Help us choose our first cruise! Liberty or Glory? East or South Caribbean?

[almendrada]

I have been on several cruises and the itinerary out of San Juan was my favorite cruise thus far. In fact, we liked it so much that we are doing it again this summer! My husband and I are also in our 30's and found there were a lot fewer children on the San Juan cruise and more couples in their 30's. The beaches in St. Thomas are amazing. The water in Barbados was also incredible. My profile pic is from taking a surfing lesson in Barbados, which I highly recommend. St. Lucia is my absolute favorite port, and there are a few excursions that take you to a beach right next to the pitons. I know you said you aren't that adventurous, but there is even an excursion where you can hike up the Gros Piton. St. Kitts has a lot of historical landmarks, which are interesting. I agree with other comments that Maho Beach in St. Maarten is a blast and should not be missed. Orient beach is also beautiful, and there are some delicious bakeries on the French side. In sum, the southern itinerary has a great combination of beach days, amazing scenery, historical landmarks, and even some opportunities for adventure, if you want to try something different.

 

Ohh, that sounds heavenly. And the highlighted quote above (emphasis mine) might just make our decision for us. While we love our nieces and nephew, and would someday love to have children of our own (probably adopted), hordes of screaming kids do not sound like the peaceful vacation we need.

[welove2laugh]

I think out of San Juan it is the summitt. In any event definitely do the cruise out of SanJuan. You will likely be getting better weather as you are more south and as well you are at each island for a full day rather than a portion of the day. and get to more islands out of San Juan. We used to do cruises out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale but now for any Carribean do it out of San Juan. have fun.

[almendrada]

That is certainly a tough call although IMHO the ports in the second option as a whole are stronger. Whichever one you don't do you can always try the following year! They are all great stops! A cruise out of san juan may cost you more in airfare.

 

I think you've hit the nail on the head. That's the great thing about sailing with Carnival: if we keep up on our current savings plan, we should be able to afford another cruise the next year. :cool:

[almendrada]

Our first cruise involved some of the ports in your southern option. We loved it! (21 ppl of varying ages) Coming from Canada, we wanted warmth more than anything.

 

This Christmas we will try the Glory and some eastern ports. My husband is most looking forward to San Juan.

 

St Maarten is my fav stop thus far. (Grand Cayman a close second) If you are interested in a tour on St Maarten,, it can be well worth it. We visited 3 beaches (Orient, Maho and one other) and our guide gave us lots of info about the island.

 

Thanks for your reply! St Maarten does fascinate me: two countries on one little island! :)

[almendrada]

I think out of San Juan it is the summitt. In any event definitely do the cruise out of SanJuan. You will likely be getting better weather as you are more south and as well you are at each island for a full day rather than a portion of the day. and get to more islands out of San Juan. We used to do cruises out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale but now for any Carribean do it out of San Juan. have fun.

 

Thanks for the perspective! I think I am definitely starting to lean that way.

[rs12065]

We have been on the Glory, Valor and Conquest, all Conquest class ships, as is the Liberty, so all 3 ships have similar layout although interior decor differs on all of these ships.

Last January we did the exact same southern itinerary on the Valor with my wife and extended family. It was port intensive, but it was incredible.

 

WE just love leaving out of San Juan, and in fact this was the second time we left from there. Love Old San Juan and getting around is easy, especially with the free shuttle buses going to the historical forts. Also like the fact that the ship leaves at 10:00 pm or so and we can get an extra whole day on the ship.

 

In order to make this a relaxing cruise, we spent most days in port at beaches, except in St. Lucia, where we took an incredible excursion to the Pitons which included a tour of this beautiful island, with stops at a banana plantation and an active volcano with nearby mud baths.

 

given a choice, we would opt for leaving out of San Juan

[titlediva]

I've done both ships and both itineraries. As far as the ships, it's a toss up. Both conquest class so layouts are the same. As far as ports, don't get me wrong....Southern was fantastic, but exhausting!!! St. Thomas is my favorite port, and I think Glory will be a much more relaxing vacation for you. Take it easy this year and if you do well, take Liberty next time! Whatever you choose, just enjoy it!!!

[almendrada]

We have been on the Glory, Valor and Conquest, all Conquest class ships, as is the Liberty, so all 3 ships have similar layout although interior decor differs on all of these ships.

Last January we did the exact same southern itinerary on the Valor with my wife and extended family. It was port intensive, but it was incredible.

 

WE just love leaving out of San Juan, and in fact this was the second time we left from there. Love Old San Juan and getting around is easy, especially with the free shuttle buses going to the historical forts. Also like the fact that the ship leaves at 10:00 pm or so and we can get an extra whole day on the ship.

