Originally Posted By MsLindanne Hi Everyone! Just curious....have any of you taken both the Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises? And if so, can you tell me how different they are? Which one did you prefer? We wanted to do the Eastern Cruise in May of 2007, but because of the possible Meditterean cruise coming up, the Eastern, at least for 7 days in our time slot are not available. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all than answer!! ºoº
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m I've never cruised with Disney, but I've been to islands in the Eastern and Western Caribbean, as well as the Bahamas. DO you have questions about the islands?
Originally Posted By MsLindanne t1lersmOm - First of all thank you for responding! I was beginning to feel a little bit left out...ha..ha..anyway, we took our first Disney cruise this past summer to Mexico and found ourselves "hooked". Now were going to the Western Caribbean and these ports include: Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Disney's private Island, Castaway Cay. On the Eastern cruise, it includes ports: St. Marten, St. Thomas and of course Castaway Cay. Now I've heard the Eastern cruise is more popular but I don't really know why. And because of the Mediterranean cruises in May, 2007, the Eastern cruise on the Disney Magic have been canceled during the time we want to go...so this is why were going to the Western Caribbean. My question is how do these islands differ? Are ones better than the other? We've never been at all so I am trying to get an idea as to what to expect and how can we make our trip really enjoyable. Any help you can give would be great! Thank you!!
Originally Posted By Labuda "Now I've heard the Eastern cruise is more popular but I don't really know why. " Why, it's because if you do the Eastern you can meet up with ouLP's very own TiggerPooh1973.
Originally Posted By MsLindanne hummmmm...well I've kinda heard that too...the thing is I want to take a 7 day cruise, to the Caribbean, in the month of May, 2007 on the Disney Magic and because of the Mediterranean cruises, all that is available is the Western cruise. So I'll just take that and enjoy it!! Then maybe someday in the future I'll take the Eastern Cruise. Heck...it gives me another reason to sail. Like I really need one! lol.... ºoº
Originally Posted By tapdancemom I've taken a Western Caribbean cruise, but on the Celebrity line. I liked Cozemel and Grand Cayman, but not Jamaica. Very poor people, it's sad, and they will not leave you alone in the shops, but that's probably true on other islands as well. My sisters enjoyed the Eastern cruise they took, so actually I guess I'm being too much help, but hey a cruise to anywhere is fabulous so you can't go wrong wherever you choose.
Originally Posted By MsLindanne Thanks for the info...tapdancemom! I don't think Jamaica is included on this cruise, but the other 2 are of course. And like you said, a cruise to anywhere is going to be FABULOUS!! And even more FABULOUS as it will be onboard the Disney Magic. I am just one of those types that like to plan nearly everything and I want to be so prepared. It is going to be great just going again and were very excited. Thanks again!! ºoº
Originally Posted By tonyanton We just did the Western Caribbean...it had stops in Key West, Grand Cayman, and Costa Maya (usually Cozumel; this was because of the recent hurricane damage), as well as Castaway Cay.
Originally Posted By Chelledun Hi MsLindanne! Western Carribean is great. I've been to all the ports you mentioned except the private island via a Carnival cruise. I think Key West is one of the most fun ports I've ever been to. Be sure to have some key lime pie, and we really enjoyed the Pirate Museum! Cozumel has good shopping and close proximity to many ruins and other natural sites. Grand Cayman has beautiful water and very nice beaches. I've been on four cruises in the past eight years (with Carnival) and my parents have been on eight. We tend to prefer Western Caribbean because we've found the weather to be more stable and consistently beautiful. You will have a blast! If you have any more specific stops about the ports feel free to ask.
Originally Posted By Chelledun ^^Oh yeah, I wanted to add...I wrote a couple reviews online last week about my time in Key West. Here's Key West - <a href="http://www.epinions.com/content_223747608196" target="_blank">http://www.epinions.com/conten t_223747608196</a> Here's Pirate Soul Museum - <a href="http://www.epinions.com/content_223701995140" target="_blank">http://www.epinions.com/conten t_223701995140</a> Feel free to check them out!
Originally Posted By MsLindanne Thanks Chelledun! I really appreciated your report. It was great and I am really getting excited now! I was kinda disappointed not being able to go to the Eastern Caribbean, but the Western cruise sounds just as great. Besides we've never been there before so all of it is going to be new and exciting. I also read your reviews of Key West and the Pirate Museum. They sound awesome and I can't wait to try key lime pie. I wish we were going this year!! ha..ha.. Thank you again!! ºoº
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m <<Now were going to the Western Caribbean and these ports include: Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Disney's private Island, Castaway Cay. On the Eastern cruise, it includes ports: St. Marten, St. Thomas and of course Castaway Cay. Now I've heard the Eastern cruise is more popular but I don't really know why. And because of the Mediterranean cruises in May, 2007, the Eastern cruise on the Disney Magic have been canceled during the time we want to go...so this is why were going to the Western Caribbean. My question is how do these islands differ? Are ones better than the other? We've never been at all so I am trying to get an idea as to what to expect and how can we make our trip really enjoyable. Any help you can give would be great! Thank you!!>> Sorry for my hit and run post before. We've been to St. Thomas, St. Martin, and Grand Cayman (of the islands you listed). In Grand Cayman, we really loved snorkling with the sting rays. It was amazing. I would highly recommend it. We were there in April 2005 and there was still quite a bit of damage from Hurricane Ivan I believe (not sure which hurricane hit that island so hard). We met TiggerPooh and Mr. Tiggerpooh on St. Thomas. The island was very nice, what little we saw of it. Because we had plans to meet them for lunch, we didn't really do much sight seeing. We had planned to get up early and go to the beach before lunch, but we tend to be night owls and sleep in. We didn't get off the ship in St. Martin because it was pouring down rain that day. Many people got off the ship wearing ponchos made out of garbage bags they picked up at the pursers desk. We just let Tyler swim in the pool, while we read on the pool deck. I believe the islands in the Eastern Caribbean have less poor people, and are therefore cleaner and you don't have as many people bugging you. But Grand Cayman doensn't have that problem, and I'm not sure about the other port you meantioned.
