Considering cruise to either Southern Caribbean (Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua) or Western Carriban (Belize, Cozumel, Caymans). This will be first time on a cruise and we are not taking our children (so we'd tried to pick a time when most kids will be in school). Which place will have better weather/calmer seas at that time (understanding weather can be unusual at any time of year)? Choices of ships are Crown Princess (new), Carnival Miracle or RCCL Legend. I've done as much research as I can, but it's old vs. new ship, medium vs. large ship and not sure which would best suit us being the first time cruisers. We are in our upper 30s, cruising with couple in their younger 40s, like to party but not bar crawlers, like the personal dining options Princess offers . . . we don't like a "crowded feeling" or standing in long lines (yes, we are going on a cruise, but I understand some ships feel less crowded than others, some are better organized making the lines shorter/wait time less and some have more intimate restaurant seating (vs. a dining hall). HELP! Any advice/suggestions welcome. Thank you!

I have been on all 3 lines but not on the ships you have chosen.
I would pick a newer ship with the least amt. of people. but if you are arlt risers-the lines at the Lido are not too long.
Pick a ship that goes out of Florida so you don't have the long trip in the Atlantic. The Carib. sea is relativly (sp) calm. I like the s. carib. but out of Ft. Laud. not San Juan. (so that one would be a 10 day.)
And get a balcony if finances will allow.

Whatever you choose, you'll have fun.

Maryann, the reason I picked departure from San Juan was based on itinerary. Is it cheaper to fly to/from Florida vs. San Juan (generally - I'm in Virginia)? The newer ship is the Crown Princess which sounds awesome, but it turns out it's the biggest (3000 people). The smallest of the initeraries is RCCL Legend (2500 people), but it's 11 years old. I'm not sure how much difference 500 people make on a such a big ship. Princess goes to Southern Caribbean (out of San Juan) and RCCL Legend goes to Western Caribbean (out of Tampa). We're definitely getting a balcony.

We took the Golden Princess out of San Juan in MAy 04 with a wonderful Southern itinerary..St. Thomas, St. Kitts [loved it!], Grenada and Aruba. They have another itinerary that does Barbados...maybe that is the Crown now... which we would like to do. The Golden is 3000 passengers but it never seemed crowded at all and the ship was full. We like the anytime dining although you can have a fixed dining time if you wish.
Princess was fine..no complaints.

Katybird - thanks and yes, it is the new Crown Princess for the "Classic Southern Caribbean" cruise that we are looking at (St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua/Barbuda, St. Lucia, Barbados (to/from San Juan). I have heard often that even on the largest of ships you don't feel like there are so many people because it's so big. I'm afraid I may be comparing apples to oranges (Southern Caribbean to Western, old ship to new ship) so I'm trying to concentrate on the cruise line itself, and weather as being the determining factors.