Western or Eastern Caribbean?

[DannyDisneyFreak]

What are the pros and cons of each? We have only done Bahamas (never again we don't enjoy Nassau at all). I would factor in beaches, sights to see, excursions, weather, crowds, and overall appeal of the ports. The biggest factor would probably be which itinerary has smoother seas, if there is a difference? We plan to sail on the Fantasy in 2016 sometime January through April but not sure yet. Thanks for any and all advice!

 

[wilma-bride]

I think this is going to be a very personal thing but, having doen both, here's my opinion (for what it's worth):

Eastern - loved the ports (St Maarten, St Thomas) and the itinerary (2 sea days in between ports). We had great excursions in each port too.

Western - wasn't so keen on the ports and the stops are not as long (most times you don't dock until nearly lunchtime). Plus I didn't like the fact that the port days are all together. I did enjoy our day in Cozumel (we went to Nachi Cocom) but I think a lot of that was to do with the company rather than the place itself.

However, on the Eastern we had late dining and the Western we were on main, which could have influenced my opinion since our Western cruise felt very rushed. It felt like we were on the go the whole time.

 

[Trekker]

I have done both eastern and western on the magic when she did these sailings prior to the fantasy. They are both enjoyable. The eastern has one less port hence one more sea day - depending on your likes. I like sea days more than port days so eastern for me.

Either one has good offerings in the ports so I cannot say to me one is better than the other. As to smoother water I think that can vary just depending on time of year and of course weather in the area.

 

[lmhall2000]

Have been on Eastern (smooth in September) and going on Western in May...I love port intensive trips, so I think I'd like the Western better...my dh loves sea days...he just loves being on the ship and could care less about the ports...I sail to see sunrises and new vistas!! I want to soak it all in, the more the better. The best part of me for Eastern was skipping St. Thomas and ferrying over to St. John and snorkeling there first thing off the ship (7am!)...it's probably one of my most memorable trips, we did not like St. Maarten..just not 'clean' and fixed up...the newer airport was under construction and that looked nice, but apparently there's some tax loophole if you have a house that's not quite 'finished'...so a lot of the homes you'll pass by are not nice or have exposed parts to them..just odd...more of a seedy casino feel..I love the history and well maintained areas...the Western may not have much of that except Grand Cayman..but Cozumel has history and Jamaica has amazing people (friendly) I plan on doing the Amazing Race excursion in Cozumel, ziplining in Jamaica and beach in Grand Cayman..in St. Maarten we just went to the airport strip/beach to see planes take off..it was cool..but we'll only do that cruise once...nothing else to 'see'...whereas I see more people repeating the Western b/c they do have quite a bit more activities offered. Stingray Island, jet ski tours, ziplining, waterparks etc.

 

[OhThePain]

Since you are looking at next January-April, it seems like there are just as many port days as there are sea days for Eastern vs. Western (the Western is not doing Falmouth at that time and added a sea day instead). I think it really depends on what you want to do. If you are more interested in sight-seeing I would go with the Western and while in Cozumel take a tour that includes some ruins (my wife and I saw Tulum on our honeymoon which was pretty awesome if you are into that kind of thing). The turtle farm and Hell in GC are sort of a right of passage in my book for doing a Western itinerary, but GC also has some very nice and famous beaches. I am personally not impressed with the ports on the Eastern (probably because I have been to them quite a bit) so a trip on the Eastern would be more of a relax and do nothing kind of trip for me.

As far as seas go, it's hit or miss no matter where you go. All areas can be smooth one day and rough the next. It's just luck of the draw.

 

[Zeppelin]

been on both...the port on the WC were always more crowed and more "watch your stuff" type of places...

 

[JimGA]

I was originally booked for an Eastern, but changed it to April 2016 and now I am on a Western. I did a lot of research on the Eastern, there seems to be fabulous snorkeling at the St Thomas stop, St Marteen is where I wanted to go to Maho beach and watch the planes land. I know our kids were bummed with the Eastern because there were not any excursions that I could find that had a swim with the Dolphins that they really want to do, I could only find a dolphin encounter where you basically touch them.

Now that we are on the Western, there are a lot of Dolphin swim excursions in Cozumel at a really nice price. And we will do the snorkeling in Grand Caymen. Since it appears DCL dropped a Port for the Westerns in 2016, the sea days are the same as the Eastern.