 

In order to make this a relaxing cruise, we spent most days in port at beaches, except in St. Lucia, where we took an incredible excursion to the Pitons which included a tour of this beautiful island, with stops at a banana plantation and an active volcano with nearby mud baths.

 

given a choice, we would opt for leaving out of San Juan

 

This is great advice. I love the idea that we can see all those places and still keep it low-key. And that St. Lucia excursion: do you happen to remember the name of it, and which operator it was through? Did you book it through Carnival, or did you find it on your own?

[almendrada]

I've done both ships and both itineraries. As far as the ships, it's a toss up. Both conquest class so layouts are the same. As far as ports, don't get me wrong....Southern was fantastic, but exhausting!!! St. Thomas is my favorite port, and I think Glory will be a much more relaxing vacation for you. Take it easy this year and if you do well, take Liberty next time! Whatever you choose, just enjoy it!!!

 

Thanks for the perspective. I mean, either way I win, right? I'm on a cruise! :cool:

[lunagirl]

I am totally partial to the Southern Route and will be on the Liberty to repeat that route on May of 2015. I also did that cruise on the Valor in May of 2014.

 

Here are my two cents (or maybe 5 cents, I am windy):

 

You can find deals to fly into San Juan on Southwest (once their schedule is open) that might make the itineraries even more similar in price with the other itinerary from Florida. It also ended up being a less expensive cruise for us over all because I scheduled excursions, beach plans, etc for each port and didn't spend much money on the ship. On a cruise with lots of ship days, I can spend some $$$ each sea day on drinks, photos, ship shops, casino, etc while I am just wondering around. I am not a huge souvenir person on the islands, so if I spend $50 on souvenirs in a port, that is a lot and I must have picked up stuff for my munchkins. Several of our excursions included food and drinks, so those were also savings.

 

Leaving from San Juan will probably mean that you get fewer traditionally aged college kids that are cruising for Spring Break.

 

The San Juan itinerary is pretty flipping great. There is a reason why so many people repeat it.

 

Both my husband and I are also in our thirties with extra pounds. We had an amazing time and didn't feel limited at all. You can always do as little or as much as you want. We tended to choose lots of things to do on port days that involved snorkel and water activities. Later afternoon naps were also a favorite! I saw and did things that were very unique to this itinerary, and just loved it.

 

If you like history, there is a lot to do and see on the Southern itinerary, but you can still go to San Juan on the other one.

 

The Southern itinerary gives you the opportunity to exhaust yourself because it is so port intensive. I am not sure about having it as a "first cruise" because you won't have as much time on the ship to get a grip on the cruising experience and really relax.

 

I felt that by taking a nap after getting back on the ship for an hour and a half, or waiting to get off the ship until 10am, I was missing out because there were things I wanted to see and do in each port. The early port times also kept us from partaking in as many of the late night activities. I am SUCH a planner and hate feeling like I am missing anything.

 

Lots of info, I know, but I hope it helps!

 

Have fun!

[mousey]

You really cannot go wrong with either of those itineraries. I've cruised to all of the islands on both of them and loved each single one. I'd have to say St. Lucia and San Juan were my favorites. St. Lucia because of the snorkeling and San Juan because of the old part of town and the history. Also, I loved the food in San Juan. Yum! Stay away from the tourist restaurants and eat with the locals and you'll get real authentic food.

 

Whichever trip you choose, I hope you and your husband have an awesome time!:D

[Island Crazed]

I'd go with Eastern to save the $$ of having to go in/out of SJ. I've done two Easterns and love the ports. Our only activity is snorkeling and I I assure you it's easy even for non-active folks. We loved the trivia on our carnival cruises. We like the history side too. No matter which you'll have fun.

[arhalster]

Minnesota, eh? I'm from Duluth. Check Southwest. They fly from MSP - San Juan. It's not a terrible price either!

[cruisexlife]

I just did that route on Glory to Nassau instead of Half Moon Cay and wrote an entire picture review. Click the link in my signature.

 

I'm booked on the Liberty for that itinerary, and I can't speak on it, but from the many review I've been reading, I would go with Liberty. Itinerary looks gorgeous.

[Cuizer2]

What a fantastic idea! I've never ridden a Segway before, but always wanted to try it. Is it difficult? Do you know if there are weight restrictions?

 

It takes a few minutes to get the hang of it. I weigh 260. Nonetheless, if there is a weight restriction, you will know about it before you sign up for the tour.

[valentinebaby1]

We did the Valor southern trip in Oct 2013 and are repeating the itinerary on the Liberty in Sept 2015. Can't wait!

