Hawaii...or...Caribbean ??

R

robits2

Guest
Which cruise do you prefer?? And.... if the Caribbean..... east....west.... or south ??
 
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ondeck@sea

Guest
After 15 cruises in the Caribbean we finally took one to Hawaii last year. It was the best by far. The only problem with us is the long, long flight from New England and the high cost added on for this. I think the Hawaiian Islands are so much prettier and so much friendlier than the Caribbean there is no comparison. We toured all the four islands we stopped at and saw no poverty, no filth. We would go back there in a heartbeat.
After saying all that, we are going on a Caribbean cruise (Empress of the Seas) in November. It's called the Exotic Caribbean and will shop at some of the islands most ships can't go to. St. Barts, St. Kitts, Grenada, plus lots of others. We still love the Caribbean, especially the southern part, but Hawaii is the best. If we lived on the west coast it would be our first choice.
 
J

jmlisa

Guest
Hawaiian cruises are normally 11 nights, departing from either Ensenada, Mexico or Vancouver with 5 days at sea before arriving at the first Hawaiian island. Not much time in any one island (except an overnight in Maui), so it's a good way to "sample" the Hawaiian islands. I sailed the Legend from Ensenada in March, and although it was a great cruise overall, the weather was terrible (winter in Hawaii is rainy season!) And keep in mind the flying, especially if you are on the east coast. And also keep in mind that this cruise is much more expensive than a 7 night Caribbean and a MUCH older crowd, almost exclusively retirees.

Having done Hawaii and the Caribbean (eastern, western and southern), I would prefer the Caribbean. Each itinerary (east, west, south) has it's own high points. Western Caribbean I love Grand Cayman, but don't like Ocho Rios. Southern, I love Aruba, but you have to fly to San Juan (vs. perhaps driving to Florida). Eastern, I love the shopping and the islands of St. Thomas and St. Maarten.

If I absolutely had to choose, I would pick the Eastern Caribbean!

But of course, ANY cruise is wonderful!!!!!
 
S

Steph & Jerry

Guest
Jan,

I see that you're going on the Empress in Nov. We're booked on the same itinerary in March. I hope that you'll post a review so I can get a sneak peak.

Steph
 
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ondeck@sea

Guest
Steph, I sure will post a review. I'm looking forward to the Empress and hope the problems are all ironed out by then. We've been on the huge ships and the small ones so we are kind of looking forward to being on a smaller ship. Our favorite ship and cruise of all was on the Sun Viking which was so small they probably could have fit it in the prominade of the Adventure of the Seas. What a wonderful cozy feeling on that ship! I hope the Empress will be like that.
 


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