I like to see recommendations for cruise to the Caribean?

Question

Planning vacation on Cruise to the Caribean during Christmas 07. Any recommendation? Thanks!

Answer 1

Dec is a great time to go, the weather is wonderful and the islands are nice. I like Carnival the have a lot to choose from, the Carnival Glory is one of the ships that is a favorite of most, and has both a Eastern and Western Cruise that leave for Port Canaveral.

our first cruise was the first week of Dec and it was decorated for Christmas and look so nice.
in the end any Carnival ship is a good one.

Answer 2

Whats you budget? Any island or do you have some that you lean more towards? Frequented by tourists with lots of shops or more rugged landscape with jungles and Mayan ruins?

I'll tell you I love the Western Carib itinerary. Cozumel is wonderful. Most cruises go through St Thomas and that is also one of my favorite islands. I've been there several times and not done half of all there is to do.

I took a New Years Eve cruise and St Martin, St Thomas were fabulously warm--the only cold place was the Bahamas.

Like the prior post, I would avoid Jamaica. However, St Martin's is very poor and I still enjoyed traveling around that island greatly and excellent prices on liquor.

As far as cruiselines, budget is everything. Royal Carib and Carnival are cheaper so you have to have expectations of that. Whereas Princess and Celebrity are much more expensive and therefore higher status as well. Different cruiselines appeal to different demographics as well. Holland America is for those over 65. Carnival is a much younger audience with a more party atmosphere. If you are on Carnival, I recommend the Spirit class. I also loved the layout of the Inspiration (and sisters) much more than the Destiny class. The only line I would strongly advise you *avoid at all costs* is Norweigan. NCL is horrible--in service, food, cleanliness of ships, everything.

But as I said--budget is everything. Also not knowing anything about you makes it difficult as well. I'd avoid Holland b/c they are way older but several people in their 50s loved it and said their ship had mostly people in their upper 40s and 50s. However, thats still way older. Carnival has mostly college students up to 30s. I found the food to be excellent but some people who are connoisseurs thought Carnival/RC food was cheap and unappealing. However the cruise is a fouth- to half the cost of Celebrity and Princess.

You don't need to take shore excursions everywhere but some of the poor countries will be a negative experience if you don't. Belize was one of my favorite trips and I'd love to go back there, but the shore excursions are almost mandatory there. I went to the Mayan ruins. In Cozumel, you could have just taken a cab to a snorkeling location--it was everywhere. I recommend not signing up for any of the "beach" shore excursions. You can find a beach on your own.

Hope these help and write me if you have any questions

Answer 3

I would definitely stay away from anywhere near Jamacia, but if you do stop there on the ship, I wouldn't get off. Just recently, a Carnival cruise ship was in Montego Bay, and 7 to 10 passengers I guess where held up at gunpoint, and this is not the first time something like this has happened, as bad things always tend to happen in that area. I don't know what it is, but the flea markets down there are extremely bad too. I would be careful if you take small children as some of the locals will try and grab them..

Answer 4

Royal Caribbean is an excellent cruise line with really good Caribbean cruises. I recently cruised on the Mariner of the Seas western Caribbean cruise. I had a fun time and all the ports including Jamaica were excellent. The Mariner, Liberty and Freedom of the Sea are their biggest ships and have nice itineraries. Also look into the Serenade, Legend and Adventure of the seas.

Answer 5

I always cruise with Carnival and when I do I leave out of Miami or Tampa even though there is a port right where I live (in Jacksonville). They have great itineraries. You can go anywhere from Eastern Carribean (US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, etc), to Western Carribean (Belize, Mexico, Grand Cayman) to Southern Carribean (St. Lucia, St. Kitts, etc.). I highly reccomend the US Virgin Islands. For the past two years I've travelled on the Carnival Valor out of Miami on their Eastern Carribean itinerary which takes you to Nassau, Bahamas, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. It's a great itinerary!

Answer 6

My suggestion would be the Carnival Glory Eastern Caribbean cruise out of Port Canaveral.

Answer 7

my family and i went on a xmas cruise 3 years ago, we were terribely dissappointed, it was very expensive, overcrowded, the weather horrible and the seas the whole cruise were 20 ft high, lots of peopel were sick, the carribean seas are ruff in dec and jan, i would recommend another time, feb or march is when i have gone, and it was a much differnt , great weather, not as crowded, no sea sickness, best of luck, my next cruise is in august this will be our 5th

Answer 8

I would say Disney Cruise Line. It is awesome!