 

The Valor was our first cruise. We are in our 40's and we...well I am a very fluffy person and my husband is only slightly fluffy. I was afraid my weight would hold him back from doing what he wanted but it wasn't really an issue. Most of the tours we did didn't involve a lot of walking. The most walking we did was around Old San Juan, but there is a free trolly (although we found it to be full most of the time we tried to get on). You can decide how active you want to be at each port...most of the island tours don't involve a lot of walking, or just cab to a beach and relax. Sure, if you wanted to hike the Pitons, there's an option for that, but there's plenty to do that doesn't involve being particularly fit.

 

My review of our first trip is in my siggy...check it out! And on our next trip we're staying a full extra week in Puerto Rico.

 

Look into getting a rewards credit card to help with your trip...that's what we do and we haven't had to buy a plane ticket for either trip to Puerto Rico and even had a between cruise trip to Cozumel with free airfare!

[almendrada]

I am totally partial to the Southern Route and will be on the Liberty to repeat that route on May of 2015. I also did that cruise on the Valor in May of 2014.

 

Here are my two cents (or maybe 5 cents, I am windy):

 

You can find deals to fly into San Juan on Southwest (once their schedule is open) that might make the itineraries even more similar in price with the other itinerary from Florida.

I will check on this. I am a little nervous because of Southwest's reputation for how it treats overweight passengers.

It also ended up being a less expensive cruise for us over all because I scheduled excursions, beach plans, etc for each port and didn't spend much money on the ship. On a cruise with lots of ship days, I can spend some $$$ each sea day on drinks, photos, ship shops, casino, etc while I am just wondering around. I am not a huge souvenir person on the islands, so if I spend $50 on souvenirs in a port, that is a lot and I must have picked up stuff for my munchkins. Several of our excursions included food and drinks, so those were also savings.

We like the idea of possibly getting off in some ports, hanging out at a beach near the cruise terminal, and getting back on the ship for lunch, and then getting off again to enjoy the rest of the day in port. I do want to save money. That said, I'm not sure how much I would spend on the ship. I drink moderately, but DH doesn't at all... neither one of us gambles... and I can't see myself spending any money in the ship's shops.

 

Leaving from San Juan will probably mean that you get fewer traditionally aged college kids that are cruising for Spring Break.

Now THIS is a huge plus, one which I hadn't considered. I mean, don't get me wrong: I really like my classmates. It's just that we disagree a bit on what exactly constitutes "fun". :rolleyes:

 

The San Juan itinerary is pretty flipping great. There is a reason why so many people repeat it.

 

I'm definitely getting that impression! I'm really glad I started this post, because I'm learning so much through everyone's experience.

 

Both my husband and I are also in our thirties with extra pounds. We had an amazing time and didn't feel limited at all. You can always do as little or as much as you want. We tended to choose lots of things to do on port days that involved snorkel and water activities. Later afternoon naps were also a favorite! I saw and did things that were very unique to this itinerary, and just loved it.

 

If you like history, there is a lot to do and see on the Southern itinerary, but you can still go to San Juan on the other one.

 

The Southern itinerary gives you the opportunity to exhaust yourself because it is so port intensive. I am not sure about having it as a "first cruise" because you won't have as much time on the ship to get a grip on the cruising experience and really relax.

 

I felt that by taking a nap after getting back on the ship for an hour and a half, or waiting to get off the ship until 10am, I was missing out because there were things I wanted to see and do in each port. The early port times also kept us from partaking in as many of the late night activities. I am SUCH a planner and hate feeling like I am missing anything.

 

Now that you mention it, I think naps will be huge for us. On a normal day, my husband (because of his shift work) is up before 2 a.m. to get in to work by 4 a.m. Normally I am up by 4 to work on homework before I get in to work at 6:30. 6 a.m. is a serious sleep-in for us, and only happens on the weekends! So we're early risers, but that also means we hit the sack quite early. I don't want to miss comedy, shows, etc., so I think an afternoon nap is going to have to happen every single day for us!

 

Lots of info, I know, but I hope it helps!

 

Have fun!

 

You have been incredibly helpful! Thanks so much for taking the time. :)

[almendrada]

You really cannot go wrong with either of those itineraries. I've cruised to all of the islands on both of them and loved each single one. I'd have to say St. Lucia and San Juan were my favorites. St. Lucia because of the snorkeling and San Juan because of the old part of town and the history. Also, I loved the food in San Juan. Yum! Stay away from the tourist restaurants and eat with the locals and you'll get real authentic food.

 

Whichever trip you choose, I hope you and your husband have an awesome time!:D

 

Thank you so much! What was your favorite restaurant in San Juan?

