Need help deciding on Southern Itinerary options on Adventure of the Seas

[CruisinBlondie28]

We are wanting to book a cruise for next summer and I have never done a Southern itinerary. I am having trouble deciding between the itineraries offered since I've never been. I have done Eastern, but it was in 2003. I would love to get feedback from anyone on their favorite or not so favorite ports! Also, any really fun excursions you did in a certain port? Hoping that will help me make a decision so we can get something booked... eek! :)

 

Option #1 San Juan - St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados

 

Option #2 San Juan - St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Curacao, Aruba

 

Option #3 San Juan - St. Maarten, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba

Edited April 21, 2015 by CruisinBlondie28

[Clarea]

If you like snorkeling, don't miss Bonaire. Best snorkeling we've ever seen.

[dacsmom]

I had the same dilemma and eventually chose #1 because of the stop in Barbados. Friends told me the snorkeling is fantastic and that made my decision for me. I am also flying in to San Juan a few days early to explore.

[Ms Jo UK]

Love the Southern Caribbean so all of them are great choices but my favourites in order are

 

1

3

2

[Max Density]

We are wanting to book a cruise for next summer and I have never done a Southern itinerary. I am having trouble deciding between the itineraries offered since I've never been. I have done Eastern, but it was in 2003. I would love to get feedback from anyone on their favorite or not so favorite ports! Also, any really fun excursions you did in a certain port? Hoping that will help me make a decision so we can get something booked... eek! :)

 

Option #1 San Juan - St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados

 

Option #2 San Juan - St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Curacao, Aruba

 

Option #3 San Juan - St. Maarten, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba

I did Option #2 last year. The best part of St. Thomas is going over to Trunk Bay in St. John, IMHO. My family and I enjoyed the Rainforest tour on St. Kitts a lot. Great shopping to be found in Curacao. Aruba was so nice, we seriously considered spending our vacation there this year instead of another cruise!

 

If I were the one making the decision, I'd go with Option #3, because I love Orient Beach on St. Maarten, I've heard great things about Bonaire, and I would greatly enjoy going back to Curacao & Aruba. :)

[mattpro]

#3

Aruba

 

Palm Beach (hi-rise section ) swim in the clear Caribbean with wavelets like a lake, lay on the beach which always has a gentle breeze. Wind surf, butterfly farm, bird sanctuary, casinos, major hotels, shopping, dine at Madame Jeanette's.

 

Eagle Beach - (low-rise section ) swim

 

Baby Beach - furthest from ship - snorkel

 

Things to see - California Lighthouse, Natural Bridge, Natural Pool, Palo Alto Church, aloe manufacturing plant, old gold mines & caves for sperlunking.

 

At port - upscale shopping mall, casino - day charters for deep sea fishing at Seaport Village - submarine tour.

 

Curacao - shop at cruise port - cross a pontoon bridge for more shopping and dining - Lion's Dive for swimming and snorkeling

 

Bonaire - snorkeling - least developed of ABC islands - island tour - see what Aruba was like 25 years ago.

 

St. Maarten - Phillipsburg port area - shopping, swimming, casinos.

 

Marigot - (French side) shopping , dining by the waterfront - pastries at Sarafina's. Orient Beach for nude bathing

 

Near airport - (Dutch side) Mojo Beach to watch airplanes fly directly over your head - Mullet Bay (1/4 mile away) debatedly the nicest beach in all of the Caribbean

 

Island tour (Bernard's)

 

You can go to uTube video and see all of these places, things on your computer.

 

The southern Caribbean is my favorite destination.

[ColoradoGurl]

We are wanting to book a cruise for next summer and I have never done a Southern itinerary. I am having trouble deciding between the itineraries offered since I've never been. I have done Eastern, but it was in 2003. I would love to get feedback from anyone on their favorite or not so favorite ports! Also, any really fun excursions you did in a certain port? Hoping that will help me make a decision so we can get something booked... eek! :)

 

Option #1 San Juan - St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados

 

Option #2 San Juan - St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Curacao, Aruba

 

Option #3 San Juan - St. Maarten, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba

 

If you're a scuba diver (which I assume you're not or this would be a no brainer and you wouldn't even be asking ��), go for option 3. The "ABC" islands are some of the best known Caribbean islands for scuba diving because of the great reefs and sea life.

 

If that isn't an interest for you, then honestly I would go for the cheaper option that gets the most islands because they all look like great itineraries with islands that have beautiful beaches and a lot to do. Some people seem on the fence about St. Lucia (I'm excited to see the Pitons), but other than that people seem to like all of the islands in each of your itineraries. Aruba does have a lot of wind, so while the town is pretty and safe, hanging on the beach for the day includes a lot of sand in your eyes, hair and drinks. So unless you're going for water sports or restaurants I don't know that Aruba would be high on my list.

Edited April 21, 2015 by ColoradoGurl

[01Sweetpea]

We are doing an abbreviated version of option #1 on May 3rd...sea day, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua & St. Maarten. (Adventure OTS)

 

We've never been to Barbados or Antigua and I've always wanted to swim with the turtles. :)

[trev71]

Option #1

 

 

only because that is the one we picked for our upcoming cruise in May :)

[Luv06012012]

I am doing option #1 on May 9th. It is a busy itinerary that's for sure! I've been to St. Maarten, Aruba, St. Thomas and Curacao before. They are all gorgeous in their own way.

 

I am looking forward to snorkeling in Barbados with the turtles.

 

I think any of the itineraries you pick you will be thrilled with. Do you want four port days or five?

 

Best of luck deciding!!!

[cruiseguy1016]

You will not be disappointed in any of those choices, All of the southern islands have plenty to offer whether you're into water sports, beaches, sightseeing or shopping. Since most people are recommending one or the other because of the ports, I'll give you another thing to consider. #1 will be 5 islands in 5 days. That's a pretty busy schedule. Can you handle that? Your last day will be at sea so you'll get to wind down after a busy schedule. #2 looks like 2 stops, a sea day, 2 more stops and a sea day at the end. #3 looks like a sea day, 4 stops and then a sea day. Because all of the islands will provide a great adventure no matter which itinerary you choose, maybe you should consider how busy you want your schedule to be.

[cruiseapril]

We would choose 2 or 3 for Aruba and Curacao- our favorite ports.

So much to see and do on each island.

 

Palm Beach, in Aruba, is beautiful.

 

Curacao has many nice cove beaches for snorkeling and the town of Willemstad is great for walking and sightseeing.

 

Have fun choosing and planning.

[cruiselife4me]

#1 is what I would choose although I see the itinerary has changed up a bit since we booked ours.

We are going to St Thomas, St Croix, Antigua, St. Lucia and Grenada- a bit too port heavy for me but I'll make St. Croix a self-imposed sea day.

 

Have a blast!

Mary

[bouhunter]

#1 for sure. Curacao and Aruba are nice, but the other islands on the first option are MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL :D