cruisenuts4life Posted January 22, 2009 #1 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I am undecided between these two. Southern is Dominica,Grenada,Bonaire and Aruba. Eastern is St. Ditts,Barbados,St.Lucia and Antigua. Never been to either any suggestions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mizLORInj Posted January 22, 2009 #2 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Have cruised to all (except St. Kitts) and would do them all again. Favorite spots were Bonaire & Antigua for me. Do you prefer more/fewer days at sea--maybe would help decide. Or maybe southern this year, eastern next year? That's how we decided. ENJOY--whichever you choose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisenuts4life Posted January 22, 2009 Author #3 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I do like the sea days but both have the same amount at sea. My sister went to Aruba and didnt like it. I have heard that Aruba is better on the other side rather than where the ship docks.What is best to do in Aruba? Thanks, Diane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob & Beckys mom Posted January 22, 2009 #4 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I do like the sea days but both have the same amount at sea. My sister went to Aruba and didnt like it. I have heard that Aruba is better on the other side rather than where the ship docks.What is best to do in Aruba? Thanks, Diane Go to the beach!! I was not overly impressed with Aruba & I want to get to St. Kitts for sure. I also like the newer ships, maybe that will help? Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJM001 Posted January 22, 2009 #5 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Both are great. I would suggest the cruise that visits Dominica and that you make sure to go ashore and tour that rather unique island. It is quite an experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tak8 Posted January 22, 2009 #6 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Both itineraries have great islands. I really liked Grenada and Bonaire. I enjoy beaches and snorkeling. I was not impressed with St. Kitts. It may have been the day we were there weather wise, but the water was not as pretty as some of the other islands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sackman Posted January 22, 2009 #7 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I absolutely love St. Lucia. It's a flat out gorgeous island. Having said that, I'd pick the other itinerary as I haven't been to those islands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcacace Posted January 22, 2009 #8 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Also consider the total time in each port as being a deciding factor. If you get to a port at 1PM & leave at 6PM, it really limits your opportunity to see the island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smoosh21 Posted January 22, 2009 #9 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Dominica and Grenada are nice, but I think I would prefer to see St. Kitts, Barbados, St.Lucia and Antigua. If you visit Grenada, maybe you too can get a monkey on your back Yes, it is a wild monkey that came out of the jungle and jumped on my shoulder. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunsurf Posted January 22, 2009 #10 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Dominica and Grenada are nice, but I think I would prefer to see St. Kitts, Barbados, St.Lucia and Antigua. If you visit Grenada, maybe you too can get a monkey on your back Yes, it is a wild monkey that came out of the jungle and jumped on my shoulder. :eek: Get out!! That's awesome & what a great picture!!!:D To the op, We couldn't decide (well I couldn't decide .. it was my choice) between Eastern or Southern for our next cruise. I ended up choosing the Eastern again. Infact, the itineray on my upcoming voyage is exactly the same as my last one except we visit St. Kitts instead of Tortola & we leave from FLL instead of SJ. . Longer ports times on this one which is a bonus. What can I say...I absolutley LOVE Barbados!! You can't go wrong with either of your choices. Good luck and let us know what you decide! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
go&see Posted January 22, 2009 #11 Share Posted January 22, 2009 We will be doing the southern route on the CB in 3 DAYS! I'll try to post a review ASAP when we get back to give you a good idea of what to expect from the southern route, if you can wait that long! My theory though - I doubt that you can go wrong with either. What helped me decide was to look at different excursions available for each cruise & if there's more that interest you on one cruise than the other, go for it. The best way to relax about the decision is to say "I'll do this one now & that one later". Then you have the excitement of looking forward to seeing them all! Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubofhockey Posted January 22, 2009 #12 Share Posted January 22, 2009 If you go to Antigua, book Eli's Eco Tour excursion. One of the best times I have had at a port. It's not a ship sponsored one but leaves right near the dock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoPippy Posted January 22, 2009 #13 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Get out!! That's awesome & what a great picture!!!:D To the op, We couldn't decide (well I couldn't decide .. it was my choice) between Eastern or Southern for our next cruise. I ended up choosing the Eastern again. Infact, the itineray on my upcoming voyage is exactly the same as my last one except we visit St. Kitts instead of Tortola & we leave from FLL instead of SJ. . Longer ports times on this one which is a bonus. What can I say...I absolutley LOVE Barbados!! You can't go wrong with either of your choices. Good luck and let us know what you decide! why not find a trip that does both together and the monkey,very cute but, my sister in law in Bali,indonesia had a monkey crawn on her sholder and the fingernails cut her scalp so bad she needed stitches and the monkey took my eyeglasses off me and climbed a tree and twisted them.Got them back by throwing small bags of peanuts and the monkey dropped my glasses,pretty twisted,but i brought 3 spares!!!:eek::eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pineapple1176 Posted January 22, 2009 #14 Share Posted January 22, 2009 We sailed on Crown last March the southern route--San Juan, Grenada, St. Kitts, Aruba, Bonaire & St. Thomas. Have been to St. Thomas a few times and still love it. There's lots to see and do in St. Thomas--great shopping, fantastic beaches & good restaurants. Grenada is good for buying vanilla, spices, etc. Walk to shops in town. The city tour is interesting. St. Kitts has beautiful beaches and a nice town area. Watch out for the people carrying monkies--they charge to have pix taken. Aruba has good snorkeling and pretty beaches--inland is very desertlike. There's a city bus terminal near dock that will take you anywhere very, very cheap--like $1. Bonaire is supposed to have the best snorkeling in the Caribbean, but the day we were there the weather was bad :mad:. Happy sailing!