Grand vs Caribbean Princess itineraries

[jonesmen]

We are trying to decide which ship/itinerary is best for our Jan 2013 cruise. We are a family of four...me, DH, and two college aged sons. We are not huge sunbathing on the beach people or water sport people, but really like historical/cultural/art excursions/exploration. Have been to St. Maarten and St. Thomas, but it was 11 years ago, so not bothered . Have sailed from FLL before, but have not been to any of the other ports.

 

Grand itinerary: : Ft. Lauderdale, Florida | San Juan, Puerto Rico | St. Maarten | St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands | Princess Cays, Bahamas | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

 

Caribbean Princess itinerary: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida | Princess Cays, Bahamas | Curacao | Aruba | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

 

Advice on itineraries? And, any feedback on the ships? We've sailed on the Sun, Coral and Diamond, but not the Grand or Caribbean.

 

Thanks for any input!

[Host Caroline]

I've done both of these .. the St Maarten one about 5 times and the Aruba/curacao one in January this year on Crown Princess. I loved Aruba and Curacao... there is so much to see and do in both places. Willemstad in Curacao is world heritage site, oldest synagogue in Western hemisphere etc. and Boca Table on the west (?) coast is just stunning.. we had private guide in both places and for first trip there it was perfect. Aruba I liked but not as much.. coastline is also stunning but not much to see downtown and not beach people so....