Help Us Pick A Cruise

Dan · September 10, 2007

So, we talked to the inlaws last night and they agreed to take the kids for a week in January so we could go on a cruise. We had already done an advance booking 2 years ago on Princess, and since those expire after 4 years, we are using it now so we don't end up letting it go if we can't use it within 2 more years. I already have the week of Jan 20th booked off so those 3 options I listed are it for Princess that week for the Caribbean. It will have been 7 years since we were in the Caribbean, so we look forward to going back there.

We haven't done the western route yet, but we have been on the Grand already. Not sure why, but in all the years of reading reviews, those ports have never grabbed my interest. Maybe I need to try them to find out.

We've been to the eastern side twice, but St Maarten was dropped both times due to hurricanes. The Caribbean Princess sounds to me more like the Grand with 500 more people, but nothing really new other than the movies outside. (and we've already been on the Sapphire, which had new stuff). But 3 sea days sounds relaxing.

We've never sailed from San Juan (been there twice as port calls) and would like to try the Crown the most of these 3 ships. Cruise costs a couple hundred more pp and air is quite a bit more than FLL. Plus I'm not looking forward to spending another 3 or 4 hours of sitting in airports and airplanes than what going to Florida would be. This one only has one sea day, and I've never done a port intensive cruise before.

So each options has it's plusses and "not so plusses" (can't call them minuses, this is a cruise after all LOL). So what do my fellow Crazies think?

TheSkipper · September 10, 2007

Dan,

I've sailed on all the ships on your list and my choice would be Carib. Princess. :thumbup: The hassle of sailing out of San Juan turns me off, even though I've done it about four times. You are not interested in the Western, so that leaves my selection. FLL is an easy in and out and I'll bet you make it into St. Martin this time.

We are heading out on our 23rd Princess cruise next month and our 50th overall.

KeithnRita · September 10, 2007

Dan,

Of the three choices we've cruised on the Caribbean Princess and it was a very enjoyable cruise on a very nice ship. Although it was the largest cruise ship we ever sailed, it never seemed crowded. As far as MUTS, we never watched as that we can do at home. What we really liked was the number of pools and the adult only pools. The food, entertainment, etc was fine, as they probably all are.You really can't go wrong on any one of the.choices. St. Maarten is our favorite port so our recommendation would be with all things considered, choose the ship going to that port.

zebra · September 10, 2007

Dan, we've sailed on all three ships - the Caribbean Princess being the newest and best. With regard to the itineraries.... the Eastern Caribbean wins hands down for us each time. Southern Caribbean because of the San Juan hassle would not be a consideration for us.

Gregswife · September 11, 2007

Dan, I have never sailed Princess, but I do like the western caribbean route. We will be sailing it for the 4th time in 8 weeks. I would avoid flying in and out of San Juan, if possible. Although we have never sailed out of Ft. Lauderdale's port, we always fly into there and spend the night before and after in FLL, and take a shuttle into port of Miami. The hotel van takes us back to the airport and we catch the Carnival bus to the port. We have stayed in Miami a few times, and just prefer Ft. Lauderdale. Let us know what you decide.

Sunbeam · September 11, 2007

I guess my choice would be Southern Caribbean as we are doing it in November.

We did the Eastern quite a few times, did not really enjoy the Western because we love to see many ports.

If you are planning on taking a January cruise I would recommend the Crown Princess mainly because it is leaving from San Juan, low enough so that you can count on the temperature being warmer.

elfed · September 11, 2007

It's a shame you couldn't defer your Princess Cruise until May. That's when the Caribbean Princess starts her first season out of New York to St Thomas, Turks and Caicos and Bermuda replacing the Crown Princess. I agree with the previous posts. The Eastern Caribbean on the Caribbean Princess is a great trip with a final stop at Princess Cays.

Regards,

James.

CanadianCruiser · September 11, 2007

Dan,

Having been to all of the ports you are looking at, the Crown Princess would be my first choice, St. Lucia is my favourite port followed by Antigua...

And not sure which airport you plan to use Detroit , London or Toronto but Flights from DET to SJU run about $ 300 per person which isnt all that bad.... I would pay double that to not fly out of TO....lol

The Crown gets my vote followed by Carib Princess.....

Sunbeam · September 11, 2007

Please note that the Crown has 2 different itineraries

Barbados - St. Lucia - Antigua - Tortola - St. Thomas

St. Thomas - St. Kitts - Grenada - Bonaire - Aruba (This is the one that we chose).

Dan · September 11, 2007

Yeah, the Crown goes to Aruba the week we are looking at, which is one of things that really grabs our attention. We loved the port stop there when we did the Canal in 2001. The Crown is actually the newest of the 3 ships, and it just came out last year.

I was looking at the New York sailings, but they are 9 days, which might be asking too much of the in-laws, since we would of course stretch that by a day or 2 like we will with this 7 day one. Plus the New York sailings are significantly more money.

If we did the San Juan, we wouldn't fly from Toronto or London. Air Canada's website doesn't even give me any flight options for those weekends, and the codeshare's on United are ridiculous. Northwest from Detroit is over $600 US right now, while Spirit is just under $350. Both have lousy schedules. Jetblue from Buffalo is around $450 with a slightly more favourable schedule. Spirit does have the advantage of the "Big Front Seats" for not a lot more money