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted January 22, 2009 #15 Share Posted January 22, 2009 If you haven't been to any of the islands, it sounds like either should work as all the islnads have something special to offer. someone said they didn't care for Aruba, I think it has the clearest water and the neatest little town of all the Caribbean Islands but we are not crazy over StLucia, it is a personal thing that happened while there. We love Domica for its beauty and divesity and Barbados has so much to offer and see. We haven't done Bonaire, have heard wonderful things about it, espcecially for snorkelers. You can see it doesn't make any difference which you choose, you will have a wonderful time. Nita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IUFAN Posted January 22, 2009 #16 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I'd always pick the route with St. Lucia!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazee4cruzin Posted January 22, 2009 #17 Share Posted January 22, 2009 double post...sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazee4cruzin Posted January 22, 2009 #18 Share Posted January 22, 2009 We went on the Southern 2 years ago. It docked in St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba. We did not like Grenada. The people were pushy on the island. We were only off the ship for 1 hour and went back on. Maybe a tour would have been better. Bonaire had great snorkeling. It is a pretty island. St. Kitts was very nice. We went into the port shopping area and then the beach. People were very nice. We loved Aruba. The water is so blue you can't believe your eyes. The sand on the beach is like sugar. We went back for a week, last year, and had a great time. We are going on an Eastern Carribbean in March. We have never been to St. Maarten or Turks & Caicos. Looking forward to it! Good luck with your choice. No matter what, it will be fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sackman Posted January 22, 2009 #19 Share Posted January 22, 2009 We loved Aruba. The water is so blue you can't believe your eyes. The sand on the beach is like sugar. We went back for a week, last year, and had a great time. This is one of those examples of how two people can go to the same place and come away with a completely different impression. When I went to Aruba, the water was murky and cold and visibility was awful. Because of my experience, I don't have any desire to go back. It's probably a fine place most of the time, too. Wild. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vegabay Posted January 22, 2009 #20 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I loved St. Lucia--did the Cosol tour of the island and the beach we stopped at in view of the Pitons was amazing. Also, did our own thing on Barbados and went to Crane Beach/Crane Hotel, amazing pink beach and nobody there from the ship. I loved those 2 stops. I'm now booked to go the Aruba, Bonaire, Grenada route in April! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodofpine Posted January 22, 2009 #21 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I've not been to Bonaire or Grenada, but I've had positive insights about them otherwise. Bonaire is considered one of the world's best diving destinations, with very possibly THE best beach diving (off the beach rather than boat) in the world. I knew a guy who was raised in Grenada and related great stories. All those islands are great in their own ways. Barbados is DW's fav. Personally, I know Antigua the best (spent time there ashore). Aruba is the place I'm most ambivalent about - too arid for me; but its the tops for many (super horseback riding available in Arawak Park to the natural pool) Among those places, Titou Gorge on Dominica has a particular 'must go again' draw... Either cruise is a fantastic itinerary; enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcacace Posted January 22, 2009 #22 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Watch out for the people carrying monkies--they charge to have pix taken. Happy sailing!! In St Kitts the other week they would put the monkey on you head, let you take a few pictures & then tell you the charge was $10. I don't know how many people actually paid the price. :p http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/31079/2126231420103243266S600x600Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/42261/2163052350103243266S600x600Q85.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunsurf Posted January 25, 2009 #23 Share Posted January 25, 2009 In St Kitts the other week they would put the monkey on you head, let you take a few pictures & then tell you the charge was $10. I don't know how many people actually paid the price. :p http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/31079/2126231420103243266S600x600Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/42261/2163052350103243266S600x600Q85.jpg awww. little poor monkey's. Reminds me of the guy in St. Thomas (downtown) who has his donkey all decked out in oversized sunglasses, a hat and some rasta hair. Its awful and breaks my heart. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandytoes Posted January 25, 2009 #24 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Eastern St. Kitts, Barbados, St.Lucia and Antigua Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackdiamond Posted January 25, 2009 #25 Share Posted January 25, 2009 We are cruising a 10 nighter on the Emerald in March for Aruba etc.; and, a ten nighter on the Equinox in December for St. Kitts etc. Obviously, we are looking forward to both cruises with a mini-suite on the Emerald and Aqua Class on the Equinox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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