Only 3 port stops on a 7 night eastern carib cruise. Why?

[mikeerdas]

I'm booked for a 7 night eastern Caribbean cruise out of Port Canaveral.

 

Why are there only 3 port stops for a 7 night cruise? Are the distances really that great, or is it a way for the company to make more money (e.g. captive "audience" = people will spend more on the ship)?

 

I know some people enjoy sea days more than port days, and I will take advantage of exploring the ship and all it has to offer. Part of the problem, and it's my problem of course--I booked the cruise--is that I never thought I'd like cruising.

 

Then I took a port intensive cruise to Hawaii with Norwegian. Loved it because I rented a car each day (avoiding expensive excursions) and drove out to what I wanted to see. Each day was a real adventure. My background was all independent travel before my first cruise, and I never thought I'd ever hear myself extolling the virtues of cruising to others. But the port intensive Hawaii cruise sold me.

 

I especially loved the overnights in Maui and Kauai. Thinking it's a shame there's no overnight in St. Thomas on the cruise I'm booked for. Probably a "never again" thing for me--I want more time at real destinations to go hiking, etc. Subtract the Coco Cay stop, and there are only 2 "real" port stops.

 

Anyway, why is it only 3 port stops? Because it caters to people who prefer sea days (nothing wrong with that), distance, or something more nefarious (keep people on the ships buying alcohol, food, and gambling in the casino)?

 

Would love to do a eastern Mediterranean cruise next--most are very port intensive. The real problem is that flights from North Carolina to Italy (where most of the eastern Med cruises depart from) cost about as much per person, or more, than the cruise per person! Strange, but I checked flights to Italy with certain flights to *Asia*, and the flights to Asia were only USD $100 more expensive than flights to Europe--which made no sense with fuel costs, etc.

 

I'm actually going on a RCL eastern carib cruise this time (no replies on my RCL thread), but I checked and Carnival had similar itineraries for their 7 night eastern carib cruises. There must be some reason these aren't port intensive cruises.

 

Thanks.

 

Mike

[firefly333]

Each port adds about $50ish to the total cruise cost. Most people balk if prices go up, and Carnival tries to keep the prices down to attract more folks to buy their cruises.

 

Most 7 day cruises .... on most cruiselines, not just Carnival, are 3 ports. 4 is unusual.

[Sandgnat]

Have you checked out the Victory out of San Juan? That one is very port intense. One of the CC'ers is trying to get a group together for April 2010. The Destiny is coming to Miami and the Victory is going to SJ.

[98Charlie]

For some people the ship is a destination unto itself. We've enjoyed the Carnival 8 night itinerary with 3 ports (Saints Martin, Lucia & Kitts). 2 sea days on each end is great......for us and a bunch of other people.

 

We've done some 7 night-5 ports and find that at the end we are too tired to really enjoy the last few days. Again, it's just us.

 

Charlie

[Tapi]

The distance on the Eastern Caribbean definitely plays a role on the number of stops. For example, from Miami to St. Thomas is over 1,000 nautical miles. Most cruise ship's maximum speed is somewhere in the range of 21-23 knots so you can quickly see why they can't add more stops to these itineraries.

 

Also, economics do play a part in these itinerary. Back in the old days (and still true with some cruise lines and itineraries), the purpose of cruising was visiting several destinations. Today, with ships over 100,000 tons (and soon over 200,000!) and many things to do onboard, The ship is a destination in itself, so it's logical that the cruise lines will build itineraries where guests can spend more time (and money) onboard.

 

If you're looking at more port intensive Caribbean itineraries, maybe you should look into a Southern Caribbean from San Juan. Royal Caribbean has two ships from San Juan. At least on Carnival, you will visit a different port every single day, and surprisingly, the airfare to San Juan isn't much more expensive than flying to Miami, if you're flying during the low season (if you're going during the high season, forget it!).

[Snorkel2Much]

Carnival has the 7 day Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk sailings. NCL has a 7 day out of Miami that hits Samana DR, St Thomas, Tortola, and Great Stirrup. That's about as port intensive as you can get for a 7 day Eastern out of Florida, at least until Cuba eventually opens up. ;) I'm sure other lines have something similar.

 

In other words, "port intensive" and "non-port intensive" 7 day Eastern's are available, maybe it's not too late for you to switch. :)

[vacruizer]

Carnival has several itineraries with 4 port stops in 7 days along with a sailing from San Juan with 6 ports and no sea days. Also check into the Legend from Tampa for 4 ports.

 

For me, personally, we have done two 7 day cruises with 4 port days and found them exhausting. We had a great time but just felt worn out after all those ports. We also took an 8 day with only 3 ports and 4 sea days - that was fantastic for us - plenty of time to just relax on the ship and not feel like you were sightseeing in port for 4 days and then trying to cram all the ship activities into two days - one of which you were packing to go home.

 

But there are a variety of itineraries out there for both lots of ports or lots of sea days. I would be happy with a 7 day cruise to nowhere if they offered it, though.

[brcruiser]

I had the same feeling when I was looking for an Eastern Carr. cruise until I found the Carnival Freedom in Dec. It has 5 ports-San Juan, Tortola, St. Thomas, Antiqua, and Nassau. Freedom alternates between West & East during that time so your dates are limited a little, but if you can find a date that is good for you I think it has the best itinerary if you are looking to see a lot of the islands.

[G'ma]

Some people prefer a port-intensive cruise; others prefer more sea days. There are plenty of cruises that offer both - something for everyone.

 

It's always been this way so is not a "new" thing and has nothing to do with saving money.

 

The cruise lines are shuffling things around some in order to save on fuel, but there has always been a variety of cruises to choose from.