From the outside looking in from a person who has not done either one, I like the look of the Western, it seems better for us, kids are 11 & 14 at sailing

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I have been on both and the Western a few times, the Eastern has two sea days and only two ports with castaway, it's more of a beach trip run, the western has three ports of call with castaway, it's more sightseeing, Dolphins, historical sites, to me it's a true caribbean run as most of its time it's in the Caribbean, the Easterns first two days are in the Atlantic.

 

[MsMamaBear]

I prefer the Eastern itineraries. I can do without the western for the rest of my natural life. Only way I'd go back is to Grand Cayman and that wouldn't be on a cruise ship.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

I prefer the Eastern itineraries. I can do without the western for the rest of my natural life. Only way I'd go back is to Grand Cayman and that wouldn't be on a cruise ship.

Why?

 

[MsMamaBear]

Why?

I just didn't enjoy it. Some people were really rude and I'd rather not spend my money anywhere in Mexico. I wish I could go to Grand Cayman on a stop without Mexico thrown in. LOL! I'm not a fan of Nassau either, but I just stay on the ship on that port.

 

[rawdata]

We've done western with another line and didn't like the hocking of goods in Jamaica and Mexico. Grand cayman was very nice. Otherwise the excursions were nice. Bring cash for tips. In small bills.

Like a PP said, it depends on if you're traveling for the ports or for the ship. If it's for the ship, then pick anything and just don't disembark. If it's for the ports, pick the ports you are most interested in seeing.

 

[DLW8]

We have done 2 Westerns and one Eastern - all based on what was available the week we wanted to sail.

First Western (Magic) was the last week of November (Key West, Cozumel and Grand Cayman). The weather wasn't great, torrential rain in Cozumel and cloudy/cool at CC, but our day in Key West and GC was phenomenal. We went on our own in Key West on the Old Town Trolley so we could get on/off as we wished. We went shopping and did the dolphin swim in GC.

Did an Eastern on the Fantasy in September and had fabulous weather. We loved the Champagne Catamaran snorkel excursion on St. Thomas (it actually went to honeymoon beach on St. John), we would do that again in a heartbeat. We did a private tour with Mervin's on St. Maarten and had fun, but wish there was more beach time.

We just did a Western again on the Fantasy in early November 2014 and had amazing weather. We did the jeep excursion on Cozumel and loved it, just hung on the ship and did a bit of shopping on GC, and did the Tranopy Tour in Jamaica. The Tranopy tour (while a long day) was amazing, the ziplining was the highlight of the cruise - we all wished we could do it again!

As others have said, it depends if you want to cruise for the ports or the ship. We always have fun on the ships, and enjoy the sea days but we also enjoy the port days to see new places. We usually don't have a choice as we choose the week we want to cruise instead of the itinerary deciding the week. And after being on the Fantasy, we prefer that ship as there is more to do for our kids.

 

[mhconley]

We did a Western on our first cruise in October 2013 and really enjoyed all the ports of call and excursions. We booked the Catamaran, Reef and Kittiwake Snorkel Sail on Grand Cayman, the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins in Costa Maya and Dune Buggy and Beach Snorkel Combo on Cozumel. We really enjoyed the excursions but found three consecutive port days a little too hectic. We felt we did not have the time to really explore the ship. For our second cruise we booked the Eastern this coming September. I think we'll enjoy it more...

Martin

 

[PryncessLace]

I have been on both and the Western a few times, the Eastern has two sea days and only two ports with castaway, it's more of a beach trip run, the western has three ports of call with castaway, it's more sightseeing, Dolphins, historical sites, to me it's a true caribbean run as most of its time it's in the Caribbean, the Easterns first two days are in the Atlantic.

This is not true for the cruises in early 2016. The Western cruises at that time will only have 2 ports plus CC, just like the Eastern itineraries.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

The western itineraries I've seen that I like are CC, Grand Caymen, Cozumel, and Jamaica. If there was no Jamaica that makes it harder to choose. My wife really likes sea turtles and I've heard about a turtle farm at one of the western ports, anyone know about that?

 

[Snurk71]

The western itineraries I've seen that I like are CC, Grand Caymen, Cozumel, and Jamaica. If there was no Jamaica that makes it harder to choose. My wife really likes sea turtles and I've heard about a turtle farm at one of the western ports, anyone know about that?

The turtle farm you ask about is likely the one on Grand Cayman.