Chedva

colorado_mom, do you want a port-intensive trip or a sea days-intensive trip? We cruise because we love the ships & the activities on it, so we're doing a less port-intensive trip. We're going on the Caribbean Princess in early February, which stops only at Princess Cays (Princess's private stop), Aruba and Curacao and has 3 sea days. (The Crown also does this itinerary.) Otherwise, the Ruby or Grand Princess stop at Princess Cays, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk (Turks & Caicos).

I've been on NCL as well as Princess and really enjoyed both.

Lafalum84

We did the Ruby Princess cruise that Chedva lists above (Princess Cays, St Maarten, St Thomas and Grand Turk) last year and loved it. At St Maarten, we just got off the ship and shopped in the local town - it has a beach, too, an easy ferry ride from the Cruise Pier, no shore excursion needed. Grand Turk also has a village and beach right at the pier dock (in fact, Grand Turk is not the major resort island in Turks & Caicos, so shore excursions are rather limited). At St. Thomas we did the BOSS underwater adventure - expensive but totally worth it. If you did that cruise and only booked a shore excursion in St Thomas you'd still have a great time.

colorado_mom

Thanks for the hints. We don't mind port-intensive, as long as the points of interest are near the dock (or tender dropoff point). A few sea days would be find.

Honestly we have not way to even know yet how to prioritize area of Carribiean. We bought a book that shows all.

toledo

Most Caribbean cruises are divided into three areas, western, eastern, and southern. Eastern cruises may be the most common, with stops in more populated areas with good shopping. Eastern cruises stop at ports such as St. Thomas, Bahamas, and St. Maarten. Western cruises usually include a stop or two in Mexico. Southern cruises are the most exotic, in my opinion, stopping at smaller islands. The only problem is that many of them leave out of Puerto Rico, so you have to pay more for airfare. All have nice beaches. Some have nice beaches within walking distance of the dock. I assume this is the case with Princess Cays. I know it's true of Costa Maya in Mexico.

Chedva

^^Princess Cays is a tender port, but of course the beaches are right there when you get off the tender. Aruba and Curacao are docking ports (no tender).

turbo93

Tendering at Princes Cays is very entertaining if the sea is choppy . unfortunately that was about all the entertainment we got, the place is not all that exciting.

colorado_mom

I see a few cruises leave from New Orleans. Other than airfares (which I have not yet sampled). what would be the pros/cons vs FL?

toledo

Airfare to New Orleans is usually less, if coming from Colorado. Those ports would be western Caribbean. I like the Mexican ports and Grand Cayman, but am kind of neutral on Jamaica. What ports do they visit?

colorado_mom

Tjis the tour that made me realize New Orleans has a port
CruiseCritic Exclusive: 9 Day Caribbean Cruise Combo on the Norwegian Star

But the ports (Costa Maya, Belize City, Roatan, Cozumel) are probably ones we'd want to do on a future trip with the kids.

toledo

That one looks good. You can walk to the beach in Costa Maya in 10 minutes. It's very primitive, but there are some "restaurants/beach bars" with good prices. Belize City has a glitzy mall at the port, but you have to take a tender.

chocchipcookie

My H & I have been on @10 cruises. We have gone to Hawaii, Alaska, and the Caribbean several times, East, West & Southern routes.

We prefer the port heavy routes since we like to get out and explore. I would be careful about the Mexico ports.....mainly from the aspect of buying things. Be very careful about what you are buying (the quality) and the amount. They will drive you crazy until you purchase something. Especially Costa Maya.

We've been to many, many different Caribbean islands this way and now feel as if we have seen a very good representation. Chedva.....the ones you mention are some of our favorites for different reasons.......Aruba for the beaches and Curacao for the shopping and History......We loved St. Maarten a lot too and have been there twice.

Fendergirl: Have a great time on your cruise. We've been on several lines including Holland America, NCL, Royal Caribbean and once on Carnival. You are pretty young? You'll probably enjoy Carnival. After being on these other lines, I would not go on Carnival again, but it is just fine for the younger groups...

toledo

We've only sailed on Carnival and we're old. I've enjoyed every one. Carnival is know as having good food in the dining rooms, at no extra charge, and larger that average cabins.

chocchipcookie

^^Sorry, Toledo. After being on several other lines and then Carnival, I would not return to Carnival because imo the level of service, food, etc. is higher on the other lines. Again, my opinion.

colorado_mom: Why are you looking for activities near the dock? It is very easy and cheap to rent a taxi cab at the dock to go and see the highlights of the island. Just read ahead of time where you want to go and then the taxicab will take you there.

We have done every kind of excursion possible and I agree it's much cheaper to go on your own, but sometimes the ship excursion is more unique and it that case we will take it.

Some islands have black sand beaches....the ones in Bermuda are pink and incredibly soft like powder..........some islands have exclusive points of interest that are worth going to by taxi cab.........you usually pay one flat fee for the day and not by the person so it's much cheaper.....and the taxi cabs all know the ships departing schedule and adhere to it and get you back to the ship in plenty of time.....

My boys did the segway tours.....LOVED them! My bil and sil have gone ziplinging.....so many things to do for the active vacationer and the more sedate vactioner.....what's fun is when the ship spends an overnight in the port so you can stay out much later in the evening and get to know that island even more....we did that in Hawaii....we loved many islands including as I said Aruba for the beaches, Curacao for the shopping and history, Puerto Rico for the rainforest and the fort and the history, St. Maarten for the beaches and the action, Turks and Caicos WAS very primitive, but interesting that's where John Glenn touched down when returning from space! St. Thomas was very hilly....that's where we bought jewlery.....and had awesome Banana Daiquiri's.........every island is unique and that's why they are fun! I haven't been as crazy about the Mexico stops, because I have already been to Mexico several times....Grand Cayman has the swimming with the stingrays, etc. We really enjoy exploring the uniqueness of each island, but I must admit that after awhile, they do all look alike!

At this point we're sort of cruised-out, so may take a break for awhile and go back to some land trips...........have fun wherever you go!!

colorado_mom

"Why are you looking for activities near the dock? " - We'd be ok with taxis - thanks for the tips.

We loved our Western Med tour, but some of the tours (Pompei, Rome, Florence) were 1 to 2 hour bus ride inland. They needed advanced planning and stamina. This time we are looking for more relaxed/flexible (and less expensive) daytrips.

lizard

Some of the newer cruise ships being built now are so big that some Florida cruise ports can't handle them. The Sunshine Skyway bridge at the entrance of Tampa Bay has a clearance of about 182 feet under it and there is no way the giant 5000 passenger mega cruise ships of the future will squeeze under the Skyway Bridge. No one anticipated cruise ships being that big when the bridge was built. The cruise industry will have to build a new port before the bridge, Gulf of Mexico side, to keep cruise ships of the future docking in Tampa Bay area.

Carnival Cruise Ship Inspiration under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge - YouTube