7-day vs. 10 or 11-day Caribbean cruises?

[elycelynne]

Aside from the obvious difference in the number of days, what else is different about the longer (by my standards, anyway) cruises? Are there some additional entertainment options or other activities that aren't available on the 7-day cruises? Is there any difference in the general shipboard atmosphere?

[SmokinActuary]

The longer the cruise the older the demographic is a fair statement. I can't tell you what HAL would do differently on a longer cruise.

[c-cruise]

I have never really noticed much difference in the atmosphere or activities on a 10 day vs a 7 day Caribbean. Maybe a bit more relaxed feeling onboard because people have those few extra days to see and do what they want on the ship. They usually stick in a 3rd formal night on the 10-11 day itineraries. The 10 day caribbean itineraries are generally more port intensive. Roughly same number of sea days as a 7 day itinerary with those extra days being spent in port.

[AZNative2000]

The longer the better. The airfare cost is usually the same for either 7-day or 10-days.

 

If you can afford the time, why not get that added port stop or added relaxing sea day when the per-day cost is less.:)

[SwissMyst]

Taking the longest and Eastern Caribbean route we think is the best. More interesting ports, more variety and less mass tourism impact. The short cruises all seem to go to the same ports and are often there on the same days. The longer cruises can often be the only ship in port which makes a big difference too since they have more time to have more flexible schedules than the Saturday to Saturday people mover busses. Be sure to check you are not sharing an itinerary with one of the new huge 6000 passenger behemoths from port to port on a shorter cruise. While this port schedule website is not always accurate it can give you an idea of how many ships might be in on the same days for any itinerary you are considering: http://www.cruisetimetables.com/