[almendrada]

I'd go with Eastern to save the $$ of having to go in/out of SJ. I've done two Easterns and love the ports. Our only activity is snorkeling and I I assure you it's easy even for non-active folks. We loved the trivia on our carnival cruises. We like the history side too. No matter which you'll have fun.

 

Thanks for the response! We're both nerds, so I bet we'd love the trivia too :) I definitely enjoy that kind of thing.

[almendrada]

Minnesota, eh? I'm from Duluth. Check Southwest. They fly from MSP - San Juan. It's not a terrible price either!

 

Thank you! I have to confess, I've been more than a little motivated by this cold snap to start thinking in the cruise direction. We live in Southwest Minneapolis, so I don't think we've gotten it nearly as bad as you folks, but it's still not for the faint of heart.

 

Stay warm!

[almendrada]

I just did that route on Glory to Nassau instead of Half Moon Cay and wrote an entire picture review. Click the link in my signature.

 

I'm booked on the Liberty for that itinerary, and I can't speak on it, but from the many review I've been reading, I would go with Liberty. Itinerary looks gorgeous.

 

Oh, fantastic! I can't wait to read your review! Thank you :)

[almendrada]

It takes a few minutes to get the hang of it. I weigh 260. Nonetheless, if there is a weight restriction, you will know about it before you sign up for the tour.

Thank you, that's really helpful. I will look into it :)

[almendrada]

We did the Valor southern trip in Oct 2013 and are repeating the itinerary on the Liberty in Sept 2015. Can't wait!

 

The Valor was our first cruise. We are in our 40's and we...well I am a very fluffy person and my husband is only slightly fluffy. I was afraid my weight would hold him back from doing what he wanted but it wasn't really an issue. Most of the tours we did didn't involve a lot of walking. The most walking we did was around Old San Juan, but there is a free trolly (although we found it to be full most of the time we tried to get on). You can decide how active you want to be at each port...most of the island tours don't involve a lot of walking, or just cab to a beach and relax. Sure, if you wanted to hike the Pitons, there's an option for that, but there's plenty to do that doesn't involve being particularly fit.

 

My review of our first trip is in my siggy...check it out! And on our next trip we're staying a full extra week in Puerto Rico.

 

Look into getting a rewards credit card to help with your trip...that's what we do and we haven't had to buy a plane ticket for either trip to Puerto Rico and even had a between cruise trip to Cozumel with free airfare!

I am really looking forward to reading your review. It's nice to read about these things from someone whose experiences/limitations might be similar to mine, so that is truly appreciated.

 

And wow! Your rewards card must be amazing! We have one through our credit union, but I think we must not use it enough. Free airfare! That's awesome!

Edited February 17, 2015 by almendrada

[arhalster]

Thank you! I have to confess, I've been more than a little motivated by this cold snap to start thinking in the cruise direction. We live in Southwest Minneapolis, so I don't think we've gotten it nearly as bad as you folks, but it's still not for the faint of heart.

 

 

 

Stay warm!

 

 

Thank you! It's been a pretty good winter this year. Nothing like last year. We leave on the Liberty next week, and I can't wait! Every minute that goes by, is a minute closer to above freezing temperatures! :)

[pghsteelerfan]

I realize I've been a little "late to the party" here but I can tell you that we've been on both Glory and Liberty and also have done both itineraries you mentioned, the eastern & southern.

 

To be honest, you can't go wrong with either itinerary or ship. Our personal favorite itinerary was the southern out of San Juan, which we did on Valor, the sister ship of Liberty and Glory. We love port stops and less sea days but that's just our preference. The scenery of the southern itinerary is spectacular and we loved being on our balcony or up on the panorama deck as we sailed in. We always went to Panorama Deck 10 as we sailed away, just so beautiful and relaxing. When we did that cruise, we flew into San Juan the day before and just kicked back on the beach at the hotel that afternoon and LOVED it! Once we boarded the ship (around 12:30PM), we got something to eat & drink, waited for cabins to be ready to drop off carry-on luggage then got back off to explore San Juan and went to the fort.

 

We also loved the eastern itinerary and HMC is just gorgeous but it is missed occasionally due to weather at times since it's a tender port. We had no problem when we went and had beautiful weather. We were on Glory for that itinerary.

 

As for activity levels, there is something for everyone on either of these itineraries, so you can go at your own pace and still be able to see a lot.

 

It was mentioned before that Glory and Liberty are sister ships, same layout and the differences are mainly in the decor. I will have to say that Liberty wins that one with beautiful decor but there is nothing shabby about Glory either.

 

Which every ship/itinerary you decide, I hope you have a wonderful time on your first cruise and hope you end up enjoying cruising as much as we do.