 

For me, they could just cruise into international waters and do figure "8's" for a week and I'd be happy.:p

[miclane001]

For some people the ship is a destination unto itself. We've enjoyed the Carnival 8 night itinerary with 3 ports (Saints Martin, Lucia & Kitts). 2 sea days on each end is great......for us and a bunch of other people.

 

We've done some 7 night-5 ports and find that at the end we are too tired to really enjoy the last few days. Again, it's just us.

 

Charlie

We booked this same itinerary on the Miracle for Thanksgiving week specifically for the sea days. I love them! For me, Caribbean cruises are for rest and relaxation.

[Carolinamamasita]

I have that one booked for 2009

it visits a different island every day

very nice itinerary , I have heard a lot

of positives about it

however some people suggest that it is rather strenuous

and that you may need a vacation after your vacation

 

if you like a new port every day,

perhaps you should check that one out

:cool:

Im hoping that I enjoy it

[Gayle V]

I totally agree with G'Ma. A seven day cruise to nowhere sounds like heaven to me. And when it comes to ports, the private island stops are tops on my list. Obviously the cruise you are talking about was designed for people with preferences like mine.

 

For yourself, why on earth would you even consider a cruise that does not offer what you really want? There are plenty of port intensive cruises to choose from, you need to look at those. Cruises are too big of an investment to waste on a poor fit.

[Kurbanfan]

Some people prefer a port-intensive cruise; others prefer more sea days. There are plenty of cruises that offer both - something for everyone.

 

 

Port intensive for port intensive people such as us would mean more 7 day cruises with port days being anywhere from 5 to 7 days. They don't offer plenty of those cruises. But they do offer an abundance of cruises with more sea days.........

[Kurbanfan]

I had the same feeling when I was looking for an Eastern Carr. cruise until I found the Carnival Freedom in Dec. It has 5 ports-San Juan, Tortola, St. Thomas, Antiqua, and Nassau. Freedom alternates between West & East during that time so your dates are limited a little, but if you can find a date that is good for you I think it has the best itinerary if you are looking to see a lot of the islands.

 

That sounds like a good one. Now only if they add Virgin Gorda to the mix which is feesible it would be ideal for me............

[mikeerdas]

Thanks for all the replies. I knowingly chose the Eastern Carib for my wife--she wanted to experience a larger ship and more sea days.

 

But we're both jazzed about doing a port-intensive Eastern Mediterranean cruise for our next one. But I'll definitely consider cruising out of San Juan, PR if I want to do a port-intensive Caribbean cruise (would love to see Dominica for the hiking, etc).

 

I already knew cruises out of San Juan, PR were more port intensive, but I looked into airfare and that jacked up the total price of the cruise considerably. The ability to drive to Port Canaveral or Tampa in a day makes cruising a lot more affordable for us. Been learning a lot more about cruising and airfare on some other CC threads, so I'll have to consider San Juan in the future.

 

Anyway, thanks for all the help. I've learned a lot.

[ray98]

I agree with some of the above. 3 port days on a 7 night is about enough for me. Any more than that and I end up drained.

[Monkeythyme]

If you don't mind sailing from San Juan or Barbados, you can get six and seven ports in seven days. Last time I checked, air fare to San Juan was less than to Miami from where I live, so I am seriously considering that option myself.

[clinthi]

I'm looking forward to my 7 day/3 port cruise.

If you think about it: 2 days are eaten up with embarkation and debarkation-so that leaves 5 days of pure vacation.

Of the 5 days: 3 is spent touring (ports) and 2 is spent relaxing--that is the perfect combo for me to come back refreshed!

 

Plus with only 3 ports, I don't have to budget as tightly for excursions!

[bplazo]

I could'nt book a cruise with alot of sea days. I can tolerate one or maybe two sea days but I always find them so boring. I love to get off the ship and visit the ports and do interesting excursions.

[theimaginetree]

I just returned from the Glory 7-night Eastern Caribbean (August 2-August 9) and 3 ports was definitely enough. You embark on Saturday, stop in the Bahamas on Sunday, have a day of rest, then St Thomas and St Maarten back-to-back, then two days of rest, then you're back. After the two ports those two sea days are needed. I had a great time and would definitely do it again, although I am also thinking about sailing out of San Juan to see more ports. Both Tampa and Orlando have cheap round-trip flights to San Juan, so if you can drive to the ports you should be able to drive to either of the airports easily enough.

[jayscore]

I booked the Valor Eastern and now it's Western! Look up this subject on these boards. I wanted less ports, but now I'm resigned to the fact I will see two new (to me) ports. Oh, well, who says I have to get off the ship?:rolleyes:

[racingraysswimmom]

I am VERY mad at Carnival for taking our Eastern Caribbean cruise and changing the WHOLE itinerary to Western Caribbean with one additional port and one less sea day. I have done western caribbean 2 years in a row..... We cannot cancel because we have booked our airfare already. Not only are we stuck, but the other 17 staterooms in our group.

I already know that Carnival has the right to substitute any port but a WHOLE itinerary! Anyone else upset?:mad: By the way. Carnival did not contact our Travel Agency.... we found out by a fluke......we were checking shore excursions.

[Susie51]

I'm sorry to hear about the complete change of your cruise.

 

Also, Kurbanfan, I didn't realize Virgin Gorda had a cruise dock or facilities for tendering for a cruise ship. I know it is a popular spot, but I thought you had to take a smaller boat to reach it.

[Leo Jay]

I totally agree with G'Ma. A seven day cruise to nowhere sounds like heaven to me.

 

+1 In my dreams. At least a sea day between ports. I don't care for back-to-back port days, but you take what you can get.

[tiger belle]

I am VERY mad at Carnival for taking our Eastern Caribbean cruise and changing the WHOLE itinerary to Western Caribbean with one additional port and one less sea day.

 

 

swimmom: what ship is that and what sail dates?