Caribbean Choices!
 

We're from London and planning a Caribbean cruise in Nov/Dec. We've cruised with RCCL Legend Of the Seas in the Med and preferred the standard of cabin ,service & food to our trip on the Crown Princess last year in the Baltic. However we absolutely loved the friendlier clientele on the Princess(more passengers from the US than Europe), and we made some good friends. We're not keen on lying on beaches/poolside, but enjoy sightseeing and doing ship activities/entertainment/and eating the food! <BR> <BR> <BR>We've considering some good deals: one on the Horizon going from Miami to Key West, Cozumel, Progresso and Grand Cayman. Not sure about the port of Progresso having anything to see(no excursions available), and also I understand the ship is pretty old? <BR> <BR>The other choice would be the newer ship Infinity from San Juan to St Croix, St Lucia,Barbados,Antigua & St Thomas. Prefer the more port stops, but not sure if all the islands may seem pretty similar? We've also heard the system with boat tenders can be tiresome having long waits. And our concern is that we need to arrange our transfers from airport to ship- This may sound silly, but is this safe/difficult in San Juan? <BR> <BR>Our other choices are the Grand Princess to Princess Cays, Grand Cayman, Costa Maya and Cozumel. Or the Golden Princess to Princess Cays, St Martin, St Thomas. These new ships look great, but will Princess Cay have only beach activities? <BR> <BR>Any experiences/advice on any of these cruises would be very helpful. <BR> <BR>Thanks! <BR> <BR>Jenna <BR> <BR>

I cannot comment on the western itineraries or the private islands, but I would say that the islands in the St.Croix / St.Lucia / Barbados / Antigua are different enough from each other to make that itinerary a good choice. <BR>Since you are coming from London, you may want to consider a cruise where the first day is at sea -- it's a great way to relax and recover from your flight over. <BR>

My husband and I did 7 night Princess Cruise - Aruba, St Thomas, Grenada, Dominica, Venz and LOVED it. We caught the boat in San Juan. If you use the Princess (and any cruise line) they meet you at the gate or baggage claim and take you to the bus that takes you to hotel or boat. We stayed the night before cruise in San Juan to be better rested. San Juan isn't as bad as you've heard. The private islands are usually only beach activities, and personally I would opt for something w/ 5 stops. The islands are vastly different and will offer different activities - ie you can do a tour on one or go snorkling on another. Have a blast.

Princess Cays is strickly a beach day. <BR> <BR>You may want to look into the Ocean or Dawn Princess sailing out of San Juan. <BR> <BR>San Juan is a very safe city. We walked all around the town after our cruise once. <BR> <BR>Even if you book your own air - you can get transfers to the ship from the cruiseline. Don't worry about this. <BR> <BR>

Go with the Infinity from San Juan- the ports are much better--Also the food on Celebrity is fantastic! <BR>The Hoorizon is an older ship and the Western Caribbean ports of Grand Cayman and Cozumel are good if you are into diving or snorkeling==or the Mayan ruins in COzumel--not much else on that itinerary worth seeing... <BR> <BR>The cruise out of San Juan hits much better ports-Barbadoes is wonderful ,as is St.Thomas--St.Criox is quaint and english and has a wonderful bay area in town where you can go swimming...Barbadoes is great to go shopping or to go to a hotel and rent a catamaran with a driver for an hours worth of sailing that is awesome... <BR>Don't worry about tenders--they usually run 2 boats simultaneously so they cohntinually run...