I love sailing out of San Juan. The Southern Caribbean is my favourite. I wouldn't go back to the Mexican Riviera.

[Diplomat1]

Bit of a mix up there...

 

Yes, it should have been:

 

A) Southern Caribbean 7-day out of San Juan on Carnival Destiny

B) Mexican Riviera 7-day out of Los Angeles on Carnival Pride

C) Southern Caribbean 8-day out of Ft Lauderdale on Carnival Miracle

 

(Too late to edit my prior reply, apparently...)

 

Thanks for the info,

Diplomat

[snowbird1]

I also prefer the Southern Carib but I am not wild about sailing out of San Juan and I think some of the other newer Carnival ships seem to be a little better than the Destiny from what I have read. Here is one thing to remember it is expensive to fly to San Juan from the Midwest. If you have the leave my might want to consider a 10 day southern out of FL on Princess or perhaps another line. After you add up the difference in airfare the cruise is about the same. In other words you might be able to go on a 10 day out of FL for about the same as a 7 out of San Juan if you go at the right time of year. Oh and one more thing to consider, a lot of people fly to San Juan the day before just to be safe and the hotels are expensive and that may play into the equation as well.

 

This is just my opinion after sailing out of San Juan twice.

 

Best of luck and enjoy whatever cruise you go on.

[DiveMaster]

For starters, the water is warmer in the southern Caribbean than in the Mexican Riviera Cheaper to go out of Fort Lauderdale than San Juan. On St. Kitts Brimstone and the Train are cool, St. Maartin butterfly farm is cool if kiddos along, else a catamaran/snorkle trip is cool, St. Lucia better for the beach

 

We are considering which 7-8 day cruise to take next. The choices are:

 

A) Mexican Riviera 7-day out of San Juan on Carnival Destiny

B) Southern Caribbean 7-day out of Los Angeles on Carnival Pride

C) Southern Caribbean 8-day out of Ft Lauderdale on Carnival Miracle

 

Question:

 

1) Which beaches are better (clear water, warmer, gentle waves, gentle breeze)?

2) Which ports are better?

3) Which ship is better?

4) (If the choice is "A"), Are there cheap airfares to San Juan?

 

Cruise will probably be in Jan 2008 or so.

 

Thanks!

Diplomat